But I say, "I like Autumn!"

I promised you some orange paint and here it is! And yes, this post title is a Barney reference.

I needed to add a cozy Autumnal feel for my front porch (or stoop as I call it, but then Ohioans don't know WTH I am talking about. So for the sake of knowing what I am talking about I will refer to my stoop as a porch.) Want the look? Here's what I did!

 You will need to find an old crate, or make one, or buy one at a craft store for under $10. Mine is unique because it has a cut out front. I picked it up at a second hand store. It was boring newish pine wood but I used a steel wool stain on it to give it a great worn look. Bam.. only paid $3!

 

Crate from Joanns would work great!



Next I pulled out some old 4x4 posts. These were leftovers from years ago when we installed our backyard fence. I mixed up some orange craft paint and applied a light coat. After it dried I sanded them pretty well and then I attached with glue some pieces of 2x2 pine that I also painted and sanded. I used black spray paint on the stems only because I did not have brown or tan. Those would obviously be better choices to look like a stem... but whatever I used black, sue me. I also applied a brown glaze, simply because I had it and I have been in a glaze mood lately. But you totally do not need to do this.

 Add some raffia for interest. You could also use green. I thought about it but I was lazy and did not feel like walking back inside. I guess maybe I am not lazy... I just only had about 5 minutes to set this up at 7:30 in the morning before my sitter kid got here... yup, sounds like a better excuse for laziness.   

Next I added a little sign that I had found at a dollar store for only $1! I was so excited that I bought all three styles but this pretty red one was my favorite.

What do you think?! Yes, my scarecrow man needs a new hat. But I am lazy busy, so he may just stay bald this year. I can't wait to get to a pumpkin patch and pick up some gourds! Some Indian corn would look so cute too!

It's a sickness!

I can't stop with the snowmen! Thankfully it is finally October so my snowman obsession is not quite as awful. And I do promise I have used some orange paint today ;).

Here are my latest snow people! I LOVE the small ones. They are still made out of 4x4's but use one block less. Perfect for "snow children". I may have lost count of how many I am up to.

I have a few Mr and Mrs in the larger size...

And my snow lady with her precious little flower hat.

Bring on the snow!

Burlap, Felt, and Fleece, OH MY!

Can you guess by the title of this blog post what I have been up to all week?

 Wreath making!!!

 I started with a yarn wreath with fleece flowers...

 Added some OSU letters for all the Buckeye nuts around here...

Then I moved onto burlap... 

And more burlap...

And the weeks not over yet!!!

(Yes, the hot glue love affair continues.)

Quick update!

Bad bad blogger. I've been MIA and will probably continue to do so. I've been busy having a love affair with my hot glue gun. Check out the FB page for occasional updates!

And just for fun here are a few of the things I've been up to...

You Dirty Snowman!

I apologize in advance for posting about snowmen in September. How dare I!

Good Monday everyone! This past week I officially decided to do two upcoming craft shows. I'm so excited! They are both in November so that should be perfect for Christmas decor and even some fall decor. So to Pinterest I went, in search of inspiration. I tell ya, I think I Pinterest is my new Google!

So here is what I found. Love him! I have a soft spot for snowmen.

Via: Pinterest

And a after a few hours put into it, here is my version!

I had painted it white but ultimately decided to make them "dirty snowmen" with a little glaze that I already had on hand.

I'm so in love I already have a dozen snow babies and 2 snow families cut, sanded, and painted! Can't wait for naptime when they all get to get the "dirty" treatment!  

Now I need to think of some great fall decor ideas. I'm sure something will come to me!

Funky Turned Beauty

Boy have I got a makeover for you! Are you ready for this before? It's kinda extreme.

Right?! Wow. Speechless! A friend of mine gave this to me thinking I might be able to do something with it. It sat in my garage for a few weeks until I had just the right plan. By then I had dubbed it "Funky Dresser".  And over the last week (yes, a whole freaking week!!) she got beautified!

Before:

Love the back. Such a good bones and a nice old piece.

It all started with me thinking I could just sand off a bunch of layers... little elbow grease and wa la! Magic! But wait... no magic here. Just more funk.

At that point I knew I had to get my paint on. Two coats of paint should do me. I was not sure if I would distress but in the end my motto pushed through: Distress, because you know your kids will.

Oh and did I forget to mention a little decoupage action went on too! This is old wallpaper from our first house. I loved and miss that dining room and still have a few rolls and scraps of my all time favorite wallpaper.

After all the painting and papering it did not jive with me. So I mixed up some glaze and slapped it on. The dents and dings in this piece looked soooooo much prettier when they were accentuated with the glaze.

I have not quite decided what to do with this little funky turned beauty dresser. I thought about sticking into a craft corner in my playroom or possibly trying to sell it. For now I'll try her out and see what I think. I actually quite love it in my dining room.

Linking up at these great blogs:
Not Just a Housewife

Ivy and Elephants

AKA Design

Child Sized Easel

Almost two years ago now I made this easel for my niece for Christmas. It was really fun to build and not too time consuming.

So last week I got to thinking about making another one with the intentions of trying to sell it (or many). Everyone loves to spoil their kiddo's, right? And this was my inspiration (from Restoration Hardware at a tiny little cost of $119! That cost actually seems like a bargain for them.)...

And THIS is the finished product!

Complete with dry erase board instead of chalk, because really, chalk is so dirty!

Mister Monty

Remember Monty and all of his adorable puppy-ness? And our DIY Crooked Doghouse?

Want to know a secret? Our little Monty puppy is not so little anymore. :( At five months old he weighs more than our almost 7 year old son!

And another secret.... he doesn't use his doghouse!!!! He still manages to somehow squeeze underneath the steps of our deck. The same steps seen here when he was all adorable and only about 8 weeks old. How does he do that?!? Lots of wiggling, that's how!

The only time he can been seen entering his doghouse is when is eating or on the rare occasion that we tie him up while the kids to play. So when I found him in his house the other day I had to snap these photos through the bathroom window. Aww.... he looked to comfy!

 Isn't he great?

It is almost September. So that means it is almost time to make sure his little house is ready for the winter. I'll be closing off the roof gaps, maybe adding insulation, putting on a door, and maybe even adding a little porch.  Brrrrr... wish I had not just thought about winter. YUCK!

Love him.