Valentine’s Ruffled Burlap Garland

I’m starting to come down from the Christmas coma around here and throwing in a little V-Day décor.  I began with an easy burlap garland for my mantle, inspired by this ruffled linen garland at Beautiful Nest.

Instead of linen, I cut some strips of budget-friendly burlap in Valentine’s red, and then strung it on some jewelry wire, ruffling as I went.

I added some ticking stripe fabric bows to the ends to finish it off…

I’ve got a couple more things adorning the mantle that I’ll share later… but then again, maybe not.  Have you ever tried to get a good mantle pic with a big TV in the middle of it?!

The things we do for love, right?

Hope you’re having an awesome week!

One Month - I Won It!!

I could not believe my eyes this morning when I saw that the Season 7 winner of One Month to Win It was... ME!! 

SHUT the front door!!

Thanks again to all of the fabulous ladies who put together this fun blog event and to all of the contestants... it was such an honor creating with you over the past four weeks.  In case you missed any of the OMTWI, head on over to check out the other fabulous projects!

Here's where my French Grain Sack Dresser is being featured:

French Grain Sack Dresser

So, now that voting is closed, I can let you in on my furniture project!

This final round was the furniture round, and I couldn’t wait to get started on this piece.  I picked up this Craigslist dresser on New Year’s Day… for fifty bucks (score!).  I wish I’d have remembered to take pictures before the stripping and sanding began, but just picture layers and layers of yellow and tan paint, if you need a visual…  Hopefully, the end result will make up for it ;).

I love vintage textiles, and found my inspiration for this dresser in the rustic beauty of striped French grain sacks.  The simplicity of the design is timeless… and that’s what I wanted to bring to this piece.  After sanding and priming, I painted the dresser with two coats of Martha Stewart’s Glass of Milk (color-matched with Glidden Paint).  Once dry, I taped off my lines and dry-brushed the stripe (Martha Stewart Wrought Iron).  I then lightly distressed the surface with sandpaper and added a burnt umber glaze for patina.  New antique brass hardware (98 cents a piece!) added a nice finishing touch.

My plans of staining the wood top were foiled when some hidden leftover paint decided to peek through my walnut stain… I didn’t want to chance sanding the wood too thin so I decided on another plan.  I dry brushed the wood top with the Wrought Iron paint and added a polyurethane finish, buffed to a soft sheen.  The end result was a nice, weathered effect with a smooth as glass finish.

I’m quite excited about this new dresser… and it’s new home in my front entry, a great reminder that it is possible to not only make do with old items, but to make them beautiful as well.

And now that the excitement of OMTWI is nearly over (winner announced tomorrow!)… I can refocus on the many other works in progress around here: namely, finishing up with painting my living area, spreading the love with some Valentine’s décor, and perhaps stenciling a wall or two (or three or four?).

Oh, and let’s not forget devouring the neverending supply of holiday-appropriate Hershey kisses in between aforementioned projects, shall we? 

It’s good to be home.made.

 Linking up with:

Tatertots and Jello
Funky Junk Interiors

Tuesday's Treasures
Wow Us Wednesdays
Power of Paint
Restored It Wednesday

Funky Junk Interiors

One Month to Win It - Final Round!

This week marks the final week of:

It's the furniture round, and quite possibly my favorite project yet!

Head on over later to cast your vote!

100 Follower Giveaway - Redraw!!

I never heard from the first winner, so another name has been chosen!

Congratulations to Pam of Love My Country Home!  Pam, I've emailed you!

On Being a Martha... and my Word for the Year

Have you ever realized that when God wants you to listen to Him better, He keeps repeating the same message to you over and over and over... until He's finally got your attention?

Lately, it seems He's been sending a certain story my way... a story that has been mentioned in my church, in my bible study, in my daily devotional email.  

It's the story of Mary and Martha.

I have to admit that I am so convicted by this story because... well,

I am a Martha.

Many days, I am so consumed with managing my list of to-dos, worried about my homekeeping, and overwhelmed by the general busy-ness of life that I tend to miss out on the important things: my faith, my husband, my children.  And while I completely enjoy spending time working on projects and my home, sometimes I need to choose what is better.  I need to be a Mary.

With that said, my word for 2012 is not so much a what as a who:

Mary

This year, I strive to be more like Mary, ignoring the fact that the house is dirty and the dishes aren't done so I can choose what is better and focus on all I need.  My Lord, my man, and my sweet chicks.

Don't get me wrong.  Being a Martha is not a bad trait... it's what makes us good hosts, good homekeepers, and good managers of our families.  It's also what makes us so busy with being busy that we might miss out on some special moments because we are distracted, and worried, and upset.

But Mary... she didn't allow herself to be distracted when the Lord came to her home.  She knew what was important, and it wasn't being a good hostess.

So, this year, my goal is to be more like Mary, while balancing out the Martha aspects that innately are part of me.

How about you?  Are you a Mary or a Martha?

{Tutorial} Love Bunting Necklace

Here it is… the tutorial for my OMTWI clay bunting necklace!

You Will Need:

• Air-dry clay
• Star cookie cutter, Rectangle cookie cutter (or knife)
• Jewelry findings (eye pins, chain, jump rings, toggle or other closure)
• Jewelry tools (wire cutter, pliers)
• Alphabet stamps

Instructions:

• Roll air dry clay onto nonstick surface (clay mat or wax paper).  I roll mine between two wooden sticks so the thickness is even.

• Next, take your star cookie cutter and cut out a star (You’ll need to repeat if making more than five bunting pieces.)  Use a straight edge of your rectangle cookie cutter or knife to cut the triangle tips away from the star.   

 

• Now take your eye pin and cut with wire cutter so the pin is just long enough to meet the middle of your clay piece.  Insert into side of clay, being careful not to poke through the front or back!

• Repeat this step for all of your pieces.  Stamp your impression into clay pieces (don’t press too hard so as to not flatten out the clay).  Allow to dry as per instructions (at least 24 hours).

• Now it’s time to work on your chain.  Attach closure pieces to chain ends with a jump ring.  Lay this on your neck to figure out where you want the bunting portion to lay on your chest.  Trim chain links off as necessary.

• When clay pieces are dry, attach bunting pieces together with jump rings.  Then attach end pieces to chain with jump rings (I used two per side for a little more give).

And that’s it!  For extra customization, how about stamping your children’s initials, or maybe your wedding date, or how about a special number for a special birthday girl?

Me?  I chose love… to celebrate the day devoted to the sentiment.

Hope you enjoy – now go make one today for your special valentine!

Linking up here:

Tuesday's Treasures
Wow Us Wednesdays
Shabby Creek Cottage
Crafty Scrappy Happy