Christmas!

Yeah, pretty much gave up posting these past 2 weeks! We'll be back though next week!
Merry Christmas!

Winner!

I sent the winner her message but thought let you all know Jill Griffiths name was drawn by my husband! Congrats and thanks to all who entered!

What's black and white and red all over?

My house! (what?) Yeah some how I ended up with a black, white and red Christmas! It wasn't on purpose I just kind of started decorating and that's what became of it. Check out some pics below!


My mantel. I really was determined not to spend a dime on Christmas decorations because we're not even going to be here for Christmas and I have enough as it is really. Frames I had in my basement that I spray painted.














I have a ton of Christmas story books we've been given over the years. This is one of my favorite. It was given to us by Jordan's grandmas who passed away this year, so I wanted to put it on display. It has silhouettes that pop up. The detail is so intricate and pretty.

Not Just for Husbands....

I had this moulding sitting in my garage for about 5 months.  It's some pretty thick & chunky stuff, so this cost more than my usual projects at $60.  Life is busy, and so the project started collecting dust.  I knew I was capable of doing it,  I mean, really, how hard could it be? I let myself get sucked into thinking:  "I can't do it with a baby and 4 year old at home right now."  I realize I have been letting myself say that dirty word all too often: Can't.  So that gave me the resolve to "git-er-done."  [During nap time and a movie]

I had never used the miter saw before and my hubby was at work, and I  wanted to surprise him.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find the instruction manual:-(  I had to call him twice: once to figure out  how to unlock the blade from the safety position (duh!--but actually hard to find that thing if you don't know what you're looking for), and then again to slide the blade to the correct angle  you want  (you have to loosen the handle and then tighten it again).  Finally, after being embarrassed about having to call for help, I got guts back to tackle this project, it was pretty smooth sailing.

 Here's my beautifully cut corners all laid out, ready to get glued to my kids bathroom mirror for the bathroom makeover I've been working on.  [In front of my sweet swagger wagon-that's how I roll]. It's pretty liberating for me to tackle projects on my honey-do-list. I highly recommend it.

Topiary Tree

Here's a look at my twirly topiary tree dressed up for Christmas.

I tied up a couple of bows for the top out of some of last years ribbon.

Some of my favorite ornaments are these psychedelic Reindeer I got at Poppy's Home Decor in Phoenix a few years back.

Then I added some red jewel ornaments  (Taipan, I think) and green balls came from Wally World.  Then I added in a few glittery snowflakes and green glitzy stuff, and that's a wrap!

I was featured on one of my most favoritist blogs ever! Check it out! She does/has amazing stuff!
(Maybe I'll run into you at our D.I. Mandi! I consider us friends now ;)

Framed Inheritance

Good morning! I'm actually blogging before 10pm! Even before noon! Whoa, isn't there an award of some sort for that?
So ONE of the projects I have going on here is finishing my sons room. It's still a work in progress but I really wanted to show off this wonderful art I made! I'm in love and sooo tempted to put it in my living room instead!




After painting these fun stripes I've decided to decorated vintage school house fun! Kind of a Frank Lloyd Wright meets Lincoln (that's Lincoln my son, not the president :)

Saved from an untimely death! When my husbands family was cleaning out his grandparents house they almost THREW AWAY (gasp) these very old stencils that belonged to his grandparents. I was there to save them and to receive some wierd looks, until I told them my plans.



Basically the frames are simple black certificate frames from the dollar store. I didn't want anything chunky or distracting from the "art" itself.
Then I chose 3 neutral colored paper (chocolate, tan, and cream) to put behind the stencils so they stand out but again, not to take away from the stencils themselves


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The stencils are gently used, but that's what I love about them!


Aren't they great!? After I put them up my husband and I looked at each other with the same thought.....so don't be surprised if they make their appearance somewhere else!


(anybody want to buy a rocking chair?)