Never Get So Busy Making a Living..stencil giveaway
Life seems to just whoosh by doesn’t it? When I saw this saying on Pinterest, it really made me think of how true it really does, like where has February already gone?
This weekend my daughter and her friends came over to have me teach them how to make a sign. I thought that using this saying would be perfect first sign for them to make. We easily forget sometimes in our daily grind to stop and take time to make a life, so having a little sign to remind us of this can’t hurt right?
I already had the wood leftover from another project, and the patina on it was so pretty that we left it as is.
It was a simple sign to make. I just pulled out my Silhouette machine to make the stencil on white contact paper. The boards we used where 5 1/2″ wide by 14″ long. I used the font Calisto MT and changed the size to 91.4
Here is a screen shot
And I made a short tutorial on how we made the sign
Pull off your stencil and your done! You could seal it with a sealer if you want, but it isn’t necessary. This is the one my daughter Shannon did in mustard. I distressed my letters a bit, but again that is optional. Shannon didn’t distress hers and it looks just as good.
Facebook and Pinterest Love
Things are changing around here at Cre8tive. Thanks to my nephew Brady, my new assistant, I went to a two column layout, which I love so much better. I think it is so much easier to read a two column site, the pictures look better, the text doesn’t look like you are writing a book when you post a paragraph, it all just flows so much better. We are still working on a few things, but overall I am very happy with the layout and flow of how it all looks. We even upgraded to a mobile version to make it easier to read my blog on a mobile device. Oh I just love the minds of the young, they make it look so easy, I am going to be so high tech around here having Brady helping me with all those technical things I am challenged in, blogging life is so much better now that I have him.
I also finally got around to adding the links to the articles on my side bar that Houzz has featured on my design work
8 Elements of a Modern kitchen
It is such an honor to be included in their Feature Ideabooks, it’s time I showcased them. The one about Shannon and Nate’s kitchen was a surprise because the author wrote it as if Shannon and I were the only ones that did all the work. Luckily, Nate didn’t get his feelings hurt.
Easy wallpaper panel
The idea of using wallpaper in panels is not new, but it really can add impact without committing to wallpaper. This technique came in handy when I did this bathroom a couple of years ago.
I fell in love with this Osborne & Little wallpaper from the moment I laid eyes on it. But of course it wasn’t cheap, Osborne & Little and cheap are usually not used in the same sentence. So to save money and still be able to use the wallpaper, I framed it with a contrasting orange molding to make it pop. I got the impact I was looking for, saved some major dough and still added depth, texture and color to the walls
But you don’t always have to attach the wallpaper to the walls like I did here. Putting it on foam core boards from a craft store works just as well for a non-committal application. It is a great option for a renter to bring in color on their walls when they can’t use paint.
Another great idea is to use using foam insulator boards from Home Depot, like Shannon from The New England Southerner did for her high rise rental
As I have mentioned before, I am helping a friend with the design of her new hair salon and she is on a tight budget. She has an esthetician room that needs some sound absorbing art on the walls and asked me for some suggestions. I thought that this idea of wallpaper or fabric on a foam board would be a perfect solution for her room.
Estate sale score
Remember the estate sale that had the armor and settee?
Well, I didn’t get the armor, it was too thin of metal and a lot of sharp edges. It was only $100, but it just wasn’t doing it for me. But I did get the settee! Scored on the settee is more like it. $50. As soon as I saw the price tag I snagged it off of there so fast, I knew it would be gone if I didn’t. And sure enough, a lady walked by it, looking and looking for the tag, and I told her that I was buying it, and she asked how much, and when I told her $50 her eyes got real big with envy and said “wow that is a great price”. Yep, score.
I have already started to refinish the frame. And since I got it at such a great price, I am going to get it professionally reupholstered. I decided to gold leaf and glaze the frame, not the easiest finish to do but it is the look that I feel will tie in with the rest of the “Fun” room.
My goal is to match the finish on the light fixtures I hung in the room
Here is what she is looking like so far with some of the gold leaf on it {the glaze comes after all the gold leafing is done}
I am not a fan of Valentines day
There I said it! I think Valentines Day has turned into another excuse for retailers to make money. I always tell my husband DO NOT buy me anything for Valentines Day. Followed by my speech that if it takes a National holiday for you remember to say I love you or to do something sweet for me, then we are in trouble. My husband always looks so sad when I tell him this, he loves to buy me stuff, he is really sweet that way. Debbie downer right? Well, the other problem that I have with the darn holiday, is that it reeks havoc on young girls. I have three girls, and I can not tell you how many times growing up they have been bummed because they don’t have a boyfriend on that day to give them a gift or to take them somewhere. It makes them feel like a loser, and that really makes me mad. One lousy holiday that means nothing, and they are all depressed. NOT RIGHT.
But! Since my husband is all for this holiday, I might actually bend my rule and get him something this year for Valentines day. Thank goodness he doesn’t read my blog {just my luck he will today} because I am going to show you what I am hoping to get him.
I saw this picture at an Estate sale in an email I got this morning. I am hoping to get that armor statue. He has always wanted one of these, and it would fit perfectly in his office. I want to write on the card
