Kitchen Ledges- Awkward or Opportunity?

I have a love hate relationship with my kitchen ledges. I have never known how to decorate them and so I searched Pinterest with little to no luck. My goal was to use what I had on hand to create a visually appealing display. I did pick up a few pieces at the thrift store - cheater!

My parents are from Iowa and I love having the pottery around the house that reminds me of summers in Iowa. I had everything on hand here but the R. I think that was $5 at Tuesday Morning. 

I had all of these items on hand except for the wreath. I bought this for $1 at the thrift store. Though it wasn't perfect, you really can't tell from a distance.

The plate I picked up at the thrift store. I spray painted the Simple sign with Lagoon from Rust-o-leum. The lemons are actually a dishtowel that I purchased from Crate and Barrel for $5 and framed. Instant art! I didn't have pretty dishtowels on hand :(

The plate was another thrift store find. The apothecary jars with the tomatoes and limes in them are $1 store purchases glued together to make the jars. They are candlesticks and vases = $4 for 2 sets SCORE! 

The stool I spray painted lagoon so I had some consistency throughout the stories. Same idea with using the glass insulators in turquoise throughout the groupings to connect them. 

I have to admit that I had a hard time having open space but I love how it turned out! What ideas do you have?

~Jenn
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Recycled Acrylic Frame Album

Okay if you have been following our blog, you are somewhat aware we are big on finding new life for old items. Also we are thrift store junkies.

 With that said, finding so many of these little acrylic frames for just pennies, seemed destined to be turned into something, an album of course.

This can be done with single frames or double frames. It's great to make calendars or albums,

just so many options for these free standing little treasures.

The number of pages are your choice, I just used the key rings at the top with holes punched in the card stock and let my imagination run.

 

I added little pockets, frames, library cards. It's just the perfect project that will become addictive and so good for using your little odds and ends. 

Of course I am always a fan of any many embellishments. 

The more the merrier. Have fun.

~Cathy

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Summer Fun Garden

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon it just makes me want to be outside hanging wind-chimes,  painting flowerpots and looking to see what whimsical object I can stick in my flower bed.

I really enjoy going to thrift stores and looking for those fun little objects that can have a new life tucked in the flowerbed somewhere. Both the chair and bird (repainted blue bird of course) came for just a few dollars from my favorite up cycle store.

Just  look around and find items that can be painted like these old lawn chairs I placed up in a plain corner of my yard. That is not really a ladder with the hanging pots, 

it's the back of a very old bench

I especially love looking for little toys to place around the yard, sometimes I just have a hard time keeping the grandsons from pulling them out!

Just look for anything that makes you happy, doesn't always have to be a green thumb. Happy Sunday!

~Cathy

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Thrift Store Find: Art Desk Revamp

Cathy and I love going to the thrift store because you never know what little treasures you will find. One particular day, Cathy and I went into the thrift store and it was unusually busy. So, we deviated from our normal route and went to the part of the store that we never find bargains. As soon as we start out, I see this dirty nasty art desk by Step 2. It had been outside and neglected and I couldn't tell if it had crayons, sticks or cigarette butts in the pencil holder -- ewwwww! The kicker was the price tag was $4.98!!!!! Ok these things never happen to me. I felt like I won the lotto.

I did look up a new one online and they seem to be around $75 -- SCORE!

Recently my kitchen table has turned into art central for Kyle's crafts. He will not stop drawing! So this was going to be a perfect solution. I could clean it up and spray paint it to match my decor, then we could all co-exist (and eat!).

First I took all the screws out and cleaned it with a hose, soapy water and a Magic Eraser. If you haven't used these before you are really missing out. They clean anything!!!! The mystery was solved....they were sticks and crayons in the pencil holder. the entire desk cleaned up very nicely and I waited till it all dried out completely.

I really wanted the colors I chose to match our decor and I really didn't want to buy any more spray paint. Then I realized I had to do turquoise and brown, so off to Home Depot we went. I swear by Rustoleum and I used Lagoon and Espresso in Satin. The key to spray painting plastic is to apply the spray paint evenly from 12 inches away and let it dry completely.

As if I didn't have enough luck, I took the desk light and removed the batteries to see if it would work. You guessed it!!! It really is the little things!

I was going to spray paint the wipe board with chalkboard spray paint then decided to leave well enough alone. The wipe board cleaned up nicely and will last longer than the chalkboard paint.

My guy is so excited and he has not stopped creating. Best of all he loves all the little compartments so he keeps all his art supplies in his desk now and off the kitchen table!!!!

Before

After

 For under $15, I am super ecstatic with the results and more importantly -- so is Kyle!

~ Jenn