Take a Load Off...

In my cute "new" chair. This is another one of my thrifting projects. As you can see, I found all sorts of treasures when I went to the thrift store on Monday. The nice thing, however, is even though I got tons of stuff, I only spent a couple of bucks. I thought that it would be nice to have a small chair for my photo sessions. Hence this purchase of this little beauty.

BEFORE:
AFTER:

I wish the "before" picture could have captured how ugly this chair was a little better. I forgot to take a "before" picture until after I had already spray painted the chair back (focus on the ugly legs). I admit, that it doesn't look too different from each of the "after" pictures. Just know that they chair USED to be an ugly granny-gold metal. You know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. That brassy cheap-looking golden hue. Now, it is a nice pearly metallic shade and the dirty vinyl cushion has been covered in an attractive piece of black and white fabric. I'm sure you'll see it in upcoming photo sessions.

Another Book Project

Whitney and Spencer sittin' in the book nook:
I just wanted to show you another similar project with books. And in case you were wondering, no I'm not finished with book projects yet, there will be even MORE ideas to come ...


I do love a pretty bookshelf!

Book Project

Since I have been into thrifting projects lately, I have been thinking up projects to create with old books. I purchased a whole stack at the thrift store and have been dreaming up ways to use them. I LOVE old books! These ones were really cute, but not the kind of books you would actually read. Hence, I didn't feel too bad doing this to them:


I painted the covers a shade of red to match my house and painted the pages antique copper. Then I covered each of the books in glaze. Add a pretty ribbon, some flowers, and some old keys and you're done.

I think it looks really pretty on my little end table.

Gum Ball Machine

This

+
This

=
This

The best part is, I got pretty much all of these items at a local thrift store. Well, except the paint... or the gumballs (that would be creepy). Don't worry, of course I disinfected everything VERY thoroughly. I have my little gum ball machine sitting on my desk right now. All the cheerful colors make me happy, but who knows how long it will be until I have to refill it. :)

Card #5

Another house card. Sorry to show you similar things, but it's what I did for the day. I actually like it a little better than the last one though.

Card #4

This one is my favorite card! I love it so so much! I bet this silhouette looks familiar huh? And I just love pennants! I think I'm going to make many more.

Card #3

I really don't like to do things out of season. I never listen to Christmas music or put up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. But I had to make a Christmas card for the contest so... here it is.

Card #2

Not much to say, other than here is card # 2.

Happy Birthday Card

I am going to enter a card contest so I will be posting a bunch of my card creations the next few days. Here's card #1.

I LOVE Old-looking Photos

Just having some fun playing around with editing again. I love love the second one!

Daydreaming

Today I played with photo editing a little bit. It's so fun how you can give the same exact picture a totally different feeling with just a few little tweaks.

A Stroll in the Park

Today, was so beautiful we had to spend some time outside. Besides, Lizzy was long overdue for a trip to go try to eat the swans.
This picture looks a bit like the beach to me! Kind of makes me homesick.
I had to post this picture because of the surprise cheery rainbows.


I hope you had a nice Sunday afternoon too!

Railroad Museum

Today we went to the railroad museum to look around and take pictures. I loved it ever so much. Trains and railroad tracks are some of my favorite things in the world! The museum is only open on Saturday's, but I have a feeling that I will be visiting this place weekly from now on, just because I enjoyed it so much.
The Caboose. Ha ha.


My favorite car of all, the baggage room! I love old luggage!

Enjoying the Little Things

Today I had to go take a few pictures of the first signs of spring! Beautiful!

Hi Card

Just popping in to say, "Hi!"

Merci Card

I made this card today. If there's one thing I love more than hedgehogs (if that's even possible) it's the Eiffel Tower.

More Silhouettes

this

+

this

=
this!

I was so excited about this project. I am going to teach a class on how to make your own silhouette's at Hobby Lobby, so Spencer and I did this project so I could walk him through all of the steps. I LOVE the end result. There's nothing like a happy collage to brighten up a blank wall. The pretty background papers really make me happy too. My favorite one is the Proposal Silhouettes. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to make some more. :)

Shabby Rose Neclace

Ok, I am really proud of this project. I am such a perfectionist that I often don't like the end result as much as I imagined I would. But this time, I was really happy with the outcome. These shabby roses are fun to make. I saw one of these necklaces on etsy a while ago, and was so tempted to buy it, but it cost over fifty dollars! I just wouldn't spend that much on accessories, so I made my own and I like it just as much.

Tutu

I have been wanting to make a tutu for a long time because, well, they're adorable. I don't have children to make one for, and I would feel silly wearing one myself... so I made one for Lizzy. She LOVES it. I guess I should say, I love it and I tell her that she loves it too.

Bows

Lately, I have been really obsessed with ruffles and bows and other girly things. So I made a bunch of bows while watching Sense and Sensibility. Such a happy afternoon activity. Spencer said he was glad that I did it while he was at work. I think he was worried about his estrogen levels rising should he have joined me. "What is it with girls and movie titles made up of two abstract nouns?" asked Spencer. Silly boy. Lucky for me he watches many a chick flick on my behalf, so I really can't complain.

It's a Command and a Date!

March 4th!

I have been thinking lately about goals. I love setting goals, but sometimes I feel like I have to have the perfect "start date" to begin. I want to wait for the first day of the month, or even the first day of the week (because who starts a perfectly good goal on a Wednesday I ask you?). I guess it is the perfectionist in me that wants things to be organized and even.
But you know what, I woke up today thinking about a project I want to start, and I decided to start it right now, random Thursday that it is. It was shortly after I made this resolve that I realized that today is a good day to start a new goal anyways because it's March fourth/forth. How appropriate! Anyhow, here is my goal:

Spend time EVERY SINGLE DAY (even if it's only five or fifteen minutes) doing something creative just for the sake of enjoyment.

It sounds like a pretty broad goal, I realize. However, I have discovered that creating makes me happy. I think that the process of creating is therapeutic, weather it be creating a new relationship, a good memory, a piece of art, or an organized space. I love to write. I love photography. I like keeping records of what I have been up to, and I like seeing the progress I have made and the many things I have accomplished. So I am going to keep track of more of what I create on this blog, because I often go for weeks or months without writing, and it's not because I haven't done anything exciting (more likely because I didn't take the time to document my current projects).

So anyhow, Happy March 4th!