Black Board Painted Cabinet

Disclaimer:  These pictures are not the best...I understand that but bear with me.  It's hard to take a decent picture in this area...I don't have a super duper expensive camera....I don't have the time to do the fancy editing software nor the desire to learn at this time....I blog for fun and am not in it to impress :)  How's that for keeping it real!!!

So with that said....I am a little embarrassed by how cluttered this is ....I didn't realize how bad it looked.... This is our back door entrance.  The kitchen is set up goofy...I didn't design it.  You walk in and the counter and cabinets are right there. 

The back of the cabinet is at eye level.  It bugs me but how do I fix it without a MAJOR remodel at this time?  And one day it hits me....BLACKBOARD PAINT!

Yes, of course..

So I went to work and scuffed it up with sand paper so I could paint over it....

2 coats of paint later and I have a totally useable surface

Now we can write notes, or Bible verses or shopping lists......

The possibilities are endless.....Today this is the first thing you see when you walk in the back door....

Much better than just the back of a cabinet.  I love this paint.....

hmmmmmmmm.....wonder what I can do next?!!!

Yes, I know clean up that clutter....but besides that!!!!! 

Blessings,

Linda

linking up at:

http://www.niftythriftythings.com/2012/01/nifty-thrifty-sunday-42.html

http://thetatteredtag.blogspot.com/  

http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/ 

http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/

http://athomewithk.blogspot.com 

Cabinet Redo

Does anyone remember what a VCR looks like?  I do...in fact I still have one and use it quite often.  I was feeling a little modern when I bought the VCR/DVD combo player!  LOL!  Now your suppose to have blue ray and HD high definition...or so I am told.  The tv I have my VCR hooked up to is a million years old so none of the new technology would work anyways so I okay with what I have....but that's not what I am here to show you. 

Before Christmas I stopped at the Restore and found this.....

I know cheap looking - ugly fake wood...but don't turn your nose up...there is potential!

Good storage space....

I know nothing super fancy....but it was $1.00....yes one dollar!

So I was thinking if I could use it for something else....craft supplies...basement storage???????

But then I thought I could paint it...change out the hardware and maybe even try a stencil ( I was feeling brave!)

So  I put a coat of primer on it.  I then painted it using Almond Oil - one of the colors I used in the dining/piano room and added a stencil using White Picket Fence....sounds like a nice, homey color right?!  (It's the other color I used in our dining/piano room.) 

Here is the cabinet all redone with some cute snowman :)

Her new location....at the bottom of the stairs.

Perfect size for this space.

Can you guess what's inside???

VCR tapes and DVD's :)  What a shocker!

The transformation.

Not bad for a few bucks....

Cabinet - $1.00

Paint - had on hand

new hardware...on sale Menards $3.00 each

Stencil - Wal-Mart $3.25 (around there)

Blessings,

Linda

 Linking up at:

http://www.waywardgirlscrafts.com 

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/
http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/2012/01/craftomaniac-monday.html
http://www.chef-in-training.com 

http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com

Cat Cuff

When life gives you lemons make lemonade. 

So I had a craft fail!!!!  I was going to make a necklace from an old knit shirt.  I saw a really neat crochet cuff added that someone else made and loved it.  Since I don't crochet I thought I would use a sweater cuff.  Well I put it together and it was totally not what I pictured in my head.  It was HORRIBLE!

  So instead of a cool necklace I took my fail and made a cat toy that my cats LOVE!

So I thought I would share with  you my fail that turned out cool in case you wanted to make a fun toy for your cats also.

Cut a cuff off an old sweater.

Add pieces of a shirt to the cuff:  I cut 3 strips into 1" strips

( I cut off all the other strips I originally had sewm on for my necklace)

Braid the pieces together and make a long "tail" for cats to chase and play with.

Ruth and Naomi are loving it :)

(Ruth didn't feel like posing tonight but sends her love!)

Blessings,

Linda

Sweater Mittens

Last night I had an itch.....

                          A creative itch that is....

                                       I wanted to make something.... 

                                                      I wanted to be crafty....

                                                                          It helps me relax....

So I went upstairs and sat on the floor of our guest bedroom/craft room...and looked around.  I saw a thrifted sweater sitting on the bed that I had already cut up to use for another project I started but didn't feel like working on (this is a downfall ~ sorry!) - side note:  sweaters are a great thing to pick up cheap at rummage sales in the summer....lots of uses later on :)

It was snowing outside and I thought why not try making mittens!  I've seen them before and heard they weren't hard to make so I said lets give it a try!  So I traced my hand and being too lazy I pinned the paper to the sweater and then cut it out while cutting the mitten too.... I sewed it up and laughed because it was too small....... so I sewed it into a pouch for my ipod and special cord to use as a traveling case for the car....there is always another use for something!!!!

Next....I said to myself...."Self....this really isn't suppose to be hard!"  So I went downstairs and googled "making mittens out of sweaters" and found really easy directions here.........  http://frugalliving.about.com/od/craftsgifts/ss/Sweater_Mittens.htm

Basically I had the idea right I just didn't cut it out big enough.  But now the problem was I had wasted one sleeve and cut off part of the hem on the bottom of the sweater for my other project....so of course my project became just slightly more complicated....but it really wasn't that big of deal!

I traced my hand again and this time cut the pattern out before putting on the body of the sweater.  I planned on attaching the "hem" afterwards.  The hem keeps the mittens from unraveling and help the mittens fit better.

I cut out my mittens....made sure that right sides are together and sewed them up.....I then turned them rightside out and attached the bottom sweater hem to the bottom  of my mitten and made myself a pair of slightly deformed looking mittens :)  This is really an easy project....very beginner level....and fast!!!!! (the whole project - including mess up took an hour or less)

Think of all the cute mittens you could have~ They are an easy accessory like scarves!  Let me know if you try it!  I would love to hear any of your tips too!!!

Blessings,

Linda :)

linking up at:

http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/
http://athomewithk.blogspot.com
 http://thecraftmonkey.blogspot.com/

http://www.sew-much-ado.com/
http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com

http://www.thekurtzcorner.com

Organization Idea

I just thought I would share this idea I saw in a magazine a few years ago.  I believe it was in Home Made Simple but not sure on that.  When I read it...I thought what a smart idea!

If you don't have a lot of storage space and you have an extra door use a shoe holder bag (not sure of the technical term)  You can have it hold cords for charging things (iPods, phones,....), mittens, hats, etc.... Living in WI we have plenty of snow gear so I love that I can find my mittens without having to drive myself crazy in the morning looking for them!  I also love knowing where my cord for my iPod or or cell phone are when I need to charge them.  It doesn't take up much space and it is incredibly handy!  I use the top pouches for all the cords.

Excuse the picture....I know it is not very good but I wanted to give you an idea of what I was talking about in case you weren't sure.  There is not much light in this dark space.  The door leads to our basement and there are hooks on the wall for hanging our coats.  It's the perfect location for this.

Here is to a little less chaos in our lives!!!!!!

Blessings,
Linda

Delicious and Healthy Granola

One of the things I made for gifts this year was homemade granola.  It is delicious and a healthy alternative to all the sugary Christmas treats.  Not that I don't love a good cookie or piece of fudge as much as the next person! :)  This granola is very tasty and uses agave nectar for the sweetener.  I enjoy it year round and thought I would share it with you.....

The recipe is from the Daniel Fast Cookbook by Grace Bass and Lynda Anderson ~ however I do not consider it Daniel Fast friendly since it does have sweetener in it.  That is just my conviction. (if your interested in knowing more about Daniel fasting I would be happy to share with you!  It's a great way to spiritually start out the new year!) 

Without further ado...here is the recipe:

1/2 cup raw agave nectar

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cups oats (old fashioned) uncooked

1/2 cup whole-grain wheat flour

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/4 tsp salt (don't you love my melted sea salt container - lol!)

1/2 cups raisins

1 tsp peanut oil to lightly grease baking sheet

Instructions:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees

* Stir together agave, oil, and cinnamon in a small bowl

* Stir other ingredients together in large bowl

* Add agave mixture to oatmeal mixture, stirring until combined

* Spread oat mixture onto baking sheet

* Bake for 20 minutes...stirring every 5 minutes

* Let cool and store in airtight container

I usually double the recipe and sometimes add craisins, dried pineapple and raw sunflower seeds and walnuts.

Look at that deliciousness!!!!

when ready to eat just add fresh fruit or stir into yogurt or even just eat by the handful as is....

Let me know if you try it and how you like it....or if you have a favorite recipe for granola I would love to see yours!

Blessings,

Linda

linking up:

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/

http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-talent-show-18.html 

http://www.itsoverflowing.com/ 

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/ 

http://kadie-sevenalive.blogspot.com/2012/01/link-it-up-thursday-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SevenAlive%20(Seven%20Alive)