Look what I am working on today!!!

So, I was looking for some kind of table to put in my family room. I wanted doors instead of drawers, and I wanted a certain depth. Well, like my friend Kami says... "If you put it out there in the universe, it will come to you." So, I put it out there, and a few days later, I found this at the DI! It was the bottom part of a gun rack. I talked the folks at the DI down from $50 to $25, because I only wanted the bottom. It has been in the garage for a few weeks, and I am ready to get going today on painting it.

Look at the top. I pondered for a while what to do. It had a cut piece of marble on the top, with a large section cut out for the gun rack. I got rid of the marble, but the thought of getting all the glue off and making the top smooth makes me tired! So, I got a piece of veneered wood from Home Depo for $20. I had them cut it for me so it had an overhang, and we put it on top.

The edges were raw, so the handy Home Depo man helped me find a cheap and easy solution... This veneered edging! (Which is also paintable.)

This stuff is great! My nice husband (who normally tries to stay far away from my projects) helped me a ton with this. We followed the directions on the back of the package, but used a blow dryer instead of the iron. It was definitely a two person job. He also attached the top board. Thanks honey!

Well... time to get started! I will report back soon on my progress :)

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Fun With Fondant!!! (I am hooked!)

I have wanted to work with fondant for years... really, years. I thought it was reserved for professional cake decorators. My wedding cake was fondant, and it was expensive, so I figured I would never be able to afford to mess around with it on my own. Then back in April, I was watching Studio 5, and a segment came on about how to make your own fondant. You can find the link HERE. I was still a little worried about making my own, so I filed it in the back of my mind for a later date. Well, that later date was today, (...and last night - It is a two day process.) It is super easy, just takes a bit of time, and the fondant needs to sit over night, before it is ready to work with.

Here are just a few of the DARLING cupcakes we made today:

I almost think they are too pretty to eat! They are sitting on a dish in my kitchen and the kids are putting dibs on which one they want. I am not convinced they are getting any!!!

One more look - different angle. I can't help it!


The Close-ups:

Ghost:My inspiration was www.abakedcreation.com. I used fondant for the center instead of gumdrops, as I wanted a bigger ghost.

Spider - I just rolled it out, and used a spider cookie cutter.


Cat - just used a cat and moon cookie cutters I got from... you guessed it - Hobby Lobby. I think there were 12 in a pack for $2.99. I also used a basic circle cookie cutter.

Witch - This was my inspiration. She was the last of the dozen I made today, and I think she is my favorite :)

Pumpkins - super easy! I found the how-to on distracted gourmet.

Witch legs were on Woman's Day.

I pulled this one out of my own brain, but I don't know if I should claim it! :)

I hope this brought a smile!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Links:

Spooky Formal Dining Room...

When we were looking for a new house, I knew I wanted a formal dining room... Not necessarily to eat in, but to decorate for the holidays! We do eat in the formal dining room for holidays and other special meals or days, and we occasionally play games in there, but mostly I just keep it decorated for whatever holiday is next. Halloween has been super fun to decorate for this year!

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When I saw these salad plates and sparkly pumpkins at Hobby Lobby... I just knew I had to have them! They are what kicked off the theme for the room...

I already had the chargers (I got them at Taipan), and the dinner plates (I got them at Wal-mart for 4 for $5 at Christmas last year) I have used the dinner plates a ton. My only regret is that I didn't buy more.

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The Centerpiece:

I bought pumpkins from Michael's, and painted them a darker orange. I found an old curtain rod that I used for the stick. I put them in pots I normally have on my fireplace mantle in the living room, but am not using right now, and put them on little risers I got from the DI. I also tied a black and white damask ribbon on the stick, and set glittery skeletons on them.

I like how simple they are!

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What Halloween table would be complete with out a SPARKLY SPIDER (Ben Franklin) here or there?

It works on the goblet.

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This sassy little witch hangs from the chandelier:

I got her a few years back at TJ Maxx.

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The Curio: I try to make my Halloween fit into the rest of my decor. I left things pretty much as they were, and just swapped things out.


DI dishes and jack-o-lantern, the owl from Tai Pan, and pumpkin from Hobby Lobby. Left over fabric from my porch pillows.

I love this grouping!

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The thing that took me the longest to figure out, was what to do with the plate racks. I didn't want to spend much more money buying matching plates, so I just used black chargers, and the cream salad plates I already had. I bought a pair of black hand and arm salad tongs from Target for $2.99, and split them apart, hanging one on each side. I secured them using tulle, ribbon and pipe cleaners that I already had.


It worked perfectly to help me achieve the length I needed, and I think it is unexpected - which I like - no, I LOVE!

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What are you doing for your Halloween table?

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My First Kitchen Remodel

As I was looking for old pics of my kids to blow up for Halloween... I came across photos of my old house. It was our first home. We are in our second home now. I gave the kitchen a face lift, and thought I would share it with you...

This is how it looked when I was finished:


The home was built in 1979, and the style is "Salt Box." It was a two story, with three bedrooms on the second story, in the back of the house, so it didn't look like it is a two story from the front of the house, and had a very slopped roof. I always thought the home had a sort of cottage feel, and wanted to keep the same feel inside. I loved the features, including the beams in the dining room.

Only problem: Like I said... it was built in 1979. The cabinetry and hardware was original (as was the yellow oven), and all the walls were pure white, from baseboards to ceiling. Also, it had a lovely drop ceiling complete with fluorescent lights.

These are the only pics I could scrounge up. I really hated going in there, and tried not to take any pics. I should have though!!! What can I say? This was before my blogging days.



I couldn't take it, and replaced the hardware with brushed nickel right after moving in.

I decided I wanted a "French Country," feel in the house, so I took my color theme from a vase I had in my home. It was mustard yellow with a brown glaze. I wanted variety with my cabinets, and wanted them to look like they were separate pieces.




I wanted to carry the beam theme throughout, so I built the faux beam above the sink, and made it look like it was held up with corbels. Did I mention I did this ALL BY MYSELF, with NO HELP from my husband??? Well, he did buy me a miter saw... Thanks Honey :) He just came home from a trip one day, and I had sanded all the doors. I wasn't familiar with the wonders of spray paint at the time :)

This pic is before the new counter came.


I popped the panel off the dishwasher, and replaced it with bead board.


I wrapped the entire base of the bar in bead board, and well as the back splash. The legs on the end of the bar, are off a headboard I got from the DI for $6. I just painted and attached them.

I had no money in the budget for new flooring, but this is the finished product. I was very happy with the result! Oh, I forgot to mention, I also had under cabinet lights put it, while the back splash was off. That was a nice touch.


Now to the dining portion...

I really have no pics at all of how it looked at first :( Imagine all white walls, and an ORANGE brick fireplace, straight from the 70's... I painted soon after moving in, and we had super nice neighbors who helped us cover the fireplace with wood. I kept the original mantle, and just painted it.


Can you see in the pic below? I also left the brick and just painted it on the hearth and around the opening. I didn't want a fire hazard. See the yellow pots? They were my inspiration for the cabinets.

It was rather large and plain...

Before:

After:



I ended up finding a separate mantle from the DI, which I painted and put in front of the opening. I felt like it gave added interest, and helped with the proportions.


I put metal corbels in the windows for added interest.

I also chipped all the old 70's tile out of the windows, and replaced it with wood and these decorative plaques I got from Tai Pan Trading and painted white.

We replaced the faucet. I also replaced the hardware. The switch plate and outlet covers were wrought iron, and charming :) Click on the above pic for a better look. Look at the mouldings - crown and under the window.

I have so many great memories in that house. Thanks for sharing my walk down memory lane with me today!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!



Thanks for your comments. I love them :)

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