My Fun Christmas Mantel

Hey there!

This morning when I got up and looked outside it was snowing.  I'm not a fan of the snow, although I've come to tolerate it over the years. (I supposed I have no choice living in Canada... in Southern Ontario... in the snowbelt... where it snows... alot!.

So I thought some Christmas decorating was in order.

I'm not quite done my new family room built-ins ( one final coat of stinky paint), but I decided to tackle my mantle.

My original plan was to re-do my mantel.  Built-in out... chunky-it-up. But time is getting away from me... and I'm seriously tired of going to Rona and looking for wood-cutting- old-guy-BFF.  So I'm going with what I've got... for now.

This is what it currently looks like...

Yes, I believe the word is "blah". I kind of like the brick (kinda/sorta) but the mantel is small... really small.

But that will be a 2012 project. And If I can dream a little, I'll add in a gas fireplace insert too.

(remember I said dream, as I think know it's NOT in the budget)

Anyhoo...

Because I didn't want to spend any money I went into the Christmas totes and gathered some supplies and went to work.

I took an old wreath that I've had for probably 13 years or so and took it apart. 

Then I found some fake poinsetta flowers in white and red and took them apart and added it to my wreath form.

I also found some flimsy green garland from along time ago as well.  I ended up doubling the garland just to make is look thicker. 

So here is a progress shot...

Then the kids started arguing about how blue the sky was or something and stopped taking any more progress pictures.

Sorry... but I'm sure you can figure out how I put the rest together.

I added lights and other different fillers that I "found" in my totes and went to town.

Here are some pretty pictures...

And one final one... ( I promise)

I kept to my red and white colour scheme (which is through out my home), and it kept whimisical by added a snowman that used to sing and dance (but someone removed the music box from it)

What are you up today?

Have you decorated your mantel yet?  If you need some inspiration check out Rhoda's Mantel Party.

Can you guess What I'm up to?

I'm busy today... really busy!

Can you guess what I'm up to?

I'll give you two virtual cookies to whom ever guesses what I'm up to. :)

A little love in the House!

Hello!!

As promised... I'm back with my first ever Loving My home Linky party.

As usual my projects never go according to plan. 

uuuuggghhh.

I actually blogged about this project a few weeks ago.

I was sooo frustrated with it, that I ended up just putting it aside for awhile.

But now it's done... and I'm sooooo happy with it.

Here's where I first started with this project.

And NO it looks nothing like what I first started out creating,

cause I saw something else that I liked even more on another blog.

(but now I don't remember where, so it's you, let me know, k.?)

So I painted the frame all-white.

(this is a before-before picture)

Then I picked out my scrapbook papers. (I have tons to choose from, cause... well... I'm a scrapbooker)

 For a little contrast I used one Fuschia scrapbook paper with the word "LOVE." printed on it, and I used the heart punch by Martha Steward that I picked up at Michaels to punch it out.

 (with a 40% coupon of course)

  

Then I marked out my paper, so that the hearts were all spaced out evenly and used 3D foam squares to raise them off the page. (you can get these anywhere scrapbook paper is sold.)

Here it is on a little table in my living room with a little dollar store birdie that I spray painted last year.

(I love that I missed the beak underneath. :-))

And here's the final project. I put it in my kitchen and it makes me smile everytime i walk by.

And now it's your turn.

How have you shown a little love in your house recently?



(please spread the love, and link back here so others can join in.)

I'm also joinning these parties:

 

A little paint makes such a difference

About two years or so, I mentioned to the family (during a lull in dinnertime conversation) that I wanted to remove the wall paper from the upstairs hallway. 

I said it, but didn't really mean to do anything about it,

but I did SAY IT out loud.

Ever have one of those moments?

A few days later I came upstairs to find all three kids ripping wallpaper from the walls!!!

They thought they would get me started on the project. 

They were helping me. I love those kids.

Did I mention that although I said it, I really didn't have any intention of doing it... any-time-soon!

So this is how our upstairs hallway looked for over two years until a couple of days ago.

 

That white spot is from a light fixture I had removed.
Two years ago.

  Yeap , that's how we lived for over two years.

After a while it just becomes part of the decor.

Do you see where the wallpaper used to be?

Do you see the fur in the cold air return.

I know I've vaccummed the outside of these before.

When I took it off, I cleaned it all up with my fave

 Shaklee Basic H2 before I painted it!

I love that stuff!!

What?? You don't see it?  Here's a close-up!!



I think we have a pet living in there!



And of course, the little bit pieces of wallpaper behind the covers.

 Everytime I went upstairs I'd hang my head in shame... and then I'd go back down stairs and forget about it.  Yeap I did. Shocker!

Well, I finally got out that can of paint that I bought two years ago and got started.

(did I mention I've had the paint, and the brushes all along? I just couldn't find my painting clothes ;-))

I painted the trim with Benjamin Moore's Cloud White.

I painted the walls and trim in

Benjamin Moore's HC 90 - Crown Point Sand.

It's a pale mossy green and I love it! 

I have a question... That closet up there doesn't have trim around it. 

Would you add trim?

There's only room on two sides to add trim though.

(Yes we are planning on replacing the doors with six panel doors as soon as I find them really cheap or free!)

Here's the before and after.

I seriously don't know why it took me two years to do this!!

Awww... so fresh, so clean!

What have you painted lately!

I'm linking up to some of these parties.

More Fall Decorating

Honestly, I think my home looks best decorated in Fall decor.

All the warm colours just makes it soooo.... cozy!

I took a vase that I had from this large candle holder, and filled it with tiny pinecones from outside. 

( I took little A and his friend on a pinecone hunt).

I used some flowers from dollar store from last year,

and some sticks left over from my little sister's wedding last year.

I glued the glass top/vase to a glass candle holder I had around.

(I've seen the project being done everywhere. Here's how to make them)

What Fall decorating have you been doing??

I'm partying at some of these places and Julia's party  and Jen's party too!

Please take a moment to visit my online Shaklee website!

Where I blog & Garage Sale Finds

How was your weekend?

This weekend I spent some time garage saleing by myself. I like going with others, but I find it faster to go alone (no one to wait for).

I found these:

The tealight candles were:  50 cents
The Clock was $1.00
Tealight holders: 50 cents each (one had the original tag for Winners for $4.99)
The Silver Caddy: 25 cents
The Boys clothes: 50 cents (perfect for first day of school)

So in total I spent $3.25!!  I'll show you later this week what I do with these finds.

So, Kate at Centsational Girl is having a Where do you Blog party, and since I love me a party, I decided to join in!

This is where you will find me most mornings and late evenings on my fave chair in the  Family Room. 

(hmmm... lampshade is crooked) 

When we updated our very dated family room furniture, I gotta me a Momma-Bear chair.

(that's what I call it)

On the little table beside it, is a little box with Muskoka's ashes (our last dog),

and some pictures of the kids when they were babies.

Of course, you will always find a drink there for me too (this time coffee).

I also have an "office" in the basement, but I only go down there when the kids are in school and I can get down there by myself without worrying about them.

So where do you blog?

I'm also linking up to some of these parties.

Please check out my online Shaklee Shop.

A Frugal Fall Wreath

It's chilly and crispy today, and it's got me thinking about Fall. All around Blogland everyone is talking Fall. Apparently even the Pottery Barn Catalogue is out with a bunch of fall ideas. (not that I get one).


So I decided to join the bandwagon and start getting ready for Fall.

I ran down to my scary storage room and pulled out my bin with "Fall Decor labelled on it". First thing I saw, was this guy.

My girls named him 'Jack' when he first showed up on our front door. I made him (well not him but the wreath itsef) about 8 or 9 years ago. I was sooo excited to have made him that I put him on door too early cause I opened the door one day to have my neighbour standing there with him in her hands saying "He's cute, but I can't you bring on the Fall yet. You have to wait until at least Sept 15th!" We had a good laugh and I stored Jack for a little while longer.

So I took the whole thing apart and was left with this...

Then I took a bunch of Chrysanthemums that I also found in "Fall Decor" bin and cut them all up. 

(No other plant says "fall" like chrysanthemum flowers.) 

I'm not sure where these flowers came from cayse I don't remember buying them.

 Then I hot glued them to the  wreath and added ribbon.

I think I need more flowers.  What do you think?

This cost me nothing cause I used stuff I had on hand.

Are you on the Fall Bandwagon yet?

I'm linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's Fall Inspiration party.

And linking to some of these parties.

DIY Show Off

And yes... I'm waiting until at least Sept 15th put it up as not to upset the neighbour. :-)

Please check out my online Shaklee Website

A Different kind of Company

A Powder Room Update

When we moved into this house 5 years ago, one of the very (many) first things we did was change all of the sinks in the bathrooms.  For some reason there were rust holes around the all the sink holes, that had been patched up but still looked awful. 

We also 'splurged' and updated the light fixtures and a couple of the counter tops.

I wish I had the before-before of powder room to show you the loveliness that we had.

WARNING: Do not spray paint in small non ventilated rooms!

This is a picture from around Christmas, when I decided to spray paint directly unto the cabinet.  Not a smart move!  I nearly passed out from the fumes! And the smell lasted for a few days weeks in the house, since there is no window in that bathroom. Yes, it's been like that since Christmas, don't judge!

I'm not sure if you can tell but the door handles (which were removed the day we moved in 5 years ago) were smack dab in the middle of the bottom cabinets and were u-g-l-y!! I replaced the drawer handle with some I had brought from something from our last house.  I only had two which was perfect.

Like I said we replaced the counter tops.  This one in particular is faux black granite (I don't know what it is called) We bought it off the shelf at Home Depot.  As you can see it is not as wide as the old counter and back splash.  The walls are painted with a textured Ralph Lauren paint... I think it's a suede technique that they used on it.  I can't find this paint and I haven't got a clue how to remove it other than sanding.  Hubby likes the colour and suede look, so I've left it alone, but what do I do about those patches??!?

So I finally got around to painting the cabinet and patching those bottom cabinet holes.

 (and getting rid of the spray paint patch).

Here it is now...

I love the new black colour!

So any ideas of what I can do about those patches on either side of backsplash?

Next I need to frame out that mirror. 

I've seen it done in a bunch of places in bloggy land and I think know I can do it too!

On a sad note... my parents left today.  They are spending the next couple of days at my sister's house who lives a few hours away from me.  I won't see them again for another year or so.

Here they are on the rocks in front of my house with the grandkids, taken this morning. Although we have been doing this long distance thing for the past 12 years, it doesn't get easier, especially now that they are older and facing some health problems.  I will miss them.  And I will miss them not being around for creating memories with the kids.  And I will miss my mom's cooking and dad's handiness. 

I wish them a safe trip back to Portugal!

I'm linking up to some of these parties