Merry Christmas To All..........

and to all a good night!!  The retail insanity has just a couple of days left.  Then sleep will come.  For those of you who have ever worked retail you know how it goes. 

I would just like to take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thanks so much for all the kind words and praise.  It means so much.

I leave you with a photo of my Christmas tree in all its nighttime glory!!!!

Kari

Itty Bitty Sheet Music Trees

A couple of weeks ago before the open house at "Not so Shabby", I made some large sheet music trees following the tutorial on HGTV.com.  I loved how they turned out!!  And they were quite a bit of work but easy.......just labor intensive!!

When I was working in my booth last week, a customer requested that I make some small (like 5-6" tall) sheet music trees to use in homemade snow globes.  So I thought, why not, I can do this!  I made my own cones out of a cereal box.  I then followed the same method for making the larger trees.  When I was done I glued either a star or a small bead on the top.  I also used some glitter glue to embellish a few of the "branches".  And yes, they are for sale in my booth but I had to photograph them next to the church in my Christmas village.

So, so cute!!

Enjoy!!
Kari

Linked to:
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

Yardstick Stars

A while ago I was at a local thrift store run by the local Humane Society.  I don't usually find much there but I like to go in and see the cats they have for adoption, plus it is next to Hobby Lobby so I ventured in.

In a corner I found a tub full of yardsticks.  They are probably not vintage but they were cheap so I bought a bunch at .29 each.  I was not sure what I was going to do with them.  So I googled projects with yardsticks and came across a tutorial for a yardstick star at Mamie Janes.  So I made a few.  A couple I put in my booth and one I strung with red Christmas lights and hung it on my fence.

Here is one pictured in my booth.........

I just love the rustic look.  I may try cutting one up and making ornaments like Mamie Jane did too.  See her ornaments here.

Enjoy!
Kari

Not So Shabby Open House

Last weekend the shop where I sell my creations had their annual open house.  It was a rousing success!!

My booth

I worked like crazy to get everything ready.  My booth was all set to go with the theme "Rustic Elegance".  I also took on a table to decorate with some garage sale finds.  It all turned out so cute.  I thought I would share some pics.

My booth and others

My table

All the rest of these pictures are of some of my fellow vendors creations and booth pictures. All the pics are from "Not so Shabby's" facebook page.
Enjoy!!

Kari

MIA and Unique Gift Wrap

I know, I know I did no posting in the month of Oct.  Bad, bad, blogger.  I could come up with a million excuses but basically life just got ahead of me.  So I am back, full of fun ideas for the upcoming Christmas season and lots of just plain fun stuff!!

Tomorrow, the hubby and I are headed to a wedding.  I wanted to do a unique gift wrap.  Something memorable, something different.

So.........I took some brown craft paper and wrapped the 2 boxes.  I then taped the boxes together using packing tape.  I went to Hobby Lobby and using a 40% off coupon, I purchased a fun ribbon.  I then tied the ribbon around the 2 boxes and made a bow.  Also, at Hobby Lobby, a purchased a wood "S" , the new couples monogram.  I painted the back of the "S" black and covered the front with old dictionary pages using mod podge.  I then used walnut distress ink to give it more of a distressed look.  I then put a sawtooth hanger on the back and using twine tied it to the ribbon.  Voila, a unique gift wrap that will be as memorable as the present!!!

What is in the present you may ask? I will reveal that later after the wedding. We don't want to spoil the surprise!!!

Kari

Linked to:
tatertotsandjello.com

Tip Of the Week Thursday- Homemade Laundry Stain Remover

This recipe for homemade laundry stain remover I got from a neighbor years ago.  It sure beats the commercial stain removers and removes just about every stain.  I have used it on all types of fabric but if you are in doubt about the colorfastness then test it on an inside seam.

1/2 cup liquid laundry detergent ( I like Tide but any will work)
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup water

Mix all the ingredients together in a spray bottle.  Shake well.  Spray on stains and wash as usual!!

Happy Laundry Day!!!

Kari

If you have a tip for me  I will try to use it on my Thursday posts.  Just leave a comment!!  Thanks!!

Puppy Dog Birthday Cake

Yesterday was my birthday........Happy Birthday to me!!  My dear husband got me the cutest cake from our local bakery.  I love dogs as many of you know. Well, he got me a dog cake. I think that the pictures say it all............so here is the cake with a close up of a couple of the dogs!!

I so love it!! Maybe those of you that decorate cakes( not me sorry!) can find some inspiration from this.......It would be cute for a kids b-day!!

Kari

PS. The cake was marble, with raspberry filling and buttercream icing!!

Linked to:
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Tip of the Week Thursday-Tinting Chalk Paint

This weeks Thursday tip involves my favorite paint- chalk paint.  I do a lot of small painting projects and I really cannot afford to buy chalk paint in every color.  I wish I could but it is beyond my budget and as we talked last week- I am cheap!!

So I took this......


And mixed it with some of this.......



What I did was took chalk paint in old white and mixed it with some craft paint to get the desired color.  I just mixed enough for my project ( maybe a little bit more so I did not run out) I used just a few drops of the craft paint.  The paint still had the desired "chalkiness" and distressed wonderfully!!

Here is a large spoon I painted grey using old white chalk paint and slate gray craft paint.........

A couple of close ups....

 I have done this with several other small projects and it works great!!

Got a tip to add to "Tip of the Week"..........just leave a comment and I will try and use it!! Thanks!!


Kari

BIG.............Finial!!

Earlier this year I was blog surfing ( I guess that what is is called) and I came across this real cool finial at Mod Vintage Life and was totally impressed.  Wow, I want to do that but how to find the lamp to do it with.  So, I looked around at the various thrift stores and not a lamp to be found that would foot the bill.

So I quit looking.  Just put that idea on the back burner.  Then I talked my hubby into going into Goodwill that is on the way to the cottage.  He would not go in.  He stayed in the car with the girls and listened to his "50's on 5" !!

Well the look on his face was priceless when I came out with this......

"What in the world are you going to do with that "thing"". Of coarse I had a plan so home it went. Here are a couple of other pics.

I am sure she was beautiful in 1975!! Anyway, I cut off the cord and removed the socket that was there (but not in my pics!!) I then gave her a good scrubbing and painted her with chalk paint in Olde White. I let that dry and then distressed her with some dark brown paint. I then painted a small wooden finial that I had and glued it on the top of the lamp.

Viola.........a big, heavy, finial. I am not quite sure where it is going to go in my house but I am sure I will find a place for it!!

Kari

Linked to:
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/
http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Tip of the Week Thursday!!

I am starting a new feature today..........I am calling it "Tip of the Week Thursday".  Every Thursday I plan to tell you about a great tip I have discovered.  It could be about cleaning ( not my fav thing!!), cooking, crafting, travel, or just something I think you might find useful.

So todays tip is about cleaning.  I hate to clean the bathroom........really really hate it.  So anything to make it easier helps.  We have an old re glazed tub and a new ceramic tile surround.
 Mix about 1 ounce of this:


to about 10 ounces of water in a spray bottle.  Spray the tub and tile with this solution after each shower. It will help the soap scum  just slide off the tile and WOW  easier cleaning. Also its cheaper than those "after shower" cleaning sprays!
We got this tip from the guy who re glazed the tub!!

It you have a tip to share just e-mail me....and I will share it!!

Kari

A Farmhouse Chair on the Cheap!!

I am cheap!!  Some may call me thrifty but I am just plain cheap!!  I like unique things but I will not spend a fortune on something.  I will find a way to do it on the cheap!!

So, lets take this chair I found at a yard sale for $5.  It had good bones and the lady conducting the sale said it was her parents so she figured it was about 50 years old.  She said it also had 3 siblings that "died" a long time ago.  So here it is in my garage after bringing it home........

It still has the price sticker on it!!

Anyway, at another sale I found an old Gold Medal flour sack for $4. ( guess where this is going?) So, I removed the dusty, musty seat and painted the chair with chalk paint in olde white. Then I painted some "grain sack" stripes down the back and distressed it. I finished with a coat of clear wax. I then covered the seat with the flour sack. For $9 and some change I got a farmhouse chair!!

Kari

Linked to: http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
http://www.504main.com/
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/
http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Funky Junk's Best of 2011 Party

Hydrangeas Take 2 and a Sunset!

Last month I posted a couple of really, really and terrible photos of hydrangeas at our cottage.  When we went there again for Labor day weekend I thought they would be way past their prime BUT I was wrong.  So here they are again.......Color Fantasy Hydrangeas!!

While we were at our cottage we ventured over to Lake Michigan to see the sunset. It was quiet and peaceful and we just enjoyed the evening. I did manage to shoot a few pics!!

Enjoy!!

Kari