1 guess what I am up to!!!

1 Ung Drill frame from IKEA + 1 can of PLASTICS spray paint + 1 can of chalkboard spray paint

NEED I SAY MORE???

Who else is stuck inside on this frigid day?

Fit for a princess...

Well, I'm back.  My house is coming back together.  Finally.  We made some new paint choices and even rearranged the furniture, to make the most of a terrible situation!  It helped. :)  I'll show off some of the new look soon!

For today though, I'm sharing a fun project for that little girl of yours.  I've wanted some sort of plaque above Sasha's bed for some time now.  And like most 4 year olds she is very much into princesses right now.  I love the architectural crowns I see everywhere - like in Ballard Designs.  Hobby Lobby is my go to place for those kinds of knock-offs, and my trip there to find inspiration for this project did not diasppoint! {But the again, does Hobby Lobby EVER disappoint?}

So I found a red metallic tray in the clearance section, that had the lovliest shape.  And I found a crown in the religious aisle(?)...   Together they gave me exactly what I was looking for.

I don't have a before picture of the tray, but I spray painted it ballet slipper pink (Krylon!).  And I spray painted the crown glossy white... little tip here, I've learned {the hard way, I'm afraid} that when it comes to white, always, always go with glossy.  Flat and sometimes satin are just bad, bad... as in they look bad.  More of a gray white and chalky.  Blech.

I glued the crown to the tray - gorilla glue works, even hot glue maybe?  And voila!  A beautiful plaque, fit for a princess.

Now I just need some ideas as to HOW to hang it... probably above the bed in place of her "4".  Do they make plate hangers that big??? Or should I try something else?  Ideas please!!!

DIY Address Sign

When I was in Salt Lake a month ago I went into this really cool hardware store that I can't quite remember the name of (I think it was called Silver Star Hardware).  It had the largest selection of address numbers I have EVER seen.  And I have always wanted to do my house address in big silver numbers, so I keep watch. At an average of $15 dollars per number, it just hasn't happened yet. I was so inspired by the variety of numbers I saw in this store, however, that I knew just how to remedy my situation and get my house address noticed.

First, I spray painted a 9.5 x 24 inch piece of scrap wood in my garage.  You see, this is why I never throw anything away.  My husband still doesn't get it.  I distressed the edges with sandpaper.  Then I found some fonts I liked - one for each number to make it fun and quirky (that's me!).  I made a stencil for each number and traced those onto a product called Create With Metal Designer Metal Sheets.  They come in a variety of gauges and colors.  I used .005 thick, 36 gauge soft aluminum.  SO EASY to work with.  Not like some other kinds of metal that have left me bleeding and suffering for days.  (What some people will do in the name of creativity, huh?)  I cut my numbers out and attached them to my wood with Elmer's Wood Glue.  I am sure there is something more effective than that, but it's what I had.  I knew hot glue would probably warp the metal, so that option was out.  To reenforce the numbers (and give it somewhat of an industrial appeal) I put a few nails in each number as well.

HERE is the finished product!

I love it!  Not sure where I am going to put it quite yet.  I set it here in the meantime.  What do you think, is it fine where it is? 

Or should I hang it on that left pillar?

Hmmm, I am undecided.

Whilst I am showing off my front porch, check out this darling bench I picked up at Tuesday Morning!  I've been looking for just the right one since we moved in 2 years.  And there it was all the sudden, beckoning to me.  When I'd just about given up!  Isn't that how it always how is with love? ;)