love free projects

Awhile back I got a lamp base at Target on clearance for about $6.

I figured I would use it in Haley’s room but the lampshade I had was one I got from Goodwill and it was hideous. But it was only about $2 so I figured I could come up with some way to cover it’s ugliness.

So after, ooohhhh, about eight months I finally figured out the perfect solution.

The idea came to me as I was cleaning out Haley’s closet.

I found a tu-tu skirt that she used to wear last year that didn’t fit anymore, and I knew it was too cute and held too many memories for me to just donate it.

I was going to just put it in a box but suddenly I had this amazing idea to use it as a cover for Haley’s lampshade!

It only took about three seconds!

Well, maybe like, five minutes to get it perfect. =0)

The bottom of the lampshade was just a little wider in circumference (wow, haven’t used THAT word since high school), than her skirt was, so I cut about a 1” slit up the back of it just to get it to fit over the shade completely.

The top of the shade was showing just a little bit so I added an old belt that was also in the ‘donate’ pile.

Can you tell that Haley is an animal lover?

I also love that I can remove the skirt at anytime and change out the style of the lampshade.

I could totally be onto something here…slipcovered lampshades??? Genius!

Only six days to Christmas peoples!

I still have so much to get done…namely, almost all of my shopping.

Oops!!!!!

Thanks for clicking on my linky pictures and actually reading my blog!

You’re comments make my day!

Smoochies!!

cozying up

Haley is almost asleep,

the dogs have finally settled in after going outside 5,000

times to use the bathroom,

and me and the hubs are about to watch one of my favorite Christmas movies ever.

So thankful for my family and a nice warm cozy home.

=0)

create

I wanted to add a little inspiration to my craft room/office.

So I grabbed a few things I already had around the house

and came up with this:

I spray painted the frame with Rustoleum’s semi-gloss black, then distressed it a bit.

Inside is a piece of scrapbook paper.

I printed out the word ‘create’ in a font that I liked, and transferred it to my scrapbook paper, then filled it in with a charcoal pencil.

I was planning on painting the word but I was sitting at my desk and the pencil was right next to me so I decided to go with that. =0)

Just to give you an idea as to how lazy I am.

Plus zero cleanup!!

Luckily, my husband doesn’t mind the pink. =0)

I hope everyone’s having a Merry Christmas season!!

Have you got all of your shopping done?

pretty pictures

Aren’t these beautiful? These pictures make me want to just redo my entire house in all white.

Maybe one day…first step is getting that Pottery Barn couch and loveseat I want.

Wink, wink!!

Okay, who am I kidding. If I get anything at all, it will be Ikea’s Ektorp series. In white of course!!

I’m fine with that. Especially since I can get the whole set for less than one PB couch. Hello!!!!

I actually want to sell off all of our current furniture and scour garage sales and thrift stores for unique replacements that I can paint however my little heart desires.

I think I can get the hubs on board with that, don’t you??

=0)

Have you seen this??

Maybe I'm living under a rock, but I just saw this tonight.

Amazing.

One more reason why I want to move to Canada someday. =0)

trying it out

So I am trying to figure out how Windows Live Writer works since that was recommended to me by another fabulous blogger.

Last night I was about to go crazy trying load pictures in Blogger because they wouldn’t rotate.

Seems easy enough.

Actually I already like it better!

Pictures are easier to upload as well.

This is the window above our kitchen sink.  

This is my big round Christmas penguin.

I love to decorate with fat penguins, round snowmen, and moose at Christmas.

Only problem is moose are hard to find.

Why is that? I bet they will make a comeback soon though.

Have you noticed that the woodsy look is popular this Christmas?

Here is my big fat fluffy snowman.

I wish he could sit on the couch, but Cooper would tear him to pieces in a heartbeat.

Ok, well that was my trial post in Windows Live Writer.

And I love it.

Thanks Maureen!!

And thank YOU for reading!

Paper wreath and blogger

Well, I've loved paper wreaths for forever (uh, well for at least a year) 

and finally got around to making one of my own.

Mine is definitely not the best one I've seen,

and I'll probably end up doing it over again.

Sad, I know.

But I'm still going to show it because I did spend 1 1/2 hours working on it!!

At least I spent that time staring at this hot babe, right?

You know, come to think of it he was staring at me!!

=0)

This project only cost me $1 though because all I had to buy

was a foam wreath from the Dollar Store.

I got the book for free at the State Fair this year.

Everyone I went with got their book snatched out of their hands as

I deemed it an inappropriate read,

and pollution to our minds.

I made Haley get two.
For me of course.

I actually only used one book,

which means I have more to practice with

until I get it the way I want.

There are lots of tutorials all over the web

on how to make these beauties,

so I'll make it quick!

Tear out the pages, roll up or fold up each page

and hot glue each one to your wreath.

.

I folded mine, and now I wish I had rolled it.

Also, I started at the outside of the wreath and

worked my way in,

and I might should have done it the other way around.

But here's the final project.

I tied it to a ribbon, and hung it over the mirror above the fireplace.

Sorry for the blurry pictures.

I started with a flash, but I didn't want to show off all the

streaks my mirror has.

Whatcha think?
Be honest...it's okay, I will cry myself to sleep if you don't like it. I can handle it.
=0)
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On a completely different subject,
I'm thinking of changing my blog host from Blogger to Typepad.
Have any of you used Typepad?
I've only been blogging this year,
and have kind of taken it slow as I get a feel
for how it works and all that jazz.
But next year I'm hoping to kick it up a notch
and post more often.
Any advice on which one is better?
Blogger seems a bit temperamental, and it's kind of a pain it seems
to load pictures and organize them in a post.
I will do some research online as well,
but was wondering what you all thought.

Thanks so much for reading!!