The Wall that Epitomizes Us....well, maybe more Me.

Chalkboard paint is absolutely one of the best inventions. EVER. Need a place to put reminders? Chalkboard paint. Need a place to put grocery lists? Chalkboard paint. Need a place to inspire you and be a wise crack? Chalkboard paint. My mission was to do the latter. I already had one chalkboard area in my living room. Right now, it has the word "home" on it, but my babies or friends usually write me funny little messages on it when they are over. I wanted to keep that space exactly for those messages.

 

I wanted a chalkboard where I could write quotes or little sayings that were important or meant something to me and the hubby. But at the same time, I didn't want one big huge black hole sucking my house into it. I have a small wall that you see when walking up the stairs from my basement and that is just around the corner from my main entryway.

 

Listen closely and you can hear it screaming, "Make me a chalkboard!" Once upon a time, it held some huge black iron sconces, but they were relocated to the dining room to make way for the chalkboard wall. Before painting any, I patched the old holes from the sconces with joint compound and sanded them smooth. Then, the painting began....

 

I used Valspar chalkboard paint, about $10 or $12 for the can. My first coat looked like this.

Another coat or two was definitely needed. The instructions said to let it dry for 24 hours before re-coating, but I just waited a couple of hours. I'm way to impatient! After a second coat...

So, from the picture, it looks like it was ready to go, but up close, there were still some beigey specks showing through. So, coat #3 it was.

Yay!!! Three coats was the magic number! Before I started writing on it, I made sure to let it dry for a full 24 hours, which was difficult for me, but it gave me plenty of time to gather my quotes. If you follow me on Pinterest, you will see that I had been pinning quotes and sayings like crazy for a few days in anticipation of my chalkboard wall. I started from the top and began to work my way down.

Then, the hubby came home. Why did I start writing without him?! I was trying my hardest to make my writing look good and make some things bigger and others smaller, but he pointed out that it was running together too much and not popping. I forgot that he really does have good advice, a lot. So, I erased the whole thing and started over. Learn from my mistakes, people. It had taken a good hour to get that far. This time around, I didn't worry so much about filling in every little space as I went. Instead, I made sure I was putting my favorite and most special sayings up there in bigger sizes and different handwriting and then filled in after I had those done.

 

And the finished result....

I think its great. Every piece on there I either find incredibly humorous or represents myself or my husband or both in some way. Such a great way of bringing some awesome personality into any room. Here are a few photos of sections of the wall in case you want to use some of the quotes / sayings.

 

A chalkboard wall is a perfect opportunity to express yourself! Go get creative!

Hanging the Unexpected in the Unexpected

I really needed a quick easy project this weekend, I felt completley un-creative. I wanted a quick pick me up. So, I turned to Pinterest. Sometimes, I pin so much on there, that I forget about all the great things / ideas I pinned! I found this pin on one of my boards and inspiration abounded!

Hanging silver trays!?! Why hadn't I ever thought of this?! I've hung plates, but silver, Duh! I hightailed it to Ace for some plate hangers. I chose two silver trays that were my Great Aunt's. I tried to choose two that I don't use as much as others, because I really like to bring them out for Christmas decorations, which you will find out more about later! I needed something above the toilet in my bathroom. Why not silver trays?! 

 

I really like the idea of a silver tray as a message board too, as the picture from Pinterest showed. I'm going to start snooping around for silver trays at the Goodwills and thrift stores to turn into those.....

Chevron Fabric Art

My living room still needs some color on the walls. I'm doing everything in my power not to paint it. I really don't want to do it all over again, so I've been trying to come up with ways to add some color to the walls. Here's a simple little project to do just that!

I picked up this frame at a thrift store for $1.

It was a really dark brown espresso color, so I took some gloss black to it so it would pop. The frame didn't come with a back, so I measured out the size of the opening and cut a board to size. 

I picked up this huge board at Home Depot for only $2!! It was in the scrap section!! Yay!! I had plenty for this project and more to come! If you do projects like me, always check the scrap section for wood, moldings, etc.! There are super discounts to be had!

Luckily, after my pillow making frenzy, I had some of the yellow chevron fabric left over. I put a layer of batting on top of the board and the chevron fabric over that and stapled it all to the board. 

 

After that, I just inserted it in the back of the frame and stapled it in. 

 

I'm thinking I might put some sort of seasonal decor on it throughout the year. But, I kind of like it just as it is too...

I heart super-easy, super-cheap wall art!

SLACKER!!!

Y'all, I have been such a slacker this past week! I started on the bed skirt for the master bedroom last Thursday, yes, 1 week and 3 days ago and STILL haven't finished it! It's not like its difficult, I'm just exhausted and have no will power! Furthermore, I realized I am even more of a slacker because I haven't showed you the pillows I made with the results of my fabric frenzy shopping at Hancock's. I finished these like a month ago and TOTALLY forgot to show and tell with you!!! I'm telling you people, I'm losing my mind! So here ya go.....

 

Ok, so I don't leave them all on my couch like this! I just wanted you to see how crazy I went with pillows!! For weeks, there was thread, stuffing, needles, and half-made pillows all over my living room. I thought my husband was going to jump off the couch when I told him I was finished with all the pillows. Here are some close-ups. 

Love the button accents....

 

Can't get enough of the gray bird.

The chevron pattern is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

 

You've already seen these before in the post about the chest. But, the skinny pillows are one of my favorites.....

Luckily, for me, this week is Fall Break! Whoot whoot!! One time of the year when it is FANTABULOUS to be a teacher. Projects WILL get finished this week! Hopefully!

Need Fall Wreath Inspiration?

My friend, Victoria, who owns the Insyde Outsyde Shop made this awesome wreath for fall! So pretty!

I LOVE the grapevine balls and miniature pumpkins she used!

This is one my other friend Ashley found at Goodwill!!!! She is truly the Goodwill queen, I got nothin on her!

Also, my fall wreath, along with 35 others was featured at House of Hepworths here! Go grab some inspiration!

Kitchen Sink Organizer for $3! And it's cute!

I love Pinterest soooo much! If you follow me, you may have seen this photo that I re-pinned. 

 

Isn't that such a clever idea to organize around your kitchen sink??? Well, I went thrifting today and found some items to make my own. I bought a wooden candlestick that I spray painted yellow (to match my curtains) and a round cake pan. Together they were both $3. 

 

To connect the two pieces, all I did was hot glue the candlestick to the pan! Easy, breezy!

 

I love it!! I bought another round pan and two brass candlesticks to make a two-tiered one as a serving piece sometime! 

Kitchen Island Inspiration

Hopefully, within the next couple of weeks, the hubby and I are going to build a kitchen island. Well, let's be honest, I'll be supervising. I can use all the power tools, but I tend to get measurements wrong. This is our kitchen. 

 

Ignore the cabinet that is missing a door, we are working on that one. We did a major renovation on our house this summer and opened up the kitchen, living room and dining room all into one large room. That cabinet used to be covered by the refrigerator, thus why it is lacking a door. We want to place the island in front of the sink. We are thinking a rectangle size and something with open shelving on the bottom to keep the room looking larger. Here are some photos I have found for inspiration....

 

This one is from Pinterest. I really like the bookshelf that is connected to this one and the legs. 

 

I also love the legs on this one, but the top is so rustic feeling. I love that. Also from Pinterest. 

 

I really like the color of this one. I know I want ours to be either black or a blue / green color similar to this one. From Southern Living. 

 

I also wouldn't be opposed to finding something like this and making it an island. I like the aged wood on this one. From Country Living.

 

I like the idea of having two shelves like the one on the right, but I'm worried I would put too much crap on on it and it would look too cluttered. Atlanta Home and Lifestyles

What do you guys think? I'm open to suggestions!!!

Porch Reveal!

After a month of repeated coats of black paint on each baluster, the porch is finally finished!!! 

I am extremely pleased with the results! We got it finished just in time to enjoy this amazing weather!!! If you didn't read about the electric blue phase of the porch, go here to read all about that adventure.... Here are a few of the before and during photos again. 

 

Needless to say, the railings and floor were easy, but those balusters......it ended up taking four coats of paint to get each one black!! A few more afters....

And we got a new door during the process as well!! A steal for only $75 off Craigslist. Now, on to the shutters!!!