~Cafe' au Lait Bowls by Moi~

OK, they're not really cafe' au lait bowls.  More like cereal /ice cream bowls, but cafe' au lait sounds much more romantic, don't ya think?  Anyway, that was the look that I was going for. I found some Cafe' au lait bowls that I liked on line, but they were 14 dollars each plus shipping. These bowls were 2 dollars each at Big Lots, so, you guessed it, I decided to make my own. 

I gathered my supplies-enamel paint from Hobby Lobby, a stencil for the border, and a rooster shape to trace. The alcohol is to clean the bowls before you paint. The paint colors are very limited, so I added some black to the red to get more of a burgandy.  I sprayed my stencil with spray adhesive-so much easier.  Then I just used a stencil brush and pounced on the paint, very light on the paint.  The best part is the paint cleans right off before it dries.

I traced around the rooster on contact paper and cut it out.  Perfect stencil.

You can let air dry for 21 days or bake.  I baked.  Instructions are on the paint bottle.

And they turned out like this.  I can't wait to see them on my kitchen shelves, after I rearrange them.(future post I'm sure)

Janet

P.S.  These are suppose to be top rack dishwasher safe, but I haven't tried it yet.

I'll be joining:

Make it for Monday at Cottage Instincts

Made by You Mondays

The Girl Creative

How I Became a "Handywoman"

That's right.  I consider myself a handywoman.  Even though for every one thing I get right, I do about three things wrong, nothing ever goes the way I think it will, and there is a lot of grumbling (I'm not really one to curse, but if  I were...) in the process. But if you accomplish the task in the end, then it's a success.  Right?

So, I've been working on my project for the I made it without my hubby party at Shanty2chic, and I started thinking about all the things I have done without my hubby and how it all got started.

Here's my story.  My now husband and I had both just graduated from college, moved back home, and were looking for jobs.  We both found ourselves working at wal-mart.  I was head of lingerie and he was in charge of hardware.  His family and friends were always laughing and joking about his working in the hardware department, but I just didn't get what was so funny.  We lived in apartments the first few years of marriage, so no decorating or anything was really done.  We finally moved into our home and I was bitten by the decorating bug. I started asking my husband to do things for me-hang pictures, paint, build things.  That's when I got the joke.  My husband means well, but he has no knowledge, interest, or skill to do anything with tools, hardware, paintbrushes, etc.  I didn't think it was so funny.  What??  You are a man and you are not going to be at my beck and call for all my decorating projects?  So being the hardheaded, stubborn (I mean motivated) person that I am, I decided I would do it myself.  And now I am actually grateful.  I feel stronger and more independent and I'm having a lot of fun.

Here are a few of the projects that I have done without my Hubby:

I built new cabinet doors with fabric.

Took down cabinets and put up open shelving...

(I'm planning a total re-do of these shelves that I hope to show soon)

Built three shelves from one long shelf...

I cut the brackets from scrap wood with a jigsaw...

Made this ugly shower door disguise...

And used lots of molding.  Crown molding in the study...

And in the dining room...

Molding around the fireplace mantel...

On kitchen cabinets...

And the powder room vanity.

Not to mention window treatments, blinds, and shades installed on every window.

That's just a few and I'm just getting started. 

I am joining the Saturday nite special at Funky Junk Interiors.

Hope to see you there.

Janet

Do Three Months Make A Year?

I'm not sure, but it does make for a short year-end review.  So, here are a very few of my photos that I put together for the Year in Review party at My Romantic Home.

I have had so much fun blogging and I hope you will come visit in the upcoming year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Janet

~It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas~

There's snow on the roof tops...

The stockings are hung...

The family Christmas tree is finally decorated...

Full of sweet and funny ornaments the kids have made through  the years...

Cookies are baked...

(not fancy, but my kids' favorites)

Old fashion sugar for my daughter...

(I'll put the recipe at the end-they are soft,chewy, and have a touch of lemon-delicious)

Peanut Butter Kiss for my son...

So I guess all that is left to do is wish you all a

"Very Merry Chrismas".

and wrap...

and clean...

and cook...

Janet

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

4 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 1/4 cups shortening

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

1 cup buttermilk

Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.  In a large mixer bowl beat shortening for 30 seconds.  Add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and lemon extract and beat well.  Divide dough in half.  Cover and chill for 3 hours.

For large cookies, on floured surface, roll dough 1/2 inch thick.  Cut into rounds with 3-inch cookie cutter.  For small cookies roll dough 3/8 inch thick and cut with 2-inch cookie cutter.  Place 2 1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Bake in 375 degree oven 10 to 12 minutes or until done.  Remove and cool.  Makes 24 large or 48 small cookies.

Tip:  if dough is too sticky to roll out, knead in a little flour first

Enjoy! 

~Santa and Toys~

I know I said I was finished with my Christmas decorating, but I promised myself that I would put Santa out this year.  I made him about twelve years ago and he has stayed in a box for the last ten.

I stopped putting him out because I thought he was too country and homespun.  Well, I thought other people would think he was.  Now, I realize none of that matters, as long as I like it.  And I do!

Many, many hours were put into this.

Torn strips of muslin for beard and hair, clothes made from my hubby's old jeans, and glasses shaped from wire.

The doll is my favorite.  I have always loved dolls.

The bear is the only thing I didn't make, I just made her dress.

I hope Santa never spends another Christmas in the box.  I really do enjoy him.

I'm joining Cindy for Show and Tell Friday.

Janet

Next Year...

Well, the Christmas decorating must come to an end.  I have shopping, wrapping, cleaning, and menu planning to do before my guests arrive.  I am always disappointed that I didn't get more done and I start dreaming about next year. So guess when my favorite time to make Christmas decorations is?  January!  All the ideas are fresh in my mind, things can be bought on clearance, and best of all-more time.  Sooo...

Next Year:

I want to make my tree look like this...

And make fabric roses to put on the tree...

Make red and white stockings to hang on the banister...

Collect red and white ribbon all year to wrap presesnts...

Decorate my kitchen in red and white...

And make red and white scented ornaments to hang on a tree in the kitchen.  I saw these at Ticking and Toile.  Shellagh showed some great projects.  Thanks Shellagh!

And of course many, many more ideas are dancing in my mind.

What will you do next year that you didn't have time to do this year?

Janet

~In My Own Little Corner...

"In my own little corner,

in my own little world,

I can be whatever I want to be."

~Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella~

Sometimes after a long day at work (or home), I feel more than a little like Cinderella-before she meets her prince. You can see the video of this song here.  I decided I wanted a cozy corner in my dining room where "I could be whatever I wanted to be."

This is my dining room.  It 's bright and sunny and only used for special occasions.  I wanted to be able to sit and drink coffee and enjoy the room.

This is the corner "before".  I bought this chair several years ago at a thrift store and it has been sitting in my basement waiting for a makeover.  I made a very simple slipcover for it.

I also recovered a pillow that I really didn't like (this is the pillow before) and I hung some prints on the wall that I found for six dollars for the pair.

They are very old and damaged.  Just the way I like it.

And a shabby little cottage platter.

And here is my cozy corner after.  Now to find the time to sit there and enjoy.

Janet

Parties I'm joining:

Metamorphosis Monday

2nd Time around

DIY Day

Trash to Treasure Tuesday

Thrifty Thursday

Furniture Feature Friday