Decorating the Mantel

I finally finished painting more of the walls in the family room.  They were a Tuscan faux finish and now they are a soft cottage white.

I still have more walls to paint, but I just couldn't wait to decorate the mantel.  I love these old windows and have been waiting for the perfect spot to hang them.  When I put them up, it looked a little plain.  I attached pieces of sheet music to the wall behind them and then rose prints on the front.

I haven't used much silver before.  I really like the aged elegance it adds.  I might shine this teapot up just a little bit, though.  And I never get tired of old books.

And white ironstone pitchers.  I think they speak for themselves.

A picture with the candles lit, just because.

I'll be joining the following parties

Burlap & Denim for Party on Mondays
Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays Treasures
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design for Swing into Spring
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Embracing Change for Creative Inspirations
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation ThursdaysNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Turquoise Cabinet with Homemade Chalk Paint

O.K., I know it's really a buffet, but I thought it would look so pretty in a bedroom.

And doesn't it look pretty with pink?  Looks like I forgot to take a before picture.  It was your typical wood with newspaper glued to the top.  As I was trying to remove the paper, it occurred to me that years from now people will be stripping all this painted furniture, working desperately to remove all the stuck on book pages and sheet music, all the while wondering why anyone would paint furniture with such ugly colors.

But today, I find the color fresh and happy.

While we are on the subject of paint colors, this was painted with homemade chalk paint using valspar weathered glass.

The details on this piece are so wonderful.  I took this to my new space at Big Bend Antique Gallery in Maplewood, Missouri.  The managers there told me the best selling furniture colors are white, gray, and black.  I didn't listen.

Janet

Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Burlap & Denim for Party on Mondays
Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays Treasures
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design for Swing into Spring
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Embracing Change for Creative Inspirations
Domestically Speaking for the Power of Paint party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation ThursdaysNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Meg & Mum's for Saturday Splendour

Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

French Graphic Bucket and Baskets

Galvanized buckets and produce baskets just say "Spring" and I was anxious to get some Spring into my space at the antique mall. 

Of course I can't just put plain buckets and baskets in my booth. I found some French graphics at the Graphics Fairy.  For the bucket, I cut a page size piece of brown package paper and sent it through my printer. 

 To age the paper, I just dipped it into water and laid it on newspaper sprinkled with instant tea and let dry. I adhered the paper to the bucket with mod podge. I did not put a coat of mod podge over the top.

I tore the edges a little for a more aged look.

I used basically the same process for the baskets, except I used regular printer paper for a lighter color.  You can see my full tutorial on aging paper here.

A different graphic on this one.

Once I got these to the mall and freshened up my booth, I got back to work painting my walls at home.  I am really loving the change and can't wait to get a little more done so I can show you.

Janet

Burlap & Denim for Party on Mondays
Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays TreasuresSavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design for Winter Blues
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Embracing Change for Creative Inspirations

  The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation ThursdaysNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
  2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
 

Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Old Trunk Revamp

Patina love!

I found this trunk at an estate sale.  It had tons of age and wear and tear and I loved it.

The latch (or lock?) was missing and left a hole.

I printed this tag from The Graphics Fairy , tore and aged the edges, and adhered with modpodge over the hole.

The latches to close the trunk were also missing. I cut some strips of old burlap and threaded them through the top part of the latch. For the bottom, I drilled a small hole to attach the burlap.

The bows are cute and functional.

And there you go.  A couple of quick embellishments and the trunk has a new old look.

I'll be joining the following parties

Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays TreasuresSavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design for Winter Blues
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Embracing Change for Creative Inspirations
  The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation ThursdaysNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Meg & Mum's for Saturday Splendour

Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Spring Blooms Past and Present

I was looking at my stats yesterday and I saw a google image listed.  I clicked on it to see what it was.  It was this picture from a post two years ago.

I barely even remember taking this picture.  Here is another one from the original post that you can see here.

The branches from my trees were so pretty, I decided to go out and cut some today.  Unfortunately they will not be photographed in my dining room this year.  I hate to say it, but it is a disaster.  It has been a "workroom" since I rented my space at the antique mall.  OK.  Back to the flowers.

Today I put the flowers in a large watering can in the kitchen.

More cuttings in a basket that will get put in a vase later.

It was quite windy today.  There were so many petals blowing off the trees, it looked like snow.  Only it was 80 degrees and the ground was a pretty carpet of pink.

I'm glad I was able to share my flowers with you again this year.  If only I could send the fragrance...mmm, wonderful.


Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays TreasuresSavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design for Winter Blues
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Embracing Change for Creative Inspirations
  The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation ThursdaysNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Meg & Mum's for Saturday Splendour
Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Sheet Music Table

Today I'm sharing a quick and easy fix for a table that's missing it's glass inserts.  Sheet music.  It fixes everything, doesn't it?

I got this cute chippy, rusty table at the auction, but it was missing the glass shelves. 

I cut plywood to fit and then used Mod Podge to adhere the sheet music.

 Top and

Bottom.

Sharing this at the following parties:

Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays TreasuresSavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design for Winter Blues
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Embracing Change for Creative Inspiration
 The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation ThursdaysNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Meg & Mum's for Saturday Splendour

Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Book Page Frame Chalkboard

I found this great old frame at an antique sale.  It was in rough shape, but I loved its size and shape.

I painted the edges with creamy white, making sure to paint a little border on the inside so no wood could show around the pages. Then I just applied the book pages using Mod Podge.

I used a mixture of book pages with different shades.  I don't know if you can see it, but on the top, I used a page from a hymnal with the title "Count Your Blessings".  It's fun to throw in little details like that.  Plywood painted with chalkboard paint was screwed to the back.  This one is going to my space at the antique mall.

I just love, love, love, book page and sheet music projects and I have another one to share soon.  I hope you will come back to see it.  Meanwhile, I'll be joining all these ladies for some blog parties.

Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
Linsey at The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays Treasures
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Winter Blues
Michele at Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Kelli at Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Rachelle at Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Meg at Meg & Mum's for Saturday Splendour
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase