My Mustache Cupboard and Ixnay on the Atcay Oopay Gel Stain

When I found this cupboard last week, I knew it would be really cool redone.  I really loved the detail in the {solid} wood and I’m a sucker for vintage, gaudy hardware {which, on this piece kind of look like mustaches…do you see it?}  Usually when I find a great piece of furniture, I immediately know which color I want to paint it, and can envision how awesome it will be.  This time, I could see it in turquoise {of course—everything would be awesome in turquoise}, yellow {either bright yellow or mustard} or white {heavily distressed and stained}.  I love colorful furniture, but this piece was begging to be white.

{Thanks to my 4-year-for this photo…there were about 30 of these on my phone, all almost identical}

I planned to do the usual:  paint it white, {normally I use a brush and regular paint, but needed just a thin coat of paint for distressing and so more would wipe off with the gel stain.  Spray paint is perfect for this} distress and stain…but I wanted to try a lighter stain, so that it would be more white than cream or tan.  So I picked up a light, natural gel stain, popped open the lid, and—I’m not kidding—it was the color of the stuff our cat leaves behind {pun intended} when her meal does not  agree with her stomach.  I thought to myself, “surely it will lighten up when I put it over the paint.” No.  Horrible.  Maybe if I mix it with a darker color.  No.  Too dark.  Back to Lowes, where I found a clear gel stain.  I bought it with the intent of mixing it with my dark stain that I love, so that it was lighter, and then rubbing with mineral spirits to lighten it even more.  Still too dark, and a real pain to apply and rub off.  So I tried just the clear gel stain on it's own, and really liked it! 

Right now, it will stay in our entryway, but can envision it in so many other places in our home. 

Have a great day!

Visiting Teaching Message {August 2013}

This month’s message is on Welfare, and how we need to look out for each other and serve each other.  I especially liked the quote from Henry B. Eyering that said

“The Lord has since the beginning of time provided ways for his disciples to help.  He has invited his children to consecrate their time, their means, and themselves to join with him in serving others. 

He has invited us and commanded us to participate in his work to lift up those in need.”

For my sisters this month, I thought it would be fun to put a few of the thoughts from the message on tags and put them on a “lifted up” balloon.

You can print the tags for the balloons here, {I printed on some cute patterned paper, but you don’t want too heavy of a cardstock or it will pull the balloon down}

Or you could get a balloon and write the part of the message that you like best, or that you think would help your sisters best.  If you would like to write your own message on the tags, I have also included a template for the blank tags .

As always, I added a treat to the string on the balloon for fun. 

 Happy Visiting Teaching!

The link for the entire Visiting Teaching message this month can be found here.

Our First Major Project

One of the features we liked most about our old house was the patio we had poured just a few years before moving.  From that project we learned how such a seemingly small improvement to your house can change the way you live.  The weedy, bug-filled junky, wasted space under the deck became another room in our house to play and lounge and read and gather.

 

So we knew that when we moved to the new house, we wanted to have a patio poured pretty quickly.

Another thing that we needed to do at this house was pour some proper steps.  These natural stone steps were pretty, but were slightly treacherous, and would shift as you stepped on them, making it hard to reach the backyard.When we decided to do this project, we called Parker Smith from Great Western.  He did our last patio and we loved his work, and we were so happy when he could find time in his busy schedule for our project.   One of the first steps was to rip out those rocks.  It took about 3 seconds with the Bobcat.  Now usually, we are pretty independent DIYers, but sometimes, you just have to let the professionals do their thing.  In this case, it is so worth handing the project over to them.

They got the frames all in and the stairs all formed, and then it was time for the concrete!

It was also time for me to go run an errand, so I missed the actual pouring :( But I came home to this! The concrete wall all poured, and they had started stamping it.

  Here it is all done!  The patio has to dry completely before sealing it.  We waited a week.Sealing a patio is something that we can do ourselves, and we like the sealer from Redtop.

So pretty.  And so nice to have a great place to spend summer evenings.

Just in case you forgot what it looked like after this incredibly long post, here is a before, and after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great day!

Ready!

Do you ever feel like this?

Overwhelmed a little with your life and your schedule and everything you need to do each day to keep things going?

Well, cue the sad violin music because that is how my last 6-12 months have felt for me.

This time last year, we were looking for a new home. Stressful, right?

After that we moved, got the kids enrolled in their new schools, worried they weren’t settling into their new schools, Thanksgiving, Christmas, job offer {a great job that I have always wanted}, job training, at home job training, actually doing the job, kids homework, feedings, bathings, etc., laundry, laundry, laundry, church stuff, eagle project, blah, blah, blah.

You get the point.

I know everyone is busy.  You all are working hard to keep things running smoothly in your own homes.  But sometimes, doesn’t it seem like a juggling act?

Now, I didn’t mean for this to get all Debbie Downer, so I will get to my point.

I have put off doing extra little things that I love long enough.  I am finally ready to make the time for the painting/home improvements/occasional craft/sewing/vt messages/blogging{!} that I used to have time to do…and loved…and that in all honesty, kept me sane.

So get ready!

I want to start off by sharing some of my favorite Parade of Homes moments this year.  I was so inspired by a few houses, and still when I see those pictures, it makes me want to get going on my house.

   

I am loving that light, the two-toned banister, and the teal upholstered headboard.  Come to think of it, anything teal is awesome right now for me.

I am also in love with navy blue right now.  And whiteboard paint.

How great is that burlap board, bookshelf-lined wall and board and batton with the hooks?

These next two I really liked because of the risk involved with the project.  A turquoise kitchen?!  A super-distressed ombre dresser?!  Kind of cool.

I love this simple artwork, and would love to do something similar to the bookshelves/windowseat in my basement.

I really liked this bedroom.  Light and airy, but also fun and not age specific.  {The painted panel walls are my favorite.  And it is interesting and fun.

I’m still trying to figure out why I don’t have a sliding barn door somewhere in my house.  Or two.  Or three.

I really like this office space, and since I work from home, have been feeling the urge to make my office feel a little more put together.

See?  So inspiring!

Come back tomorrow and see our latest project in the yard.