Goodwill and Hunting...Huh?

I recently found this unfinished board "thingy" at Goodwill. (Unfortunately, I taped it off and started painting it before I took a "before" picture, as usual I got in a big hurry to get started.) So anyway,here are the steps I took to make it into a useful message center. Just another angle of the before board.
Here it is after the chalkboard paint was applied. Seems a little boring don't you think?


Adding some scroll work seemed to help it...but I wasn't satisfied yet.


Adding the vinyl lettering was the finishing touch it needed. Now it will be put aside with all of my other makeovers I am getting ready for the bazaar in November.


Shopping at Goodwill, as Forrest Gump would say, "is like eating a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get." I guess I can relate to all of the hunters getting ready for deer and elk season. There is something about the "HUNT" that fuels the adrenalin.

I am off on another hunt for a unique item to do a makeover on.
HEAD ON OVER TO KIMBA'S BLOG, A SOFT PLACE TO LAND, FOR MANY OTHER BLOGGERS' DIY PROJECTS. THERE ARE SO MANY TALENTED PEOPLE WHO SHARE IDEAS THAT YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE INSPIRED.

The Silver Platter Matter...Goodwill Makeover

I love the raised design on the outer edge of this tray, but the tray...not so much. What would you do to improve this Goodwill find?
If you said spray paint...then you would be right.

Miracle in a can, I tell ya. Beige spray paint plus gel stain applied after the paint has dried was what this silver tray needed. I then decided that some vinyl lettering (of course, that is always my best solution) was needed.


I just love giving new life to something that might get thrown out.

I am joining up with Suasan over at Between Naps on the Porch for another Metamorphis Monday. You won't be disappointed, there are so many talented people that share project makeovers it will make your head spin with ideas

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A GREAT BLOGGERS HALLOWEEN TREE

.I had the pleasure of visiting a fellow creative "kindred spirit" that really inspired me. This gal really has the touch when it comes to creativity. Here is a peek at one of her projects. You won't be disappointed if you pop over to her blog for a look-see. Just click here to visit Alyshia at Let-It-Shine for some great inspiration.

A Pumpkin Topiary For My Table

It's another DIY linky party over at Kimba's

Check it out, there are so many wonderfully talented people who share their projects, you can't help but be inspired.

Having had such a great response to some fall pumpkin topiary's I made last week I decided to make a smaller version for my table. I found the pumpkin at Ross for $2.99, the candle ring from Michael's at 50% off, the candle holder was a Goodwill find for .99 (it was dark red with gold highlights and quite ugly), and the ribbon was something I already had on hand. The vinyl lettering was something I made with my vinyl cutting machine.

Black spray paint is definitely my friend these days. It has the ability to make things go from frightening to fabulous.
It can't get much easier than this for adding "cuteness" to a project.

Ribbon also adds sweet touch to most projects.

This plain old pumpkin was begging for something to give it personality.

Adding some cute vinyl lettering was just what it needed. I didn't glue this piece together so that I can use the candle holder later for another project I have in mind for Christmas.

something on it to celebrate the fall season. It is there to remind us of our blessings.
Thanks for stopping by. I would love it if you would leave a comment.
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MeMe and Personality Traits

I've been tagged by Maria over at Rainy Day Farm. I'm not sure why anyone would want to know such things about me, but here goes:

Seven Personality Traits

1. I love being at home. I can ALWAYS find something to do; crafting, baking, gardening, blogging, decorating, creating designs, reading and on and on...

2. I have a difficult time dealing with favoritism and unfairness. When someone is wronged it drives me crazy.

3. I am not an organized person, there I've said it. I have tried over the years to be better organized and have improved somewhat. It is just something that does not come easily to me.

4. I love the challenge of making something old into something new, therefore you can find me strolling the isles of Goodwill or going to yard sales in search of diamonds in the rough.

5. I love all kinds of music. On my playlist you could find anything from big band to hip-hop, classical, country, celtic, rock and roll, oldies and soft rock.

6. My worst traits are being too judgmental and sarcastic. (I have to work on those constantly)

7. I love puzzles and games, especially mind challenging games. I also love to play card games like pinochle, nerts, Skipbo, etc.

A- Available/Married? MARRIED FOR NEARLY 36 YEARS
B - Best Friend? MY TWO DAUGHTERS, MARIA AND TASHA
C - Cake or Pie? ANY KIND OF BERRY PIE
D - Drink of Choice? ICE COLD WATER
E - Essential item you use everyday? MY NEW SHOWER
F - Favorite Color? BLACK AND WHITE
G - Gummy Bears or Worms? NEITHER
H - Hometown? Castle Rock
I - Indulgence? WARM BROWNIE WITH ICE CREAM ON TOP WITH HOT FUDGE OVER IT ALL
J - January or February? JANUARY, ESPECIALLY IF IT SNOWS
K - Kids and their names? MARIA, RYAN, NATASHA, DUSTIN
L - Life is incomplete without? HUSBAND, CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN
M - Marriage Date? OCTOBER 20
N - Number of Siblings? 1 SISTER AND 1 BROTHER (I AM THE YOUNGEST)
O - Oranges or Apples? APPLES (IN A PIE PREFERABLY)
P - Phobia's/ Fears? LOSING A LOVED ONE UNNECESSARILY TO CANCER OR A DRUNK DRIVER
Q - Quote for today? ENJOY THE JOURNEY
R - Reason to smile? BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
S - Season? EACH SEASON, BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
T - Tag 3 People? BEVERLY, SHERRIE, CECE
U - Unknown fact about me? I CONTRACTED TUBERCULOSIS FROM MY 2ND GRADE TEACHER. ALTHOUGH I STILL HAVE IT IN MY SYSTEM IT IS CONSIDERED INACTIVE, MEANING THAT I AM NOT CONTAGIOUS AND NEVER WILL BE.
V - Vegetable you don't like? ASPARAGUS, LIMA BEANS, BRUSSEL SPROUTS
W - Worst habit? BEING TOO SARCASTIC
X - X-rays you've had? CHEST X-RAY (SEE THE LETTER U), TEETH X-RAY, SPRAINED ANKLE X-RAY
Y - Your favorite food? CHINESE (ANYTHING ASIAN)
Z - Zodiac Sign? SCORPIO

Now I would like to tag three bloggers that I would like to get to know better, they are:
CeCe at WVU Chick
Beverly at The Beverly Buzz
Sherrie at Sherries Rose Garden

Is the Obama Health Care Bill a Concern for you?

I was recently sent an email where retired constitutional attorney, Michael Connelly, shared his opinion regarding the health care bill which is being put before congress soon. I felt impressed to forward this information. It was insightful, especially because I am not as familiar with the constitution as some people. I encourage anyone reading my blog to take a moment and click onto his site. http://michaelconnelly.viviti.com/entries/general/the-truth-about-the-health-care-bills If you do go to this web site please take a moment to read through some of the comments left by other readers. Mr. Connelly responds to these comments in a most professional way.

Educating ourselves is always an important endeavor. Studying out issues that are before us is not only necessary, it is imperitive to our basic freedoms to do so.

Huckleberry Pickin'

Picking huckleberries in the northwest is a treat. On Labor Day we headed up into the

Cascades in search of these little sweets. Unfortunately it was wet and rainy but they did managed to pick about 4 gallons. If you aren't familiar with huckleberries, they are like blueberries but they are wild and grow in higher elevations.

Here you can see some of them in this bucket.

This is Dustin (son) and Jim (hubby) showing off their bounty. It took them about 2 1/2 hours to pick them. Randy,(Dustin's wife) was a real trooper and attempted to help pick. Unfortunately she had to quit because she got really cold and wet although she did manage to pick about a 1/2 bucket. She was braver than me, I sat in the truck and read where it was warm and dry.

They look like blueberries but they are a little smaller and have a very sweet taste. You can use them like blueberries in pancakes, muffins or pies. Huckleberry syrup is also a real treat.



I chose to make a pie. Now mind you I don't make the prettiest pies in the world but they taste wonderful.






The berries are just waiting to get the top crust on and then into the oven.




The top is on and sprinkled with little sugar to give them a little crunch.

See, I told you I didn't make the prettiest pies, I can never keep them from leaking.

Yummy good stuff!

And there you have my idea of how to use huckleberries.

BRING ON THE FALL DECORATIONS

I am joining the Metamorphis Monday party over at Between Naps on the Porch. It will be worth your while because of all of the talented people who participate by sharing their makeovers.

I recently found two planters at Goodwill that sat in the garage waiting for inspiration to hit. They were pretty pathetic, painted red with some white showing through, not very attractive.

Out came the spray paint and the fun began.

.Here are the before pics of the planters.

Kind of sad.

The price was not so bad, I just knew I could make a difference.

Nothing like black spray paint to give new life.

Now this is where the inspiration set in. A few pumpkins, some fall leaves and vinyl lettering were gathered together.
I got the pumpkins at Michaels with my 40% off coupon.

This picture is a little dark but you can see where I am going with this. I turned the planter upside down so that the pumpkin would fit.

This 3M sticky tape is what I used to attach the garland of fall foilage onto the bottom of the planter









I had to turn the planters upside down because the pumpkins were too small. It was a happy accident, I like it better that way.







I needed to cut off the stems of the 2 bottom pumpkins in order to get them to fit.

Vinyl lettering. This shows me peeling the backing paper off and the lettering.

The lettering will be in the mirror image on the tape.

Apply lettering to the pumpking and smooth over with your fingers in order to get the letters adhered. Gently peel off the tape and the letters will stick.

Smooth, Smooth, Smooth.

I hot glued the pumpkins together then the lettering was applied.

I cut a fall garland to size and stuck it to the 3M tape just inside the rim of the planter. You don't want to permanently glue the garland to the planter becuase when you put away the fall decorations you can still use the planters next spring to plant flowers in.

I hot glued leaves from an old fall garland between the two bottom pumpkins. I then clipped some small maroon berries from the garland and glued those in between the top 2 pumpkins. The leaves on the top were actully on this particular pumpkin so no need to add anything there.

Double click on any of the pictures for a close up look.

I also wound grapevine around the bottom.

I hope this post has inspired you to get creative with some fall decorating. Please feel free to leave me a comment.