Getting the paint brushes out

The paintbrushes have been out and so I can cross a couple more projects off my to do list.

I brought this chalk paint based on the many successful projects I had seen completed on Pinterest, pity I didn't take some time out to read more because I would have realised this was not the best paint for my project!

Hubby picked up this old stereo cabinet from a local charity shop a couple of years ago, It was just the right size to sit by the front door so that we can drop things on that are on the way out the door. It had a glass fronted door which I have removed.

The tin of chalk paint provided just one thin coat and a second coat would have been needed to get it looking anything like, at a cost of almost five pounds I was reluctant to purchase another one.  I had a poke round in the garden shed and found an almost empty tin of chalky white eggshell, perfect for this job, I don't know why I didn't look in there in the first place!

The finish is far from perfect but I am happy with the make over, the baskets were a great find from TKMaxx and are the perfect size for the cabinet, not to mention a handy place to stash my growing pile of scarves.

While poking around the shed I also found a pot of grey whisper gloss paint that I thought would be ideal for the fire surround in the front room, it was always my intention to paint this but I just hadn't taken any action.  You can see from the rust on the top of the tin it had been lurking in there for quite a while.

BEFORE

AFTER

The orange pine has gone and a contemporary cool grey has taken it's place.

Note to self always check what is in the garden shed before dashing off to B&Q!

The eagle eyed amongst you may have already spotted the new finish on my Easter post

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter break, did you get anything crossed off your to do list?

Easter is on the way

While I plan for Christmas all year round Easter is one of those holidays that always seems to creep up on me and catch me unawares.  I have been percolating a few ideas but not all of them came to fruition as my time seems to be just evaporating at the moment.

 You might recognise the tea cup from this winter whites post, I taped a couple of pipe cleaners on the back for ears, the eyes are  two 0's and the nose is two no1's from some glass tape I brought from Cox and Cox a few years ago.

A repurposed jam jar decorated with washi tape filled with daffs, I will be sorry when the season is over, they are one of my favorite flowers.

I put together a few bits and bobs to create a kind of Easter mood board, I will twiddle with this a bit more as I am not completely satisfied yet.

The crocus bulbs are just hanging in there for a final splash of colour and I swear the daffodils were open in front of the camera as I was taking the pictures.

I used a flyer from Lidl as well as cards, napkins and buttons in spring shades all held down with industrial quantities of washi tape,

I hope you enjoy your Easter break and remember that Easter Egg chocolate has no calories :)

What plans do you have for Easter? will you be making anything?

Spring Spring Spring

There was are was a hint of sunshine over the past couple of days and it really felt like Spring was beginning to put in an appearance, this song came to mind. In September I planted up a few pots with flowering bulbs and we have been reward with a lovely show of flowers

I really packed in the bulbs when I was planting up the pots and topped them off with some winter flowering pansies which have survived quite well in the mild winter.  A few bits of ivy from the bottom of the garden has provided a bit foliage interest and I will use them again when the pots get replanted with summer bedding plants.

I picked up this lidless sugar bowl in the charity shop a couple of weeks ago with a plan to put in crocus bulbs next year but on a trip to Morrisons I found a little pot full on the verge of flowering and they are bursting out after just a couple of days.

The nights are still very chilly and the sun was notably absent today when I had pencilled in a couple of outdoor jobs to do, they are now pencilled in for tomorrow!

How is your garden looking?  have you seen any sunshine or are you still in your thermals waiting for spring to put in an appearance?

Friday crafternoon

After my lovely relaxing weekend in Norfolk I seem to have lost my mojo a bit and have been feeling a little bit blergh, disinterested, not with it.. So I thought I would treat myself a little Friday crafternoon and came up with another jam jar tealight holder design that used up a couple more pages from "the book"

recycled jam jars and old book pages

I didn't have a clear idea in my head of what I wanted to do so I just grabbed a couple of jars from my hoard and pulled out the washi tapes and my big tin of stamps, punches etc and started playing around with the stamps on the book pages.

Crafternoon supplies

The tapes never made it out of the storage jars, I was quite happy to convert the stampings into mini bunting

mini bunting

I played around with over printing, using bigger stamps but tearing the design into smaller flags and with the depth of print.

mini bunting T light holders

I had a few issues tying off the string tight enough and had resorted to a dab of sticky tape to hold a couple of the flags in place but this now gives the undulating line making it look more like bunting when it is hung out.

twinkle lights in jam jars

They ended up filled with the twinkle lights from Christmas rather than T lights as they reflect more light back into the room when stood in front of the mirror,


Another no spend make and my mojo is a little less faded.


What are everyone's weekend plans? It is Mothers day on Sunday here in the UK so I expect there will be plenty of pampering and treats around.  My daughter is away this weekend so I have already been treated to a lovely bunch of bright pink Lillies and and some delicious Green and Blacks chocolate.