Shim Tray Makeover

Two days in a row, what?? 

I know, nearly unheard of around here lately :) 

But I wanted to share my little shim summer tray with you before all traces of summer officially left. 

I redid a plain wooden tray from Hobby Lobby a few years ago and like a lot of things in my home, it was time for a new facelift. I love little easy fixes that can completely change the look of something. For someone that loves changing things up around my house, it's small things like this that keep me happy :) 

First things first, I painted the tray a glossy yellow and then distressed it a bit. 

The fun part was fitting the shims into the bottom of the tray. 

I'm not going to lie, it's not the easiest thing in the world, but it can be done :) 

I used emergency shear scissors to cut through the thin parts of the shims to have them fit into the tray. 

I'm sure I could have whipped out the jigsaw to cut them but a) I was being lazy and b) they're super thin and I didn't know if they'd split like crazy or not. 

I laid them in the tray in a staggered design, making the thicker ends meet up with the thinner ends. 

I loved the texture it gave :) 

After cutting the shims to fit the area, I stained them all in my favorite stain- dark walnut and let them dry. 

And then just hotglued them into place once they were dry. 

As easy as that!
I wanted them to be somewhat easy to remove if I ever decided to makeover the tray again. 

You just never know :) 

I love the dark stain against the bright yellow.

So fun & summery. 

But easily adapted to fit the other seasons too!

I can't wait to throw some pumpkins on it :) 

It's amazing what a pack of $2 shims can do, huh? 

I've made sure to keep them in my stash lately because you never know when they'll come in handy. 

I think it'd be amazing in other colors too... try painting the shims in a gorgeous deep turquoise or a glossy black. I'm thinking a fun pattern on the shims would be fun too! 

And my cute little accessories are mostly thrifted treasures except the birdie which was a Micheal's find. 

I love my glass blue candlesticks. 

Have you made anything fun with shims?

If you're looking for another fun shim project, check out my adorable summer shim wreath from last year! 

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Linking to:
Inspire Me Please @ Liz Marie. Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge. Tickled Pink @ 504 Main. Shine on Friday @ Young and Crafty. Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life. Friday Link Party @ Craftionary. Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims. Inspiration Exchange Linky Party @ Yellow Bliss Road. Wednesday Whatsits @ White Lights on Wednesday. Link Party Palooza @ Tatertots and Jello

DIY Laptop Decal {My First Silhouette Project!!}

Hey friends!! 
Remember last week when I shared on Facebook that I had gotten a new toy? 
Yup, I finally broke down & got a Silhouette Cameo!!!
I am sooo excited- I have been feverishly entering those giveaways for the past couple years with no luck & finally hubby just gave me the go-ahead to treat myself for my graduation.

I was so excited but kinda nervous to start playing with it.
I wanted to start off with something simple & quick for my first project so I decided to play around with monograms. 
Cuz everything is cuter with a monogram, right??

Check out this crazy cute & easy project: 

I know, right???
I couldn't believe how quickly I was able to make it! 
I used the 'script' monogram letters from the Silhouette store for my project and love them. They were perfect for what I wanted!! 

I designed my monogram in the Silhouette Studio software-which took just a bit to get used to. 
I made a circle to go around my letters and then made sure to 'weld' my letters together so they all came out as one piece. 

Here's my amazing little cameo working hard...

After it cut the design out, I used the transfer paper that came with my Cameo to transfer my vinyl to my project. 
I don't have a picture of actually transferring it to my laptop but the process is the same.
Just lay your vinyl on the surface and carefully peel your transfer paper away. 
Your vinyl will stay in place and you'll have a gorgeous design when it's all said and done!!

I love the splash of personality it gives!! 

And since it's vinyl it can just be peeled off anytime so there's no permanency to it. 

 I might need more excuses to carry my laptop around now :) 

What do you think of my quick project?
Do you have a Cameo- what was your first project you created with it??

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Linking to:
Inspire Me Please @ Liz Marie. Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge. Tickled Pink @ 504 Main. Shine on Friday @ Young and Crafty. Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life. Friday Link Party @ Craftionary

Thrifted Frame Makeover & First Day of School Pictures!!!

Friends!!
I'm not lost :) 

Summer is always the hardest time of year for me to get regular posts out & it's definitely held true for this summer.

In the past ten days we've had graduation ceremonies, a graduation party, two different birthday parties for hubby, a funeral, back to school shopping to do and we lost one of our sweet kitties. 

It's been a crazy week.

Thus the scarce posts around here lately.

But you still love me, right??

I thought I'd pop in & share the pictures I snapped of little man this morning as he started his first day of first grade!

Craziness!
I can't believe he's in a 'grade' now. He sounds all grown up now.

But him & his new little friend he made in line whispered 'I can already tell she looks nice' when their teacher walked up this morning so I think they'll be okay :) 

Let's sidetrack & talk about one staple thrifted item we all should have for a moment.

I'm talking frames, peeps.

Awesome, chunky, wooden frames.

These are my all-time favorite pieces to snag at Goodwill and flea markets. 

They are usually super cheap & soooo easy to makeover and make look amazing. 

And you can use them for anything. 

Like first day of school pictures :) 

Check out my supplies I gathered for this easy photo prop: 

Supplies: 

Thrifted frame (3$ from Goodwill) 

Fabric

Scissors

Hot Glue Gun

Paint

Printable (mine is from Classy Clutter) 

The funnest part is picking what color to paint your frame because the sky is the limit! 

I went with white because I wanted it to be able to be used over & over again with different printables. 

But seriously, go crazy :) 

I painted mine white, let it dry & then wrapped the cardboard backing it had with my gorgeous yellow fabric. 

Secure the fabric around the board with hot glue and then just pop back into the frame. 

You could use scrapbook paper too but my frame was too big & I didn't want to have to piece paper together. You don't have to do this at all if your picture fills the frame all the way. But I wanted a fun pop of color around my print. 

It makes the cutest photo prop once it's all done!! 

I used a tiny piece of tape to secure my print to the fabric. 

I'll change out my prints whenever I need to. 

I love having a frame around for random photo shoots :) 

Tips for thrifting for frames: 

1. Look for the wooden ones! They are so easy to paint...cheapy plastic ones are a pain. Metal ones are fun to paint to.  

2. Look for unique shapes. I always keep an eye out for oval, round & curvy frames. They just don't make awesome frames like they used to. So I snatch them up when I see them! I always keep a stash in my garage and I go through them quick!

3. Get the ones with glass already. Unless you're specifically looking for glass-less ones for a project, get ones with glass. Pictures & prints always look better behind glass :) I've bought some before thinking that another 8x10 frame's glass would fit and they usually don't. 

4. The chunkier the better! Chunky frames with awesome detail look amazing once they are all painted up. Yes, sometimes you have to look past the hideous colors they already are... but they are so worth it. Promise :) 

And don't forget to think outside the box when it comes to awesome frames. 

Use them as trays, as photo props, as wreaths. Cluster them together for awesome collages, use them on your mantles, & set them as a centerpiece for your next party!!

Here are a couple ways I've used them in the past to get your creative juices flowing...

From left to right: 

1. Candy Shoppe Bday Tablescape 

2. Autumn Frame Wreath 

3. Jenga Block Framed Baby Gift

4. Scrabble Monogram Gift 

5. Fall Mantle with Painted Frames

6. O Christmas Tree Ornament Frames

Can you tell I love having frames around for projects?? 

Are you a frame fanatic like me? 

Well, I'm off to enjoy my quiet house for a few hours... I hope you guys have a great monday!!!

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Summer Seashell Art + A $200 Home Depot Giveaway!!!

Hey sweet friends!!

Happy monday :) 

Have I got a fun day for you!!

I'm super excited to share a fun project I've been working on plus share some other awesome bloggers & their amazing projects! 

Before I show you my fun little creation, let me let YOU in on the fun...

Me & eight other fabulous bloggers have teamed up with Coupons.com to bring you a chance to win a $200 gift card to Home Depot!!

Coupons.com is a great site that shares a wide selection of digital coupon codes for both companies and brands. They are the largest provider of digital coupon codes on the web, including coupons for Home Depot!! 

Plus, we are each sharing an awesome summer travel-themed project using items we bought from Home Depot just to show you how awesome they are (in case you didn't already know!) 

As part of the giveaway, each of us were provided with a gift card to Home Depot to create a summer travel themed DIY project. 

I was super excited because we just got back from the beach a few weeks ago and I had the perfect beach project in mind. 

Check out this cuteness: 

Are you excited yet? 

My favorite thing about the beach is picking up seashells along the shore with the kids. 

We came home with a bucketful and I knew I didn't want them just sitting around collecting dust. 

I wanted them to be a little bit more meaningful.

Especially since it was our first family vacation together. 

And it's super easy!

It'd be a fun craft to do with the kids while at the beach one night too. 

We all know it rains there too :) 

Supplies: 

*Seashells (gather your own on vacation!!) 

*Raw Boards (Home Depot) 

*Dark Walnut stain (Home Depot) 

*Paintbrush (make sure to get one meant for stain)

*Wood Carving Dremel Bit (Home Depot) 

*Hot Glue Gun

**I used my table saw to cut my boards to size but the nice people at Home Depot will cut them down for you if you ask!

The first thing I did was cut my boards to the size I wanted using my table saw. 

Then, I stained them with my favorite stain- dark walnut- before connecting them together in the back with a couple smaller pieces of wood. 

The hard part was creating the heart shape with the shells. 

It took a good 45 minutes to get it exactly the way I wanted. 

I got lucky with a few perfectly curved shells and broken sand dollars :) 

Then I used hot glue to adhere them down. 

I love all the variations of size and colors! 

My favorite part was using my dremel to carve the little saying 'simple pleasures' at the bottom'. 

I used the same wood carving tip as I did for my initial wood carving I shared last week. 

Home Depot carries both the Dremel tips & the Dremel itself.

Just in case you need some tips on what to spend that $200 on :) 

The Dremel is probably my favorite tool-- and they don't pay me to say that.

But they totally should cuz I'd rock the heck out of it. 

I mean, guys, you can carve words into wood. 

How cool is that?? 

I'm kind of obsessed with words. Always have been.

So the idea of being able to carve them effortlessly into wood has my head spinning all the time.

Love it :) 

Then you just get to sit back and admire your little beach away from home :) 

The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever and now whenever we look at it we can remember our fun trip! 

And now it's your turn to have a chance to create something amazing!!
Coupons.com is allowing you the chance to win a $200 gift card to Home Depot!!

Just enter in the Rafflecopter Widget below & be sure to check out the other amazing bloggers that are participating for some awesome inspiration!!

Gallamore West -- Four Marrs & One Venus -- Make Life Lovely -- Artsy Fartsy Mama -- The Crafted Sparrow -- Young and Crafty -- Nellie Bellie -- A Turtle's Life for Me 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{I was compensated with materials to use for creating a project but all opinions and ideas are 100% my own}

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Grey & White Rolling Chairs Redo

I have been on a furniture refinishing roll lately!! 

My garage is starting to look less like Goodwill and more like Pier one :) 

Well in the colors anyways. 

I love seeing all the happy painted pieces rather than the dusty, scratched ones. 

I found two cute rolling chairs at Habitat at the beginning of the summer and they were just dying to come home with me...

Hubby wasn't quite as sold on them as I was. 

I think the casters had me completely captivated. 

(You'll see them in the afters) 

I knew they would like bright & happy with new upholstery and paint. 

They were in great condition besides a few scratches & the worn-out seat. 

I gave them a good sanding before spraypainting them with my favorite gloss white. 

I wanted to keep them classic but modern. 

After they had dried, I distressed them a bit then sealed them with my favorite wax. 

I left the casters alone- love their contrast against the white!!

I updated the seats by recovering them with a gorgeous grey & white geometric print. 

The seats unscrewed easily from underneath and I just stapled the fabric to the seat and popped them back in. 

Easy peasy. 

The casters pop in and out easily too in case they are ever not wanted. 

I love the industrial look against the clean, modern lines though :) 

Aren't they beautiful? 

I think they'd be the perfect pair of office chairs.

Or paired with a cute hexagon end table in a little reading nook. 

I've tried to convince hubby to let me keep them.

But they're up for sale as of right now. 

I threw my little placemat pillows on them for their photo shoot.

I'm totally obsessed with all things yellow right now.

And yellow with grey? Swoon. 

Ready for some before and afters??

I think they made quite the transformation with a little fabric & paint!!

What do you think??

Are you loving them as much as I am? 

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Linked to: 
Inspire me Please @ Liz Marie Blog. Tickled Pink @ 504 Main. Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed. Link Party Palooza.