Milk Crate Bench Seat

Last week after all the rush to finish my Christmas gifts, I finally sewed the pillow for Skylar's crate bench seat.  Remember back over Labor Day when I spent all that time priming those crates?  I attached them together right away and they have been functional as storage bins for Sky's room since then.  I've had everything all ready to go for the pillow for ages but I'm procrastinator petey with things from time to time, obviously.  Anywho, here's my final result:

 

Here is the bench seat below Skylar's window.  I'm thinking I eventually would like to get (or make) new bookshelves for her room that would actually sit below the window and move the bench opposite the bed where her current bookshelves (which I hate) are located.  This seems like a good plan because the wall that the shelves are on now is the most open wall and would be perfect for a little play area for her.  I could even put a magnetic/dry erase board on the wall behind the bench seat.  

At any rate, I love how her room is getting cuter with every project I do for it.  The current tally of made-by-me items in Sky's room?...let's see:

Curtains with valance

Name wall art

Newborn Shadowbox

Positively Expecting Shadowbox

Family Portrait

Button mirror (which actually is hanging at Sky height in the bathroom right now, but was made for her room.

Bed pillows

And various scrapbooks including:

Baby Shower Card Scrapbook

Baby Belly Book

Mini-Frame Keyring Holders

These 2 are made from 4"x6" frames with some decoupage and hooks:

Artists Against Hunger 9

Well, Artists Against Hunger has come and gone again.  I was only able to be there Friday evening because of work.  It was a fair turnout despite the extremely cold temperatures.  I unfortunately did not make any sales but that just means that all the cool things I made for my "Functional Facelifts" project are available for purchase at my website.

Two of 3 Warm Accessory Organizers

Here is the second which features plastic canvas for earrings, 2 hooks and 2 pegs for necklace and bracelet storage:

One of 3 Warm Accessory Organizers

I had 3 open back oak (barf) frames which I decided to use the same color palette on.  This is the first one completed which features 3 pegs for necklaces, a magnet strip for bobby pins, and a ribbon for hanging earrings or hair clips:

Decorative Memo board

Another of my favorite facelifts, a memo board of sorts with 3 clips and 2 pegs for holding keys, notes, pics, etc:

Decorative Keyring Holder

Artists Against Hunger is quickly approaching...as in 4 days from now.  So I'm wrapping up the "Functional Facelifts" projects that are almost finished.  I already installed the ones that were done and documented Sunday afternoon.  Here's a few of the stragglers, starting with a decorative keyring holder made from a wooden plaque I got from my dad decoupaged and painted:

Beige Earring and Necklace Holder

This, one of the first, "Functional Facelifts" is a very basic earring and necklace holder, just 8"x10" in size, perfect for a petite jewelry collection:

Neon Jewelry Organizer

This "Functional Facelift" posed a few problems along the way but came to completion today.  It's a pretty basic jewelry organizer popping with neon colors:

Open front Shadowbox for photo clipping

This "Functional Facelift" was the marriage of 2 pieces of would-be trash discarded by customers at work.  I measured and cut the mock litho print to fit the shadowbox exactly scoring it so the picture would line it, removed the glass and stretched crocheted cotton chains across the front.  It's purpose is for clipping pictures and/or notes as a quick, easily interchanged display case.  I love how it turned out:

Accessory Organizer

This is one of my most clever "Functional Facelifts".  At least I think so anyways.  The main frame of it was actually a cast off from another project when it turned out I didn't need it for that.  I decoupaged paper on it and added hooks, pegs, a dowel, plastic canvas, and a magnet strip for the ultimate accessory organizer.

closeup of bottom left corner

closeup of upper right corner

Little Boy Photo Clip Block

The last of the four 5"x8" wood block projects, this one themed for a little boy:

Little Girl Photo Clip Block

The third of four 5"x8" wood block projects holds 1 (or 2) 4"x6" photos themed for a little girl:

Beachy Sunglasses Frame

This is one of the first "Functional Facelifts" I made.  An open back frame with a cool paint job and a bit of ribbon makes a sweet sunglasses holder:

Decorative Keyholder

And another:

This is another of my 5"x8" woodblock facelifts.  More decoupage, paint and ribbons...It is now a decorative key and sunglasses holder:

Fun Flowery Photo Holder

Another project for "Functional Facelifts":

I got 4 of these 5"x8" wood blocks from Y's Buys awhile back for $1.99.  This one transformed via paint, decoupage, and ribbon into a cutesie photo holder that can hold 4 images (2 at top, bottom frame is 2-sided).

Argyle Mini Mirror

I've been gradually finishing off handful of projects I've been working on for the upcoming Artists Against Hunger Exhibition.  The series is called "Functional Facelifts" in which I give thrifty found objects a new look and purpose.  I want to share them one by one as I complete and then document them.  So here goes...

I found this little framed mirror at the Goodwill for $1.50.  I primed it and then gave it a few healthy coats of yellow-orange paint.  I sassed up the front with a puffy paint pattern and the sides with some decoupaged argyle paper.  It's something like 3"x12" not including the frame.  I think it's totally adorable:

 

Check and Check

I finished a couple items from the to-do list.

The first, Aaron's tattoo design:

I think he's going to take it down to his favorite artist sometime very soon to get it done.


The second, my family picture wall:

It's a good start I'd say.  I got the mirror shelf from my parents the other day and the wall shelf from DJ's today.  I have a few frames I'd like to get pictures for so there's a few holes for now.  I'm glad I've got what I've got up for now.



Another little guy:

I got another little shelf from my folks that works perfectly for temporary spice storage until I get a proper rack.  I love having this counter free now that the microwave is on a stand.


I spent most of Saturday working on 2 projects.  The first: the milk crate bench seat.  I spray primed the crates and have been waiting for them to cure properly to connect them (with zip ties).  I still need to finish the cushion.

Second: hand-stitching my necktie rug, a project that's been in progress for years.  I'm not sure why I decided to bust it out this weekend but I've made some progress and will eventually post pictures.

I spent most of Sunday at my parents house working on my buckets for the yarn revamp.  I need to get hardware tomorrow, drill the buckets and attach everything together.

I've also been working intermittently on my pink project.


Update complete.

Small Table Facelift

I just finished up a sort of little, sort of time consuming project that weaseled it's way onto the to-do list for my extended weekend.  My mom and dad's neighbors had this table on rummage but wouldn't take a penny from them, just told them to give it to me.  So I made this drab little table with tons of potential a sweet facelift.

Before:

And After!!!

And so it begins...

It was all I could do to survive that horrible 8-day stretch at work and now I'm on vacation, HUZZAH!

I just re-read my to-do list and just made a mental shopping list for things I can get from Ace...we're going now :)