Picture This!!!!

I have a hallway that goes from my back door to the front of my house that has one empty wall.

I really wanted to display our family photos in a unique way that allowed people to see

a true reflection of us.

I purchased several old windows from a lady who was remodeling her older home.

I bought the larger windows for five dollars and the smaller ones for three dollars.

(although the smaller ones are a really good size.)

I  edited photos that I had taken of our children and

gave them the same effect to give the pictures a unified look.

I them printed the pictures and taped them behind the glass.

I even edited some of our wedding photos

and placed them behind the smaller window pane.

There was a nail hole in the window,

so I added a fleur de lis embellishment.

The Divine Mr. M measured and measured and measured

before hanging the windows on the wall.

There were open spaces left on the wall,

so I decided to add some architectural interest by adding

different pieces for texture.

This is the face of a dresser drawer that I found on the curb.

I loved the carving soooo much.

I painted it white and distressed the front to give it some age.

I then painted the knob with some Oil Rubbed Bronze...my fave.

I love the look it gives!

Here's the wall from the only angle that I could squeeze in.

(sorry. The hallway is very narrow.)

I added our family initial, a key, a door knob, and a large fleur de lis as well.

I also added the window from my great grandmother's house with a wonderful quote

 that I talked about here.

This is Mr. M's favorite project by far!!!

I love the originality and the aged look it gives.

Hope ya'll like it too!!!!!!

PSSSST!!!! I'm participating in Transformation Thursday with my girl

over at the Shabby Chic Cottage

and Make Your Monday with Twice Remembered

and Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch.

One More Time...............

I was soooo excited about this giveaway

but sadly Nicolette never contacted me after a month of patiently waiting

I finally had to take down the streamers and pop all the balloons.

So after redrawing a name....

Congratulations

2Browneyed beauties!!!!

Give me your contact info and this baby is YOURS!!!!

Heather Bullard inspired back door

I fell in love with this back door planter by Heather Bullard.

The simplicity of the jar in chicken wire with the ribbon and trims

just made me oooh and aaahhh.

I was so inspired I decided to make one of my own.

I did not copy Heather as she is an incredible artist

and could never be reproduced.

I simply took her look for inspiration and made this....

I decided not to use straight chicken wire.

Let's face it....I'm accident prone.

There was no way I was going to involve myself with sharp metal.

I did place my Ball jar inside this grapevine and chicken wire basket

I got at Hob Lob.

(It's by the wreaths.)

I then filled it in with moss and place my flowers in my jar.

The frames were the vintage metal ones that I purchased from GW.

I spray painted them black and then added scrapbook paper

and french wording that I tea stained.

The pocket watch was found for a dollar at a flea market.

(I'm still on the hunt for the one I mentioned here.)

It doesn't work so I thought it would be a great accent piece.

(Sorry for the sideways pic. I don't know what happened with this one.)

I added a bird with feathers and berries

to give a hint of fall and a touch of color.

I made the tassel in true Nester fashion.

This was alot harder than I thought.

In the end, I enjoyed the finished product.

I really love my back door now.

I have plans on changing out the flowers and trim for christmas.

I hope my creation inspires you as Heather Bullard did mine.

P.S.  I'm a little torn about the new "fall" look on my page.

Do ya like it?

Hate it?

Is it too busy?

Keep it simple?

Stay the same?

Let me know what ya think.

I value ya'lls opinion.

Pssst!!!   I'm participating in Metamorphasis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch

How to turn an old urn...into an old urn

One of my treasures when I hit junk paydirt

was this cute metal urn that I got for $4.

 As you can see, it was this weird green color with spots of rust.

I love rust. It makes my heart go pitter patter.

But the green paint made my stomach do something else.

So I decided to paint her.

She was pretty but she didn't have much character.

Besides, who wants to be around a girl that's all fluff ?

I decided this girl needed some grit.

I  went to some of my most trusted allies to give her a makeover.

Meet raw umber and burnt umber paint.

DIRT cheap!! Great mileage!!!

(I feel like I'm trying to sell a used car.)

I use these two paints to add a little age and give the illusion of worn places on my work.

I simply painted it on, let it sit for like 5 seconds

(I get freaked out if I wait  any longer...afraid it might get stuck like that.)

 Then I take my trust dusty soft rag and start to wipe it off leaving some in the crevices.

My new BFF (sorry spray paint) is Distress Ink.

LADIES!!!!!!!!

This stuff is DA BOMB!!!!

I don't know who Jim Holtz is or how he came up with this stuff but it is F.A.B.U!!!!!

It's in the stamping aisle at your craft store and is for paper but

paper...schmaper....

This stuff comes in ALL KINDS of finishes like old paper, vintage photo, etc.

It gives an aging like no other.

I dab the inkpad with a paper towel and then dab my urn.

I keep dabbing until I'm satisfied with the look.

Then I wipe off the excess with my soft rag.

I slightly dampened my rag for the ink to give it a softer look.

Just repeat the process between the paint and the ink until you have......

Something like this!!!!!

TA-DAH!!!!

She looks nice and rusted and patina-ed (is that a word?)

without the icky green paint.

Now all she needs are some dried hydrangeas. (hint...hint...) (talking trash?)

She will hopefully have a spot by my back door soon.

Just waiting on those hydrangeas.......

PSSSST! 

I'm participating in Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest

and Thursday Transformation with The Shabby Chic Cottage

Things that make you go ...EEK!

Check out Matthew Mead's newest Halloween magazine: Hundreds of Spooky Treats and Clever Crafts for the Best Holiday Ever! Beautiful photos of easy, creative and fun projects and straight-forward directions and patterns that will appeal to crafters of every age. On newstands now throughout the U.S. and Canada!

As fall approaches, I can only think of one thing...HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I thought I'd let ya'll know about this great new magazine with TONS of ideas!

I will soon be starting all of my halloween decorating and I can't wait to show ya'll the cool things I have in store.

Can I Get a Woot Woot!!!!

I Won!  I Won! 

Tracey from the French Larkspur informed me that

I won her $150 giveaway!!!! Yayuh!!!

I've been doing the "Happy Spazzy Dance" for two days now!

The hardest part about winning?

Deciding what to buy!

She has such gorgeous items in her shop like these.....

and she carries Jeanne d' Arc Living items and magazines!

Go buy and check her out.

Tracey has such gorgeous items to offer.

You will not be disappointed!

I can't wait to show ya'll what I picked out.

Let There Be Light!!!!

See this little beauty of a pendant light fixture?

Cute but not real pretty?

(We've all met girls like that.)

Poor thing was on sale at GW for $1.49.

She had no self dignity left.

Insert one junker at heart, a can of Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint,

and an electrician who just HAPPENS to be

your husband.

(Yes that is sweat.. I'm a hard taskmaster.)

And you have one very pretty light.

She just needed a little makeup.

(oh, and a $8 globe from Lowe's.)

For ten dollars, she feels like a million bucks.

I love the soft glow she gives in my hallway now.

Just divine!

PSSSST!!!!!

I'm participating in  Southern Hospitality Thrifty finds

and Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphasis Monday
along with Sanctuary Arts at Home for a Before and After.

Go check them and all the ladies who have participated out!!