Our Fireplace Makeover!

Hello Everyone!  I have been promising photos of the house projects Dan and I have been working steadily on over the last few months but it has been so busy and the house has been in utter disarray that I have neglected my blog a bit.  This is so not intentional, I'm just not organized and I get easily overwhelmed amid the chaos!  But, I think I'm getting the hang of  it so it's time to share some Before/Afters. Woohoo!

We moved into our home in October 2005; but while it was being built, we were living in a rental (for a year and almost a half!).  The rental home didn't have many windows and those it had were obscured with lots of bushes and overhanging trees.  This made the interior always dark and dreary.  Plus, the walls were painted an unpleasant and sickly peachy-terracotta-y color--which, by the by, earned the house the moniker "the peach pit"!  The paint color didn't lend a hand in lightening up the space at all and by the time we finally moved out, I had grown more than sick of peach.  As a matter of fact, the experience has soured me on the color peach (probably forevermore) *giggle*.

 I love, wait, check that --I NEED-- light, lots and lots of it and the more of it the better.  When we moved into the new house with it's many windows and builder beige walls the space was so light and airy, it was a breath of fresh air!  It was such an improvement over the peach pit, I didn't even consider painting anything that first year.  By the time I started thinking about adding some color, the kids had just started college.  The expenses associated with that --tuition, living, housing, cars, insurance, books, etc. --were so overwhelming, I took a few shorts cuts with painting; hence the unfortunate "oops" paint for the sunroom!  As for college students - My stepson graduated 2 years ago; my daughter took a break last year (much to my disappointment - this is a whole 'nother post!); and my stepdaughter graduates in two weeks.  Yippee!  Now it's time for Dan and I do the things we want.  So without further adieu, here is the fireplace BEFORE:

And here is the AFTER:

Isn't that amazing!?  I am in love :)  The design idea came from this inspiration (I saw the pic on Pinterest and then followed the link to the website).  Dan created the grid using 1 1/2" wood trim and he glue and tacked them in place.  Then he caulked all the edges.  Once everything dried, I painted...and painted...and painted.  I am actually going to apply one more coat but this time, I am adding something called "Floetrol" in with paint so that the finish is super-smooth and there will be no brush marks. The hurricanes on either side are from Crate & Barrel (here).    I cannot wait to decorate it for Christmas!  We are finishing up this space now -it's our family room- and I'll post a pic of the entire room when it is presentable for photos!

Just for fun, I'm linking to Metamorphosis Monday presented by Between Naps on the Porch!

Happy Crafting <3 Lisa

A New Challenge at A Day For Daisies (and a picture of my table)!

Happy [belated] Thanksgiving Everyone!  I hope your holiday was wonderful and  that you're not too stuffed today *giggle*  My table arrived right on time and wow, is it GORGEOUS!  LOOK AT THOSE LEGS! :)

The dining room is not close to being finished yet; I still need window treatments, a sideboard, two armchairs, art on the walls and inverted wainscoting...but all in due time.  For now, I'm just really excited to see that table!! :) I am going to keep working on it and I'll post updates along the way.  Now, on to the Challenge...

It's a color challenge at A Day For Daisies!  I love these bright, summery colors!  Here is my inspiration using one of the Under The Sea New RELEASE today,  "Three New Friends."

I used papers from DCWV Citrus stack.  The image is colored with copics and I used "fantasy film" on the mermaid's tail.

Enjoy your weekend!  Happy Crafting, <3 Lisa

Getting Ready for T-Day!!

Good Morning Everyone!  I hope you had a great week :)  I am looking forward to the weekend - as usual! - even though it will be a busy one.  Lots of preparations underway for the Thanksgiving holiday and thanks to A Day For Daisies, my Thanksgiving table setting is going to be GORGEOUS!  I have purchased my first "formal" dining table.  I never would have believed I could be so happy about a table but she is a beauty.  It will be delivered on Wednesday --whew! that's cutting it close, isn't it!? -- and I wanted it's holiday dressing to be special.  I used Tammy's re-released image, "pretty turkey," and created napkin rings from Bazzill cardstock, nestabilities and grosgrain ribbon.  I want to make some place cards also.  I am painting the dining room to paint this weekend --all in preparation of thearrival of the guest of honor --The TABLE!  I will definitely post pictures of the dining room, table, etc. next week. Until then, happy crafting! <3 Lisa

Paper People!

Sally Grosart from Wee Paper People.blogspot.com  creates the most wonderful paper people -- Ellen, characters from Pretty in Pink, Say Anything, Wilfred, and New Girl, just to name a few --and they are available to download for free!!  I think they are AwEsOmE!  When I saw Sally's zombies I knew I had to have paper people of Dan and I AND then have paper Dan and Lisa zombiefied.  I emailed her our photos and for about $15 (a set) she created us!!  She first made our likenesses as "normal" paper people and then created us again as ZOMBIES!  So stinkin cool! :)  And, I received both sets via email to download in a pdf format so I can make as many sets of "us" as I want.  I printed them on a heavy cardstock, cut out the pieces, and assembled them.  They are easy to put together but if you get hung up, there are instructions available on Sally's website.  My paper people were a Halloween surprise for Dan so I set them up on our coffee table so he would see them before we left for work Halloween morning.  He loved them!  He took them with him and

now they reside in his office.  I made a set for myself and they hang out in my craft room :)  I am going to make another set for our TV room.  Dan and I are big zombie fans.  A few years ago (at a Horrorfind weekend convention) I met George Romero and he signed my
Night of the Living Dead movie poster.  So you see, I *have* to have our paper zombie selves along with my zombie memorabilia! LOL!

Happy Crafting <3 Lisa

Jolly Ole Saint Nick

My goodness I am late!  Typically I set up my posts the night before new release day but I am just getting to my "night before" list and it's already the night after!  UGH.

A Day For Daisies' new release "Vintage Seasonal Fun" is based off some old Christmas illustrations from the 1900s.  The image I used, "Saint Nick" is done in Margaret Evan Price style.  I love the swirls of magic around Santa as he gets ready to go down the chimney!  The image is colored with copics and I pulled out all the glittery, iridescent, sparkly stuff I could find for the swirling magic and snow :)  I used Bazzill cardstock for the card and the "Believe" and swirls are $1 stamps from Michaels (I love my $1 stamps!).  So please head over to A Day For Daisies and check out the other fabulous images in this week's release.

Happy Crafting! <3 Lisa