Dream...And the Mantel is IN!!!

Hello All!  Well, the fuss and busy pace of the holidays are over and it's time to get back into the swing of crafting.  Woo hoo!  A Day For Daisies has a new challenge beginning today and it's to use pastels.  I used this precious mermaid image from ADFD's new release, "Mermaid of Star."  She's colored with copics and embellished with Stickles.  I framed her using Nestabilities and pastel cardstock from Bazzill.  The "dream" sticker came from the $1 bins at Michaels.  Doesn't she look so magical!?

Speaking of magic - I am ready to show you the mantel!  Dan and I got it painted, along with the room, and although we still have to finish the trim work,  I HAVE to show you!  For the biggest WOW factor, I need to show the room BEFORE.   We didn't have furniture so the room has sat empty.  Well, except for the junk that collected in there from time to time ;)  It sort of became a catch-all for stuff we didn't feel like taking up or down stairs!

So this is the way the room has looked since we've moved in.  It's funny how long it took us to realize how bland the beige walls were!  The light fixture was chosen months before the house was even framed and most of the ones we picked we've changed.  But I liked the fixture in the living room with the exception of the colored shade which would cast a sickly yellow light when illuminated.  Amazingly, we were able to find the perfect new glass shade so I was able to keep the fixture.  The carpet will be replaced with wood flooring but that's not happening for a while yet.  I know this pics aren't the best but I had to show you the bare bones of a room :)  This first pic shows the blank wall where the mantel was put up and the pic below is the other side of the room.

Ok so here's the AFTER ...

 Oh I just LOVE it!  The little green chair is going to go; I brought it up from the basement to play around with the placement but another armchair will replace it once I get it.  I still need wall decor and curtains but to see it this far along is so.darn.exciting!!!  Gotta put in another pic of that mantel:

The mirror was pretty worn -- I'm not sure if that's how one describes a de-silvering mirror but I wanted to keep it intact exactly as it came.  Those gorgeous crystal lamps were a Christmas present from Dan (more about that later!).  The hearth is black granite tile but it has a slight sparkle in it - totally gorgeous!  You can see in this picture where trim is  needed around the base of the hearth and around the base of the mantel (where is sits on the hearth).   We painted the mantel with the same semi-gloss the rest of the trim is painted and for the final coat, we added a chemical called, Floetrol, which creates a smooth finish and removes all brush marks, etc.  I love that stuff :)






Here's a close up of the crystal lamps and the ceiling fixture:

And since I've gone pic CRAZZEEEE - here's a shot of the dining room too :)  We still have to paint the trim in here, add wall decor, and curtains for the bay.  

Ok, so that's all for today as I believe I have broke my own record for the most pics in one post :)  I hope you have a great weekend!! Happy Crafting, <3 Lisa

So Long 2011... Well Hello 2012!

Happy New Year Friends!   I am excited for the "new" 2012 has the promise to bring!  2011 was not a banner year here at the Jackson house.  But, since focusing on the negatives is way too easy and totally unproductive, I'm going to snub my nose at them and focus solely on the positives I can take away from 2011!  I hereby declare this blog a "positives only" zone. ( Do you think the negatives feeling snubbed yet?)  Okay - sooo positives ---ah, here's one -- to deal with stress I have been painting every room in the house!  It started with the sun room (see it HERE) and, to date, I have painted the family room (and we re-did the fireplace, see it HERE), kitchen, powder room, dining room and all the ceilings too. ( I started the living room in 2011 but 2012 will claim its completion).  It's a welcomed change of scenery, freshens up the house beautifully and it was much needed.  win/win ;)   Dan has been right beside me with a paint sponge in hand ready to edge at a moment's notice (Thanks honey!)  If the cutting in is covered, I can load up the paint roller and roll, roll, roll!  My new year's resolution is just to keep painting...things are bound to get better and once they do, the house is going to be fabulous ;)

Another positive has been redecorating.  That should be fun, right!?  Not so much :(  Furniture shopping (*with the exception of my dining room table; that was kismet - and another positive!) has not been what I expected.  What with the high-pressure sell, the following --yes, actually tailing us-- around the showroom, coupled with sticker shock and ridiculous "finance package" offers; GAHHH, not fun at all.  I knew there had to be a better way.  Enter another positive = CRAIGSLIST!  I cannot believe I hadn't checked it out before.   I *love* curling up with my laptop and a cup of coffee to browse hundreds of items (at prices that don't require eating cup-of-noodles for the next year and a half) and envisioning all the possibilities!   Of course, I have stumbled upon the off item that was NOT as pictured; you know, it looks all sparkly and perfect, only to find out the pic was taken 10 years ago, two seconds after being delivered from the furniture store - LOL!  No biggie - I have no problem declining the offer under those circumstances :)  But so far, the instances of great finds far outweigh the crummy ones.   I understand that what makes a "great find" depends solely on what you're looking for so just for fun, here are my "top finds" and the inspiration behind them! (Prepare for positives overload!)

I am currently working on the Dining Room/Living Room and this buffet from Thrifty Decor Chick has been pinned on my "Dining Room" Pinterest (AH HA - PINTEREST, another 2011 positive!) board for quite some time.  I love the curvy lines and crystal hardware:

Inspiration Buffet from Thrifty Decor Chick

And here is my gorgeous buffet found on Craigslist for $125!  The hardware is different but those beautiful curvaceous lines are mine, all mine ;)  And... the possibility is there that I could refinish the piece and add crystal hardware (once I learn how to re-finish furniture *giggle*)

Here is the Inspiration Sofa I pinned from Yahoo photo search.  When I retrieved the pin, I was taken to Overstock.com and the price on this baby is $1900:

Inspiration Sofa from Overstock.com

And here is my Craigslist find - a darling Storehouse Velvet Sofa for $75.  I love that the feet on the sofa match the wood of  my dining chairs and table:

Here is the inspiration for arm chairs for the dining room.  I bought side chairs from Overstock but wanted different styled chairs for the head of the table.  I loved the wood frame but wasn't crazy about the fabric.  Plus this baby runs about $250 and I need two!

Inspiration Chairs - Overstock.com

And lo and behold,  I spied these arm chairs on Craiglist.  INCREDIBLE, beautiful all-wood frames and the fabric couldn't be more perfect  - $15 each for a whopping $30 total for both :)

This is my table & side chairs:

The dining room is technically finished but since it's combined with the living room, it is a little cramped right now since I moved the sofa in while we work on the mantel.  Which brings me to my most favorite find on Craigslist so far!  First, the inspiration ...

Dramatic fireplace inspiration from HGTV.com

Oh, that double mantel with the sky-high ceiling and the lovely, celtic knotted-looking mirror --so dramatic and beautiful!  Now, I don't have that kind of ceiling in my living room but luckily, the ceilings are high SO when I saw this amazing, 7 foot antique Victorian double mantel with mirror --and for $125 --well, it was definitely made for me :)  

Dan and I have been working steadily and the hearth is completed and it's mounted to the wall.  Here's a progress pic:

  

I am excited about the transformation and can't wait to show you but I have a bit more work before the reveal.  We're down to just finishing the trim work and painting the walls (which are only primed in the pic).

So there, negatives, you have been officially snubbed.  Friends, I wish you the best of everything in the New Year -- love, health, and happiness -- and may you find the treasures you seek (and don't forget to check Craigslist - Ha!).  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