Giveaway Reminder--Noah's Inspirations

Don't forget to visit HERE to enter for a chance to win a Noah's Inspirations Onesie!!!

What is Noah's Inspirations? 100% organic baby apparel that comes with a ONE FOR ONE PROMISE!! Meaning, for every 100% organic baby onesie or T-shirt purchased, they will DONATE a onesie or T-shirt to a baby in need!!

Please go HERE for your chance to win!! Winner will be announced on Monday, March 1st.

Collaboration

We are prepping the ground for this year's "Square Foot Garden." (More on that later!) Therefore, we have plenty of mud patches, shovels, etc out in the yard.

Barnum, although he had his Buzz Light Year gloves on and everything, was having difficulty working the ground to his pleasing. Bailey was headed over to investigate.


Bailey, "What in the heck, Bubba? That IS NOT how you do it! Let me do it before you ruin it."

"Move over! I'm going to show you," says Bailey. Barnum crosses his arms, pouts and then whoops and hollers, "GET OUTTA HERE YOU'RE MESSING UP MY STUFF!!!"

Bailey throws his arms up. "You are IMPOSSIBLE to WORK with! If you would JUST LISTEN to ME you WOULD UNDERSTAND! Then THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN!!"

Listen to your Mama boys!! Love your neighbor as yourself. Your "first neighbors" are your FAMILY. Don't save your worst for them because you know they aren't going anywhere! Love them the BEST because God made them the very closest to YOU!!

Chandelier BEFORE & AFTER

Although there wasn't a thingy wrong with this chandelier, it has spent the last 4 years up in the attic. It was originally located in our "Formal Dining Room." However, as the parents of two young'ens, we don't have the luxury of "Formal Dining." Our "Formal Dining Room" houses brightly colored plastic, metal cars, figurines, trains, etc, and therefore needed a circulating fan!!

Thankfully, all of the inspiration out there in bloggy land has encouraged me to make something of this chandelier and find a place for it! "Repurpose" or "Upcycle" are the words these uber talented ladies use! So here is the Before:


Nothing wrong! Just a little "heavier" than what I was going for in our entryway.

Step 1: I hosed it down with two coats of RustOleum's American Accents in Blossom White and wrapped a pearl garland (thank you wedding aisle at Michael's) around each "arm?" I am undecided re: the pearls! Please vote in the poll on the right hand side of the blog!!

Step 2: I went out to my husband's tackle box, thieved his fishing line and then strung me up some fancy crystals!! HAHAHA! (Again, thank you to the Michael's. This time, it was the floral aisle!)

Step 3: I super glued my "crystals" on!

Step 4: The chandelier found a new home in the entryway!

Finally, I am not sure about the lack of "lamp shades." I have gotten mixed reviews so please visit the poll to the right of the blog!!

Do you want ideas on how to market your small business? Do you proudly support businesses that offer a One for One Promise for infants in need? Do you love to WIN FREE GIVEAWAYS?? PLEASE check out this SPOTLIGHT Link Featuring Noah's Inspirations!!

Because I L-O-V-E the inspiration I find at the following blogs, I will be linking to:

The Diy Show Off's Project Parade

Metamorphosis Monday-Between Naps on the Front Porch

It's So Very Cheri-It's So Very Creative

DIY Day- A Soft Place to Land

Chocolate Coconut What????

Photo courtesy of Hershey's

Tonight, February 17, 2010, I was introduced to my new obsession. I L-O-V-E these droplets of heaven!! I love these even more than I love THESE!!!

My friend Jules busted these out at Book club and I couldn't be more grateful!! She stumbled upon them at Target. According to Slashfood they made their debut in 2006!! huh?? FOUR YEARS LATER???!!

Better LATE than NEVER!! I am dreaming of a chocolate coconut cream pie.....

to be continued....

Pottery Barn Knock-off--THANK YOU Knock off Wood!!

Here was our inspiration:

(photo via Pottery Barn and current price tag=$349)

Thanks to the lovely Ana, at Knock off Wood, The Strong Man was able to create it!!

If you are not familiar with Knock off Wood, PLEASE head over there!! Ana VERY GENEROUSLY provides a bevy of plans and helpful hints so that those of us without the ability or desire to order directly from Pottery Barn, Land of Nod, Williams-Sonoma Home, etc can STILL front like we do!! WOOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!

I was the Manager on Duty responsible for chronicling every step of the process. The Strong Man was in charge of manual labor. Every time we had a meeting to discuss our roles, he would turn red, grit his teeth and mumble something about an impossible woman. Thankfully, all turned out well.

Here it goes:

1. Marking the cuts. (PLEASE NOTE!! Ana supplies ALL the info you would need to have Lowe's or Home Depot make these cuts for you!! Don't be overwhelmed!)

2. We have our pieces!!

3. A random pic of supplies. HOWEVER, note the bottom right corner!! Those are a page of Ana's plans!!

4. Houston, we have assembly!! Gorilla Glue...I heart you!! (and Gorilla tape, epoxy and so on and so forth!!)

5. Houston, we have UPRIGHT assembly!! (Don't be judging my garage!!)

6. The Strong Man added a little something extra to our "Recycle Center!!" He routed out the top!! I love the extra touch it gives it!!

7. We opted for the slide out drawers verses the tilt out doors. Here is a pic of the hardware.

8. FINALLY, the finished product!! Unfortunately, I don't have a staging studio with expensive lighting and cameras! My older than dirt camera DOESN'T do it justice!!!

9. For the paint job, we opted for KRYLON Indoor/Outdoor Black in a satin finish. ONLY because Hob Lob had only ONE CAN of Rustoleum's Canyon Black. Now, I know the sisters at Shanty2Chic (whom I LOVE!!) go on and on about Rustoleum's Canyon Black. However, KRYLON did NOT LET ME DOWN!! Not to mention, it has a super cool "EZ TOUCH 360 Dial" that TRULY adjusts to any angle!! (NO I am NOT being paid to say this!! I have a whopping 17 followers!! Nobody pays me to say anything!! It is just an honest product review!!)

After painting, I did take some 80 grit sandpaper and "distress" the edges.

Our final price tag= $65!!!!

As Ana put it, "Trash never looked so good!!" A HUGE THANK YOU to Ana for providing the plans and to The Strong Man for doing my bidding!!

Dear Strong Man,

You did an INCREDIBLE JOB and I LOVE IT!!! THANK YOU!!!

Love,

The Bearded Lady

Altered Canvas

I am entering these projects in the "Inspire Me" challenge at Organized Chaos. It is hilarious that she is the one that "Inspired Me" to do them!! Hahahahaha! Check out her originals here!

I made these altered canvases for some dear little ones!!

I painted 16x20 canvases with a base color and then mod podged layers of patterned scrapbook paper for matting pictures or in one case Bible verses. I cut out the names with the Cricut Calligraphy Cartridge (inspiration & inspiration blackout) and the various shapes and sizes of stars with the Plantin Schoolbook cart. I also wrapped grosgrain ribbon around the canvases where the papers met.

To achieve a 3D look, each individual piece was mod podged prior to being mod podged down to the canvas! If that makes sense??!! I curled the ends of the stars with a pencil for more pop.

These were a lot of fun to work on!!

Valentine's Day Craft & more FREE printables!

Last Friday, Barnum, his sweet friend Aubrey (who he still calls Eva-from Wall-E?? WHY? WHY does he do this??), my lovely niece and I got our craft on!! Bailey and his sweet friend Bethany were napping!!

Brenna and I turned Barnum and Aubrey loose with the paint. (COLOR WONDER paint of course!!)

They came up with some GREAT stuff! Why don't I have pictures of them painting? Because you don't have free hands when preschoolers are painting!! (Color Wonder or not!! Helper or not!!)

Upon finishing their artwork, Barnum and Aubrey received chocolate, popcorn and a movie!! While they were occupied, Brenna took their artwork and transformed it into little candy covers!!!

I used the cricky to whip up some simple Valentine's Day boxes and ......

We got these!!!

Notice Brenna's box on the left. Her candy is adorned with these lovely FREE Printables from Erin Schlosser designs!! Erin's project was the brain power behind my project with Barnum and Aubrey.

(Photo courtesy of Schlosser Designs Blog)

Please head over to her blog and let her inspire an adorable DIY Valentine's Project for yourself!!

Photo courtesy of (Schlosser Designs Blog)

She very generously gives you everything you need!! Not to mention, her shop is full of much, MUCH more!!!

CARAMEL??!! Free Printables!!

It was a HUGE newsflash to me when I heard the news!

Did you know that you could turn cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk into CARAMEL??? You can cook it into a caramel drizzling sauce, dipping sauce or SPREAD!!!!

One of my FAVORITE blogs, This Crazy Life-Michelle Underwood Designs, gives all the deets!! Not only does she give details on preparation, she graciously gives FREE PRINTABLES to doll your caramel sauces up for gifting!!!

Here are a few of her finished products:



Here are pictures of her ADORABLE free printables!!:

(Yes it says "CHRISTMAS," however, the red and white labels are PERFECT for the little holiday we have coming up in 1 WEEK!!!)

Please head over to This Crazy Life-Michelle Underwood Designs! Get yourselves some cuteness and tell her THANK YOU!!!

Get Your HEART on!!

How fun!! A website where you can make your own conversation hearts!! Visit here to customize yours!!