Box Makeover #4 - Chippy Paint

* B E F O R E *

I hated the look of this jewelry box.  Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the gorgeous wood and the inlay work.   If it had been a guy's box, I would have thought it was great.  The craftsman who built this box used these ridiculous pin-things as hinges.  They would fall out every 4th time the box was opened (and I open my jewelry box A WHOLE LOT!!!).  It frustrated the heck out of me until I finally just discarded the lid completely and stuck the box inside an armoire to keep the dust off my jewelry.

I wanted a jewelry box that was prettier and more functional, so I spray painted it black.  Um well, ok so THAT didn't work out.  The newspaper I had set the box on blew up and got stuck to the sides and then I ran out of spray paint, there were drips everywhere and... well, things just went sideways from there.  Quick sanding job and back at 'er...

I painted it Behr's Almond Cream.  I used an almost dry brush so you would see some of the black underneath.  I didn't like that either...

Then I painted it with my own concoction of ugly mistake paint Behr's Agave and a pure white.  I used a dry brush again so the cream paint would show through.  Then I scratched it up a little and sanded the corners.  I had a bunch of old knobs kicking around that I wanted to use, so I played around with them until I came up with a design I liked and attached them to the lid.  I also installed some hinges and painted them over to make them look old.

I like the look now and it's soooooo much easier to lift the lid.

* A F T E R *

Cheers!

Linking to:

Beyond the Picket Fence
Crafty, Scrappy, Happy
a Little Knick Knack
My Repurposed Life
2805
At the Picket Fence
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Funky Junk Interiors

Painting with Passion

Whatever it was that has stymied my desire to paint was definitely released by overcoming the emotion stirred up through an extremely frustrating day one week ago.  I am always so appreciative of those moments that force me to stop what I'm living and either wallow in it until I can't stand it anymore or inspire me to make the effort to find a better perspective right away.   Those are the moments that help me to grow and become more determined to let go of trying to make things happen and just let life flow.

Thanks to that day, I have painted 20 pieces in one week and today, I was inspired to paint over an early painting of mine that I never really did like.  I found a photograph on Pinterest that I loved so much, I had to paint my version of it.  So happy to say that I love my painting as much as I love the photograph!

To all of you wonderful artists and followers who take the time to leave me your very generous comments, your feedback means more to me than I can express.

Thank you all and have a wonderful week!

Anne
xox

Linking to:

The Shady Porch

Sunday Sketches

Paint Party Friday
Saavy Southern Style

Not Just a Housewife

Homework

Box Makeover #3 - Country Charm

I bought this a long time ago. It had an assortment of tea leaves in it.  I had been using the two parts of it separately as drawer organizers, but decided to use it in my front entry to hold change and odds and ends that accumulate there.  I painted a little chalkboard label area on the lid and then I decided it needed a paint job.

I used a pale turquoise paint on the top of the lid and the base, then stain on top of the paint and on the raw wood sides of the top.  It still looked a little plain, so I glued jute string on to add some texture.  When it still looked  plain, I added a checkerboard pattern to the top.

This is what I call "country rustic".

For my next box transformation - a large jewelry box.

Very handy but I've really disliked the look of this thing ever since it was given to me.

I can't wait to get at it!!

Linking to:
Cherished Bliss
A Beach Cottage
Not Just a Housewife
Homework
Sassy Sites
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Coastal Charm
Mommy Digger
Ivy & Elephants
Mod Vintage Life
You are Talking Too Much
Between Naps on the Front Porch
Funky Junk Interiors
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Bacon time with the Hungry Hippo
Shabby Creek Cottage
Brambleberry Cottage
the Artsy Girl Connection
Crafty, Scrappy, Happy
Common Ground
At the Picket Fence
French Country Cottage

Energy in Motion

After a very frustrating night, I had a ton of energy to expel and since it was cold and snowy outside I picked up my paintbrushes and went at it.

I painted page after page and when I was done, I felt so much better.

Here is the work of the last 12 hours:

I wanted to try watercolours in a different way (for me that is!), so this is what I did by hardly using any paint at all.  Not what I was trying for  :(
8x12 on watercolour paper

Letting it all hang loose!  This one felt REALLY, REALLY good to paint.  lol
8x12 on watercolour paper

Oh how I love flowers :)
8x12 on watercolour paper

This one isn't even dry yet!
12x8 on watercolour paper

Attempt #1 - couldn't get this to look like I wanted it to.
8x12 on watercolour paper

Attempt #2 - This I like better, it's kind of in the same style as the sparrow painting, loose & structured at the same time.
8x11 on watercolour paper

It sure felt good to let out all that frustration - wish I'd thought of doing this years ago!  Much more productive and fun.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking to:

Paint Party Friday
Funky Junk Interiors
Sunday Sketches
I heart nap time

Box Makeover #2 - Hand Painted Jewelry Box

B E F O R E

I decided it would be nice to hand paint this box.  Lavender seems to be on my mind these days, so I chose that colour as a base with flowers on the lid.

Then I decided to seal the paint and used the wrong product and ruined the painting :(.

Back to the drawing board...

Painting #2 turned out like this:

Not quite as charming as the original, but I like it all the same.  And it's a huge improvement over the before shot:

BEFORE

AFTER

********************************************************************

Up next, Box Makeover #3

 * B E F O R E *

Linking to:

Clean & Scentsible

DIY By Design

Saavy Southern Style

Not Just a Housewife

Homework

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Funky Junk Interiors

A Beach Cottage

The Artsy Girl Connection

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy

From My Front Porch to Yours

Brambleberry Cottage

At the Picket Fence

French Country Cottage

2805

My Repurposed Life

My Romantic Home

Finding Fabulous

Sassy Sites

Paint Party Friday

I heart nap time

You're Talking Too Much

Homemaker on a Dime

Between Naps on the Front Porch

Mod Vintage Life

Mommy Digger

Box Makeover #1 - Adding Bling

I love wood boxes and I tend to collect them from all kinds of sources.  This one was a gift:

This was a little jewelry box that someone gave me a long time ago:

This one came filled with an assortment of tea leaves:

and these two were also full of tea leaves:

Cute huh?  Well, yes and no...

I love the last two exactly as they are.  The first three boxes could be so much more!  

So here is Box Makeover #1:

Remember the before:

B E F O R E

                            

* A F T E R *

I used spray paint to coat the box without using a primer.  I love that the stripes show through.  To dress it up a bit, I added an broken brooch to the front with my glue gun.

And here it is in my bathroom where it will hold all the extra unpretty stuff that I need near the tub.

Stay tuned for Box Makeover #2 coming up next weekend!

B E F O R E

Cheers!

FABULOUS LINKY PARTIES!!!

A Beach Cottage

DIY By Design

Between Naps on the Front Porch

Funky Junk Interiors

the Vintage Farmhouse

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy

the Artsy Girl Connection

Brambleberry Cottage

Shabby Creek Cottage

Beyond the Picket Fence

Common Ground

At the Picket Fence

2805

My Repurposed Life

My Simple Home Life

Inspired by Charm

Coastal Charm

Mod Vintage Life

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Homework

Bowlful of Lemons

Cherished Bliss

Sassy Sites

Clean & Scentsible

Saavy Southern Style

Introducing Kirstin from Burlap and Buttons & her Giveaway!!

Kirstin is new to blogging and hosting her very first giveaway (and it's a beauty!!)  Be sure to visit her blog, get to know her & get in on the giveaway while you're there.

Here are her giveaway details:

Hey Everyone! 

I would like to announce Burlap & Buttons 1st Ever Giveaway! 

I am giving away a Thanksgiving or Christmas wreath- they are handmade and so lovely...

Take a look at these to get an idea.

The winner will get to pick the colors for their very own custom HOLIDAY WREATH!

Here's how to enter: Each way gets you 1 entry!

1) Follow Burlap and Buttons...

2) "Like" Burlap and Buttons on Facebook...

3) Leave a comment here telling me you are a new follower or facebook friend...

4) Mention this giveaway on your own blog or facebook page...

Good luck everyone!!!

Kirstin @ Burlap and Buttons

Click here to enter your comment for the giveaway on Kirstin's blog

Thanks Kirstin and good luck everybody!

The Sparrow

I saw a cute little painting on Pinterest and I had to have it!!  It so inspired me that I got out the paints immediately to try my hand at painting my own and I LOVE IT!  It's not quite as cute as the original and I couldn't get exactly the right colours mixed, but even so my little chubby sparrow is sweet.

You can see what the original looks like by clicking HERE

He now hangs in my front entry where he can greet me every day.

 9x11 Mixed Media on Canvas Paper

I must be on a roll, the paint is just flowing these days and I barely have to direct it.  Is it just emotion that flows through us or is there another force that directs the paint brush?  I'd love to know the answer to that one...

Linking to:

Beneath my Heart

Paint Party Friday

Sunday Sketches

Funky Junk Interiors

Homemaker on a Dime

Funky Junk Interiors

Between Naps on the Porch

Pinterest Challenge - Young House Love

Mommy Digger

Coastal Charm

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Thrifty Decor Chick
Cherished Bliss
Homework
A Bowlful of Lemons
Not Just a Housewife
Saavy Southern Style
DIY By Design
Clean & Scentsible
At the Picket Fence
2805

Crock Pot Chili

This is not a recipe blog, but with the sudden onset of winter this week I decided it would be a good time to share a favourite recipe of mine.

I've been searching for a good sized dutch oven but I decided instead to pick up a 6 quart crock pot with a timer (it was on sale 50% off!!!).  I LOVE it!!  There's nothing I like better than coming home at the end of the day to the smell of supper cooking and with my new crock pot, I can have that whenever I want!

Source:  Canadian Tire

The first thing I made with my crock pot was my extra special chili recipe.  I didn't modify it for the crock pot so you can easily make it in a dutch oven or just a big pot.

Chili with a Twist

1 - 19 fl oz (540 ml) can 6 Bean Medley (I used President's Choice Blue Menu)*
1 - 19 fl oz (540 ml) can Petite Cut Garlic & Olive Oil Stewed Tomatoes
1 - 5.5 fl oz (156 ml) can Herb & Garlic Tomato Paste
12 sliced white mushrooms
1 cup Sweet Mixed Pickles chopped (and at least 2/3 cup of the juice too!)
1 package Chili mix (I used ClubHouse)
1 lb ground beef, soaked with Worchestershire sauce, sprinkled with Montreal Steak Spice and browned for 5 minutes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 med red pepper, chopped
1 med red onion, chopped
1 tbsp Greek herbs
1 tsp dried Oregano
1 bay leaf
2 sticks of celery, chopped

*you can substitute red kidney beans

Throw it all in a crock pot on low for 5 hours (or cook in a stock pot on the stove for 1.5 hours), serve in bowls topped with freshly grated Romano cheese and crusty rolls.

YUM!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:

Funky Junk Interiors
Between Naps on the Porch
Mommy Digger
Coastal Charm
Cherished Bliss
A Bowlful of Lemons
Mommy Digger