Not Too Shabby

Winter Mantel

2011-01-13T16:09:00.003-05:00

My winter mantel is a very simple one.

My on going goal is to simplify and only do what is the best for my family. I have to really think about it everyday. Two quotes I'm trying keep on my mind everyday is 1) "If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most." Dieter F. Uchtdorf and 2) “work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it.” Gordon B. Hinckley

Wishing you all a Warm and Happy January!

PB Look-A-Likes

2010-12-22T16:23:00.005-05:00

Like a lot of you I love getting my Pottery Barn catalog. I can spend hours looking at it. Here are the 2 things I saw in my December catalog and had to have them but my way.

Now here are mine.

I just strung up some ornaments on ribbon with help from my 8 year old. She really enjoyed helping me make this because anytime someone asks about it she tells them she helped make it.

This just finished off my front room tree. I cut out a stencil with my cricut and then painted Merry Christmas on some burlap strips.

I want to wish you all a
Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Mantel

2010-12-15T16:32:00.007-05:00

This mantel has been in the making for a while. I made the candle sticks out of chair legs and found more shudders. I found the green urns a while back on one of my thrift shopping trips for $8. The Santa was also a thrift find just after Christmas last year.

I have been working on a few PB look-a-likes and here is a little peek.

A Thankful Mantel

2010-11-08T10:35:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holiday's. I love the harvest. Growing up on a farm you see all the summers hard work pay off.
This year we as a family are keeping Thankful Journals now until the new year. I hope to keep mine going all next year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bewitch has landed at my house

2010-10-12T23:01:00.003-04:00

I made her yesterday. She is made of plywood. I cut her out with my jigsaw. Spray painted her with kilz primer and then with black and finished her of with clear sealer. Then gave her a broom and lantern.

The old witch was a lot of fun to make and I think she looks so cool.

Summer Reads for the Whole Family

2010-07-04T10:51:00.005-04:00

At our house we LOVE Shannon Hale. (Plus I love reading her blog.) My 9 year old daughter is reading the Princess Academy. Our bedtime story books right now are Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack, Shannon Hale's graphic novels. My kids just can't get enough of them. I have read all of her books and I can't pick just one as my favorite they are all so good.

Enjoy!

Book 1 of Summer Reading.

2010-06-23T11:25:00.006-04:00

I have been a very busy gal the last month getting ready for summer. For the last 3 summers I have gone home (Boise, Idaho) for about 7 weeks of the summer. We come for the salmon fishing and then play in the warm non humid weather. Being gone for that long takes some work like getting ALL the clothes washed, cleaning out all the food that will go bad, packing up 4 kids and coming up with a few new things to keep the kids busy while on the 6 hour plane ride. This was the kids 4 time and they did so well. I was only ask a few times "How much longer?" Giving the kids watches was a life saver.

Well, while my kids are playing with grandma's and grandpa's, friends and family, camping, fishing, 4wheeling, going to parks and family reunions. I can get a few books read.

Here is my 1st book choice.

It is an amazing story that is beautifully told through letters. I had a really hard time putting it down. it's a book that kept me thinking about the story long after I put it down. Enjoy!

thrift store shopping 101

2010-05-24T09:52:00.000-04:00

The last few weeks I have been doing a bunch of thrift store shopping. I'm on the hunt for a few things and by going often I have also found other cool stuff but that is another post.

As I have been hunting I really paid attention to what I do at the stores. I'm new to the area and had to find the cool stores and now after getting to know the stores, learning how they have things organized and where things live. I figure out my shopping loop.

I go strait to the furniture then to the frames. Next nic-nac's and housewares. I go around the nic-nac's a few times. Then to the books and clothes, only if my kids are up for it.

When I'm shopping I look for the things I collect. And for things that I have seen in magazines that I like and want to decorate with. Sometime those things need to be fixed up. I have to weigh out price and time to fix it up and the price of it and how much I like it. If I really like it and the price is good I get it. Because more times then I can count I have passed on something and wish I would have gotten it.

I like to go to the store often. It is never the same place twice.

My Formal Dinning and Living Room Curtains

2010-04-30T14:33:00.011-04:00

When my folks came to visit a few weeks back between all our playing my mom and I worked on my curtains. It wasn't quite as easy as I hoped but we got it done. We also made some pillows and that really finished off the rooms.

The chairs in the last photo we got at Costco last year and started working around them. In the fall I found the same fabric that is on the chairs. So I put it on the bottom of my curtains. How cool is that.

So I have a question... I like having the pillow pushed down in the middle like the chair on the left, my husband likes the pillow on the right. What do you like? Right now they are both pushed down.

My 1st Blog Award!

2010-04-28T13:55:00.007-04:00

I received my very First Blog Award!
A BIG BIG Thanks to Angela over Secrets of a Super Mommy.
Check out her cute Earth Day Dinner. She really is a Super Mommy. I really know this because we are friends in really life.

10 Things That Make Me Happy.

1. Being a Mom! Sticky hands and all
2. Power Tools/ Cool Tools
3. Finding a good deal or better yet dumpster diving
4. Working along side my hubby
5. My kids laughing!
6. An organized house
7. Eating fresh raspberries
8. Knowing I get to be with my family forever.
9. Having good friends
10. Home cooked meals

I am Awarding this Blog Award To:
Melissa @ 320 * Sycamore
Stacie @ The CrEaTiVe CraTe

Here are the rules for accepting the award:
1. Copy & Paste the award on your blog
2. Tell who gave you the award and link to their blog
3. List 10 Things that make you happy
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.

New Spring Mantel

2010-04-28T10:11:00.006-04:00

My other mantel was more an Easter spring mantel and the egg wreath needed to go. So I made a new wreath just like the egg wreath but with out the eggs. I found some cool shutters at the Habitat Restore and knew what I wanted to do with them. I painted then a Buttercup Yellow. I could not be happier with them. Well, I might put a brown glaze on them. I'm still thinking about it.

I LOVE how the shutter make the mantel look.

Wreath Holder Stands

2010-04-27T10:08:00.007-04:00

So I'm still bummed about my Atlanta post and I will work on it soon. While I was pouting about all the hard work that was lost with the links to all the cool places, I worked on making a wreath holder. I cut a 4 foot dowel in half and a piece of MDF 6 inches x 6 inches. I stapled the dowel in the middle and then screwed the top knob on. (I got a pack of 2 at Lowe's for around $3)

I got my handy black spray paint out sprayed it then sanded the base then put another coat on. I then screwed the hook on. I just eyed it to see where it looked the best and where I thought it would work for a wreath.

I ended up making 2 the one is a little shorter so it could go on top a stand. It didn't take long to make these.

I linked to Beyond The Picket Fence Party

IT'S LOST!

2010-04-22T13:54:00.002-04:00

I just spent over an hour working on my Atlanta trip post and I just lost all my work. I think I'm going to cry. I don't have time to spend another hour on it right now. Ahhhhhh!

same idea 2 differant things

2010-04-18T22:17:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I went over to my friend to do a tee shirt redo. We had seen a redo on Blue Cricket Design and had to make one for our own. We played around with different fabrics and ribbon and colors we came up with 2 different things, yet the same.

Spring Break

2010-04-01T18:30:00.002-04:00

I hope that you all are having a wonderful SpRinG BrEaK! We went to Atlanta to visit my sister. We did a lot of fun things for little or no money. When we are done playing I want to tell you all about My Not Too Shabby vacation to Atlanta on the cheap. Plus I was able to go to Hobby Lobby for the 1st time ever. Those stores are so cool. For you all that have one in your town you are lucky.

Spring Mantel a happy ending!

2010-03-19T14:01:00.000-04:00

I'm jumping for joy. It pulled together better then I hope for.

Spring has sprung at my house.

Spring Mantel part 3

2010-03-19T13:02:00.002-04:00

I cut strips of burlap and raped them around the wreath.

I spray painted plastic eggs and splattered them. (They look like kill deer eggs.)

Then I hot glued them to the wreath....

Spring Mantel part 2

2010-03-19T12:18:00.002-04:00

The spring swag. These birds are so cute.

Spring Mantel part 1

2010-03-19T10:06:00.011-04:00

This week I've been busy working on a few things to change out my mantel. One of the things I made was moss topiaries.

I cute the ball in half and trimmed the sides.

I put a ton of glue on the balls and then covered with the moss.

I like how they bring the outdoors in.

Part 2 & 3 & the end on their way today.

Jewelry Revamp

2010-03-15T11:44:00.006-04:00

I saw this the other day and wanted to have this look.

I was at a thrift store looking at their jewelry and saw this. (The lady helping me told me it was a belt. I just smiled and said, "I'll take it.")

I got out some of my sheer (pink) fabric and cut them into circles. Then burnt the edges.

Stacked 3 together and sewed a pearl bead in the middle.

I removed the feathers and then sewed on my new flowers.

Not too bad for $3.99 and some change.

There's a Moose in the out house

2010-03-05T20:41:00.001-05:00

I found these canvas prints at the thrift store and knew right where to put them.

I got my cricut out and use the Camp Out cartridge to cut some moose and a moon for the door.

After putting up just a few things the boys told me they have the best bathroom ever because it is so cool.

It came true

2010-03-03T10:15:00.005-05:00

Remember this (for Pottery Barn)...I had it on my wish list and then I found a chandelier at Habitat for Humanity Restore and fixed it up.

This is the light that was over my tub.

My hubby went in to the attic and took out the can and the put in a light box.

The hole is bigger then the box but we put a medallion up to cover up the hole.

We made a little mess but it was worth it.

I am so pleased with how it looks.

Now the stand needs some work. Oh it never ends but that's what's so fun.

something for the teachers

2010-02-25T21:57:00.002-05:00

I saw this idea on Joys of Home and just thought it was so cool and unique. So I went to local thrift store and bought up some sterling silver spoons and salad forks. I bought ones that were not to big and thick at the neck so the cutting would go a little easier.

So I brought them home and cut them it wasn't easy but I got it done.

Then I sanded the cut end with fine sand paper. And curling the end was a lot easier.

Now I'm going to give these out to my kids teachers with a tag that says "You are the "KEY" to my kids future. Thank You!"

more wall paper in the out house

2010-02-23T14:02:00.000-05:00

Saturday more wall paper went up in the sink room of the Jack and Jill.

Before:

After:

I just love how it looks.

Amazing find

2010-02-18T13:39:00.007-05:00

It's no secret that I love to bargain shop and I have a real hard time passing up a good deal. This gem is one such find. I was at a local thrift store and I saw an end table with a tag that read $10 in big bold marker. Not too bad for $10. As I looked closer, under the $10 tag it read "now $1". "WHAT!" I looked around to see if I was being punked. No, Ashton did not jump out. So I bought this gem for $1.

As you can see it needs a make over. I just can't wait to use my Multi-Max I got for Christmas.

The Out House

2010-02-15T16:38:00.002-05:00

While picking up some items from Lowe's, I came across some wall paper on clearance that would be perfect for our Jack and Jill bathroom. For a $1 a roll it was hard to pass up. I had seen this used in a model home and Loved it. The wood plank pattern gives the room a cabin feel that has many additional decorating opportunities. Well this weekend, with all the snow still on the ground, it was time to tackle the wall papering task.

We first cleared the bathroom completly out, wiped down the walls and started hanging.

There were a few challenges along the way but the project turned out just how it was planned and all for under $10.

More pics to come of this out house cabin bathroom.

Our Homemade Valentine's

2010-02-12T14:55:00.003-05:00

This is what we made to give out for Valentine's Day this year. I took photos of the kids as if they were holding the candy out for their friends. We then added text to the photos and printed out the pictures in wallet size. The kid's taped on the candy and we are ready for the them to go back to school!!!!!!!! Oh yeah, and give out their Valentine's.

We had a fun time making these.

Winter Wonderland!

2010-02-10T10:42:00.003-05:00

I am in the middle of a blizzard right now.

This is this last weekends snow. We are getting a few more inches.

My kids are sing Christmas songs while I trying to work on some St Patty's Day crafts. That darn ground hog did see his shadow.

I think.

And The Winner Is...

2010-02-07T18:42:00.002-05:00

I first want to thank everyone that entered the giveaway. I could not be happier with the turn out. Also thanks to the folks at CSN.

Now the winner is...

Lisa Fox

Please email me at craftymammaof4{at}hotmail{dot}com with your address so I can pass that on to the Promotions Team at CSN.

Funny little Valentine

2010-02-02T10:47:00.004-05:00

I whipped this the other night while watching Emma on Masterpiece Classic.

I bought a pack of chipboard hearts at Micheles a while back when they were on sell knowing I wanted to make this. I Mode Podge scrapbook paper on them. Cut out my vinyl flowers and be mine on my cricut. Put a few buttons on them and stung the heart on ribbon.

~GIVEAWAY~

2010-01-27T08:43:00.006-05:00

I was contacted by the Promotions Team at CSN (check out the cool mail boxes :)) and was asked if I would like to have a giveaway from one of their stores allmodern or allmodernbaby. I found so many wonderful and fun things like these stylish diaper bags. For this giveaway, I have picked the CAKE Tile Tray from allmodern.

There are 3 ways to enter the giveaway.

1) Go to allmodern or allmodernbaby and check out their cool stuff. Then leave a comment for this post that says "I heart CSN."

2) Become a follower of my blog (If you already follow, that counts too) and leave another comment for this post that says "I'm a follower."

3) Blog about this giveaway on your blog for 3 more chances to win. Leave 3 comments for this post that say "I blogged about this giveaway @...(your blog address)"

This giveaway will close Wednesday Feb 3 @ midnight (EST) and due to international shipping charges this giveaway is to US residents only.

Good luck and have fun!

Spring cleaning

2010-01-25T09:00:00.005-05:00

After the Holiday's and I have picked up a few extra things. Like decor for next year and thing to give out that I picked up for 80% off. I find myself cleaning and not just the everyday cleaning. I'm talking take everything out and deep cleaning it all.

The other day I took all of the kids arts and crafts stuff out and went though it. Tossing out maker and pens that no longer worked and papers that we could live with out.

I just love these boxes from Ikea. They are great tools in getting and keeping things in order. Plus I love my P-touch. Labels are key in getting things back to there home.

It feels really good to have a house of order.

Shhhh!

2010-01-14T13:23:00.010-05:00

I hear chirping. It's.... my CRICUT!!!!!!!!!! I got a Cricut expression and I love it. I had held off on getting one because of a few little things like it will add more to my crafting to do list and wants. Oh but what fun I will have with this little bug. My mind has been going a mile a minute with all the things I want to do around the house and the cute Valintines Day card the kids and I are going to make.

Not Too Shabby Show and Tell!

For the 1st Show and Tell it's all about the CRICUT!

What have you made or seen made with a CRICUT.

Here are the Rules:

1) Link up to a post (OLD or NEW) To show of your Craftieness.

2) Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog.

3) Link to this party from your post so everyone can enjoy you hard work.

Thrift Store LOVE

2010-01-11T10:46:00.014-05:00

I can't tell you how much I love to find a good deal. Last week I found some great stuff at my local thrift stores. This lamp for example. Saw it and knew right where I wanted it. I changed out the shade and....

Look at this beauty!

The lamps that where in that room I moved to the kitchen. I just love them in there.

I also bought some candle sticks too. They just need a coat of black spray paint in flat to match some of my other candle sticks.

A New Year Facelift

2010-01-03T21:23:00.011-05:00

I have enjoyed every thing about our home since moving in other than the fact that there was no color on the inside. Everything, and I mean everything was chalky white throughout. We have added color starting with the kids bedrooms, the entry way, sun room and office over the past year but the rest of the main floor needed some loving color. Here are some before photos.I have been looking for the perfect color for the formal living room and dining room to go with the decor I have assembled. The color that came out the winner was Valspars' "Tropical Bay" from Lowe's.

This was a 2 day 2 person project that truly rang in the New Year! I also wanted to add some design to the dining area and went with the vertical stripes painted in "Brushed Pearl". The keys to making this part of the project a success were 1) a laser level capable of making vertical lines 2) Frog Tape- I highly recommend this product, there was no paint bleeding under the tape and lines came out crisp and clean. 3) Layout- Take your time and double check before you start painting. The method we used to layout the room was to measure the total length of all walls around the room. We divided this total distance by an even number that would give us a stripe width between 8 to 10 inches. In our case the stripes came out to be 8 15/16" to make all the stripes the same. If we would have made all the stripes and even 9" we would have had 1 stripe only 4 1/2" wide instead of 9". The final phase of this project will be completing the curtains but that will be a project for another day and another post. Here is how it turned out. I am so excited to have this project complete and be able to enjoy this part of our home everyday!

Making My Wishlist Come True

2009-12-22T16:04:00.005-05:00

So I that I have been dreaming about this of my bathroom.

(from Pottery Barn) With the help of a few Christmas ormaments and black craft wire....
I was able to get the look I wanted for about $25.

Just a little peek

2009-12-14T15:40:00.008-05:00

I found this beauty at my favorit store... Habitat for Humanity Restore. It was $10. I went in thinking I would buy a brass light and then spray paint it. But I could not pass this one up.

I hope to turn it in to this with a little TLC.

I saw this at home improvement store and wanted something like it to put over my tub.

Oh and look what's done!

Reduce Reuse Recycle

2009-12-11T14:33:00.006-05:00

I have a hard time tossing out those Butter Cookie tins. Yes most of the time they are not the cutest thing to look at.

But with a little spray paint....

Mod Podge and craft paper....

You can change the whole look. And make it to what ever you want. This are now home to tons of things to do with your kids on rainy days or in the summer when the kids need to have a little project.

Befores and Afters

2009-12-07T10:32:00.011-05:00

Here is the chair I have been working on.

Painted black.

Then I sanded it and did a little distressing and stained it with a mahogany Minwax Gel Stain.

I just love how it turned out!

Sometime when I start a little project it balloons it to a bigger project. I have a plan but I have to pick away at it because it takes time to find what I'm looking for at the price I'm willing to pay. So I got the chair done and I put it in the entry way. I played a little musical furniture to get the lookI was looking for.

Here is what my entry looked like before.

Now here is the after.

I haven't put the fabric on the chair yet I'm testing it out. I'm not sure if that is "the one."
I also got this mirror with all that cool stuff I got the other day.

I just put a brown glaze on it and hung it above the fireplace.

Painting the fireplace and changing the mantel is on my someday list.

Thankful!

2009-11-30T22:28:00.002-05:00

1st ThAnKs for stopping by! I have been slow on getting some of my things worked on and posted because my hubby had his appendix taken out. So out thanksgiving was not like most. I'm just so grateful for family even if they are thousands of miles away. I'm so thankful for this season of love and giving. And I hope to get a ton of post out there of the things I love to make and do. Thanks again!

Party

2009-11-23T09:07:00.002-05:00

{The Girl} Creative is having a "Just Something I Whipped Up" party. Go check her out. She is great.

Last Week I Found....

2009-11-22T21:14:00.004-05:00

I just live up the road from a Habitat for Humanity Restore. I love go in as much as I can. Like most 2nd hand stores it is always changing. I found this set for a great price. I have already started to work on some of it.

Everything is going to get an updated look. They just need a little TLC.

Here is the desk with a hutch. That is going in my bed room.

Here is a dresser and a hutch peace that came in at a different time. They are going to going to go in the dinning room.

The chair I have already stated on. It's going in the entry way.

Primed.

Painted.

Not To Shabby

A Must Have in My Book.

2009-11-18T12:59:00.003-05:00

This is a cool thing to have. I love it! It is great and it works and it's under $10.

In love with my laundry room

2009-11-12T12:08:00.001-05:00

When I make a lot of my indoor projects that are small I work on them when I'm doing laundry. I am enjoying my new laundry room more then I thought I would. I just went and took these photos. If I was thinking ahead I would have cleaned the laundry room for show and tell but it is working today.

It is our basement bathroom, and laundry room for 6 people and my craft room. My crafts do spill out to the garage but that is another story.

When I designed the basement (When we were finishing it.) I knew I wanted a bigger laundry room then we had. Plus I multi task so much better when I'm right by all the stuff I'm trying to get done. So to me it only made sense to make a multipurpose laundry room and I'm in love with mine.

Show and Tell

2009-11-10T14:25:00.010-05:00

I'm in love with making wooden block signs. Here is the latest one. They are so FuN!

I always have scrap wood around. So I cut a 1 by 4 scrap into a few different block sizes with the word Harvest in mind. Then painted the edges and backs brown. Cut the background scrapbook paper to the size of the block then glued the paper on. After that was dry I sanded the edges and then aged them with an ink pad. Glued on the letter found button and ribbon that went with the paper. Sobo glue is what I like to use because it is strong, drys fast and drys clear.

More Mudroom fun

2009-11-08T21:11:00.006-05:00

Saturday we got the top locker part done. I'm so hApPy with how it turned out. We have been under the weather here, but that didn't stop this project.

They moved right in. This week out comes the paint and we'll get the hock put on.

Not Too Shabby!

Weekend project

2009-11-02T14:14:00.006-05:00

When we finished our basement I moved my laundry room down there as well. By doing that I now have a mudroom. So Saturday we started building the bench. I love getting organized.

Next Saturday we'll work on the bead board back and the upper cubbies. Then out comes my black paint. I always have a gallon on hand.

For only a few hours of work it's "Not Too Shabby"

Wool Felt Slippers

2009-10-29T12:39:00.008-04:00

This was sent in from Kirsten of Ohio. She made this awesome slippers.

She got the pattern off Martha Stewart. And headed off to the local thrift store to buy 100% wool sweaters. Then felt them by washing them in the hottest water and drying them on high heat. After that is done to the sweaters you can cut them up and they won't unravel. She used scraps to make the flowers. I'm think these would be great for Christmas gifts.

"Not Too Shabby"

DIY Day

2009-10-29T11:52:00.001-04:00

Front Door Face Lift

2009-10-26T10:15:00.009-04:00

Last week I painted "Welcome" on my front door. I am unable to just vinyl because the front of my house gets so hot and I don't have a covered porch. I picked up a 1/2 pint paint Went on the computer and made a template. Cut it our with an xacto knife.

Traced "Welcome" where I wanted it and stared coloring it in. (Very Kindergartenish. It was a lot of fun.)

"Not Too Shabby"

Lovely Urns

2009-10-22T22:10:00.013-04:00

I have wanted urns for the longest time. At every house that we have lived in. I have never been able to fork out the money. Even when they have gone on sale at Lowe's and The Home Depot and Target (To name a few places I frequent.) I could never spend the money. I never had the luck of finding any at yard sales. Well this year at Lowe's I found plastic urns. The big ones were $12 and the smaller ones were $7. But they were brown. That's when spray paint becomes my best friend. I bought a large on for inside my house and the small ones worked better on my tiny porch.I used the spray paint the is for plastic on the 2 that will be outside. After they were painted I drilled a hole in the bottom to drain the water. Added a few heavy rocks so the wouldn't blow away and planted some fall flowers.
"Not Too Shabby"