Sunday, January 31, 2010

Pottery Barn Clock

OK... so I want to know WHY is it that all the cool stuff in Pottery Barn is never for sale? You know those neat little treasures you see on the coffee tables or on the walls in the background..... [not that I could afford it anyway] BUT STILL it's like a mean tease!


When I saw this clock on the wall I KNEW I had to have one!




Soooo... much to my hubby's dismay, I started yet another project and left my many unfinished projects to sit and mingle while I worked on this one. [This happens to me a lot! I'm what I like to call, a starter/stopper- I start one project and then stop it [unfinished] and then hop on to another one, and then back to my previous one.] Drives hubby NUTS

anyways... back to the post




FIRST I went down to my local LOWES and got a 4x4 board cut down to 32"x32". Pick any size... just make sure it's a square. Board MUST be square or your circle (which must touch all 4 edges) will not be a circle, it will be an oval. FYI
Price: $12


Next I primed it with a creamy white and the white washed the top very lightly so the cream would still show through in spots.
(I used watered down white paint)



For the rest of the piece I used the following supplies:
a rusty red paint
a canary yellow paint
an antiquing glaze (very important. MUST be a glaze)
a knife
a rag
a cup of water



First I stabbed/picked holes randomly around the whole piece especially around the corners. I put some close together so as not to make it look like a pattern or intentional
I found my center and stabbed a large hole (where the hands would have been centered). I made the hole larger then the others.
(my camera broke when I was in the middle of this project so I'm showing you how I did the holes on my finished clock by just adding another hole. FYI :] )

Then I dabbed my rag in the paints, not really mixing them together on the plate. This way if it was too red or too yellow I could just add a bit more. After dabbing the rag in the paint, I dabbed the rag with the paint still on into water to water it down a bit so it wouldn't be so stark and be more plyable on the wood.


then I simply went around and "rusted" all the holes by dabbing them with this paint solution. I rubbed it into the hole really well and then just barely around it.  I also "rusted" the large crack in the clock and the corners.

Then I went and put a bit of the glaze, also watered down, onto the rag and then wiped it over all the corners, edges, the center hole, and rusted areas. I also wiped it in and around the entire clock to age it a bit.
It's important to use the glaze because it will wipe off ENTIRELY if you mess up.... and leave NO TRACE it was ever there. I was really able to perfect my clock by using the glaze and not black paint.

Then I traced a large circle all the way around the clock and took a paintbrush and filled it in with the glaze paint (this time not watered down)
I traced the circle by insterted a pin into the exact center of the wood. Then I tied a string to the pin, and the other end of the string to my pencil. I made sure that the string was exactly long enough to let my pencil barely touch the edge. Then I just moved my pencil all the way around and it formed a perfect circle

Next I stenciled on all the numbers... again with the glaze.
I cut out my stencils onto paint chips using an exacto knife (if only I had a cricuit!) I traced an X, a V, and an I onto 3 seperate paint chips and with that combination made all the 12 numbers.
Then I sanded the finished clock down a bit, especially the numbers and circle to age them a bit

And there ya have it!

here's a close up of the original:

 

and here's my attempted version
with poor lighting :)





wanna see a cool [if not waaaay better than mine] version of this clock using sheet metal?
hop on over to My Dear Trash!!

oh!!! and we are guest posting over at SOMEDAY CRAFTS today and tomorrow!! We've got another Pottery Barn tutorial [Roman Numerals] over there so go check it out!
Photobucket

We heart Someday Crafts :)

Here's a sneek peek. GO OVER TO HER BLOG to see the full tutorial




Pottery Barn Party at the Shabby Chic Cottage
Blue Cricket Design- Show and Tell Wednesday
Somewhat Simple- strut your stuff Thursday
Miss Mustard Seed









Saturday, January 30, 2010

Decorium Addictus

Welcome to Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Wild. I'm your host Bear Grylls. I've survived some of the most dangerous places on earth. From the Amazon, to the desert, to the jungles, and even antartica. The sort of places you wouldn't surive a day without the right survivor skills and today I'll be taking you on a hunt to find a creature so rare I'll have to venture to the most dangerous territory yet. Where few men have gone before, and only a few men dare to travel... Hobby Lobby.

Today I'm on the hunt for a creature called Decorium Addictus. A rare breed of human that has an amazing ability to blend in to it's natural surroundings but given the right bait or brought together with other Decorium Addictus' will morph into an altered state of mind and begin speaking a language that only other Decorium Addictus' can understand.
I'm heading to the decor aisle now. I've got my sunglasses on so as not to be blinded by all the crafts and decorating objects. One could lose your mind in here if not careful.You've got to be very quiet and listen carefully for certain queue words in order to find them.

Shhhh... I think I hear some now....... sounds like female voices....... I can't let them know that I'm listening in......... I must approach with caution!

Debbie: Oooh! Look at this! This is perfect for that blank space I have above my lamp in my living room!
Stephanie: [wide eyed]  That looks exactly like that thing in the Pottery Barn catalog! Speaking of which did you get yours yet?
Debbie: Yes! did you see those roman numerals in that office?

Bear Grylls:[whispers] Yes... these are definetly them! look at that "wild" look in their eyes when they talk about Pottery Barn. That is a tell tale sign! And look at the Male species. It looks like the one called Debbie has brought her male partner along. Look at his bored expression. We've caught them in their element so it is very likely that all the male partner is hearing is Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah, screw it into the wall, Blah Blah Blah Blah.
Let's keep listening in.

Stephanie: That clock in that living room...
Debbie: [interupts] The big one without the hands?!
Stephanie: YES! exactly! I HAVE to have it! I bet I can make it with a bit of paint and glaze.
Debbie: I know... I've already got Kels searching junk yards for scrap tin for those roman numerals.
I want them to have texture and depth but still be super cheap so I think that  if I go with......

Bear Grylls: I'm going to leave quietly now before they spot me. I've still got to make my way through this giant suburbian store unhurt and with my sanity still in tact. Once outside I'll have a helicopter pick me up and quickly remove me to safety.

***P.S.  tutorials coming tomorrow!!***

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

No Green Thumb?



                                          Here's a different use for a dead houseplanter holder pot.



                                                    Take one shallow dish (goodwill wok)



                                and fill with some assorted seashells, rocks or other organic treasures

                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                        and you have the perfect place to hide the chocolate TP!


P.S. the pot was on clearance at Walmart a couple of years ago.

and finally...
{because you all know, that I am totally a remodelaholic/designaholic! and proud of it!}

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A (bed)Room With A View PT 3




My suitcase sidetable..I know.......nothing new....but these have history and I love 'um!!!! 



  The bottom suitcase was my Uncle's. Check out the stickers...they're real!!!






 He and this case traveled all over the US and Cuba in the 50's. He was a magician's assistant in the burlesque circut...if that suitcase could talk....well.. .maybe silence is golden. 





The middle one went through the 1906 SF earthquake and top one was brought back from Argentina by my Hubby. He had good taste even then!!!! 
                                                                                
Here is a little before and after of the picture frames. Cheap blue plastic frames from Walmart.


Now rusted of course!!


These 3 VIEWS in bedroom totally changed how I feel about my bedroom. It is a place I want to be now. I think that is why we nest...it can heal and comfort us and make us very, very happy!!! What do you think? 


Click here for A [bed]Room with a View Part 1 & 2



"Traveling" through Nordic blogs

As of late I've been trying to expand my "blogging experience" a bit by venturing outside of my decor bubble. That landed me in NORWAY of all places!!! I found one blog, which led to another and another and another until I'd been all over the Nordic penninsula!
So, grab your imaginary passport cuz I'm going to escort you through some of my fav's!

First stop.....



this talented little lady resides in Norway
[for those of you who want a map I have taken the liberty of linking one up..... just in case you need a fresh reminder]
Because a picture is worth a thousand words I'm going to let her photos do the talking!




[look at her bookshelf!!!] added to my to-do list. Don't know where but I've GOT to have one!



and she's famous too! she's been featured in several articles and magazines in Norway


That's her front porch. And she crotcheted that quilt!!!

let's pause for a minute to appreciate her wonderful unique style before we globe trot again.

okay... ONWARD!!
next up....
Sweden[click to see map]
to see.....


This talented lady also owns a boutique where she sells her wonderful treasures
Once again, I'll try to shut my mouth. key word: try :)













are you in LOVE yet or what?!.... 1 more for your eyes to rest on


You getting ideas yet for your "souvenier" projects?
I know I know..... my list is growing by the minute! Not good (in a good way)

okay..... as much as I want to linger it's time to jet off tooooo.....
sweden. again. ok.... so let's linger a bit longer then cuz apparently the swedes have got talent!
Welcome to:










alright NOW let's country hop..... hmmm let's see which direction should we go [licking finger and sticking into the air]
oooh I know....
GERMANY!
 [I'm not going to link up to a map. I would hope you would all know where germany is]

White Living has an oh so beautiful abode




don't you just love this?!?!?! ok sorry... less talk, more pics

 


Well I think that will be all for one night.... All this "traveling" is making me tired, and I haven't even left my chair! I guess my kids screaming in the background and the clock ticking away later and later into the night doesn't help much either.
I wish we could have ended our trip in my homeland Denmark!
[bet you didn't know I was from there did ya!]
But I have yet to find a blog from there. If anyone finds one LET ME KNOW! I guess I should ask my aunts and uncles who reside there. THEY might know! [lightbulb moment]

Happy "travels"!







Monday, January 25, 2010

DIY Felt Rug


Want an easy DIY rug alternative for CHEAP?!
Non-fraying, uber cheap, kid-friendly, FELT makes this project a great accessorie for your floors.


 
 Personally, I'm going to add this project to my never-ending to-do list and probably incorporate it into my kids room [if I EVER get around to their room! :)]

For FULL[free]INSTRUCTIONS including a free downloadable pattern. CLICK HERE


Another quick idea I just had...
if you're not a fan of the zebra why not just incorporate this same idea into ANY pattern such as this one.



This picture was accompanied by a dead link. But supposedly it is just felt on felt.

Same idea as the zebra rug... just a different pattern!

anyone know if a Cricuit could cut out felt? If sooo.... this project would be easy-peasy!







Friday, January 22, 2010

A (bed)Room With a View Part 2

May I present true love......
People meet headboard....headboard meet people.......

LOVE? -YES, YES, YES
"Ready for my close-up, Mr. Demille?"
(obscure movie reference)













And now, for your viewing pleasure...




A little Barry White please..... (oh.....sigh) True love


Click here for a [bed]Room with a View Part 1 & 2




and #51 on We are THAT family's Works for me Wednesday
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