Tag Archives: yellow

05.08.13

DIY Painted Wooden Windchimes...

Posted by Christina // 17 Replies

Have you entered to win? Get on that.

You know that lately I have been backyard dreaming. Longing for days of margarita sipping and sun soaking. So obviously when Sherry, Katie, Renee, and Emily announced the Spring Pinterest Challenge my attention went straight out the window.

My original plans were to build a grotto ala Mr. Hefner but Tim put his foot down when I said the only bunnies making an appearance would be furry.

So I turned my attention to a few of my favorite pins. We already have a welcome mat surplus, so I started making plans to bring color into our backyard oasis in other ways. Enter stage left, the wooden wind chimes. I have a weak spot in my heart for the tink tink of a wooden chime. You too? Well, here let’s make them together. Go put your patience pants on, and bring a pair for me too. I began by painting one little chime while sitting on the floor. Then it dawned on me, I would be painting one chime at a time and holding it until it was fully dry so that I didn’t get paint everywhere and ruin my project. Then I put on my thinking cap.

I grabbed some yarn and hung the chimes from a hook in our ceiling. My smartest move to date, thank goodness for thinking caps.

I used my thumb to pull the chime out and give it a quick thin coat, then let it dry for a hot minute. On to the next one. I will not lie to you and tell you this project is incredibly easy and you can finish it in ten minutes. These windchimes took over my life for seven hours.

It was as close as I have been to throwing in the proverbial towel, especially when I decided that you couldn’t see the orange and red paint well enough.

So those chimes needed to be sanded and repainted in the “cool” colors. There may have been a nervous breakdown, or at least a lot of ice cream consumed. Luckily, the result was marvelous and I couldn’t be happier.

I have already hung them up and forced Tim to sit outside with me admiring their cheery disposition. I just can’t get enough. Are you a fan of windchimes?
DIY anything neato lately?
Need a gallon of ice cream?

05.01.13

DIY double hoop wreath...

Posted by Christina // 11 Replies

You know all those fabric scraps you have just lying around looking pretty?
I declare that we should show them off. I had some Ikat fabric mocking me that had a calling as a superstar.
I love how fabrics can take on a whole new look when you wrap them. I scrounged around my craft stash and dug up two embroidery hoops. I knew they would come in handy eventually, although I thought it would be for when I took the embroidery plunge.

I began by wrapping the fabric around the larger hoop, then found a complimentary fabric to wrap the smaller hoop. Then I hit a wall. Not a real one, although it wouldn’t surprise anyone thanks to my clutzy nature. I wasn’t sure how to attach the two hoops. The answer to all crafting problems is either Mod Podge or Hot Glue, can I get an Amen.

So from attaching the hoops together to bedazzling the wreath with fabric flowers my thumbs took a piping hot glue beating.

The whole thing took about an hour and now I have dreams of thousands of fabric covered wreaths hanging from our tree in the backyard. Beckoning the birdies to perch for a minute. That would be my happy place, until they pooped on my new Adirondack chairs. Then I would bust the broom out and hop on the crazy train. Choo Choo.

Have you been dreaming of bird heaven in your backyard?
DIY’d any fun projects?
What do you do with your fabric scraps?

01.03.13

Our new Kole Tang...

Posted by Christina // 3 Replies

We have a new little neighbor in our tank these days. He is seriously the sweetest fish.
He blended right in with our existing fish like he was Mr. Rogers or something. Maybe he whistles, or maybe he brought a peace-offering.

I wish more of our fish would blend that seamlessly.

We waited a while to name thing little guy, he had a pretty bad case of ich.
Now that we have had the pleasure of knowing him for a couple of weeks we have decided that he needs an official name. Barring any “fish bragging curses” we have declared our Kole Tang’s name to be ‘Coon’.

Don’t get all fussy, there are no double meanings there. It’s just the whole ring-around-his-eyes thing and the I-am-really-sneaky-hiding-behind-these-rocks-we-can-pretend-are-trash-cans thing.

Well, that and this.

What can I say…sometimes I am hopelessly literal.

08.02.12

Putting my pins to work...

Posted by Christina // 4 Replies

So I do all of this pinning…and I look at my pins lovingly every day, and then wish I had more time.

But for this…I made time.

After pinning lots of these bad boys…

I decided that I ~~wanted~~ needed to make one right this second.

So I did.

I gotta say….everytime I walk in the room I am instantly happy.

I decided I needed a little more color than my inspiration pins, so I went for a punch you in your eyes yellow. Instant sunshine on our gray walls.

Y’all that know me…know I got these knobs on the cheap. Just waited for Hobby Lobby to have a 50% off sale and I scooped them up. I picked up the spray paint with a coupon, and the wood we had laying around so the whole project cost under $20.

Pretty sweet upgrade from hanging on push pins.