Imagine the Impossibilities, seem impossible?

All over blogland, during the month of January, we've been reading about the "Imagine the Impossibilities" challenge. After reading about this challenge on blogs every where I turned,  I decided to take the plunge and jump in! My impossibility? Half "pony" walls that separate my entry way and living room. They are the bain of my existence. The walls, like every other wall in my house, are textured and are featureless and blah.

Even the flooring is at different heights and does
not transition well.

To top it off, the right side is plopped in the middle of a short wall that has a doorway on each side of it, both leading into the same room. Who designed this anyway? I would love to know what they were thinking. Talk about a waste of space. (seriously don't look at the mess in the kitchen, this is the 'normal' for our house of 3 boys).


So, I took the plunge and decided to buck up and challenge myself to do something about these walls that would make them eye appealing and attractive. Ideas? Oh, I have plenty of ideas. Did I succeed? No. Sadly, no.


My desire is to trim out each side of the wall, sand the dark wood at the top and paint it all the "Timeless Ivory" white that I have used in the kitchen. My goal is to make it look like a true 'pony' wall that is typical of old houses and used as a divider between rooms. 

Pinterest.com idea. Love this!

Another Pinterest idea. I have been looking for old, leaded
glass windows to hang, just like this, over the 1/2 walls.

What did I discover in the process? Each side of each wall is a different width. The overhang of the top 'shelf' like ledge has a different depth of overhang on each side. I tried many different types of trim, many different ways to cut it, nothing worked. But I will not give up. I will persevere and find a solution. What did I learn? I learned that while the challenge to conquer the impossible was a great motivator, it wasn't worth stressing myself out to overcome and conquer my 'impossible.' It just isn't working right now but I will keep trying until I find a solution.


So thanks. Thanks for the challenge. And, yes, there will be a part 2. (Maybe a 3 and 4, who knows?)

It's Amazing What a Little Rearranging can do

A brand new year. A fresh start. New Year's Resolutions. All an opportunity for new beginnings. Sometimes our homes need a fresh facelift too! You've heard of staging? Well, it's time to stage your home. Not to sell, silly, but to give it that fresh start that is long overdue.

Plates that were once hung over a picture in
our dining area have found a new home over
the kitchen sink on the inside of the cupboards.



These plates hung in this spot for a couple of years before they
were rearranged.





Bakers rack was given to somebody else and all chachkeys
were moved to new locations and given new life.





Bakers Rack (above) found a whole new home at somebody elsesplace and was replaced with this buffet.



Take a look at your house and start imagining the possibilities. You can give your house a whole new look by switching things up and moving things around. Tired of those pictures that have hung on your living room wall for the past few years? Move them! Try them out in your dining room or in your family room. They will have a whole new appeal!



Pulled wine glasses out of the cupboard, took the pears from the
bakers rack and threw them in the glasses for display.



Nothing like fresh herbs. These herbs were placed in IKEA planter
tins and stacked on an old cake plate.

Bored with the lamps on your buffet? Try them out in your bedroom. You may even want to add some trim to the lampshade or some beaded fringe. Go ahead, get crazy!

Take it a step further and freshen up your home with little retouches. Love that mirror but sick of the gold frame? Paint it and you will give that mirror a whole new life. I dare you!

This mirror was lived on our living room wall and the gold framed
picture now has a home upstairs in the master bedroom.

Picture in it's new home and loving it!

Try it and you will see that your home can feel like it is brand new. You'll be amazed at what a little rearranging can do.

Linking up this week to:

DIY Showoff

Fun, Colorful, and Homemade

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Well, is the Cabin Fever hitting anyone yet? We are in the heart of winter in Michigan and that brings a lot of dull, dreary weather and traps us indoors. Two days ago it was 5 degrees (se-rious-ly!) with a bunch of snow. Last night, it rained like a fool along with a bunch of thunder and lightening. Only to wake up today to 49 degree temperature (at 8am). But wait, don't blink your eye because it's supposed to get colder this afternoon and the rain turn to snow. Did I say FUN?


Sometimes it gets hard to find things to keep those little guys occupied during this season of snow, and rain, and cold. I found a great playdough project at a kindergarten event that I went to and I use it in my job all the time. Now, I bet you are curious where I work, huh?


This project is not only bright and cheerful but cheap? In fact, you probably already have the ingredients in your home! It's Kool-Aid Playdough.

You won't believe how it's made! It is soooo simple.


1-1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid or Kool-Aid substitute (dry)
1 cup boiling water
1-1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil


In a bowl mix flour, salt, and dry Kool-Aid. 
Stir in water and oil, Knead with floured hands for 3 minutes.
Store in bag for up to 2 months.

Smells wonderful, is non-toxic,
and takes on the color of the
Kool-Aid. Even your kids
can make it!

Hooking up this week to:


Making Monday Marvelous
Metamorphosis Monday
Motivate Me Monday
Project Queen
Get Your Craft On
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Crafty, Scrappy, Happy
Diary of a Crafty Lady

Imagine the Impossibilities

I have been reading about this challenge all over and, honestly...I've been avoiding it. Oh, I have a lot that I could list under this title believe me. But, the pressure thought of pushing myself to overcome said challenge by the end of the month?

Best Junk of 2011

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This is the weekend to honor junk over at Funky Junk Interiors and I am a well-known junker in my part of the world. In fact, one of my best friends confessed to grabbing a table out of her neighbors garbage and said it was my fault! Yikes, what an influence I have on my peeps!

All in all, this project only cost 

me $10 for the chalkboard paint.

This project started with the frame you see below. When we were clearing out my hubby's grandmas house, I quickly grabbed up this find. It was not much to speak of (wish I had pictures) but once I pulled out the print and gave it a paint treatment it was great in my dining room. Originally there were 2 similar types of frames/print although not a match. I gave them the same paint treatment (the dining room wall color as a base coat with a white crackle finish over the top) and hung both together as empty frames. G R E A T conversation piece. Nobody could understand why I would just hang a couple of empty frames but everybody liked it!

This is the frame. It has been painted and 

spray painted and crackled to end 

up like this.

 

That's been several years ago and they have gone through many transitions since then. One is no longer as the frame broke and was unrepairable. Alas, the lone frame is now a victim of one final update as seen below.





This is a scrap piece of plywood that has been 

used for a school project by my youngest son, 

cut and now reused as the background 

board for the frame.



Added some lovely chalkboard paint. 

Did have to go out and buy another can. 

Had a can for a few years just waiting 

for a project and couldn't find it...argh!

   

Some of my other fun junk projects for 2011 were:

For the Birds--Repurposing a
birdhouse for the garden.



Birthing New Chairs -- How I rescued
Craig's List chairs



Linking this project up to:

Funky Junk Interiors SNS #116

Addicted-2-Decorating Show Off Your Projects

A Tale of Two Nightstands

There once were two night-stands who stood strong and tall

And served a big purpose to one and to all

Over the years they grew tired and drab

But now have been under a major rehab.

Enjoy!

Night stand sans drawers being prepped for sanding.

Close up of the drawers after sanding.

The old forest green stain on the drawers.

After paint and new hardware.

The Power of Paint!

Linking up today with:
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://wearethatfamily.com/
\Show and Tell at BLUE CRICKET DESIGN
Transformation Thursday at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Strut Your Stuff at http://www.somewhatsimple.com/
Treasure Hunt Thursday at http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/

From pillar to headboard?

This past summer we F I NA L LY got our porch pillars replaced. I wish I would have thought to take pictures of what they looked like. Suffice it to say that one of the pillars was not even mounted into the porch floor due to a certain yellow lab  and a few chipmunks. She may look pretty and sweet but boy, when she is chasing chipmunks, she is a wildabeast umm, I mean a hunter first and foremost! 

Myndi the wildabeast!

So, that and the fact they were just plain ugly my hubby finally replaced them with some beeeeautiful new ones. This left us with a pile of 1x6 boards that both me and my hubby looked at for several days laying out in the yard. Of course, my mind was churning the whole time thinking about what I could do with those boards. Boy was I surprised when my hubby said to me "you should reuse those boards somehow." Wow, guess we've been married a little too long...he's even starting to think like me!

Boards laid out for sizing and cutting.

Boards laid out, jigsaw cut, and being reinforced.

Hah, I had already thought 'headboard' in my mind and when I mentioned this he really liked the idea! Wow. Did I say 'wow?' So, I laid them out and measured. Cut (first time using a jigsaw my friends) and sanded and my hubby assembled them into the final headboard product.

Sanded and ready to paint.

Painted and mounted to bed.

Then came the painting. After a lot little bit of sanding, I base coated with a beige paint that I had on hand. Glazed with pickling glaze, antiqued with some brown glaze, waxed with some IKEA bees wax. Final detail was to add the medallion. That was the only cost into this project was $5. for the medallion. Not bad I say!

Linking up this week to:


Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Power of Paint Party @ Domestically Speaking

Works for Me Wednesday @ We are That Family

BLUE CRICKET DESIGN
Strut Your Stuff at http://www.somewhatsimple.com/
Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/

Homemade Weekend Linkup at http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/
Pink Saturdays at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Have a great week chicas!