Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

Wow!

I stepped out of my comfort

zone and created a wall coat rack

using a Chevron pattern.

I took an already

white cabinet door and

spray painted it flat white because

it was glossy.

Using my Silhouette and the 

large Chevron design, I cut

 a piece of vinyl to use

as a stencil.

I placed the vinyl on the door and

painted over it with grey. I had the paint

color matched at Ace Hardware.

I peeled the vinyl off to

expose the Chevron pattern.

I pre-drilled screw holes and

added 4 round grey knobs with

white circles on them. I purchased these

at our local Habitat for Humanity

ReStore.

They were love at first sight.

I'm kickin' myself for not getting

as many as I could find.

Then...I had creator's block. I wasn't sure what I wanted to add to the center.

Or what color I wanted the vinyl lettering to be.

>_<

FINALLY...decided on a saying  and a color

and created an Up Words & On Words

vinyl design.

Life isn't about waiting

for the storm to pass.

It's about learning to

dance in the rain.

And here is how it turned out:

Can't help it but

it turned out just like I

had hoped!!

YAY!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carri



@ the following link parties:

 

 

Why can't I see my options in posts??

Grrr...what can't I see my options when I am trying to post? I can only see the very tops of them enough to recognize what they are for. I am not a fan of this change!

It takes courage...

After looking through a recent Lowe's Creative Ideas catalog...I convinced my hubby to take me to Lowe's. I liked a wood project that was featured but I thought I could come up with something more "me." So off we went! I had the nice gentleman there cut down a piece of plywood for me. I ended up with (3) 2' x 3' and (2) 2' x 2'.

I took a 2' x 3' and sanded it. The wood does have some knots in it but I decided to work around/with them. Hoping that somehow I could weave my way in and out, adding character along the way.

Once sanded, I used Rust Oleum's Ultimate Wood Stain in Kona and gave it a quick coat of stain.When the stain was dry, I used painter's tape and taped off a 2" boarder around the whole board. I created an Up Words & On Words vinyl design and used my Silhouette Cameo to cut it out. I placed the lettering directly on the stain.

(isn't that stain AMAZING?)

Once the vinyl was in place, I painted over it with Dark Taupe. I made sure to stay inside the

tape lines. After all...I was going for the framed/border look.

I let the paint dry and then sanded the entire painted area, vinyl included, with 220 grit sand paper. I wanted to expose some of the stain as well as the grain and knots of the wood. Not too much, but just enough. I wiped away the sandy residue and peeled the vinyl lettering and painter's tape off. This really exposed the great stain and wood grain combination. Then I added a decorative vinyl embellishment to give it a pop of color and add a little texture and uniqueness. A way to soften it up just a little. 

Here it is:

IT TAKES courage TO GROW UP AND BECOME WHO YOU REALLY ARE.

I love love love this quote. And my 33 year old self can't help but wish I had stumbled across it in my 20's. It is absolutely true. And although I never did declare a word of the year or post about declaring my word~

courage is a word that I cling to. I hold on to it as if it has the power to take me through whatever seems to create worry and consume my thoughts unnecessarily.

Courage.

Yep, I think that's my word.

Maya Angelou has said this about Courage:

"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage."

 ~Maya Angelou

And after all, we as adults know far too well how hard it is to grow up. 

And looking back, it does take a lot of courage to become who you really are.

Thanks for stopping by!

Carri

Where I'm Partying:
Keeping It Simple

 

 

Simple table turned FAB!

First off,

Happy Easter!

Hope today finds you happy and well,

surrounded by good friends and family

and blessings beyond measure.

Where have I been? Why the lack of posts?

Lack of projects?

Between running a home daycare, my first grader

and everyday life...I have been beyond busy.

And I have a head cold right now so that's no good!

OK.

What?

A completed project?

A post?

What?

Yep!

Finally~

once again

Finally!!

I found this table at the bargain store

and knew it was coming home with me.

*apologies for the iPhone pics but it was handy*

 I didn't really want to pay

the $15 for it very badly.

There was an identical table to this one

but it had a mirror and matching stool for

$60.

Seeing that, it kind of eased the blow of the

$15.

I sanded it down and took the VERY ugly

gold drawer pull off. That was tricky

because it wasn't screwed in to the back of the

drawer on the inside. It was actually screwed

in to a piece of wood separating the drawer and

the drawer front. Umm...yeah, that probably

sounds confusing. Let's just leave it as tricky.

=)

I stained the top with Rust Oleum's

Ultimate Wood Stain in Kona.

The can says you can apply poly in one hour,

color achieved in one coat

and enhances natural wood grain.

and let me tell you what...

it's AMAZING!

It doesn't warn you that a

love affair will begin...

BEWARE!

I painted the rest in Benjamin Moore's

Camo.

Unfortunately...the Camo doesn't look anything

like Kate's kitchen island

over at Centsational Girl.

I sanded that down and decided to give it a worn,

shabby look using more Kona stain.

I put poly on the top, the drawer front and the
long piece across the top.
And I sealed the drawer pulls with spray
sealer.

Instead of replacing the drawer pull with

one large pull, I spray painted two small

flower designed pulls and place them on

the drawer using the holes already there.

And here is how it turned out~

{LOVE IT}

and it is already sold.

(I detest the air return vent and questioned my hubby as to why they are so big and ugly)

I am guessing this was used as a

vanity because it had flat iron burn marks on the top.

But I would use it as a

tall side/end/console table.

Anyway...

what do ya think?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Carri

Partying at the following:

Keeping it Simple

Up Words & On Words shop on Etsy

You see, I love

being able to repurpose items

and come up with something "new"

But, it all started when I decided

to go into the vinyl business.

I didn't realize then where it

would take me.

And not only do I have a pretty

great home based business but

I have also found a creative outlet

and a passion.

Sure...I get *creator's* block like

a writer gets *writer's* block so

sometimes creating something new

and WOW take awhile.

It has been quite some time since

I have had the time to sit

down and create.

Add to the mix that I am a stay at home Mom

and a registered Child Care Provider.

So, yes, busy!

But blessed.

Anyhow...

I just added some new items to my

Etsy shop and thought maybe

you might want to take a peek!!

Here they are:

You have probably seen these on some of my posts.

And I appreciate you stopping by.

Head on over to my Etsy store

and check out my other designs!!

www.upwordsandonwords.etsy.com

Have a great day!

Carri

03.08.03 ~ 9 years ago today...

Nine years ago in a

snow storm,

I married an amazing man.

When he first suggested marriage

I kindly (yes, kindly) told him

he shouldn't drink so much with his

friends and never mention it again!

In my defense, he had been out with the guys

and I had assumed this was gibberish for

just "in case" he might be in trouble.

LOL

But as it turns out, it wasn't just a few drinks

in him doing the talking. And when the subject

came up again, I knew he was serious.

Knowing him like I do now, I should

have known he was serious from the very first

mention.

Our lives have changed so much since

that snowy day in March 2003.

And that's okay with me because

I'm pretty sure

~This has gotta be the GOOD LIFE~

Happy March 8th to you!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Carri

And Finally My TOP 10 of 2011: Vinyl projects

OK!

Here they are...

10 of my favorite

vinyl projects of 2011.

Enjoy!

1. Good Life sign

2. Burlap backed breathe frame

3. A Little Bit Stronger

4. escape-it's a sign

5. COFFEEHOUSE sign

6. Subway Art Canvas

7. Coffee Order Board

8. Let Go and Let God canvas

9. Enjoy the simple things in Life-old window

10. Wheresoever you go... cabinet door coat rack

There ya have it!

Thanks so much for stopping by,

for following my blog,

for leaving such great comments,

for being supportive and encouraging

and for allowing me to share with you.

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

May 2012 bring you

health, hope, and humor.

Carri