Granite Electrical Covers

I love the new addition of the granite counter tops in my kitchen... although, I wasn't loving the look of the stark white electrical covers that were smack dab in the middle of the new granite back-splash.  I immediately knew I could make them match the granite, so that is what I set out to do. 

 I scanned a piece of the granite. The only down side is my printer/scanner gave the image a tinge of pink... where as the color copy I had gotten at the copy center gave the image a tinge of blue. I think if I redo these electrical plates, I would place a dark piece of fabric over the opened lid in hopes of coping a truer color of the granite. I used black acrylic paint along the edges of the openings. Once everything was dry I coated everything with a layer of Mod Podge. Once the Mod Podge was dry, I sprayed an even coat of thick clear gloss over each switch plate.

 Here is the plate installed... I know, kinda pinkish... in this photo it shows up even pinker than in person. But you get the idea... much better than white!

These will do until I get a truer color copy of the granite. Who knew granite wouldn't copy well~
I've linked up to My Salvaged Treasures "Vintage Inspiration Party"
big hugs,
 

Remodeling

Recently I've had a little bit of remodeling done on my kitchen. Although the workmen are gone and all there is left to do is paint--- you'd think I'd be working at a feverish pace to get it done... But no... I've  been remodeling things out in my backyard instead.

I added a new fountain to the backyard. I love the sound of water spilling  from one pot to another. My cat Puss-puss loves water and she is doubly happy to have a new water feature too.
 
This pirate skeleton is sporting my grandson's first pirate outfit... This pirate is not only holding a sword but in his other hand he has a pistol as well... aarrrggghhhh~

 I remodeled the gate entrance for those brave enough to enter... I was lucky to find a store locally that sells sphagnum moss in bulk. I've been having fun stapling moss to things... I really like how it makes things look old and kinda scarey.

 I've also remodeled the smaller of the two pirate stores. I had bought six hard-plastic panels at our swap meet a few years ago for $3.00 thinking I'd use them someday... well someday finally came and I finally used them. I think this really finishes off this store perfectly.

 I added the Boutiki sign I had made two years ago above the counter...
This little area beside the store has always been empty until now. I took down some sheer curtains inside my house... and added them to the fence. I think they look like ships sails. I also reworked the pirate name generator too. I screwed it onto a stand and painted a sign that reads, "Spin to find your pirate name." I am going to purchase some "My name is" stickers and place them on the table next to the name generator along with a pen so that if the kids want they can wear their new name.

 This huge piece of drift wood had to be moved from its previous location. I added some moss and a large plastic skull and just set it in this spot... it is one of my favorite new display pieces.

 I am trying to go around the yard one area at a time and make some last finishing touches for this years pirate season.... The next area will be the pirate ship and the area between the ship and the second pirate store. Fun times... fun times~

aarrgggghhhh~
big hugs,

Homemade Invitations

I finally finished making some homemade invitations for my grand kids to pass out to their friends for their yearly pirate party that I host for them. Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhh~
While searching the web for idea inspirations, I came across a pop up card that had a ship in it! It was love at first sight. I decided to incorporate that into an invitation. I had a book of maps that I pulled sheet after sheet from to use as the base of each card. Here is the inside of each card. I think they turned out pretty cute!

I used the template from Robert Sabuda, he not only has the pop up ship, but a lot more to choose from too *free of charge* I printed out his template and cut the pieces out and then I made my own template to suit my needs a little better. For example, I traced as many sails as would fit on one sheet of paper and then I used Picmonkey to add text to the sails to create the invitation information. Then it was just a matter of printing and cutting out everything. Easy peasy.

I was at a loss as what to put on the front of each invitation. I didn't want it to be really grand as it would take away from the awesome pop up ship on the inside. So I kept it very basic. I used a large skull stamp my friend gave me and then just added some red glitter to the heart shaped eyes. (I am determined to use more glitter this year) I also crinkled up the paper and then added some ink to make it look old. I tore the edges and just glued each one in place....

Lastly, I tied each one up using some raffia. I added a beautiful bling-ring to each invitation along with hand written tags my grand kids wrote. Taaaaaaaaa- daaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Invitations finished -check!
Forty five more days... not that I'm counting.
big hugs,

Happy Easter~

I managed to spend a few hours actually making something in my studio yesterday. Easter is the time of miracles don't ya know *wink* I created two one of a kind Easter eggs for my two grand kids...
 I had two cardboard egg shaped containers previously filled with See's candy that I covered with some embossed metal tape to create the two eggs. For my grand daughter I used a fancy embossing folder to create her egg. For my grand son's egg I used a pattern wheel to create the look of rivets on the metal tape to make it look like it was made of riveted metal. Lastly, I added pink and black acrylic paint to bring out the detail of each egg.

 Surprisingly the two eggs hold quite a bit of candy---
as I was going to eat the left overs but they all fit. Nuts.
big hugs,

Painting....

I have been super busy doing a little fixing up of the inside of my house lately. We had some granite counters installed in our galley kitchen, along with some new slate flooring. Ohhhhhh the powdery mess that I have had to endure from all of the cutting of granite and tile. Not only that, but I have added to it.... *sigh* I have had to re plaster some walls... so now I also have a chalky mess from that too.  Ugh, it seems like I will be plastering, and painting for.ever.... then comes the fun part--- having to clean up the HUGE mess. eiy-eiy-eiy..... The upside, I am pretty sure it will get done in my lifetime. *sigh*


I was needing a little break from all of the "house stuff" and decided to spend an hour doing something quick and fun in my studio. So, I made some earrings. I really enjoy making earrings as they whip up fast and I get instant gratification of having completed something... at this point, completing anything while taking on the daunting task of painting is very uplifting!

 I bought a very old necklace just so I could pull it apart for those two diamond shaped beads below.... 

 I loved the blue of these beads....

 I bought a really long necklace of these multi colored glass beads below. They just spoke to me... I'm glad to have them to play with.

 I haven't finished the earrings just yet. Most of them are still needing to have the bead pins looped around then an ear hook attached. But it sure did feel good not to have to think about painting for awhile.

Drat... why did I mention painting. I better get back to it.
big hugs,

Repurposed Salvaged Door

A few months ago I purchased a very old, solid wood antique door. I thought it would be the absolute perfect door for my latest pirate building in my backyard... well I was wrong. Well in theory it would have worked-- but it ended up feeling to big and chunky... and with a screen door- the new door had to open into the building and that would have taken up valuable decorating space... so it was a "no go." I had seen on pinterest where someone had taken an old door and made it into a bar/counter... so that is exactly what I did with the door.

The bottom part of the door has been cut off so that the door now has four equal panels. It is attached to a raised platform to make it a counter top height.

The backside of this  newly constructed piece is open so that it can be used as a bar/counter. For now, I have it pushed up against a wall in the latest pirate store to showcase some fun pirate treasure.

While playing in the pirate store, I added a huge net to the ceiling. The netting was originally one of those golfing nets that you drive your balls into when your practicing. This is a good start to the ceiling, before the ceiling was to perfect--- which didn't fit in well with the cluttered look of the rest of the building. I'll go back and add some ivy and a hanging light and some other random odds and ends to pull it all together.

If you pan down from the ceiling and to the right of the front door you'll see where I left off. So much yet to do~ Who knows what will get put to use and what will get tossed out. Oh, who am I kidding, I'll find a place for it all!
Here are some of my backyard pirate companions, they take up a lot of my free time because I just can't resist giving them all cuddles... this is Chumley. Bear-bear is at the bottom right sitting off in the distance... Here is Pee Wee, he is sitting in the neighbors yard peeking into our yard. The little nutter~
Along with cuddling with the cats.... it is also fun to just PLAY. No agenda, no "getting it done"..... just having fun and playing in the yard. Just yesterday I added the large wooden box (to the right in the photo) with the rope and the black crow. It was f.u.n.

A few weeks ago, we constructed a weathered old looking box to cover our huge swinging umbrella stand. Now, it looks so much better and will not be an eye sore or a tripping hazard. The added bonus? look at all the fun space I now have to play~

I am really needing to play inside.... the inside of my house is now looking pretty ratty.... and not in a good pirate kinda ratty way either. *sigh*
 Today, I am linking with: My Salvaged Treasures - Vintage Inspiration Party
big hugs,
 

Cat In The Hat

 Last week at my grand kids school they were celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday with a week long celebration of events. One of the days events the kids were to dress as their favorite character from one of Dr. Seuss' books. Well.... the Cat in the Hat was an obvious choice for me... and seeing how they are little they pretty much don't argue... yet....

For my five year old grand daughter Chloe, I made her a little miniature cat in the hat-- hat.

She is such a little pistol... I thought she would enjoy some cat ears too...

I added some white felt to one of her long sleeve black shirts using some wonder under iron on adhesive. The large red bow just pulled everything together. I also made her a long tail~

My grandson who is getting on in years (he is seven) wasn't wanting to much of a costume... so I made him a HUGE cat in the hat-- hat... and the large red bow to go along with the hat.

I am surprised they came together so quickly and that they turned out so darn cute... I surprise myself sometimes! I've kept the patterns and I think next year I'll make some more. One for me!
big hugs,