Repurposed Cabinet Doors

My in laws are remodeling their kitchen.  Of course I asked for anything and everything that they were going to throw out or give away.  I asked and I received.  I got several  cabinet doors from them.  They are keeping the bases but replacing the doors.  Hmmmmm....what to do, what to do.  I KNOW!

I removed the hinges, painted the middle with chalk board paint and then a cute color on the frame and TA DA!

(The doors above are not the same size as the doors below. I painted the smaller doors first and that's what I got the pictures of but you get it right? Same doors just different size.)

But that's not all.  It's a sandwich board!  I connected two of the same size doors together with some hinges and now it can go on a table where you can see both sides. Or two kids can write or draw at the same time.  I wrapped a ribbon around the two hinges and tied it in the middle so they are covered. I realize I didn't write anything on it but if I had, one side would have said, "Menu:  BBQ Sandwich and french fries!"  Then the other side would have said, "KITCHEN'S CLOSED!"   I don't love to cook so I would probably keep this saying for a while.  :) 

I connected each of the bottom corners with some ribbon so when it's opened it stops at a certain point.  I attached the ribbon with cute thumb tacks.  Sorry no close up pick.  I swear someday I will read my camera manual so I can be fancy. :)

 

Hope you like her!

Linking up to:

Sew New!

I picked up this cute little sewing machine table a few weeks ago.  I love her legs.   She didn't have the sewing machine inside anymore but there were still cords and other stuff hanging in there.  The bottom was just a flimsy curved board.   

 So I painted and stencilled her and took her to the Vintage Market.  There were plenty of people that looked at her, a few seemed to be seriously interested but then they would open the top (because the top opens up from the right to the left)  and see that there was just junk inside.  I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to leave her insides intact.....maybe I thought that someone might be brave enough to put their own sewing machine inside and make it functional in some way. 

There's also that cute little handle in  the front that opens up that door (it's not a drawer) but it just opened up to a piece of wood with a hole in it.  Not sure what it was there for but it wasn't for storage and that's what people assumed it was.

The gaping hole and junk inside turned people off.  They were expecting to be able to put stuff inside. SO, I put my super hunky handy man to work and he pulled out all her guts, cut out the board that was on the other side of the door to no where and then nailed in a bottom.....so now it's functional!

It's hard to see inside since it's black. There is still however a small hole in the back for a cord.  I hope that doesn't discourage a buyer. :/

I think she's adorable!  She'll be at the Thieves Flea Market in Cave Creek tomorrow!

Linking up to:

~Another Market~

So I'm jumping in with both feet!  I did the Vintage Market last month and it was so much fun.  I can't wait to do it again on Nov. 11th and 12th but until then I'm going to do the Cave Creek Thieves Market....this Saturday!  I feel a little rushed just because I have some pieces I want to take with me but aren't  quite  finished but it's good.  I always need motivation and I honestly work better when I'm rushed.  It helps me focus.  Weird I know.  That's how I studied in college.  I crammed!  Cramming was how I got it done.  If I started studying the week before the test, I kind of loligaged. How do you spell that?  But if I started studying two days prior, I would rock it and always felt more prepared.  So here are some pictures of my mess ....um...er....projects.   Again, don't judge me.  Sadly I was not born with OCD.... I wish I had been....I'm sure my husband would agree. :)  (**Not making fun of OCD, I know it's a tragic disorder that people really suffer with. I just want a little bit of it.)

There's a lot going on here. Yikes.

Here is a dresser on top of a dresser....can you see that I'm lacking in room? The top one with the drawers out, I bought on CL.  I salvaged the bottom one.  It's an antique dresser that had been in someones front yard for who knows how long.  Poor thing.  She was going to throw it away.  The missionaries from my church saw it and asked about it....then asked if I could have it.  Aren't they sweet?  It's in pretty rough shape.  I've done...OK, my husbands done ALOT of gluing and clamping for me.  It still has some rough edges but it gives it character, just needs to go to a good home that can love it's nicks and imperfections.

This armoire was also in the yard with the dresser.  It's a great piece of furniture but I had to....OK, my husband had to make it sturdy again.  We also added some shelves inside.  Nowadays not many people are putting their TVs in armoires.  I think it will fair better as a clothing armoire.

  It does have another door, we just took it off.

Looky here!  These are some cabinet doors that were taking out of my MIL's house.  They are currently remodeling and I scored a bunch of these.  I'll show you what I did with them soon. :)

Free!!  Don't you love it when you see a sign on the side of the road that says that?! About a year ago there was a trailer parked on the side of the road full of junk treasures.  I stopped and pulled out a few. I loved Chinese checkers as a kid.   Take note though, the cream center and blue outline are from me.   I forgot to get a before picture but it was pretty sad. 

So there are a few of the things that I'm working on right now.  I'll get some AFTER pictures up soon. :)

I received TWO awards!!! Can you believe it?  I could not.  But when I found out, I called my mom!  Seriously, I was so happy that I called my mom like a weeeeee lil' girl to tell her. She was very proud of me. Ah, thanks mom!  Mrs. J and Mrs. H are the amazing sisters over at Modern Wivelyhood who bestowed these awards upon me. You have to go check out their blog..they are amazing and oh so ever stylish! Sometimes it makes me wonder if Mrs. J really has kids since she always looks so HOT!  Hot in a 'lookin' hot sista!" way , not a 'I'm in to you way."  Was that weird?  Anyway they are both too cute and they help me to know what's in style in this day and age since all I wear are workout pants and t-shirts! I need room to move.....don't judge me.  Now to accept the awards, I have the duty of sharing some info for all of you.  The first award:

1:  What is my favorite color?  Blue.  It always has been but the bad thing is that my school colors in college were Red and white. Well, Crimson really. But our big rival school down south was blue and white.  I just look sooo much better in blue so as you can see it's a daily struggle for me to get dressed as to what color to wear. Why is life so hard?
2. What is my favorite song? I have so many favorites right now but I'm gonna go with Adele's 'Rumor'.  Her voice is so velvety.  But as for all time favorite it is definitely 'American Girl' by Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers.  I love love love anything by Tom Petty. Also, I can't leave out Pat Benatar.  I don't love all of her stuff but 'Love is a Battlefield' got me through some hard times in college. ;)
3. My favorite dessert?  It absolutely is the brownie sundae at the Horny Toad Restaurant in Cave Creek, AZ.  LOVE IT way too much. It's the biggest brownie sundae I've ever eaten. It's made to be shared but I usually eat the whole thing by myself...my hubs has stopped trying to steal bites since the last unfortunate incident......lets just say band aids were needed.
4. My favorite pet?  Well, I love cats.  I'm not a crazy cat lady or anything, I just think they are way easier then any other animal.  They clean themselves. They bury their own poop....and they always do that in the same spot, the litter box.  They don't whine to go with me if I'm leaving.  They are very independent and I like that.
5. What whizzes me off at the moment?  The thing that whizzes me off right now has to do with a parking spot at my kids school.  There are several places in park right in front of the office where I have to park  to walk my kids in to 1st grade and Pre-K.  There is ONE spot that has a DO NOT PARK HERE sign.  I'm totally fine with that....there must be a reason we shouldn't park there. BUT almost everyday I see people park there.  It's like they are too good to follow the rules like the rest of us!  You're not above the law....of the sign!!!  I obey it, why can't you?!!! Sorry....I needed to vent.
6. Black or white?  Black all the way.  I get too dirty to wear white and I just think I look better in black. Probably cause it hides most of my lumps.
7. Biggest fear?  Losing one of my children.  Also, me dying. Not because I'm scared of dying or because I'm selfish. I just never want my kids to have to grow up with out a mom.  I know how much my mom means to me and I know how much I mean to my kids.  I wouldn't want them to ever be without their mommy.
8. Best feature? I'm nice. At least I always try to be nice.  My husband also tells me that I'm a nice person.  I try to be nice to everyone I meet......you never know what trials they are facing.   Unless of course they're trying to park in the DO NOT PARK HERE spot and then watch out!!
9.Everyday attitude? I choose to be happy.  We are what we want to be and I want to be happy.  Also: If you're gonna wish you would have done it, do it.
10. What is perfection?  Snuggling with my kids and honey on the couch with  no laundry or dirty house to worry about.....and with nothing to do but sit and be.
11. Guilty pleasure? Diet Coke....everyday....sometimes 2-3 times at the McDonald's drive thru for $1.
12.When you're up set you? I cry. I cry when I'm happy too.  I'm a big baby. :(
        




So here is the next award they gave me.  To accept this award I have to share a story with you. It can be true of not true.....just a story. 

  It was a hot September night here in AZ. I was 37 weeks preggers with my little boy Crue.  My husband was working nights at the time and it was a good thing because I woke at about 3 and realized that I had peed the bed.  This happens right.   I mean, I was huge.  I was getting up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom so when I woke up, I just figured that I must have been in a deep sleep and my huge baby probably made me leak a wee bit.   I cleaned up and got back in bed. 
 My husband got home at 6am and I woke up to find that I had peed again.  Not a big amount though. I cover it up as my husband gets in bed and I decide to get up and get moving for the day.  I'll wash sheets later. Sorry hun!  I hop in the shower to get ready for the day. Then I clean the house a little bit and decide to go get a pedicure.   Of course you all know what I'm thinking and it was,'I hope that my water didn't break,' but since I'd been up nothing had happened.  No pee, no leakage.  So I get to the nail place and get my fat feet all pretty...at least I think they were pretty.  I was so big I coudn't see them so I took their word for it.  I hopped in my car and drove to work.  I wasn't scheduled to work that day.  In fact, my last day of work was actually the day before.  I as going to take off 3 weeks so I could nest and get ready for my baby.  I get to my work and start talking to my really good friend and I told her what had been going on that morning.  I said that I wasn't sure what I should do because I was having the feeling that maybe I should go to the hospital to be checked.  Now mind you, I had just been to my OBGYN 2 days before this and I was 0% effaced and not dilated AT ALL.  My doctor said I would most likely not deliver till I was 40 weeks.  But as I left my work I had this really strong feeling, or premonition if you will, that said,"go to the hospital'.  Now I didn't want to be a dork and show up at the hospital and have them tell me to go home cause I was just peeing my bed.  Not something I wanted to hear.  So I said a little prayer asking my Heavenly Father to help me make the right decision.  I got in my car and drove.  I didn't really have a plan on where I was going but guess where I ended up?  Right smack in front of the emergency room of my hospital.  I remember smacking the steering wheel of my car with both hands saying "What am I doing here?"  I didn't know what I was doing.  I got out of my car, walked inside and just stood there in the lobby.  There was only one other person in there.  I just stood there.  Literally.  After about 1 minute a nurse walked up and asked if I needed help.  I told her, "No...um...well I just thought maybe I should be checked...I'm sure it's nothing, I think I peed the bed so can you check me."  Complete dork.  "I think I peed the bed."  Nice.   So she grabs a wheel chair and tells me that she's going to admit me.  I'm like, "No I don't need to be admitted, just checked."  Of course she informs me that I have to be admitted to be checked.  They take me to the 3rd floor, maternity, and I'm so mad at myself because I'm so sure I'm wasting time and money.  She makes me shower and get in a robe.   They do a swab and it doesn't turn blue so she says they have to take it to the lab just to make sure.  It should have turned blue if it was amniotic fluid so I wasn't worried.  So I waited an hour...no one in my family even knew where I was by the way.  The nurse comes back and says, "Yep, your water broke."  I. WAS. STUNNED.  But grateful that I was prompted to go to the hospital though. I called the hubs said I was in the hospital.  He's freaking out yelling, "What happened, what happened!'  My water broke. I actually asked the nurse if I could come back later because I had plans to go stain my front door.  She thought I was teasing, I wasn't. She didn't let me go.  To make a loooooong story short. Two rounds of pitocin, two rounds of gels and forty hours later....yes 40 hours later my sweet baby boy was born!  Now I tell you this story to remind all women to listen to that still small voice.  I heard it. I asked for help and I was helped.  I didn't want to go but I went. I was not in labor but my water had broke.  I believe with all my heart and soul there was a specific reason my water broke.  When my son was finally born, the cord was wrapped around his neck 4 times.  FOUR!  The chances that he would have been able to unwind were slim since I was 37 weeks and there wasn't much room in there to move around.   It was a blessing that my water broke.  It saved my sons life.  I will always be indebted to my Heavenly Father for that gift.   

Now I must pass these awards on.  I want to give both these awards to the following blogs that I can't get enough of!  I hope they will accept them.  

Julia from 551 East Furniture Design.
She is amazing at restoring furniture and I was so happy to have been able to meet her at the Vintage Market that I did a few weeks ago. Go check her out her amazing refurbs....plus she's doing a $50 give away right now! You can't beat that with a stick!

Margaret from Rummage Living.   This gal truly embraces the 'dig' and knows how to do it on the cheap!  Go check her out for some thrifty inspiration! 

Priscilla from Thrifty Crafty Girl.  I can not read her blog without laughing out loud! I wish we were friends in real life instead of just blog land cause she would be a riot to hang out with.  Not only is she funny but she really is thrifty and crafty....and a girl. Swing by her blog to see what she's up to!  

If you choose to accept, answer all the questions for the first award and then tell a story for the second.  True or not....it's up to you!  Then pass on the awards to your favorite inspirational blogs!

Thanks for all the inspiration ladies!!!   

Randomness

Here's a random post.  I'm sure I'll have many more random posts to come.  This last Saturday I was a vendor at my first Vintage Market!  I really did have a lot of fun.  I also sold several things...yay!  I was nervous cause I didn't want to be the booth that everyone just walked past but I wasn't. Infact, all the vendors were amazing!  It was such a flea market atmosphere in the cutest enviornment with trees and a barn.  It wasn't a black top parking lot. I loved it. I was hoping to just sell at least one something and that would make me happy but I sold several somethings.  This table here is not one that I sold.  This is an Ethan Allen side table.  It has nice legs and curves and look at that parquet top.  It was in rough condition and I wasn't sure if I could fix it but it turned out amazingly smooth!

Do you see this?  Looks like someone smeared...um..poop on it.  Sorry, but it does.  That is a glazing job gone bad.   I loved the yellow till I glazed it.  Oops. Oh well.   But look at the top...the stain turned out great.  I used Min wax dark walnut.

So then I tried this blue oops paint that I got at the HD.  (I love oops paint!)  I really like this blue color with the stained top.

I love this blue! 

I think the top is stunning! Love it!

Then there's this lamp.  I call her Mega Lamp. She's  about 3 feet tall to the top of the wire.  She had a round piece of wood that was anchored on the bottom that was warped so I took it off.  Once that was off, I realized that the bar that went through her came out quite easily. So I pulled it out and the whole thing came apart.  It wasn't broken, it was just being held together by bar.  So she ended up in 2 pieces.  This is when I realized that her purpose in life wasn't to be a lamp. She'd been tapped in a lamp body but really she was.......

two very large candle pedestals!  Ta DA!  I found some cheap and identical candle plates and glues them on top .  Then I roughed her up a bit with some sand paper and then primed her.

I decided on red.  I love pops of color and since red is one of my school colors (University of Utah), she become red!

How cute are those now? I love re purposing! 

Speaking of re purposing, check out this light cover that I got from my mom. She had this on the ceiling in her bedroom while I was growing up so it's at least 30 years old.....maybe even 40.   I saw it at her house this summer while I was visiting and asked if I could have it. Of course she said yes....she loves me. :) 

I love the crackle glass...I'm sure there's a real term for it but I don't know what that is.  The little finial on the top is just perfect.  But now what to do with it.  Hmmm.

It took me a few months but I figured it out.  But I need to find some more parts to make it happen.  I thought for sure it would take me at least a dozen trips to numerous GW's before I found what I was looking for but would you believe it if I said I found it within the hour of when I thought of it? ...did that make sense? Well believe it sista...er...brotha...whomever is hopefully reading this.  This is what I was looking for....I didn't exactly know it at the time but I knew I would know when I saw it.  Bingo!

So I sprayed it down with some Rustoleum Hammered Brown paint.  It turned out aMAZing!

  I bought a little flicker candle and put it inside and it was soooooo darling that I was hoping no one at the market would buy her.....but everyone there liked her too.  She had many customers coming back saying they were just drawn to her.....and final one just said, "I can't go home with out this. It's so creative and unique.  I just love it!"  That made my heart melt. I watched the lady walking out of the market just smiling at her new little treasure....seriously she was looking at it as she walked out brimming from ear to ear!  Yay!  Made my day!

(Oh and I had my hubby cut out the little nail that was made for the candle so the flicker candle would sit nice and neat.) 

Then there's this little beauty.  But of course I forgot to take a before picture.  The thing on the left is a cheese cloche.  No idea how to pronounce that word.  I didn't even know these existed till I saw one somewhere in blog land.  The bottom is wooden and it was just brown.  I knew it needed a new purpose in life.  I went looking for a candle holder and found this extremely heavy glass one.  It matched perfectly...score!  I turned the bottom over and marked where the middle was. Then I traced the top of the candle holder on to the bottom of the cloche and then went around the inside of that circle with clear silicone.  I turned the candle holder upside down on the silicone, made sure it was even around the rim, wiped off the excess and let it dry.

I love how it turned out and the cutest girl scooped it up at the market.  I'm sure it went to a good home!

Also, look at what I finally found!!    I have been looking for an old trunk for forever.  I have found several but they always cost a bazillion dollars which I don't have.  I found this at GW and it was very reasonably priced.  I WAS IN LOVE!!!   I was not going to let it get away. I'm sure it's close to 100 years old and now someones junk is my treasure.  It looks great in my house by the way....totally not selling this.  Even my husband kinda likes it.....which is great since sometimes...er...most of the time we don't see eye to eye on what we consider 'treasure'. :)

Here are a few of the other things I sold:

I have to my tell you that my first sale was a pair of 1950's ladies bowling shoes.  They were so cute and someone just fell in love with them and amazingly they fit her like a glove...er...a shoe.

The beautiful roll top desk sold!

The painted, stencilled and stained tray sold!

The small coral table sold!

The Zebra coffee table sold!

I actually gave this cute coral chair to the girls from The Shine Project for a silent auction.  They help raise money to send inner city youth, right here in Phoenix, to college  They are having a silent auction soon so if you live here in PHX and would like to help, please visit their site.  I know they would LOVE IT!

I also sold that cute black bird cage on top of this desk....this is actually the 'before' shot of the roll top/stencilled desk. :)

All in all it was a great day!  Made some new friends and had a great time.  Big shout out to Lindsey, Coley and Monique from Junk In The Trunk Trio for organizing the entire event!  Check out their blog, they are amazing treasure hunters!  They, and I, will be doing it again in November!  Hope to see you there!

My Body Is 75% Diet Coke

I woke up bright an early this morning, 5:30 to be exact, to get ready for a unified triathlon. It was for the Special Olympics that my brother in law is involved with every year. My brother in law swims 2 laps, then my father in law bikes 2 (?) miles and then I run half a mile.   I think my time was 4 minutes...not bad but I had some motivation...my mother in law had one of these waiting at the finish line.  She knows me too well. 

I guess there are worst things I could be addicted to. I use the word 'addicted' lightly since I really can make it til about 3 without one. It's true. I never do it but I could if I wanted too.

I love my diet coke and I love my UTES!  I'm hoping my football team beat USC in their Pac 12 debut today.  I have a date with my DVR in the morning to watch the game. I'm one of those women who loves to watch football....my husband loves that!



On another note, I can't wait to show you how I upcycled this lamp. It's about 2 1/2 feet tall. I call her 'Mega Lamp'. I love converting stuff from one thing to another....it makes me feel like a mad scientist! 

I thought she was pretty cool as is but while I was trying to rewire her, I discovered her real purpose in life.  Come back in a few days to see how she's changed. :)

Friends Makeover

Meet the sad little chair that needed a makeover.

She has a sad little table friend that also needed some love.

Now they can be happy together!

Much better. :)

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