The Inadvertent Farmer

Small Kitchen Remodel Paint and Tile and Granite

Thought I would mix things up a little here this week.  Don't want to get to predictable and boring! So today we're doing a little remodeling.

Hubby and I purchased a home recently that was built in 1895!  It is an old farm house on the top of a hill overlooking our city.  After doing a little research and talking to the neighbor who's parents had owned the house since the 40's I found out that it was the oldest house in the area. It  used to sit on the acreage that is now a lot of the neighborhood.

We took it down to the studs and replaced all the major systems, electrical, plumbing, heating, etc.  We insulated, sheet rocked, replaced windows, and refinished the hardwood floors. We put up crown molding and polished old hardware...

We were not going to do the kitchen because of budget restraints.  But after the rest of the house got a total makeover we just couldn't bring ourselves to leave it...

It is a very small kitchen for a house that is so roomy everywhere else.  It was just 6' x 4'!  We added another 1.5' to one counter, but it is still a tiny kitchen.  We determined that we could afford another $750 but that was it for the kitchen.

So we made of list of what we felt would be the best use of our money...

Countertops

Sink

Dishwasher

Window

The cabinets would not be replaced, neither would the hardware or the frig or stove.

I removed all the cabinet doors to paint and prime...

One coat of primer and three coats of semi-gloss paint.

The cabinet boxes themselves which were original to the house were in great shape. The same could not be said for the inside walls which were in really poor condition...

There was even a large whole in one that you could see the back of the siding through! 

I decided the easiest and most economical way to fix the walls was to cover it with bead board.  One 4' x 8' sheet did the whole kitchen.

I love how it turned out!

Next I chose a shelf paper that was classic and befitting an old kitchen.

 

Here it is with the counters and tile in place...I love this paper!

Then there were those lovely Formica countertops to deal with!

We removed it from the counters and the walls...

Since the counter space was so small we splurged and decided on black granite for the main body of the countertops...a bit of drama in our old kitchen!

You can also see in the picture that we extended and bumped out the end of the counters on the left to accommodate a dishwasher...we have also replaced the old aluminum window with a new vinyl one.

Knowing that all black would just be to overwhelming for such a small place we used white subway tiles on the wall and white for the counter edges.  This was an interesting process because we ended up with black grout on the countertops and white on the wall...a first for us, but we love how it turned out.  We both felt black grout on the wall would make it too busy, but black on the counters was necessary to not have to fight stains for the next 30 years.

We also decided to trim the bottom of the kitchen window in tile.

Next we put in a new sink and faucet.  Now if it had been in the budget a porcelain farmhouse sink would have been just charming but alas the budget could not stand such an extravagance!

Come back tomorrow when I'll hang the freshly painted cabinet doors, put on the old hardware, install the dishwasher and let your see the kitchen all finished.  I will also give you a break down of the money spent and let you see if we made it within our very limited budget!

And just for the record...I'm digging black granite!

***

Oh and if anyone is wondering about the old porcelain sink...I'm using in my garden!

 

BaaBaa Black, Pink, and Blue Sheep? An easy yarn Craft

Twice a month we have a little homeschool group that gets together for a rockin' craft session.  Since our group happens to be all girls our crafts include some form of pink, usally ribbon is involved too!  This was no exception.

Today I'm going to show you one of our latest creations...yarn sheep...baaaa!

These are super easy and inexpensive to do...and the type of sheep are only limited by your creativity! 

(I had originally seen something like this a year or so ago on the internet but so far have not been able to find it again...if I do I'll link up)

First you will need some clothes pins...the old fashioned wooden spring type.  You're gonna paint them any color that floats your boat.  Most of ours were either black or pink, but this one I decided to go wild and paint red!

 

Set your clothes pins to dry and start painting...

Pieces of cardboard that you have cut into kidney bean shapes.  You can make them any size you want, mine were between 2.5 to 4 inches.  Paint one end for the sheep's head.

When all is dry clip your painted clothes pins onto the appropriate spots on the sheep.  Check to make sure that it can stand up.  When you have them where you want go ahead and put a dab of glue between the cardboard and the clothes pin to hold it tight.  While the glue was still wet I slipped the end of my yarn in there so it was held tight also...

Then the fun part...start wrapping your little guy with your chosen color of yarn! 

Keep wrapping making sure to cover the springs of the clothes pins and any cardboard.  Add enough layers until you sheep is as fat as you would like him. Tuck the end of the yarn into the sheep and put a dab of glue on it to hold it.

Next cut little ears out of felt, and a tail too if you like and glue them on.

These were the two I made in the morning with the girls.  Later when the kids were at grandma's I noticed I still had supplies left so instead of starting dinner, doing the laundry, or even the mountain of dirty dishes, I snuck upstairs to make some more sheep!

I made this sassy little girl sheep with her ears flying in the wind...for this I flipped the cardboard bean shape around so her head is up unlike the others.

 

Next came our little red legged sheep with her lace collar! 

I even tried one with multi-colored yarn...what fun he is...the life of the party actually!

You can embellish you sheep with ribbon, lace, or tiny little bells.

The options are endless...you could use tiny flowers or beads, those would be adorable too!

What do you do when you are all done with your sheep...well have a photo shoot of course.  At least if you are easily amused by things like that, which I admit I am!

I will say that a photo shoot with these little guys is much easier than with my kids...who were still at grandma's while all of this was taking place.  I would have had to share otherwise and frankly that would not been as fun!

Look at those legs...they seem to go on forever! 

And oh my...what a shot!  Obviously someone has been doing their squats! 

You might want to see a stylist about that frizz... 

OK little lambs...one final shot, then you can go play.

Thanks!

***

STOP

Just before this post went to press Sweet Girl found her sheep and insisted that she be included.

So without further ado...

Cotton Candy sheep with paint on her fur and a Sharpie drawn face...yep the options for these really are endless!

So a quick list...clothes pins, cardboard, paint, yarn, felt, glue

That's all you need for this great little craft!

Now go make yourself some sheep!

 

Easy inexpensive Paper craft Gift Idea!

When you have college aged sons you are bound to have girlfriends that hang around...

You become attached to these sweet young women...

So naturally when gift giving time comes around you want to make them something too.

Here is a little paper craft that Sweet Girl and I did for the special girls in our boys' lives.

Each cost less than $5.00 to make and the girls were thrilled!

We started at the office supply store where we picked up some clipboards.  Next visited the craft store and chose a piece of scrap booking paper that we thought was perfect for each young lady.

We also threw in our cart some spray adhesive and fancy letter stickers.

When we got home we traced the clipboard shape onto the paper and cut it out.  Next using the spray adhesive we attached the paper to the board.

Then we put on the name of each girl...this one above we decorated the stickers with Sharpies

Then we added this picture of the little ones...

After this we did two coats of decoupage to make it durable...

 

Even the backs of each clipboard was decorated with the leftover paper and stickers! 

Lastly we tied the top with a loop to hang the clipboard with and a bow made from some pretty ribbon.

When they were all done we added a tablet of pink paper and tah dah...the perfect cheap, colorful, fun, and easy gift for all the girls in our life!

And for less than fives bucks I'm going to make one for me too!

And for less than five bucks I could make one for you too...except that I don't know where you live or what your favorite colors are or if you even use clipboards...

Hey I know...how about you make one for you!

Save me on postage that way...

 

 

 

Decorating for New Year's Eve quick easy Inexpensive

Sorry for the lateness of posting this...nothing like waiting till the last minute to share a fun idea!

I thought about waiting till next year but just couldn't...this is too quick, easy, inexpensive, and a little wacky to not share it with you.

 

When I think of New Year's celebrations I think of funny hats, noise makers, and...

Champagne glasses overflowing...or sparkling cider...whatever your preference.

Anyway...

I have this light in my dining room that is upturned...which makes is a perfect catch basin for dust most of the year.

Today I decided to put that shape to good use!

I went to Michaels and bought 8 boxes of clear glass (not plastic as they would melt) Christmas balls that were 70% off.  I used two sizes, large and medium.

First I put down a wire rack that I use for cooling cookies.  That way I used fewer balls...

Then I just started putting them in...I tried to keep the hook end down and not to show.

After it was as full as I could safely get it, I tied a few (with clear thread) to hang over the side to look like an overflowing glass of Champagne!

I would have hung them down farther but if the two year old stood on the table (which he is known to do) he could have reached them with his trusty bat!

 

And Voile! 

An easy, inexpensive, and most of all fun New Year's Eve decoration for your party, get together or like me...

An evening with hubby on the couch!

 ***

And here is a preview of one of the photos I have chosen as one of my favorites of the year...

Stay tuned for the rest on Friday!

Easy photo project Valentines Mother's Day Birthday

I would have posted this in time for you to make for Christmas.  But since both my mom and sister read my blog (hi mom...hi sister!) and this was part of their Christmas gifts I didn't want to spoil the surprise...

This was an inexpensive fun to do photo project that I made for gifts as well as our Christmas cards.

First I started by picking a font I like on the computer and printing the word LOVE onto a piece of paper.

Then using the printed LOVE as a reference I drew each letter on a piece of poster paper.  Next I filled in each one... 

Then the kids and I went out in the field to take some pics with the letters...

We tried lots of different things...having fun all the while!

I considered just one large photo... 

But after seeing these I decided to try to find a frame with openings for each letter to be on its own... 

The possibilities are as endless as your imagination on this!

My mom and sister were thrilled...and I like it so much I did one for myself.

The cost was less than $15...the frame was 1/2 price at Michaels...at that price you could cover your walls with them!

And for any new readers...

Please ignore the dust on my floors. 

For my regular readers...

Well you all know that dust is a decorating accessory around here...along with mud, dirt, manure and other assorted delights!

 

If anyone makes one of these I would love to see it and share it here with everyone!

Also...

Post Linked to:

 

 

   

Prefab Gingerbread House Yes I cheated!

 

Organic?...no

Homemade?...no

Vegan?...no

Whole Wheat?...no

Fun?...

Oh Yeah!

I stink at making gingerbread for gingerbread houses.  When my mother in law gave this to the kids I jumped at the chance for a break for the frustrating task of making it from scratch!

I must say that having a prefab gingerbread house did nothing to detract from the experience in the eyes of my kiddos!

Will I try it again from scratch...I'm sure I will.

But for this year...from a box is just fine by me!

So here is my question for you my crafty and creative readers...

What shortcuts are you taking this year?

Egg Nog from a carton, or perhaps a prelit tree, maybe even store bought fudge re-wrapped to look homemade?

Do tell...

Share your secrets...

Spill your guts...

Fess up...

I promise I won't tell! 

AWSH3KP5C62Q

Painting Furniture Makes Old look New!

My in laws were bringing a load of furniture up to our house to store until they needed it at their new home in Arizona.

On the way a drawer from one of their dressers flew out of the back of the truck and smashed along the side of the road.

When they arrived they were not going to unload this now misfit dresser with the rest of their things but instead were going to take it to the dump thinking it was now useless.

I of course being the frugal pack-rat that I am asked if I could have it.

After they looked surprised and hubby rolled his eyes they unloaded it for me...

I had a plan!

Yep I was gonna paint it...Sweet Girl was due to be born in a few months and she would need a changing table/dresser for all her cute little girlie things!

I lightly sanded and primed...

I painted the whole thing white and then just had fun!

I stenciled the bottom apron but the rest was all freehand.

I also built a new sliding drawer that was of an open design so all her diapering things would be easily accessible.

Now we use the top drawer for pj's instead of diapers and have removed the changing table cushion.

It now resides happily in her closet with her hats and knickknacks.

Along with her organic baby food sign that was being thrown in the trash at a local grocery (Thanks Brenda!)

So a little paint and a little creativity helped save this old dresser from the fate of being trashed...

Too bad I can't figure out how to keep Sweet Girl from trashing it herself!

Stay tuned next week same time same place for some more fun with paints...girlie style!

 

So have you re-purposed or repainted anything lately?

Fun Do It Yourself Project with Chalkboard Paint

I do a lot of little projects around here.  I rarely share them here on the blog.  I have decided that it was high time I did so. 

You shouldn't just come here to snicker at my rose eating camel or my sandy nosed kids...no you should also come away with at least something interesting that you might try at home.

So today, if you are willing to give it a try, we will make something with one of my all time favorite things...

Chalkboard Paint!

And because I'm feelin' a little groovy and retro I'm doing most of this post in black and white...well I'm not black and white my pictures are.

Ok, come to think of it I usually am quite black and white...but that is my issue and I won't burden you today with it...maybe tomorrow.

First I started with my glass jars that I store my bulk foods in...

I must say right here that not only do I buy lots of food in bulk but I also have this slight addiction to glass jars...love the things!

I have some HUGE ones for things I use a lot of like flour and oatmeal and some tiny ones I reserve for spices, some are airtight some are not...

I dig each and every one!

My biggest annoyance at these jars is that I couldn't label them in a way that I could easily change when I put something new in. I've tired masking tape and a marker but the tape left a sticky residue each time I relabeled the jar and frankly it just wasn't very cool!

So I decided to paint little chalkboards onto each of my jars!

First I taped off a rectangular shaped section with painter's tape...

Here is a tip for you, I didn't want my edges to be perfectly straight.  I wanted them a little rough, a little wavy, perfectly imperfect.  So I tore each piece of tape down the middle lengthwise.  Purposely making the edge uneven.  For those straight edged, perfect angle people out there...my sincerest apologies!

But I figured I'm a bit wavy around the edges so my jars should be too!

Here is my oatmeal jar all taped off...

Yes this does say something about my personality that I was too lazy to find a jar to put my oatmeal in while I did this.

Moving on...after taping off I started to paint.

Another tip here...I ended up doing three coats of paint. When I pulled the tape off it also pulled up the edges of the paint.  So the next batch of jars I did one coat with tape, removed the tape, then did the next two coats by hand following along the edges of the previous coat of paint...it turned out much better.

Follow the instructions on the back of the can for drying time between coats.

The other thing I learned is it is best to put on your paint in different directions each time...first I did vertically, then horizontally, then vertically again.  It made for a chalkboard that had a slight crosshatch design instead of all the little paint lines running the same direction.

And yes that is my jar of unsweetened organic coconut that also did not get left out in the rain overnight.

All the while it helps to have a lovely assistant hanging around making sure you do all of this correctly...

Here is my oatmeal jar after it was done and I had written on it with chalk...

Here is the whole gang...or the ones I've done so far anyway.

Now you could get all fancy and draw little flowers and vines...you could use colored chalk, but I'm a simple kind of girl and I like the old fashioned white chalk...and have no patience for drawing flowers on glass jars.  But if you are so inclined...feel free to express yourself!

Let your inner artist loose...let your bulk shopping self go wild!

Make some little bitty chalkboards on jars...its a fun and cheap project!

After all that's me...fun and cheap!

Note:  I found American Made glass through Amazon.com made by Anchor Hockings. The paint I got at Lowe's for around $10, and I can do a LOT of jars with this one can.

If you are interested in other projects that use chalkboard paint here are some more...

Chalkboard paint and sheet metal calendar.

Craft storage dresser with surprise

Chalkboard 'to do' or 'NOT' cabinet