Personalized Barstool

Hello, Boring Bar Stool.

Hello folder my hubby used in college 12 years ago and has kept because someday he just knew  his wife could use it to make a stencil. (riiiiiiight).

This Bar Stool is for a lady named Abigail.  How about give it some personal pizzazz with a littler "A"?  I used a ruler and a sharpie to draw my "A" and then put a cutting board underneat and cut it out with the exacto knife.

Then painted it on, doing two coats, and sprayed it with some clear finish.  So much cuter, don'tcha think?  Well, doesn't matter what we think, just so Abigail thinks so!

Mary Alice's Old Desk

When my friend Mary Alice showed me this desk and asked if it was something I was interested in, I didn't even notice the scratches, the worn top, the chunk of drawer pull missing, the green spattered paint...  I was madly in love.  I'm pretty sure she didn't really believe me!!  It's been sitting for a while, but I just hadn't had the right idea come to my head.  It needed something special.  Then I got an email from a mother (that I have yet to meet) who is redoing her daughter's bedrooms in purple and zebra.  How fun! She needed a desk and some nightstands, and sent me pictures of their rooms to work from.  She has yet to view this desk in person, and I'm a tad nervous it'll be a little rustic, but I am in love with the shape of this beauty!!

Here's a close up of the knob area.  Whew.  I said it was rustic!

So I had to LAUGH when I texted the mother of the daughter who will be receiving this and the girl's exclaimation was "BEASTLY!"  Now folks, I know the word "cool" went out with the Hanson Brothers but I didn't know it had been replaced with "beastly".  I was told to take it as a compliment! It was the first time a piece of my furniture has been called beastly.  I wonder if it will be the last?

This desk got a good scrubbin', a good rub down with Wil Bond, and a good coat of white (and black) paint. 

The legs looked to stark and bare, so  I added some black touches to "class" it up a little.  What do you think, Mary Alice?  You were so sure I took it just to be nice and threw it on my burn pile, didn't you!!

The Mud, The Muck, The Memories

I need a break from paint.  I've been living on paint fumes.  "Livin' on fumes, buyin' on time... without some paintin' nothin' ain't worth a dime.  Just like an old, ugly table turned fine, livin' on paint..."  Okay, so I'm not Alan Jackson. Good thing.  My husband wouldn't have married me if that was the case!  Back to the subject at hand.  So today, I'm taking a short break and am here to tell you about all the mud at our house.  Of course there's mud, afterall, it's SPRING you say.  But folks, this year at my house, THERE IS MUD.  We dug a basement under the addition we're having put on (if it everrrr... getsssss... doooone....)   and there is a humongo pile of dirt at the side of the house. The boys think it's the perfect slide.  In their jeans, on their butts.  Well, I could deal with that okay. Getting dirty is healthy.  As my friend Netters says, "God made dirt, and dirt don't hurt!" But then one day, the cement truck came and as soon as it hit the grass it just sunk.  Buried.  So bad that a bulldozer came and drug it to it's destination across the yard leaving - I kid you not - about 15 inch deep and at least a foot wide ruts.  Then... it rains.  A few days later and the bulldozer is still sitting in the front yard.  My two year old decides to go check it out up close.  I tell him I'll be out with him as soon as I finish putting the supper dishes away.  Moments later, big brother is running to the house yelling "Mommy, Ty's stuck and he needs you!!!"  I run out and sure enough, it's like quick sand.  The mud has almost swallowed up little Ty's shoe and he's standing there with his little sock covered foot sticking out, about to lose his balance and be swallowed up forever. I grab him under the armpits and take a step.....  and mommy's shoe also stays in the mud.  Now we are both in our socks, sinking fast, and yelling "DADDY!!"  It's still March. This is just the beginning.   But if I see any more mud enter my house in the next 3 days, I'm buying a plane ticket to visit my pal Susan in Texas.  I don't care how much it costs. Maybe I should ask, is it muddy in Dallas?

I'm thankful to say that this is an old picture and the addition is much farther along!  But there you see the beginning (or the end?)  of the dirt hill aka "mud slide" on the right.  Not even Tide is taking the dirt stains out of their jeans, any suggestion

Today I'm linked up at these fun parties:

 

Zebra Table Attempt

Okay, so I love these cheap screw-on-leg tables.  Back in the day, we covered them in burgundy table clothes with a ruffle around the bottom, then maybe a Lacey thing, then the glass, and thennnnn some fancy figurines and dried flower bouquets....  I'm embarrassed to say I am describing what sat in my living room for way too long!  But these babies are FUN to paint!  They soak up the paint INSTANTLY and there is no need for sanding or Wil Bond, or any other such extras! 

This is what I did on one over my weekend.  It's supposed to be zebra stripe.  But.... I asked the Hubby if I succeeded in making it look like those beautiful animal stripes and he shrugged his shoulders and said "not really...."  Hmph.  Guess I'll have to work on that.  I'm really wanting a zebra stripe stencil.  I hate free handing, mostly cuz I STINK at it.  And there's the proof!  (Even though I still think it turned out lookin' kinda cool!)

If you've been a long time followerer, you'll know I've used that "before" pic  few times!  Here are some other paint projects I've done with this table: The Halloween Spider Table, The Flower Bordered Table, The Cat Table
Today I'm linked up at a fun new blog I found:

 

Birdacious. End Table. I'm A Copycat.

So I often tell people I'm not as creative as it seems.  I'm a great idea-stealer.  I saw the cutest little table over on Rita's blog awhile back (see it HERE for yourself) and then lo and behold I was browsing around in Goodwill one day and boom chock-a-locka - there was an end table kinda like the one she did and... I did it.  I stole her idea.  Rita, you don't mind do you?  Cuz I'm in love with your work and that's why I steal from you!! :)   And I just spent about 20 minutes searching for that post so I could link up - phew!  You posted that a whole year ago, did you know that?  Anyways, thanks for the inspiration.  There is your semi BEFORE pic (semi because I got so excited about implementing my idea that I started working before snapping the picture), and here is the AFTER:

That bird stencil was well worth the couple dollars I paid for it. Been usin' it lots!   I got the table for $2.99 at Goodwill and I couldn't believe it because lately it seems like they are really hiking their prices on furniture!  I gave it a good soakin' with Wil-Bond (my new favorite stuff), then painted it with this grayish bluish greenish color.  I have no idea what to call this color since it's something I concocted a long time ago with a little of this.... and a little of that....  and there you have it.  And I've run out of things to say about this so peace out, yo.  Oh, I thought of something else to say.  Those books laying there for my photo props?  Those were 25 cents each at Goodwill!  I bought eight of them.  They were just too cool!  (and Maran, if you want them for your awesome book wreaths... you can have some!)

Today I'm linked up to an awesome spray painting parTAY, join if you have a spray painting project to share!

'Smore Brownies

Brownies!!  Always a crowd pleaser.   Just grab a box (hey, who makes brownies from scratch anymore, anyway?  I know, I know, Angelina from Housewife Extraordinaire does I'm sure!  But she also doesn't have kids yet!)  So here's how to make those already yummy treats even yummier!

After preparing the brownies by the box directions, set your timer for 17 minutes and take them of out of the oven.  The middle should still be semi-soft.  Then break 2 or 3 graham crackers into small pieces and sprinkle them on top, pushing down slightly with a fork.  Dump about half of a 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows on top and then a cup or 2 of semi sweet chocolate chips.  Put them back in the oven for the remainder of the time.  If marshmallows aren't lightly toasted brown, broil them for a minute- keeping close eye on them so they don't scorch!  Delicious ooey gooeyiness is now yours to enjoy!

Today I'm linked up to:

The passed down desk

This desk belonged to Sargent Hayes when she was a girl.  That would be my mom.  I was going to say my "sweet mama"... but Sargent fits her better.  Hey, I wasn't the one who gave her that nickname!!  But she has earned it.  Now that she's a grandma... she can be real sweet though. :)  I love you, Mom!  haha.  Anyways, then it got passed down to me.  THEN... my super wonderful pal Suz took over the title to this little desk.  I made the huge mistake of introducing her to this dude from Texas and they fell madly in love and now I'll have to hop on a plane to visit her.  *sob, sob, sniffle, sniffle*.  (okay, so it wasn't a huge mistake, I'm happy for them, and I'm being SELFISH).  So instead of hauling the desk with her to Dallas, she lovingly returned it to me.  Man, I can't believe we all left it looking so dull and ugly!  It got a makeover this week.

Woo hoo!  Funky flowers and fun!  I'm thinking the knobs get a little lost in the flower design however.....  Here's how this baby went down:

I used a flower stencil I bought from JoAnn's... well worth the couple of dollars as it has about 4 other flower stencils along side it!  I used the same dark brown I painted on the desk for the stencil and then slightly overlapped each flower with a silver one.

I also dabbed the oil-based silver paint onto each of the drawer knobs.  I hated those knobs before!  My how I have a crush on them now!

There is hope for my photography skills yet, eh?  Thanks Laura, for helping me out in that department and introducing me to digital macro!  Now the question is.... to sell the desk, or pass it on to my daughter??  Speaking of my daughter.... MAN I LOVE THAT LITTLE GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!  Just had to say that.  Thanks.

Terrific Under Ten Tuesday Link Party

Got a project you did for under $10?  Share it in this linky party like I did today!

end table with ugly peel off wood look alike something or other

I looked at these two end tables (yes, there's another one of these beauties!) and scratched my head.  Paint.  Can I, or can't I?  "How much for them?", I asked hesitantly.  You can have them for a dollar each.  Okay fine, here's two dollars and I'll cram them in to my already-so- full-minivan that I have to drive with all the doors open since I can't get them shut anymore..

When I unloaded them, I noticed a corner of the "wood" coming off.  Peeling off?  Say what?  It was like this vinyl wall paperish stuff!  It came off pretty easy so I peeled it all off, knowing it would be much easier to paint on the particle board underneath! Plus I could salvage that wood-wanna-look-alike stuff for.... wrapping paper or something.  WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.  :)

I painted it a dark brown, which went on really nicely.  Spray painted the handles silver, and then put my creative thinking cap on.  I'd been wanting to try some mod podge.  But I didn't end up liking the results....  so I peeled that off (ahhhh, it totally killed me to waste those two awesome pieces of scrapbook paper!!), and went a different route......

I stenciled this cute flower randomly on the top.  It's hard to tell the colors from this pic, but it's a light bluish green and then I overlapped each flower and painted an oil base silver flower.  I finished a desk to match it last night!  So keep your eyes out for that before and after sometime this week!

My Freebie Desk Before and After

I don't like talking on the phone much.  But when a friend calls and starts out with something like this "Hey Kammy, just thought I'd check to see if you wanted _________ before I donated it to Goodwill", I'm all ears!  I'm shoutin' "SURE" before I know what it is!  This time it was this desk.  A FREE desk?  Oh yeah!  After sittin' in my barn for a year, I finally got inspired to paint it last week when it was so beautiful outside and put the finishing touches on it Saturday.

I'm getting good use of this stencil I bought!!  But it is a little time consuming since it only does one little design at a time!  I used Wil Bond on this before painting since desks get lots of wear and tear and I didn't want it to easily scratch.  Also I spray painted a few coats of black glossy paint on the pulls.  I might just have to actually keep this one for myself!  We'll see....  Thanks for the awesome desk, Martha! :)

My Saturday

So I don't do this.  Cuz unless you're my mom, you don't care how my Saturday was.  But just to change it up a little, I'm gonna do it today so tell me if it was too boring, and I pinky swear not to do it again. :)  So my Saturday was jam packed.  It might not have been so jam packed had I not accidentally slept in so late.  Holy cow, don't know when the last time that happened.  Tim took the boys out for breakfast and me and the baby were out like lights.  So after I bolted outta bed when I saw the clock, I got to work.  Here are a few things that went down on my wonderFULL Saturday:

I put the finishing touches on a desk (which I'm planning on sharing in tomorrow's post) and then started the daunting task of organizing my "shop".  Wowzas.  This is after a couple of hours of "organizing".  Still has a long way to go!  Maybe I should finish a few projects before I start any more...

I set up a little photo backdrop to photo finished pieces.  Not my favorite choice of a background color but hey, I'm not dragging a nice sheet out into the barn.  Deal with it.  Tomorrow you will get to see a before and after desk using my backdrop. :)

We spent quite a while cleaning up from our addition work and picking up rocks in the dirt that came out of the hole which is now our almost finished new basement.  While we were working, the cat came running up with a present.  It was dead, but still quite warm.  Ty thought it was so preeeeeeetty!!  I agreed.  So the tradition of playing with both dead and living mice has been passed down to my kids apparently.

He was so cute, Ty and I had a little photo shoot with him.  haha.  The cat was a little put out that we took away his snack.

After cleaning, some laundry, baths and showers, a visit to a friend in the hospital and a quick shopping trip to Kohls to use that $10 coupon I got in my email, it was 11:00pm and I still had to make invites to Tori's first birthday party to hand out at church the next morning.  All I knew was I wanted a ladybug party.  So I quick googled in ladybug invite, got a quick idea and made these up.  (What did I ever do before google?!)  So please don't look too close since the circles aren't too round and matched up, but just before midnight they were done!  And then I slept like a cat. After running the dishwasher, checking on the kids, folding some clothes, stocking the diaper bag, etc. of course.  (I blocked out important party info just in case of party crashers.  haha).

Happy Blogaversary! About Kammy...

So it's been 365  days since Kammy's Korner came into existence.  Where would we be without it?  Probably would have a few more minutes in the day to do more productive things!  Haha, but I sure hope you've enjoyed the journey with me so far!  It's been fun and A HUGE THANK YOU to all of my faithful followers.  I'd hug all 73 of you if I could. And that's saying a lot... cuz I'm not much of a "huggy" being, unless you're one of my kidlets and your name starts with "T". I'm like a boa constrictor with them - minus the killing part. (And then there's you closet readers, ahem Phil, ahem Dill, ahem Bill....  do you see a trend there or is it my imagination?  I wanted to add Brett to that list, but ya know, just didn't work with what I had goin').

So after a year, I think most of you might be getting to me pretty well.  But a few years back, on Facebook, there was this thing going around where you were supposed to type up 25 random things about yourself.  I've never done one of those "things" before, but I decided to do that one.  So just for fun today, and so you can get to know some random things about me, I copied and pasted it for your reading....... pleasure(?) today! 

1. I am addicted to garage sales and I need help. My amazing husband is quite tolerant of my addiction and even accompanies me from time to time.

The man who puts up with all my craziness.  There will be a special place in Heaven for him!  Married almost 11 years!!

2. An old man tried to break into my stall in a public bathroom in a grocery store once while I was doing my thing. (Read about that HERE).

3. I fell off a chairlift on a ski trip in MN and landed a few feet from a river. THANKS JEREMY. :)

4. Once I stopped at a house and snooped all through a man’s things, asking how much stuff was and then he finally said, “Lady, I’m not having a garage sale!” OOOPS.

5. I got sent to driving school once for a really high speeding ticket. It didn’t work obviously, I haven’t slowed down much.

6. I really, really, really dislike being pregnant and wish I could have a surrogate mom to carry my babies!!  (though I'm extremely THANKFUL I can get pregnant and pray for those who have difficulties)

of course they were worth every second!!  (Pictured with my youngest and oldest)

7. Getting laser eye surgery was one of the best things I’ve ever done! I’m so thankful for today’s technology!!

8. When I'm really dirty, I love a good bath. Nothing like getting out and seeing that black ring around the tub - the darker the better! Makes me feel like I had a good day of work and earned my bath. :)

9. As a kid, I used to collect live toads. Sometimes I put them in a sack after church at night until a boy stole one and threw it up on the roof.

10. My mom still sews lots of my clothes.

11. When I was 17 I woke up at 2:00 AM to our house on fire. Then came the adventures of the" pink house" and living next door to the Stickfort’s for 6 months!

12. I rode my bike to Garnavillo, IA  from Cedar Falls (along with my hubby, Dad, and some friends) one day – 92 miles – then got in the car and drove 7 hours to Michigan and Tim had to carry me in the house cuz my leg muscles seized up and  wouldn’t work anymore!

13. I was born again when I was 12 years old, drifted a long way off, but experienced God’s grace and forgiveness in a way that for a few years there, I didn’t think was possible. “ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:38, 39

14. I was a dreaded telemarketer and sometimes I had to throw up before starting calls it made me so sick.

15. Someday I want to raise chickens and goats. I want my kids to have some of the same experiences I did growing up! (update: we now have four laying hens!  Still working on the hubby to get some goats.)

16. I LOVE facial scars. I didn’t let Tim get stitches over his eyebrow once because I wanted the scar. It faded after a year.  :(

17. I hardly ever go out to eat unless I have a gift card. (Or there’s a dollar menu!)

18. I have a closet full of boots. Over 20 pairs!  High heel boots, fur boots, flat boots, cowboy boots, you name it. I LOVE BOOTS.

19. In the summer, I drink a chocolate malt almost every day.

20. My sister and I know each others thoughts without speaking.

Pulling off the thug theme.  Or not...

21. I mow lawns for extra money.  Have for years.

22. I think most safety laws STINK. (Click here for my thoughts on bike helmets!)

23. I love the rolling plains of Iowa!

24. I think it's sweet when Tim brings me flowers, but why spend the money - they're just going to die!

25. At 4’ 10” tall, I qualify for a handicap parking sticker.

Texts Worth Getting

You know what that picture is of?  It's two HUMONGO pieces of chocolate cake from Fazolies.  And we didn't pay a penny.  There are some things worth signing up for.  And one of those is text message alerts from Fazolie's.  Just for signing up, they send you a text for a free spaghetti.  No other purchase necessary!  That's my kind of free.  None of this Buy One, Get One stuff.  I want to be able to forget my wallet at home, and not have it matter.  The week before the superbowl, my hubby and I both got a text saying if we voted for the team we thought would win, we'd get a free spaghetti.  We showed them the text, each got our huge plate of spaghetti, then forgot to vote.  So this past Tuesday we both just randomly got a text saying to come in for a free desert!  I guess it was a "Happy Spring" celebration!  Hey, I'll raise my fork to that!  So we walked in, held up our cell phones and got our free deserts.  Free ice water too. :)  Now folks, if you're going to get texts, might as well get some that are WORTH GETTING! 

Stay tuned for lots of new before and afters - I've been spending quite a few hours in the barn working on furniture!  This weather has got me allllll hyped up to get some projects done!!!