I heart Harlequin: Table - Before and After

Before: I didn't even find this great table.  My neighbor did for me - $5 if my mommy-brain remembers right!  I know you're wishing you had awesome neighbors like I do.  Well you can, just move to Erie Road like I did!

I painted the whole table with a light green color.  So light green that you can't even tell it's green!  Oh, and I got the paint free - I have my sources.... :)  I used a light gray that was leftover from my ceilings in our addition for the harlequin stencil.  I found this big stencil on clearance at Hobby Lobby and ohhhhh is it so much easier with a stencil!!!!!  Have you ever tried to do something like this without a stencil?  I'm extremely, over-the-top, need your autograph, impressed with you if you've managed to pull it off.  I've tried.  Tried.

After! :)  Beware.  I love this and you may get bored seeing this on future projects!!  I did this yesterday and kept my roller in a plastic baggy.  So today I headed out to the barn and surveyed the goods to see what else would look good with this design.  I found something... so be watching for that soon as it is awaiting it's 2nd coat right now!  Just gotta get kids down for naps.....

Not sure if it shows up real well in the picture (hey, I was going for subtle so that must mean I succeeded!) but I rubbed small amounts of the gray on with my fingers on the edges and around the corners to give it an aged look.  Stay tuned for the next Harlequin design!  p.s. I probably wouldn't have known that was called harlequin - it was on the stencil!  And you thought I was good with design terms...  nope!
Don't forget - first 200 to "like" Kammy's Korner on FB are automatically entered to win an Applebee's Gift card!!!  Click HERE and Hurry!

 

 

Senior Pics On Erie Road

I am NOT a photographer.  But..... I know a few of the basics...  and I found a new love for outdoor portraits when a friend came to me asking if I would do her senior pictures.  I'd never done them before, so I wasn't making any promises on how they'd turn out!  But we sure have a kazillion great spots for a darn good back drop and I wanted to try.  (You can see how my first session went with Britteny HERE.).  So when Ty'eshia told me she needed some senior pictures for her open house coming up very soon, I readily agreed!  We took them last night and I've been working on them ALL MORNING, and I think I'm finally done editing!  Here's a peak at some of my favorites! 

We have an old stone wall out by the barn that I just love!

In the doorway of our chicken house.

Stonewall again.

Against the wall in Ty's new bedroom!

In the corn crib.

And last but not least, on one of the few patches of grass left in my yard!!

Hello, Facebook! "LIKE" for a chance to WIN!!

At the urging of a new found friend who is also an internet marketing something-or-other, I finally made a Facebook Fan Page.  I was never quite sure of the benefits of this, but I guess it helps get the word out. Also since MOST of my friends who read it are on facebook but for some reason or another refuse to be a follower (you know who you are!!), I thought this would be less intimidating and at the same time help me meet my goal of actually making this my little "stay at home business".  So for a little incentive...  The FIRST 200 people to"'like"   Kammy's Korner on Facebook will be automatically entered to win a $15 Applebee's gift card!!!  And this isn't even something I have sitting around.  I'm shocking those closest to me with this, I know.  You know my gift cards are like gold to me.  We don't go out to eat unless we have one!  (Or the place has a dollar menu!).  Random.org will select at random a name from the first 200 fans and you'll enjoy some applebees grub on Kammy's Korner!! :)  Hurry before it's too late!!  CLICK HERE!!

Green Retro Lamp Redo

I've tried to recover lampshades.  Well, sorta tried.  They scare the dickens outta me, actually.  Until I found barrel shaped lampshades!  FOR ONE DOLLAR EACH at the Jackson Resale Factory!!  Hello, easy-to-cover lampshades!!  Blue and yellow stripe wasn't all that bad, for maybe a little boy's nursery or something, but since I don't have a little boy nursery in my home any longer, they needed to get recovered!  More on that later.....

I got this pair of A.DOR.ABLE milkglass lamps.  The only paint that touched them, amazingly enough, was some silver oil based paint to cover up the dated looking dingy gold metal.

Left side done, right side not.

I hot glued this fabric - which I had JUST enough scraps from a different project to use - around the bottom and tucked it under, and unfortunately I didn't do that with the top but made a narrow band and hot glued that on.  Didn't turn out quite as smooth, so I wish I'd have gone with a nice clean finish like I did on the bottom BUT ALAS...  I didn't.   Now then.  Anyone need a cute pair of lamps?
 

Upcycled Plastic Water Tank

When I was a kid, a little Iowa farm kid, my dad made us a swimming pool using one of these big plastic tanks.  It provided lots of fun until one day we went fishing (as far as I can recall it was the only time my non-fishing dad took us fishing) and we caught a slew of bull fish.  (Pretty sure that's not their scientific name).  I just remember being excited because I thought they were catfish with those long whiskers but quite disappointed when I learned they were scummy fish.  We threw them all in the swimming pool and it turned into a slimey, dirty, non-swimmable plastic pond.  Hmph.  But I love what the Groothuis's did with there's!  My four year old spent a week out in Iowa with Grandma last month and he went to visit the Groothuis farm.  He had so much fun - there is nothing like life in the country!!  When looking through the photos of his trip, I came across this and thought "HOW CREATIVE!!"  and just had to share with my blog readers!

They cut an end off the water tank, and flipped it over, and made a doorway.  What a fun little playhouse - without spending a dime!!  I'm ALL about FREE!! :)  And is that a chimney I see peeking up in the back?

This picture above was the highlight of Tobin's trip.  Maciah picked up a chicken and the wings started flapping him in the face and it really got to Tobin's tickle bone because he went into a fit of laughter on the phone telling me all about it, and when he got home days later, he was still laughing about it!                                                                                                                                                                             Now, I'm an old fashioned sort of girl and so I was thrilled when the farm wife of this kid-friendly place wanted to "buy" something from me and instead of paying with money she gave me two chickens!  If we could go back to the days of bartering, that would be just fine with me.  They weren't alive however, as they may have had a difficult time traveling to MI, and I'm looking forward to a tasty chicken dinner!  If you live out in the Waterloo, Iowa area, be sure to buy your fresh eggs from her, as well as chicken, lambs....  not sure what else she has!  Contact me if you want her info and I'll pass it right along!

My Outdoor Home - before and after

BEFORE: this little deck was so small that twice we had company over for supper and the guest sitting on the edge of the deck toppled over with feet up in the air....... rather embarrassing and awkward all around!  Something had to be done!  Plus, big scary spiders would dash in and out of those cracks....  arachnophobic is my middle name.  Notice the little "lean to" laundry room wtih the odd little door....  it is about to disappear and be replaced with:

My favorite "AFTER" shot of all time - because I enjoy it every single day of the spring, summer, and fall!!!!!  It is truely my outdoor home.  We just finished the addition on the above right side, so that required me to call dad and have him add to our patio for the third time (click HERE to see more detailed pics and see the dadman at work)!!  Oh my, he is the best.  But I think if one more stone needs to be moved or added to this patio, he just may never come visit me in Michigan again!

We still need a lawn.  Grass, I MISS YOU!!!!  Dirt is my boy's kid's dream yard since dirt is the next best thing to gummy bears.  I'm very sick of dealing with dirt but I gotta say - she sure is cute dirty, ain't she? 

 

Got Gold Frames?

Chances are you have some gold frames sitting in a box somewhere.  Or maybe even still hanging on your wall - gasp!   Seriously, they've been gold LONG ENOUGH!! 

Since I've been on a turquoise kick lately, I got out the spray paint and then as I usually do, brushed on some silver glaze to give it an aged look.

And remember, fitting a photo perfectly inside a frame is so old school.  Okay, maybe not, but this is how Marie would do it, right?  And since the silver frame didn't sell at the garage sale, I stuck in a new 8x10 of the fam (Since none of my family photos include our latest addition who is already over a year old!) and called it good!  Have you painted anything turquoise lately??       

  

New Inventory! Kammy's Korner Store

They came all the way from the West Coast of Canada to see the goods!  Andrew discusses with Ajay if this color pink would be right for his complexion. Here's a sneak peak of a few new designs:

For the baby girl who loves her some bling! (This "bling" was a clip on earring!) $5 at Kammy's Korner Store!

Fancy it up with some feathers! $4 at Kammy's Korner Store!

Go different - go classy! :)  $4 at Kammy's Korner Store!    Now honestly, can you believe the round sequin and beaded beauty on this headband was an EARRING?!  Wowzas. 

Thanks For The Word Wall Art, Mom!

I have been privileged to have my parents here AGAIN!  Sunday night we were hosting a large gathering at our house and I really wanted a verse or something painted on this specific spot on my wall.  So of course.... an hour before we gotta be ready.... "Ummm Mom?  Don't kill me, but.... will you.....?"  She rolled her eyes, sighed, and asked for a paint brush.  We typed out our piece on the laptop in the font and sizes we wanted and shot it up on the wall with a projector.  Now my mom is a brave woman.  She's also prone to accidents.  Know what?  That ain't a good combination.  So as Tim put a board across the top of the knee wall for her to perch on and paint from, he said to get a towel for what came out sounding like "so when she falls, she won't mess up the wall".  (I guess he meant to put under the boards so the boards wouldn't mess up the wall.)  :)  Needless to say, she was pretty mad at son-in-law for caring more about the wall than her!!  Oh, he really does love that woman. ;)  So here's how it went down, and how it ended up! 

Either you need to drop a few pounds, Mama, or your son-in-law needs to find some less flimsy boards!  (just kiddin' bout the weight!  She's had to sew her pants in since she's been here!)

So with it being Memorial Day and all today, we've all been reminded of the sacrifice so many have made for us in this country.  We should all be grateful and are deeply indebted to these men and woman who have and are currently serving!  It made me think that posting about this wall art was so appropriate today thinking about sacrifices - since the Lord Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice.  HE paid a debt he did not owe - mine!  Has he paid yours?   (Click HERE to read about the old cupboard door clock!)  

One Dollar. One Color. One Elephant.

This elephant is just too cool for all those crazy colors!  And for only one dollar at a garage sale, I could afford to spray half a can of turquoise spray paint on his four-headed body.  Add a layer of silver glaze and you get.........

Oooo la la!  Standing about two feet tall, he would make a gorgeous end table or even a coffee table with a piece of glass on top!  He's for sale so if you like him, contact me!  And if you need to,  I know where you could find another one... ahem Marie.... ahem.... :)