The Making of a Table

So I finally found a dresser to use as a buffet (more on that later) and it made my table look really bad. What's a girl to do? I knew that I wanted a rustic, farm style table. I also knew that I couldn't afford to buy the one I wanted. I thought--how hard could it be to build a table?? Then I had a revelation--take the top off of my existing table and just build another top!! I went and bought the wood and THEN took the top off of the table. Hmmmmmm....the table had a removable leaf. Do you know what that means because I didn't. Yeah--it means that the base of the table is 2 pieces. Kind of hard to build a table with a base that isn't connected. So then I thought, I'll just connect them. Sure that will work!

Ummm--do you see that piece of unfinished wood connecting the two sides of the base? It didn't work. No matter what I trie, I couldn't make the base sturdy enough to support the weight of the table top I wanted to build. Back to square one. I'll just build one. So I did. I started by making a frame for the table top.

I added 2x4's that I already had for legs Next came the top. I used 1x10x6 boards for this step. I used four for the middle and two on each end. I didn't pre-stain my boards. The boards on each end were ones that I already had and they were previously stained. I got all of my boards screwed onto the base and then filled all of the holes with stainable wood filler.

I painted the base a beautiful creamy white. It is called Creamy Delight by Valspar. I little sample size would be plenty for this project. I stained the wood top with American Classic. It still looked to "new" for me. I took my hammer out and started randomly "aging" my table. You know how the edges of new boards are crisp? Nice for some things but not for an old farm table. I went all around the edges with my hammer. Much better!!!

Then I sanded the edges of the base where it would have naturally chipped with use. The 2x4's that I used for the legs were already used so they already had dents and nail holes in them. Perfect for this table. I painted the stain on the base and immediately wiped it off. I used 3 coats of Minwax to finish it off. I am very proud of how it turned out!!

Sorry for all of the pictures but I'm just so proud!!!  I'm linking up to:

Snow Days!!

We hardly ever get "good" snow here. The kind of snow that is beautiful and fun to play in. We almost always get ICE and lose power for days on end. Not this time!! We got about 8" of beautiful, fluffy white snow. School has been called off for the third day in a row. We pretty much go into lock down here in the south when snow comes our way! It is amazing how much more I enjoy the snow now that I'm not teaching. The stress of wondering if we will have school, if I can get my car out, lesson plans, make up days......all of that is a snow buzz kill for sure!! We have had a fire in the fire pit out back and have enjoyed this time of being home and relaxing as a family. No pressure to be somewhere and do something pressing on us. How wonderful. The hub had to go back to work today so that was a little stressful wondering if he would make it safely. He did and all is well again here.....as we thaw out! Happy Snow Days to you!!

Deck the Halls & Monogram the Doors

I've been doing a little bit of decorating at a time when I have a minute.  I thought I would share a little with you!

I decided to cut some cute G's for my front door wreaths. 

 Another new thing I did this year was to add a Christmas Sock Countdown for the kids! 

The love this!  I got all of the socks at Dollar Tree so it only costs $12.

Another thing I made this year was stockings to hang in our little den where I do all of my work.  It gives the room a little Christmas cheer!!

I'll be back with more later. 

Now THAT'S a candy cane!

My sister in law wanted some candy canes for her columns on her front porch.  I was very excited to make them for her.  I used a 4x6 piece of plywood.  I made my pattern, cut them out with a jigsaw and painted them up.  I sealed them with clear Rustoleum seal since they would be in the elements.  I also used exterior paint.  Here they are in all their giant-ness at my house.

The tricky part was getting them the 35 miles to my sister in law's house.  I have a small SUV and clearly a truck is needed for this endeavor.  Fear not!  I put the seat down and the candy canes went all the way up on the dash, but they fit!!  Off we go!

Here they are  hanging on my sister in law's front porch.   Are they not the best???  LOVE!!!!

Linking up to:

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Countdown to Christmas Party at Domestically Speaking
Hooray for the Holidays

Optical Illusion...

I have always hated the handles on my front doors.  I'm sure, at the beginning of time, they were brass.  After 30+ years of the elements, brass doesn't look so hot.  

I am sure you agree.  I tried taking the screws out and removing them completely to spray paint.  I'm cheap that way--certainly did not want to replace them.  Again, after 30+ years in the elements, they are pretty much permanent.  Enter:  craft paint.  Why not?  They certainly couldn't look worse.  So I got busy with my paintbrush and silver craft paint.  After about 3 coats....

Is it just me or do they look just like expensive brushed nickel??!!  I don't care if it IS just me.  I love how they look.  It makes an incredible difference.  My son was walking up the driveway several days after I painted them and said, "Did those doors always have handles???"  If an 11 year boy notices, it was a success!!

Don't they look sooooo much better?  A little craft paint = a lot of love!!

Here is the before:

After:

Aahhhhh!  The power of paint!!
Soooo, I'm linking up with

Halloween Decorating!

I've been cutting some things to use for Halloween decor that I wanted to share.  

I did pumpkins...

that turned into jack-o-lanterns.

A big G with ghosts for the door.

My favorite though has to be the witch feet!!  Love!!!

Oh so cute, but my door is black.....

so these wouldn't show up that great.

So....

I made some funky feet!

LOVE them!!

More to come...

I'm linking up with:

Happy Hour??

I wanted to do something different for a friend celebrating his 40th birthday this year.   What could be better than a giant beer???

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A giant cosmo for his wife!!