Becolorful

Motivated Monday April 22nd and April 29th

 

 

Monday, April 22nd

Happy 50th B day to my brother.

Too bad he isn't on Facebook or I would ask you all to send him a message.

:D

I digress. Welcome to Motivated Monday.

I will not be able to post next Monday because we will be watching our son get married.

As a result, blogging is going to have to take a back seat for the next two weeks.

I know you will understand.

You will be able to link up to this post through May 7th.

 

Wow, what a week this past one was! So many great ideas that it was hard to narrow them down to just a few to feature but whittle it down I did.

I do apologize for not taking the time to comment this week. It was one of those crazy busy ones here. I did stop by each blog though. There were a number of new bloggers linking up and that is always fun to see. I hope you will take time to look back on some of the links from last week to see what you might have missed.

Some posts did not get very many views. I might suggest giving a specific name to your link so people know what you are showing them. Every one of you had something wonderfully creative or informative to offer. Some even shared what not to do like Jessica's black tea tanning spray. We like knowing what doesn't work too. As you say, "Time is valuable" 

So, here are a few of the highlights from last week.

Made In A Day

shared a tutorial on how to make this stunning Spring wreath.

 

 

The Thrifty Rebel

 

gave us  step by step directions and code on adding galleries to our blogs. Very cool.

She also showcased her bold and Bee-U-tee-ful painted dresser

here

Stop by to see the full piece.

I went gaga for this lighted outdoor cocktail table 

from

Joys Jots Shots

 

So pretty at night.

Finally,

Pink Recipe Box

posted five of the top healtier choice dessert cookbooks.

I was all over that.

:D

 

 

Bold Black Dining Room

 

Ten years ago I never would have believed it if someone told me I would be painting our dining room black, but black it is and we both love it.

 

 

I'm anxious to bring in a bit of coral or fuscia to the table

 

 

Since I took that first picture I have replaced the large mirror above the buffet with a round one. I like how the curves soften all of those rectangular pieces.

 

 

 

 

I am planning on taking this piece to The Traveling Door Market next week but I do like how it looks against the black.

 

 

I could always paint something else to go here.

:D

 

I was also pretty proud of how well this floral canvas looked against the black.

 

 

It works as a way to pull in the corals from the sun room and the coppery golds from the living room that bookend our dining area.

When the contractors are working on the upstairs this summer I will have them add a chair rail here and a molding on the ceiling to further highlight the chandelier.

Then I think I will be able to call this room done. Is there such a word?

:D

xoxo,

p

 LInking up my new room here:

 

The Green Room That Went Coral

 

 

I know I promised to show you our black dining room and I will but first I want to share with you the room that for the last thirteen years has been called the green room.

This is where we hang out. It is a family room/sun room/TV room and until this week it was painted a soft green. I loved it for years but it was time to change things up and change it up we did. Our green room is now coral!

 

 

The color we went with is Sherwin Williams Charisma.

 

 

 

 

 

I like how the greens and whites pair with it.

 

 

It even looks happy on a rainy day.

 

 

#happywithmypaintcolor

:D

 

xoxo,

p

 

Linking up my coral creation here:

 

Motivated Monday April 15th

 

Mondays are synonymous with a fresh start and this Monday is no exception.

I've been waiting for Monday the fifteenth because that is when my painter is coming. Did I mention we are painting our dining room black?

So today it looks like this.

 

Tomorrow, I'm envisioning sophisticated soft black. 

Hope it looks as good in reality as it does in my head.

 

In the meantime, I have been inspired by you. I learn so many things from reading your blogs. 

Small Fine Print

introduced me to a new product I had never heard of.

Faux stainless vinyl film. Are you familiar with it?

Well here are a couple of images of how she used it in her kitchen.

 

Be sure and stop by her blog to find out how to win your own in her give-a-way.

 

Then, I was reminded by

how much I like simple clean lines and light and airy rooms.

by

Meeha Meeha

 

For some helpful hints on how to achieve a similar feel in your home be sure and stop by and visit her blog also.

 

 

The Bounty Earth

shared these egg carton Spring flower creations.

So fun and with a great tutorial.

 

 

 

Is it wrong that I thought they were also pretty dressed in their all white primer?

Kind of a modern take.

 

This Italian fish soup posted by

My Kochlust

 

had me adding to my weekly shopping list.

The blog is in German so you will need to hit the translate button.

 

 

Finally, I loved this from

 

One Organic Mama

 

 

 

I don't have anybody in diapers anymore. We are either too old or too young - depending on how you want to look at it. LOL.  I used both disposable and cloth diapers  when our kids were little but the cloth diapers I used weren't nearly as fun and stylish as what I see out there today. For all you moms or friends of moms or moms of moms,  this is a simple idea on how to keep stains out of those expensive designer nappies. No easy feat.

:D

 

 

Bye Bye Paint Pens

I'm breaking up with all of my paint pens.

 

Yep, adios, vamoose, bye bye.

At a cost of three to four dollars per pen I hate to think how much money I have spent on these frustrations over the past few years. They take forever to prime, they dry out way before their time, and they inevitably puddle at critically disastrous moments. The trouble is I like to incorporate quotes into my painted creations and these paint pens seemed like my best option for adding text... until now.

It has been months since I visited Michael's.  I have been trying to use up some of my supplies but I have a Traveling Door event coming up and I needed to do a bit of restocking. I was amazed at all the new, or new to me,  products I discovered. These were my absolute faves.


 

The six piece dauber set makes even and easily round

polka dots a breeze.

 

I used them on this jewelry box and know I will be getting a lot of use out of these babies.

 

I haven't used the extremely narrow paint tape yet but it is something that I have dreamed about forever. It is rather pricey but if you can buy it with a coupon and use and perhaps even reuse it strategically it won't seem so extravagant. I am guessing the results and fine even lines I can achieve with this will make it worth the investment.


 

It was this little creation, though, that made me smile last night.

After trying not one, not two, but three white paint pens and experiencing pen fail each time which meant having to repaint a section of my project with each disaster I decided to give these a whirl.

I loved them. I bought mine at Michael's. There are six to a package and you just screw them on to a bottle of craft paint. I use various brands of paint and these tops have worked on all of them.

Success!

 

I rinsed out the top immediately after using and it cleaned up easily.

So, paint pens, you were a speed bump in my creativity but you are now clearly in my rear view mirror. I see much smoother roads ahead.

:D

LInking up my thoughts here:

Motivated Monday April 8th

How cute are those twirling girls in their up and down hemline skirts?

I remember loving a skirt that allowed me to do this this. Who are we kidding? We still do it right?

These skirts were designed by

 

Domestic Bliss Squared
 

For a complete tutorial be sure and stop by her blog.

 

There were so many great links here last week on Motivated Monday and it is always hard to choose which posts should be featured but here are a few more from last week that I thought should be highlighted.

I chose this recipe for

 

Cinnamon-Chai Mini-Donuts (Grain-Free)

 from

Auld Grey Mare
 

because it seems that we hear of more and more of us becoming gluten intolerant. I would imagine that for those people that so many typical desserts are out of the question but this donut recipe could definitely be a tempting treat.


 

Then there was this lady bug themed party 

via

Queen B Creative Me

Her polka dot cake balls are just too cute and not to be missed.

 

All you young moms make me realize how simple my life is now but I remember doing projects similar to these and loving it. Where did we find the time?

I must have slowed down or I don't multi task as well as I used to.

:D

Well, here is another mom project.

Emily, over at

My Love For Words
 

shared her memory game creation. Yes, she made her own using a Silhouette.

Isn't it kind of incredible? Lots of detail work here.

That had to take some time but it will probably get passed down to her grand-kids someday.


Finally, Ana from

Scrappy Pink Corner

shared with us how she corrals all of her punches. Using an old frame, embossed tin, and some curtain rods, she was able to create this useful and attractive storage solution.

Very nice.