Quick and Easy Painted Plaques

I was in a creative mood today and thought that I would try out my free sample of Glidden Paint that I ordered several weeks ago. I ordered Ground Nutmeg and painted this square plaque with it and then distressed the edges with a sanding sponge. (The lighting isn't too good in this photo, but I think that you can still tell what the final product looks like). I then copied a "P" off of Microsoft Works at 400% and traced it and painted it on the plaque. I have a wall of just P's since that is what our last name starts with and will probably hang it there when dry.

The other little round plaque is painted green, distressed and stamped with a red Fleur-De-Lis. I love the colors for Christmas (or any time of the year for my colorful kitchen) and the shape is found everywhere these days. I then tied a gingham bow and hot glued it to the back to hang it by. So easy that even those without any crafting experience can do it, and to think that I actually sell these in my Etsy Shop (www.4littlepilgrims.etsy.com)! So super simple and such a cute, quick and inexpensive gift. This would make a cute hostess gift, teacher gift, Bunco gift or just a treat for yourself! Let me know if you make one of these projects, I would LOVE to see them, so send the pictures my way and Happy Holidays!

Dollar Store Wreath

I finally found the time to help my daughter make the ornament wreath that everyone over blogland has made or is planning on making at some point! My daughter is five and had the best time stringing the ornaments on the coat hanger to make this adorable wreath. We used about 60 ornaments of this one particular size that we purchased at the Dollar Tree. 5 packages in all so therefore the total cost was $5 plus tax! Our cat, Pilgrim, also got into the Christmas spirit and enjoyed being around all of the sparkle and color. The finished picture just shows the wreath, not where it will eventually go. My daughter says that since she made it she wants it to hang on her bedroom door. Fine with me, I would like to make one of my own just out of the champagne and gold ornaments anyway, I think that would look so elegant. Have fun and go spend time with a child making memories to last a lifetime. Happy Holidays!

$10 Dirty Santa Gift~ Ceramic Candy Dish and Appliqued Towel

I just happened to be walking through Wal-Mart and what did I see? An adorable red, white and lime green ceramic candy dish~ and just in my price range! I have to buy a Dirty Santa gift for my sorority Christmas party and my ECW church party and I thought that $9 for this cute whimsical dish was great! I also put one of my new appliqued dish towels in it and voila! So if any of my friends that are attending are looking at this blog, you already know what I am bringing, so shhh!!:)

Merry Christmas and let me know if you decide to purchase this cute dish too! (They also had some small ones for $2-$4). Wow!

Happy Christmas!

My Very First Appliqued Dish Towel

I love the look of appliqued items and I had my heart set on making some, even though I don't have a sewing machine. As long as you can iron and make simple stitches you too can applique! What fun I had today making this simple cross dish towel. I found the cute red and white gingham cotton dish towel at Dollar Tree and I used a wooden cross that I had to trace onto some leftover fabric that I had lying around. My son said that it didn't match, but I love the contrasting, whimsical look of the polka dots and the checks. The lime green stitches aren't perfect, but then neither am I and I kind of like the home~made look that it gives. I thought that these would make great Christmas gifts and plan on making many more designs as I find a shape that I like. Go see what you can come up with and let me know how addicted you get too! Have fun!~:)

$20.00 Garage Sale Hutch Makeover

Once in a good while you get extremely lucky at garage sales. Well, I got a steal from a lady down the street who was selling pretty much everything in order to pick up and move 2000 miles away! She said that this hutch needed a lot of TLC and I was just the person that day to give it (plus the $20 that I gave her)! I could see the diamond in the rough- so to speak- and envisioned a beautiful black hutch that I have been wanting for as long as I can remember. I have been married almost 15 years and have had nothing to display my formal dishes in. So sad I know, boo hoo for me! :) Well, I got busy sanding, priming, and painting and even adding beadboard wallpaper to the back part of the upper piece, and this is what I came up with. I love it and it is a wonderful addition to my dining room. I have yet to put the doors back on because one was in such bad shape, and I am not sure that I will even ever want to put them back on. I kind of like it open, for now anyway! I also have to put a coat of polyurethane on the top portion of the hutch, but my husband wanted his parking place back in the garage.:) So this is how it looks for now. Hope you like it as much as I do!