Cheap Ikea Art Transformed!

Have you ever bought something even though your insides were screaming WRONG! for the space you had in mind?  I am usually a cautious shopper who thinks and rethinks every purchase but a trip to Ikea on Memorial Day (think throngs of shoppers, long lines, three boys and a Mr. who could think of a million more appealing things to do on a holiday etc.) found me at the front of the checkout line (finally!) with a cart full of Ribba frames and you guessed it, this piece of art, that I knew in my heart of hearts would be totally wrong for our home.  I stood there unsure of what to do as the cashier rung up the frames at lightning speed.  Just as he picked up the item in question I looked at the Mr., who, as if reading my doubt riddled mind, quickly mouthed in my direction "We can return it later.." and calmly proceeded to pay for the purchase. And just like that the deed was done and I became the reluctant owner of a cheap piece of art I knew not what to do with.

The nearest Ikea store is 45 min. away so it did not make sense to return it.  Since I really liked the overall size for the breakfast nook wall and the hanging hardware attached to the back was very sturdy, I decided not to throw it away and coated it with primer instead. After first coat....(I used two coats)

 I am really loving a quote by Albert Camus that really speaks to what our family has discovered while going through a difficult time in our lives (you can read more about that here).  I painted the whole board burnt yellow and used white acrylic paint for the lettering.  I first tried using a stencil but did not like the perfectly uniform look.  I wanted more of a free style so I lightly wrote out the letters myself in pencil and then painted over them with white acrylic paint.

I am by no means experienced when it comes to creating wall art so I was pleasantly surprised when it actually turned out to be something I wanted to display!

another angle...

If you want to see the print in living colah' watch the short video below.  My dear sister was visiting us from New Jersey and so the family gathered at my house for the weekend.  While reminiscing about our childhood my brother and sister decided to try a clapping game we loved as children .  Hilarious I tell you!  The print is in the background...

The primer I used was Olympic's No VOC Primer and the burnt yellow was a sample of Behr's Wild Bamboo with some brown acrylic paint I mixed in.  What items have you dramatically altered lately?
To check out our different makeovers with before and after pictures go here.

I am linking up to Boogie Board Cottage and C.R.A.F.T..  Please visit them for lots of inspiration!

That's Life..

Hello all.  My lack of posts lately can be blamed on LIFE and its refusal to stop happening. The whole of the month of May we ran around trying to do all those things that are impossible to enjoy once that stifling Texas summer heat comes barreling in!  We enjoyed games at the ballpark...Go Rangers!

Trips to the zoo (where we were delighted to find a new baby chimp!)  So cute!

We were also surprised to find dinosaurs lurking behind every corner ha!

Two lovely birds that I caught kissing and the beak of a certain duck made me want to paint something in our house the perfect shade of aqua. Yes, design inspiration can be found anywhere, even at your local zoo!

We also visited the museum quite a few times.

Add to the many outings, almost daily walks to the park, lots of homemade popcorn and I love Lucy viewing marathons in the late evenings and you can see why posting has been scarce!

On Monday I decided enough was enough.  I looked my troops straight in the eye (eyes?) and announced that the fun was over.  It was time to finish all those half done projects, like that dining table I was going to paint but only got as far as filling in the scratches with wood filler.

and that gallery wall-to-be ( for a month just pieces of paper taped to the wall)

all the frames from Ikea waiting patiently under the buffet.

Yup it was definitely time to get moving.  Since putting my foot down I have been walking around with a half tired, slightly harried look on my face which causes my kids to ask me repeatedly throughout the day "Are you o.k. mommy? Are you sad or something?" It's hilarious! I have spent the last few days painting like crazy and reassuring my offspring over and over again that I am o.k. . ha! ha! These projects must. get. done. Today I finished priming the table and will be painting it this weekend. Yahoo!

Since I suffer from decor project ADD I went from priming the table to doing something radical to this piece of Ikea Art.

Yup, I covered it with primer.  Soon after buying it I realized it was totally wrong for the breakfast nook hence the primer fest..

 No worries I have a fantabulous idea that will transform it into something better suited for the space. Pictures of all finished projects and some how-to's coming (hopefully) soon!   If you have made it all the way to the end of this really loong post you deserve a reward.  I leave you with this inspiring image. (I chose it because it reminded me of the windows in your living room sis.)

 Have a great weekend!

*if you have the original source for the above pic. please let me know Thanks!

Of Dreamers and Dreams

We have a little dreamer living among us.  His favorite book for the past few weeks?

He carries it with him wherever he goes and has asked me to read it to him over and over again.  Just last week, as he was flipping through it for the millionth time, two large drops of water fell from the kitchen sink onto one of the pages.  He immediately burst into tears because he was sure the water would permanently damage his beloved book.  After I assured him that the water would dry up and everything would be o.k. he ran off, much consoled, with the book safely tucked under his arm. 

 He spends hours playing/dreaming with a ball his brother made him out of a wad of paper (wrapped with tape) and a plastic rim taped above his playroom door.  He not only tears up the court (a.k.a. hallway) he also gives a play by play broadcast with such enthusiasm! If you listen carefully to the video below you just might hear a crowd of imaginary fans cheering him on.... 

 

He Is Risen!

Don't be alarmed, he said.  You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
Mark 16:6

Three years ago I stopped trusting in my righteous works and started trusting solely in Jesus Christ for my salvation.  Since then there is in me a continual joy that nothing can take away.  Today my life is hidden in Him the author and finisher of my faith and I delight in obeying His commands to give Him glory.  Hallelujah for He made a way!

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  Galatians 2:16
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.  Romans 4:24,25

Happy Resurrection Day! 

Surprise!

Friday morning, hubby and Seth left for a two day apologetics conference five hours away.  Zach looked a bit lost without big brother around so while Jacob practiced the piano I took out the Scrabble game and let him play with the letter tiles. I was blown away (floored really :o)) when he began to point at each tile and correctly identify the letters. I never taught them to him, yet somehow, someway he learned them all!  When I asked him how on earth he had learned them he explained that he would listen to the spelling lessons I do with his brothers. This surprised me because while I do spelling with the oldest two he is usually away from our table on the floor putting a puzzle together or building something out of blocks, legos etc so I assumed he was not paying attention to our lessons. I cannot believe I did not find out that he knew them until now! I told him I wanted to record him saying the letters and dashed off to get my camera.  He grew quite impatient when he saw I wanted him to go through the letters again for the cam but complied long enough for me to get this short video below. My baby is growing up people *sniffle * sniffle*