Sheet Music Wreath x 2

I have seen sheet music wreaths popping up all over blog-land, and, having been blessed with several books of piano music that NO ONE was ever going to play, I decided to make my own! I used the very fine instructions from {Primp}...except for the rolling part. That I had to discover by trial and error on my own to make it work!





It may be hard to tell the difference, but these are actually two different wreaths. The one on the top (left) went home with my sister last weekend (she actually has a "music room," so she needed one!).

I discovered that you can get different cones if you roll them the "long way" versus the "short way." My sister's wreath has a mix, but all the cones are rolled pretty tightly. It made for a large, but flatter wreath.

For the second wreath (the one on the bottom right), I rolled all the cones the "short way," and I tried to leave them a little fuller, so my wreath is a little fatter--not a lot. I am still toying with the idea of cutting some pages of music down by about a third, and then rolling cones from that...I think it would give another dimension.

The wreaths found a temporary home on the front of my china cabinet/bookshelf, but I need an opinion! I just finished repainting a set of red shutters; how do you think the wreath looks on them?



...or... I am in the midst of getting an old window ready to hang (it's painted, but STILL not clean!!)



I know it's hard to get an idea while everything is sitting on the floor, but maybe you have a gut instinct! Or another suggestion??

What do you think?

I remember when....

There was this little brown three-legged table that used to sit in our living room when I was growing up. It disappeared...oh, about 25-30 years ago?? I had no idea what happened to it, until my sister happened to mention that she had a little round three-legged table that she wanted painted red to be a nightstand in her guest room. Yep, it's the very same table. Not quite an antique, but getting there!

My sister kindly provided me with a quart of paint. The label said is was some kind of "chili" color.

What do you think?? Have you EVER seen this color of chili EVER IN YOUR LIFE??


OK, so maybe it's hard to see. Let's just say that the color was something like Pepto-Bismol mixed with grape juice. I kept painting...and painting...and painting...hoping it would improve with more coats.

It didn't!

Finally I screwed up my courage to call my sister: "Have you ever actually used this paint on anything?"

"Well...no," she replied. "Is it awful??"

"Yes!! Truly, utterly, unbearably horrible! Please, allow me to choose a new color of red for you!"

She agreed. (Thank heavens.)

I used the same red that I used on this chest of drawers. I will say that I am NOT a fan of Glidden paint...it seriously took at least six coats of paint to cover. Then I applied a little black glaze, and now...


It matches perfectly!

It's fun to see a piece from home get a new life.

Numbered pots to lettered pots

Remember my little fall pots?


Not long after I snapped this picture, the "1" fell off, and who knows where it disappeared to (I'm guessing a certain 2-year-old might have had something to do with it)! I pulled the "2" and "3" off as well, rather than make new numbers right away.

Then last night, inspiration hit me... I would make lettered pots!

With the help of my Cricut and some leftover glitter from my "Magic" garland, I came up with this:


And look...they're reversible!


I haven't had so much fun with glitter since...well, ever!

<

Subtle Craftiness

My husband just came upstairs and asked me if I was done with my "subtle craftiness" for the evening...I said yes, but of course I still had to blog about it!

I really threw him for a loop yesterday when I admitted a willingness--after almost 16 years--to do a little Halloween-type decorating! I have been so impressed by what I've seen around the Internet on my favorite blogs, of decorating that was classy rather than cutesy, and understated rather than in-your-FACE!!

He was so excited--there was nothing to do but go shopping!

So what does a woman do, who is trying to decorate in an understated, yet

classy manner? Why, break out the GLITTER, of course!!

I got this idea from someone else's blog--but for the life of me, I have no idea where I saw it. (If you know, leave a comment so I can give appropriate credit!)

I started with chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby.

Next came a little silver spray paint (you'll have to trust me; they're really silver).

Next came ModPodge and lots of glitter...


Finally, some hot glue and black ribbon, and voila!!

It really does look better in person :-) Glitter doesn't seem to translate well to photographs!

My chalkboard got a little makeover as well:

I found a little anonymous poem to write on it:

When witches go riding
And black cats are seen
The moon laughs and whispers
'Tis near Halloween!

I didn't have any black cats, but a raven made its appearance on the upper corner:


My pretty little cloche (that first appeared here) got a pumpkin tower and a glittery black spider (these have made an appearance all over my house with help from my junior decorators).

Oh, and the little black raven has two buddies that are perched elsewhere. They were about $2.50/each at TaiPan.

Then I finally had to give Wordle a try. It was so fun! I printed out my creation on some pretty linen cardstock and added it to a frame I had on hand. I already have one made up with just "Autumn"-type words when Halloween is over. One little hint if you decide to create you own Wordle masterpiece...if you can make a bigger word by entering it in multiple times.


So...Halloween decorating. It didn't turn out to be so painful after all! And my children and my husband are delighted!

It's a keeper!

Several weeks ago DI ("Deseret Industries," the Utah version of Goodwill) was having a 50% off sale on all their big frames. When I saw a massive, intricately detailed frame that turned out to be a mere FOUR DOLLARS, I knew it was love at first sight! (Even if it was a yucky gold color.)

I sprayed it Heirloom White, and this morning I glazed it with burnt umber acrylic paint. I cut a piece of Luaun leftover from another project and gave it a few coats of chalkboard paint.

Here's the result!


Ooh, I think I love it! Right now it's just sitting in front of the mirror that hangs on the wall above my buffet, and it's so large it partially covers my children's pictures!


But it looks like it belongs there nonetheless. I think this chalkboard is home to stay!



I also want to add a huge THANK YOU to Domestically Speaking for featuring my gathering table from last week's Power of Paint party!