My deck was in bad shape... very bad shape. I had the choice of starting on the stuff for the deck and enjoying it a bit this summer or redoing the deck boarding and skirting first and probably not getting any enjoyment until 2012. So, I did the stuff first.
I don't really have a before picture for my deck. It was just a big brown area with nothing on it. Now though.... now its brilliant!!
I have to admit, everything that was done, was done on a budget. :D
Except for this :D This was the biggest expense of the whole thing. But as I received $250 for my birthday the expense of this wasn't bad. It was a Walmart purchase. The cost $189.00
These chairs were my first purchase. They were $5.50 for the pair at Goodwill. I will admit they looked about $5.50 worth at the time. But 2 cans of Krylon Textured Shimmer in Hammered Metal later, and now they look like a million bucks... or at least $15.00 each :D The pillow were also a Goodwill purchase at $1.00 each, then covered with a $1.00 flannel back outdoor tablecloth. The table between was a $3 handmade planter from Habitat for Humanity, which i simply turned upside down and Gorilla Glued on a platter which I purchased at Goodwill for 50 cents. The platter I painted with my left over spray paint to match the chairs.
Next came my $25.00 firepit from Craig's List. It is a mosaic tiled firepit which weighs more than I. It has a black mesh topper for when you wish to use the fire, or this tiled top for when you'd like to use as a table.
Also directly behind the firepit are two pallet seating areas. They are made from 2 pallets each, strapped together, then covered with a piece of particle board for the top, and treated lumber sides. I painted both out with Krylon outdoor paint (LOVELY STUFF). I got the idea for the pallet seating here, but took off in my own direction a bit.
Here is another picture which captures the pallet bottoms better. I didn't do any fancy mitering on the boards (cause I do not have the tools to do it!) but I like the look nonetheless.
I bought 2 crib mattresses (who knew they were the exact length of a pallet??)and 2 canvas drop clothes to make padded seating for my pallets. The mattresses were $10 and $15 off Craigs List and the drop cloths $9 each at Walmart. I simply mitered the corners (here I DID have the tools) and added a bit of cording to make it look better.
I also did the monogram painting... For some reason I am into monogramming things! Only one side is monogrammed, so if I do become tired, I can just turn them over!!
Also on the pallets, as the width of the mattress and the width of the pallets are different by 6 inches, I added brown planter boxes filled with marigolds. There is also some space left at the end of each of the planter boxes for another project later, you know, when I have extra cash again!!
If you look straight back you'll see two pretty wooden shutters I picked up for $1 each at Habitat for Humanity. I spray painted them a pretty blue for some color. Why did I put them up? Here is your reason....
For the most part, you won't see the ugly mess needed for cable, phone and electricity... :) this makes me happy!
This is a little something I made to add another pop of color to the deck. :) I had everything to make this, except for the monogram which I picked up at Michael's for $1.00
So all in all I spent my $250 plus about $100 for the whole deck area... You know, paint, some rocks, lighting, etc. Not too shabby I believe! :)
Now all that is left is to redo the skirting all the way around, power wash (which hopefully removes that paint that some bonehead got on the deck before us) and restain/protect the deck this fall! :P
Ok... So Lemme Prefix this...
Dog Bed aka Shelle is Bored
There is 6 million inches of snow outside and I am bored. Well, I was bored. Now I am just happy. Soon you will understand why!
Milo loves sleeping under my desk. Up until today he slept on old towels or blankets, haphazardly thrown into the corner next to my filing cabinet. I doubt he cared, but I always did! It was not only unattractive, but it was probably more of a fire-hazard than I would like to admit as it was close to my tower computer, 2 modems, a switch, a sub-woofer, and all the 3 million wires that it takes to run all the computer goodies I demand.
Today I made him a bed. Not just any bed, but a bed with a built in blankie! It is made from one of those polar fleece throws you can get anywhere for less than $5.00. I didn't take any 'in progress pictures, because I didn't know if it would turn out worthy of self applause!
The total cost for this? $1.50 for the throw at Goodwill. I prettified it with some blue cording I had left over from another project, which does not match my room, but I am not going to complain... I stuffed it with a King-size pillow I had laying around in a closet for overnight guests.
I think he is pretty happy, don't you?
(If you are worried about Dixie being jealous, don't be... Girlfriend takes her naps on my bed, snuggled up with her polar bear under the duvet!)
From Boring to Bling!
I got an idea from a blog I frequent on a cardigan make-over. I didn't wish to make the cardigan over with as big of a ribbon detail as what they had shown, but used the directions to take something boring to exciting....not only did I get the cardigan but I was able to make a pretty headband as well.
I started with a size 12 shirt with some beading... I had picked it up at Goodwill for $2.50 just for this project. I was very lucky to find exactly what I wanted within seconds of being there instead of shuffling down the aisles thinking "OMG why am I here?" *This is my normal thought process!
The project went fairly quickly, the longest part being the spacing of the pleating detail. I suggest not doing it on the couch with a dog trying desperately to get into your lap.
I am quite pleased with the results. It is something I will definitely do again, with the same larger pleated detail and ribbon from the original tutorial. *Ignore the lovely t-shirt under the cardigan... I didn't think when I was taking the picture last night -oops-
The best part, which I didn't anticipate, was the freebie headband I was able to produce from the beading. I simply removed it from the shirt, added some fusible fleece to give it some extra heft, then added a backing of the same silk material. I created a small tube of the silk, added some elastic, and sewed it on so it would stay snugly on my head.
Its rather lovely, I think. :)
