DIY: Chalkboard Cheese Platter

For the Oscars this year, the husband & I decided it would be fun to dress up and have a little wine & cheese party! I saw this image on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a whirl:

via

Sadly, we recently reformatted our computer, and I accidentally deleted the photos of my step-by-step tutorial. :( However, here is a before and after pic as well as the end results as documented on my iPhone. The quality isn't as good, but you get the gist:

BEFORE {a hideous old tray that I accidentally stole from my old place of employment}:

AFTER {a few coats of black craft paint}:

After some fun on Instagram:

Side note: The Goat Cheese was our favorite!

Here is a pic of me and the Mr., all gussied up for the Academy Awards:

I also thought I'd give these personalized chalkboard wine glasses a try:

via

I found some sturdy, matching wine glasses at Goodwill and used some leftover chalkboard paint from this project:

However, I definitely recommend using chalkboard spraypaint because even if you apply several thin coats of paint, you will still see brush strokes!

We ended our night with my favorite Italian Moscatto and some Strawberries & Chocolate Fondue!

 Here are the Oscar Ballots I printed that I found here. Ben beat me like he does every year! Grr...

What is your latest project? If it involves chalkboard paint, let me know, as I am currently OBSESSED with the stuff! :)

Seafoam End Table

No Living/Dining Room paint pictures yet. I'm sorry, I have been a very lazy photographer lately! Well, that's not true. I have been a very lazy personal photographer, but I have been very ambitious when it comes to doing some marketing for my photography business. I made my own business cards and sent them to be printed yesterday {yipee!} and I created some mock-ups for Christmas cards to advertise for upcoming Holiday photo shoots! If you'd live in the Philadelphia or Wilmington area and are interested in doing a shoot or just tto view some of my pictures, check out my website: natalie wagner photography

Anyhoo, I won't leave you with nothing. Here is one fabulous little project I finished a few months ago. It started out as a nightstand of sorts that I discovered at Goodwill under a pile of old frames and covered in dust. After a good scrubbing, it looked like this:

I believe it used to live in the castle on the movie Beauty and the Beast. Seriously, doesn't it look just like the huge wardrobe? That's what Ben said, too! Actually, his exact words were "What the heck is that ugly piece of crap and why is it in our Living Room?" ... "But doesn't it look like that wardrobe from Beauty and the Beast?" ... "Yes...when can I throw it out?"

I can understand his hesitation to keep this piece. There was some definite wear and tear on those beautiful legs.

However, here is after I primed it and painted it a soft aquamarine:

 BAM! Our formerly ugly duckling of an end table is now a beautiful swan! Wow, that was pretty lame...

I loooove these intricate details. They really set it apart and remind me why it's so much better to buy used furniture than drop a bunch of $$ on generic stuff from a department store that everyone else has {haha, that reminds me of the episode of Friends when Ross and Rachel bought the same apothecary table from Pottery Barn} and that will probably just fall apart anyway. Used furniture is great because it has already held up to the test of time, so you know it is built to last.

I am obsessed with the top; it's so unique!

I tried it as a nightstand for a bit. Though it looked pretty, it just wasn't right for the space. Plus, I needed the storage provided by my current table {for my Bible, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, etc.}.

Ahh yes, this is juuust right. It now serves as an end table in our Living Room and Ben and I both love it! The color is unexpected and, though subdued, it gives just the right amount of oomph to the space.

Of course, since these photos were taken, we painted the Living Room a warm, light gray color...stay tuned for more photos! :)

Have you completed any projects lately {or not so lately, that you have been too lazy to post}?

To Do

Now that the heat has finally let up, I can finally work on a project that's been on my kind for months! Here is my To Do list for today:

:: sand antique table
:: paint antique table
:: run, then empty dishwasher
:: fold & put away laundry
:: bake banana bread
:: unpack camping bag
:: buy groceries for Sunday's bball party
:: clean the master closet
:: bake chocolate chip cookies
:: redbox a new movie

OK, so that last one isn't a chore, but it is still something I want to do!

Do you have any projects up your sleeves for this lovely Saturday?

Bedroom Vanity: Hardware

About a year ago, my mom gave me this mustard-colored, bamboo piece of furniture that she used in her kitchen:

It spent several months masquerading as a desk in our office:

However, I decided that, with its hidden mirror, it would be much better-suited as a vanity in our Master Bedroom.

So, I painted it a soft, dove gray color and it looks MUCH better {pics coming soon!}, but I'd like to update the hardware to something more contemporary. Here are what I'm considering:

1. Arthurian ~ anthro

2. Acrylic ~ target

 3. Cocktail Ring ~ anthro

4. Satin Nickel ~ bed bath & beyond

5. Keyhole ~ anthro

6. Bauble ~ anthro

 7. Alexandra ~ anthro

8. Liberty Satin Nickel ~ Walmart

9. Bubble ~ anthro

10. Mercury Glass Melon ~ anthro

Please let me know your thoughts/suggestions.

Mirror Re-vamp

I bought this mirror 2 years ago at Goodwill for $7.

I instantly fell in love with the little scrollies {sure, that's a word}, but the color was less than desirable. However, due to lack of time {and sheer laziness}, I left it alone.

{Here is is, reflecting our Christmas Tree in 2008}

When the husband and I relocated to West Chester this past December, I decided that I'd had enough with this mirror and its homage to the 70's. So, I grabbed some paint and went to work.

Two hours {painting all of those nooks and crannies took FOR-E-VER} and half a bottle of black craft paint later, I had a brand new mirror:

{Ta Da! Old mirror made new again with Black Paint}

{A close-up view of the details}

I am SO GLAD I finally painted it! This project has been hanging over my head for too long, and its culmination has actually motivated me to get to work on my other 135 projects {In case you haven't noticed, I tend to exaggerate}. But seriously, do you see my "To-Do/Buy" list in the right-hand column? It's not getting any shorter!

So, are there any projects you've been dreading? If so, get to work! I promise you'll be glad you did. :)

Valentine's Day Freebies

Well, Valentine's Day is just a few days away...are you ready??

If not, I have corralled some links to free {or inexpensive} DIY cards, recipes, and much more. For many of them, all you have to do is just click the link, download the PDF file, print, and you're good to go!

Moulin Rouge Minis
http://www.ambrosiagirl.com/blog/?s=moulin+rouge

Owl Valentine

http://www.livinglocurto.com/2009/01/valentine-freebies/

Goodie Bags
http://www.twigandthistle.com/blog/2010/01/diy-valentine’s-day-goodie-bags/

"You are loved" postcard
http://ohhellofriend.blogspot.com/2010/02/resource.html

Round Gift Tags
http://loveobsessinspire.typepad.com/my-blog/2009/11/free-printable-goodies-carte-blanche-invitations.html

Smore's Valentine Brownie Recipe
http://100layercake.com/blog/archives/4691

Blank Birdie Cards/Gift Tags
http://junecrafts.blogspot.com/2010/02/youre-tweet.html

iPod Candy {SO creative!}
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts/rock-candy-675037/

Teabag Wrappers & Tea Tags
http://creaturecomforts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/free-printable-valentine-teabag-tags.html

Felt Fortune Cookies {very cute!}
http://www.somewhatsimple.com/2010/01/felt-fortune-cookies.html

Origami Valentines
http://www.eatdrinkchic.com/post.cfm/diy-origami-heart-love-note

Twilight cards
http://www.ambrosiagirl.com/blog/twilight-valentines-free/

"Sweetie Pie" Boxes {I'm making these for Ben ~ shh don't tell!}
http://www.twigandthistle.com/blog/2009/02/diy-sweetie-pie/

A simple "i love you"

http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/articles/download__love_note_designs

P.S. Did you notice my new Etsy button? I made it myself! I love the gray and white combination {of course} and the cute, doily-like pattern. Feel free to right-click the following image and use it on your blog as well...Consider it my early Valentine's Day gift to you :)

Monograms

A few months ago, I stumbled upon some lovely monograms, made by the ever-creative John & Sherry of Young House Love (formerly This Young House):

Aren't they divine? Sherry went on Google and found "a curvy spiral staircase inspired J, a sign language A-N-D and an architecturally drawn S." So clever!

I decided to go the hand-made route with something similar in our Master Bathroom. Here is the before:


Our bathroom colors are aquamarine, white, and silver/gray. So, with sharpies in the aforementioned colors, metallic paint, and 50-cent frames from Good Will, here is the after:

Husband's first initial, our last initial, and my first initial.

What do you think? Are you currently working on any copycat and/or thrifty projects? :)