Fun with my Silhouette SD

My sweet husband was nice enough to buy me a new Silhouette SD for my birthday - six weeks early!  I think he felt a little sorry for me because what I really wanted was new wood floors on the stairs and in the living room but after our next door neighbor put their house on the market for a lot less than they/we paid four years ago, we realized we shouldn't put that kind of money into a house we don't plan to live in for much longer.

The Silhouette arrived on Saturday and I got right to work learning how to use it.  As with any new piece of machinery or technology there is a bit of a learning curve, but it's not too bad. 

I've been searching online for project inspiration and found the cutest No Soliciting sign idea on Blue Cricket Designs.   I couldn't wait to copy it.  I used a font called Grilled Cheese (hilarious) and created my own version.  I used the regular vinyl, not the premium which is designed for outdoor use, so I'm not sure how it will hold up.  Our front door gets blasted with the afternoon sun.  If it falls off in a week, all I have to do is reprint the saved file using the more durable vinyl.

I've always wanted a No Soliciting sign to help keep the vacuum cleaner salesmen away and this little injection of humor softens the harshness.  I think it's precious.

There is so much inspiration online!  I'd love to take credit for originality, but I honestly can't.  I do try to inject a bit of my own personality into the projects I so shamelessly copy, but feel I should give credit where credit is due.

Back with more projects soon!

Chalkboard Paint

As I mentioned in my last post, I found a print for $10 at the used hotel furniture store when I was shopping for a chair.  It was the perfect size for the chalkboard I wanted to create for the wall beside our refrigerator.  I had researched several ideas but saw a post on Decor Chick's blog that made me decide that I wanted to try using spray chalkboard paint directly onto glass.This is what it looked like before I started.

I started by taping off all of the glass so that I could paint the frame a glossy white.

After I let that dry for 24 hours, I reversed the process and covered the freshly painted frame.  I cleaned the glass really well, making sure I removed every little speck of stuff on the glass.

Then I went to town with my chalkboard spray paint!  I had to hurry a little bit because the neighborhood landscapers showed up and the guy with the big blower machine was headed my way.  I was working in the garage and I didn't want to risk him blowing leaves or grass on my newly painted chalkboard!  I don't like to be outside when they're around anyway, especially since I saw the old guy relieving himself in the bushes at the front of the neighborhood.  Yuck!

I loved it the way it was but THEN ... my new Silhouette SD arrived!  (Happy early birthday to me! - Thanks to my sweet husband.)  I decided I needed to dress my new chalkboard up a bit.  After some frustration learning how to work with the Silhouette Vinyl, this is the final result.  (Sorry about the terrible picture.  It's hard to find a good angle because of where the chalkboard is hanging.)

This week's menu isn't very exciting. :)  I've been too busy playing with my new toy.  I think it turned out really cute and I am looking for my next spray paint, vinyl victim project.

I'm in love with spray paint!

I've been exploring all the wonderful ideas out in the blogosphere and my mind is swirling with the projects I would like to try. I am now on the lookout for good deals at Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity Restore and whatever other thrift or resale shop I can find.

We have needed a chair in the guest room for ages but I didn't want to spend much for something that would get so little use. (Isn't that the common thread of a lot of us out here?) I saw an ad on Craigslist for some chairs at a local store that sells used hotel furniture. Goodness knows we have a lot of hotels here in Hawaii! Anyway, I made my way down there one morning and picked up a cute wicker chair for $40. It had an awful vinyl cushion but I figured I could cover it with some inexpensive fabric. I decided the chair would be my first spray paint project and I was soooo excited!

Here is what it looked like:

The picture really doesn't look bad but it was in pretty rough shape and the cushion was yucky.

I took it down to the garage, moved the cars to guest parking, sprayed it with primer and then with Rust-Oleum American Accents in Canyon Black. I chose the Smooth Satin Finish. I used a whole can of spray paint (three coats) and can still see a few areas that could use a little more paint but it looks so much better!

Here's the after:


I found some black and white fabric that coordinates with the damask pattern on the guest room bedding and the general theme of the room. The fabric is just wrapped around the cushion for now - that's another project. We don't have any visitors on the calendar this summer, for the first time in four years, so I have some time to finish up.

While I was at the store I also found an old hotel print for $10 that is my NEXT spray paint project - chalkboard paint! I'm in love! What a quick and easy way to transform something.

Here's the before and after side by side:


Not a huge project but I am so excited with the results that I can't wait to see what else I can spray paint! The weather hasn't been cooperating but as soon as the sun shines - watch out.

Laundry Room Update

I have wanted to add one of those cute vinyl wall decals to to my laundry room for ages. I almost ordered one several times but could never bring myself to spend the money. So, my laundry room has looked like this forever. Recently, I discovered Thrifty Decor Chick's blog and she has inspired me. I actually have several projects in the works but this is the only complete one. I'll share more later.

I love my multicolored rectangles and squares and the blue color but that big blank space over the under stair storage closet was driving me crazy! I found the design I wanted at Uppercase Living and it was going to cost me a LOT more than I wanted to spend. Then the light bulb went on - ebay! Why hadn't I thought of that sooner? Went to ebay, typed in "laundry room vinyl" and (insert sound of angels singing)! Awesome! Found exactly the layout I wanted and (score) they don't charge extra to ship to Hawaii. Do you have any idea how often I find just the perfect item and then read the dreaded phrase, "This seller does not ship to your country."? What? Doesn't ship to my COUNTRY? Hello! The last time I checked Hawaii was part of the United States! Ugh - I digress - sorry, touchy subject.

Back to the good part. To top it off, my Groupon coupon a couple of days before was a $15 ebay gift card for $7. The vinyl I selected - 10" x 32" in Brown came to $15.48 including shipping. Applied my $15 gift card and paid the .48 balance via Paypal. Total out of pocket, $7.48. I was so excited. The vinyl came very quickly and I couldn't wait to get started putting it up.

Everything was going well until I started peeling the paper off and realized that it wasn't brown, as I had specifically requested, but BLACK.

I thought maybe the light was playing tricks on me but the more I revealed, the blacker it looked. Ummm ... what do I do now? I e-mailed the seller and got an immediate response and apology. He offered to send me a replacement decal in the color originally requested or I could order another item, free of charge. Well, I don't HATE the black so I'm ordering another decal for the entryway. That means I'll end up with TWO vinyl wall decals that I have been lusting over for eons for less than $10.00! Woo Hoo! Patience rewarded. I think it looks incredibly cute, even if it is the wrong color. I added a little lamp next to the metal basket that holds the fabric softener sheets and it's precious. The next step is to make something to put on top of the washer and dryer other than that beach towel. So, if you ever come to our house, make sure you stop by the Laundry Room on your way upstairs!

Painting the Bathroom

Well, I finally finished painting the hall bathroom! I started on February 9th! There are a few reasons it has taken me a month. The day after I started painting I was taking a break and found really cheap airfare to San Antonio for the next day. I was gone for a week and nothing happened during that time. When I got back and got back to it I realized that our huge ladder wouldn't allow me to reach everywhere I needed because of the 10-1/2 foot ceilings. I borrowed our neighbor's ladder and continued. Unfortunately, I still couldn't reach the front corners. I needed Terry's help. He's been working such long hours that I hated to bother him when he came home at night and was waiting for the weekend. What I didn't know was that he was going to whisk me away to Kauai for a romantic anniversary weekend. Another delay. Finally, this week, I had him help me with the ladder, I was able to get to the far corners and I finished last night. Whew! What a job!

An Anniversary Surprise

My sweet husband! Last Thursday night at dinner Terry presented me with an envelope. Inside was a very cute card and a certificate for a surprise trip to Kauai to celebrate our 18th anniversary. We were leaving the next morning!

I was more than a little surprised. Terry's current project has a completion date of March 13th and he's been working some long hours as they race toward the finish line, including Saturdays. Our anniversary is March 2nd but I never thought we'd be able to get away anytime before the end of his project.

While I was in Texas, Terry planned the entire trip. He cleared the time off with his boss, made the airline and hotel reservations and booked a rental car. While Terry has traveled to Kauai many times for work we've never been there as tourists and it was a wonderful surprise.

We left very early Friday morning. Our first stop after picking up our rental car was Kauai Community College's One Stop Center. That's the last project Terry worked on for Bodell Construction and he was proud to share it with me. It's a very nice building and it was fun for me to see it after hearing so much about it during construction.

It was too early to check into our hotel so after some lunch we made our way north up the coast. We ended up at Kilauea Lighthouse which is also a nature preserve. We saw Nene Geese, Red Footed Boobies and lots of other birds. The view from the lighthouse is amazing!

Afterwards we headed back to Kapaa to check into the hotel and take a little nap before dinner. Being together, away from the stress of our regular life, was wonderful. I didn't realize how much we needed it. We had an easy dinner and spent the rest of the evening just relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

On Saturday we slept late, had a big breakfast and then drove to the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Unfortunately, it was cold, wet and windy so we didn't have a great view but it was still pretty incredible. On Saturday night we went out for a nice "anniversary" dinner at a local spot called "The Bull Shed."

Our plane didn't leave until Sunday evening so we explored Poipu, the old town of Koloa and a couple of different waterfalls. It was a great time. At the airport, we were able to catch an earlier flight but almost didn't make it when Terry forgot to take his pocket knife out of his pocket and had to go back to the counter to check it. In the excitement he forgot to take off his watch, set off the metal detector twice and was ultimately searched. The bag of Kauai coffee in my carry on also caused security to take a second look and our plane was ready to board as we walked up to the gate.

Since Terry surprised me with a trip to Kauai for our 18th anniversary I have no idea what he'll do when we celebrate our 20th in two years! The trip was an incredibly sweet gesture and I really appreciate all the effort he went to. The secret is, I'd be happy alone with him anywhere!

My Texas Trip

I had a wonderful trip to Texas. No travel glitches, decent weather and lots of good food and time with friends and family. I think I ate more tortillas between February 12-18 than I have in the previous year! Fortunately, the scale didn't go up when I got home.

The dedication of Concordia's new sanctuary was a wonderful event and I got to see lots of old friends and fellow church members. A completely unexpected benefit of my trip was the opportunity to see my sister, Kelly, for the first time in six years. God put us in each other's path and opened the door for us to rekindle our relationship. That, by itself, was worth the trip.

I also got to spend some much needed time with my oldest son, Ben, and was able to meet his sweet girlfriend, Jane. What a delightful young woman!

While my time in Texas was wonderful, it was great to get back home to Hawaii and my sweet husband. We don't like being apart! Our next trip to Texas, sometime before November, will be together.