PB Knockoff...except the Nakedness

It's almost been a year since I began blogging- primarily to keep myself busier than I ever thought possible, and partly to share creations/obstacles/epic failures with all of you.  When I wanted to make some upgrades to the house, I researched a lot of ideas online...then I stumbled across a few honest blogs, and TONS of perfectly fake blogs.  They made me feel bad, like....hello, my "playground" of a house is never going to be that clean...even on its best day.  So, I felt it was necessary to start my blog.

Why am I telling you this?!?  Welp, remember that welcome back to me message from Monday?  You know, the one where I said I was going to share a PB knockoff with you yesterday?!?  Ok...NOW you're following me.  Well, guess what?!?!  No shade = No reveal.  But then I got thinking...look out right?!?  DANGEROUS... Who cares if it's not totally done...it's as done as it's going to get...especially since I'm not really sure where it's going anyway.  I have some great fabric, but until I figure out just how I'm going to do the shade part...you'll just hafta enjoy the nakedness.  And maybe if you go junkin this weekend-you'll remember to look for an old tripod that you can put a lamp kit on and have some nakedness for yourself...for a fraction of Pottery Barn's!

Here she is...Naked Nancy!!

 No shade....just Nancy.  In all her versatile nakedness.  She can be "Tall"

Or...she can be "short and stout".

Either way, she is fun, and I love her.  I'd been wanting one of these since who knows when, but since I've not been junkin' in a while I haven't had the chance to find a tripod.  I went to Target today and bought a plain white lamp shade to cover.  Hopefully, the monsters will allow me some time to get it finished tonight.  If not, so what?!?  I have a "junk" desk and chair to paint up tonight too.  Who wants to start placing bets that neither gets finished tonight?!?  AND...I cropped out so much of the photos because I'm saving it for the big reveal for the 25th.  Sorry!

Quick Junk Store Do-Over!

I'm working on my first ASCP post, but since someone "borrowed" my phone from my hotel room in Las Vegas, I'll show you a before and after I did a few weeks ago.  I found her hiding in a corner in a flea market/junk store.  Obviously, her name is not Baby because well, you know.  I snatched 'er up for a mere $10....and I think the people thought I was nuts because I was THAT excited...Here's a before...

DIY Mantle Widening....FINALLY!

Ok, so here it is...yes, finally.  Okay, so I apologize for taking so long to post this, however, let me just tell you what I've been up to...  First, my wax came...super excited!  Needed it to finish Grandma's piece...more on that later.  THEN...all my Rub n' Buff's came...awesomeness.  THEN...my ASCP came.  Yes, I realize I'm new to blogging...however, I recognize a good thing when I read about it blog after blog.  Anyway, I'll post more on the paint, wax, and whatnots later...you're here for the turorial.  Okay, so since I'm on a "self-imposed spending freeze" (which has forced me to be more resourceful) I'm only working with randomness around my workshop garage.  BTW...spending freeze is for NEW store-bought decor items.  I was once working with this...

One might say, what's the problem...here's the problem people...the mantle is (was) only 4 inches wide...meaning those creepy spider webs were multi-tasking.  As in, holding the decor on the mantle and hiding the fact that they are hanging over like by 2.5".  So, yes, add in the fact that the mirror is about .75" thick...I didn't have much to work with.  So, what's a no-spending gal to do?  Simple!  All I needed was a board (1"X6"X6'), some wood putty, a miter box, a saw, some nails, a hammer, stapler, wood glue, liquid nails, and yes, moulding because you can never have too much of that... oh yes, and some paint.  Here's the after...

Hello Gorgeous!  Notice the candle sticks are NOT about to fall off due to lack of surface to "rest" on!!  Yep, that's right...just a small little project I did while hubby was bowling (he DID notice after I pointed it out)...and I had a 2 1/2 yr. old and 14 month old at home with me helping every step of the way.  All I did was (yes I did use a circular saw to cut-off 4" of the big top board because since our fire place is on an angle...the whole 6' piece was not working) hammered the big new wide board smack dab on top of the old wimpy mantle....(yes, also smeared some wood glue on that baby too) then, measured a piece of moulding I had left over from another project...cut two 45's, filled some unsightly gaping gaps (unlevel wall people...my father raised me better than to screw-up a couple of 45's) and used wood glue and temporary staples to hold it in place (under the big board I nailed to the top).  You might be asking...where does the Liquid Nails come in?  Welp, after a huge FAIL (I was impatient and wanted to start painting...but couldn't do it with the staples holding the moulding in place...silly me...grabbed some needle-nose pliers and ripped them off....along with the trim moulding!!)  Monkey Man and The Princess thought this was the funniest thing......EVER...I'm here to tell you...IT WAS NOT.  So, enter Liquid nails..to the rescue...how you like me now moulding?!?!?  Yes, I was talking smack to the mantle...okay so moving on....finally after the glue and paint dried, I am left with my new fav place to put crap....without having to use fishing line, and a thumb tack to secure it!  Easy "do-over".    Goin to bed because we had a looooong night with a teething Princess...so I'm out.  Maybe tomorrow, I'll jazz-up the pics with some arrows, but I'm sure you get the idea!

Happy Haunting!

Halloween Decorating!

Yes I am cheap frugal, so most things here within view are from good ol' Dollar Tree.  But, it's only Halloween, and it's only here for like 31 days + 9 days (left this month), so, 40 days...might be a stretch, I guess I can live with it.  In the photo below, the green arrows are from Dollar Tree, Yellow arrows are Goodwill finds, and blue arrows are Hobby Lobby finds...

More with the mantle, but I have a DIY planned for tonight; something along the lines of "The widening of the awful skinny mantle"...stay tuned!