Bible Storybook Keepsake Box

I got into major craft mode this afternoon and made this keepsake box. I began with vintage books about the Bible. This particular one is in a four volume set, so I have three left to make more boxes.

I began by drawing a rectangle on the first page of the book and then drilled a hole in each corner. These served as my guides when I took a ruler and exacto knife and cut out the inset. This took a while since I could only do enough pages as I could cut through. Once the box was cut out, I replaced my drill bit with a drum sander and sanded the cut edges to smooth them out and even them up.

I covered the inside front cover with scrapbook paper as well as the inside back cover (which you can see at the bottom of the box) and a portion of the cover. I then added pages from vintage Bible story books I had on hand. Then as a final step I brushed glue on the last page of the book to adhere it to the back cover, then the outside edges of the pages as well as the edges inside the box. Allowed it all to dry by stacking books on top to keep it flat. I also slipped a piece of wax paper between the cover and first page so that they wouldn't stick if there were any stray glue.

Harleigh can use these as graduation gifts for friends, and I just might keep a few to use as gifts!

Chateau Gahan Facelift

With Harleigh's graduation coming up and lots of folks expected at our humble abode, I bit the bullet and worked a bit of magic to take our house from a dated 70's cedar look to an English cottage feel. With a new dressing of gray paint, off-white trim, the addition of shutters, and a rusty-red door the place looks so much better. And this past weekend I did a bunch of planting . . . an evergreen clematis climbing up the basketball hoop, two peony bushes, a colorful mix of annuals and perennials, hydrangea. It all makes me very happy. (And the back yard is all planted too!)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Before and After

I got this cabinet a while back and was really considering just stripping and refinishing it. I hate to be that woman who always paints everything white. But in this case, I really did think it would look better in white. Not to mention that we'll be using it for Ali's wedding and so it needed to be spruced up anyway. Before and after below. Whatcha think?

Pretty China

To add to my growing collection of ceramic kitties and floral plates . . .

PCA Senior Prom 2010

It was a grand day! The weather was perfect. I went and got myself a haircut, picked up the boutonniere, then we headed to the salon. Harleigh had chosen a Sarah Jessica Parker 'do and we brought along some flowers to add in. Two hours later we headed home to get ready; we found her gown at a consignment shop over 8 months ago (for under $100!); it needed some alterations, but Grandie helped with that. We had to leave the house by 2:30 to be at Jenny's by 3:30 for picture taking with the dates. Harleigh went with a friend, Rhys, who used to go to PCA before transferring to Norcross High. And so he was excited to be asked to prom and see all his old friends. Once at the venue, Villa Christina, there were more pictures to be taken, and then the Senior Walk where each senior is announced along with what college they will be attending. For the prom itself, there was a sit-down dinner and then the dance. Afterwards they had their after-party at Jenny's house. Harleigh said it was the best prom/dance she's ever been to. And nothing made me happier than to see her glowing. And when she laughs, the way she crinkles up her nose and throws her head back . . . it warms my heart.

Down and Out

A bug hit me big time and so I've been out-of-pocket for the past two days, then back at work today functioning, but only at half speed. So bear with me as I get my bearings, catch up on lost time and stacked-up chores and to do's. Gotta be in 100% shape for Harleigh's senior prom this Friday — a full day of preparation and pre-prom festivities leading up to the evening event. Stay tuned! Don't give up on me!

Painted Chairs

I can't seem to pass up a painted chair. (The painted bench from a couple posts ago called to me . . . well, come on, who would pass up that sweet little number???) This one in Goodwill the other evening was so sturdy and the friendliest shade of ivory.

Giddy and Me

Harleigh is gone on Spring Break this week and so it's been just me and the little man. This is what we've been doing every evening after I get home from work; he surveys the birds and the squirrels and I sit in my chair and talk to him. We stay out until it turns dark. I miss my daughter big time. And it's only a week. Eegads, college is gonna kill me.

Peeps

My 90-year-old grandmother, Mam Mom, loves Easter peeps. And so at this year's Easter lunch they were served on a silver platter.

Nichols & Stone Bench for $19

When this beautiful stenciled bench was brought out on the floor at Goodwill yesterday, a lady made a beeline for it. Dang nab it. So I walked toward her, nonchalantly, so that if she decided against it, I'd be the first to pounce on it. Score! I love it. Love it. Love it. It's not an antique, as this furniture was mass-produced, but I do love black furniture painted or stenciled. So very Hansel and Gretel or Heidi-ish.

Robin Eggs

These seem to be all the rage this Easter so I gave it a shot. Super easy and oh so pretty. I used blue food coloring in water with just a smidge of green dropped in. Then put a toothbrush into brown watered-down paint and ran a finger across the bristles to spatter it onto the eggs. Put them into this pretty bowl. Voila.