Old desk turned into a vanity

 I had been searching for an old desk that I could turn into a vanity for quite some time.  I happened across one at a second hand store one day.  The best part: someone has already started the remodel process.  They had stipped all stain off and sanded it down.  All I had to do was to sand the drawers and prime/paint! Score! 

Some weeks later, I happened to be at the same store I found the desk and saw a wooden straight backed chair.  They were asking $10 but I talked him down to $7.  I loved it because it had curves in the back that I thought would compliment the curves on the front of the desk. 

The lamp was a Goodwill find.  It was $3.  I didn't get any before pictures of the lamp.  :(  I used this amazing stuff called "Rub N Buff" on the lamp (and the desk handles too) to polish them and bring them back to a silver color.

The mirror was a yard sale find.  They guy was asking $20 but I talked him down to $10.  That sucker is the real deal.  It's heavier than all get out.  Took Hubby and a friend to hang it. (again, shame on me, I didn't get a before pic of the mirror)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Completely finished.  A friend of mine's parents were moving and gave me the glass top for free.  While it is oval on a rectangle desk, it was free and protects enough of the surface to please me.

The mirror had these weird 3 small mirror on the end of it....but I turned the mirror sideways and added suction cup hooks to hang my necklaces on!

Now I have a beautiful (matching) vanity which I use daily to get ready in the mornings. I love it!

Cost:Desk - $30
Mirror - $10

Lamp - $3

Chair - $7
Glass top - free
Everything else on top of the desk - Free (items from around the house, including the suction cup hooks)

Total: $50

*A friend found another desk at an auction for $2 (yes, you read that correctly!) and I'm in the process of refinishing it for my daughters room.  I've also got a lamp and mirror to refinish for her vanity too*

I will link this back to that tutorial once it is finished :)

Linking to:

  

Kamryn Claire - 21 months

It has been a while so I thought I would do an update on Kamryn's latest achievements.

As of today:

Diapers - Size 4 (just switched last week.)
Shirts/Dresses - Either 18-24 months or some 2T
Pants - 18-24 months.  Most are a little big in the waist but we have to get them this size to fit length wise. 
Eating:     LOVES: yogurt, bananas, crackers, bread, milk, water, any juice (but i mix 1/2 juice, 1/2 water), hot dogs, chicken nuggets, toast (with butter, jelly, cinnamon sugar, or peanut butter), bagels with cream cheese, pancakes/waffles (with fruit or syrup), any type of cereal to snack on, meatloaf, cakes/cookies/donuts (in small portions of course!), helping Mommy bake because she gets to lick the beaters
     Dislikes: casserole, veggies (depending on the day. sometimes she will eat them, other times no way), pot roast, peaches
     For most meals I try to fix her a plate of whatever we are eating.  If we are pretty much done eating and she hasn't hardly eaten, I will fix her the "toddler" meals from Wal-Mart that I keep on hand.  I don't believe in forcing her to eat something she doesn't like.  I do however, encourage her to TRY new things. I've tried to "force" her before and I've gotten thrown up on. LOL.
Bedtime - Kamryn goes to bed between 8 & 8:30pm.  Any later and she is grouch in the morning.  She is fairly good about going to bed with out too much of a fit.  Some days are worse than others but overall we really can't complain.  Kamryn has been a big snuggle bug with Momma lately and we try about once a week to lay down in my bed and snuggle before she goes to bed.  But since she won't go to sleep like that, we can't do it very often, some nights it causes a fit because she would do it every night if we let her.  (Let me clarify - If DAD let US.  I want to every night, she's only my baby and wants to snuggle for so long, but Dad thinks it will start bad habits so we don't do it every night.
Words - Kamryn can say: Momma, Dad, Mamaw, Papaw, Uncle, Gog (Dog), Ba (Ball), Yeyyow (yellow),
Yakie (Jakie, our dog), Brrm Brrm (truck), Down, Up, Mo (More),  NO!, Poo, Buh (butt), baby
Things she knows - If asked, she can identify the following: her arm, leg, hand, foot, eyes, nose, mouth, hair, ears, butt, belly
Favorite Toys - her doll stroller and talking dog, Violet, that has to be in the stroller, her purse, an old cell phone
She tries to repeat almost anything you ask of her but it is not always audible.  She used to show a big interest in books but she doesn't much any more.  She's way too busy following you around doing everything exactly the way you do it.

Funny stories recently:
* Not sure if I want to call this a "phase" or not - but several times Kamryn will be standing there playing or something and pass gas.  She will then get the most worried look on her face, grab her butt and say "poo, poo"...until you tell her no, you didn't poo baby, you just farted.
* While getting ready for work the other day, I was putting my post earrings in, and she was staring at me intently and then put on hand on either side of her ear lobe to "to put her earrings on" just like I was.  (I was rather impressed at the coordination)
* Every morning when Keith and I are getting dressed, when it comes time to put deodorant on, Kamryn thinks she has to put some on too.  So I just put the cap back on and "put" it on her too.


Kamryn is one of the most strong willed and bull headed children I've ever met, especially for being so young.  But she gets it honestly.  Her father and I are quite hard headed/strong willed too.  It keeps things very interesting, that's for sure!!  She does not outwardly express things often (i.e. words, thoughts, sentences) instead she "pretends" she's not paying attention but is soaking up everything around her.  She's very smart for her age but it seems that coupled with the will power, she knows too much.  She knows the rules but keeps you on your toes every single day to see if you are going to enforce them or not. If you let your guard down for even a minute, she will notice and take full advantage! LOL.  What a stinker!

Kamryn is definitely one of a kind but I wouldn't trade her (or anything in my life right now) for ANYTHING!! Keith and I are talking about expanding our family and I know that Kamryn will make a wonderful big sister some day! Until then, we will continue to spoil her and soak up every minute with her!

Boo!

This was one of the simpliest craft projects I've done in a while, if not ever!


I found a package of 3 black frames in the dollar section at the front of Target (I love that place!!). Then I used the cardboard that comes in the frame to measure a piece of scrapbook paper.  I chose orange with polka dots for this project.


  Next was to Mod Podge that scrapbook paper onto the cardboard.  I spread mod Podge onto the carboard piece, laid the scrapbook paper down.  Make sure to press any air bubbles out! Next I added another coat over the top of the scrapbook paper on the cardboard.

While that was drying, I cut the word "BOO" out using my cricut machine.  Because of the patterned paper I chose, I just wanted the letters to be plain, so I used some solid black vinyl I had on hand.

Final step is too add the letters to the paper and then put it all back into the frame.  I didn't add another coat of Mod Podge over the letters since I was leaving the plastic in front of the frames. 

So cute and simple!


Linnking up here:

Cabinet Makeover

This project has been done for a while now but I'm just getting around to posting the pics and how-to. 

I bought a cabinet at a yard sale for $4.  It was battered and beaten, the brown paint was coming off and showing the white paint underneath that, the glass was missing from the doors...

After sanding down any areas that needed it, I primed it.  I used a white primer because it was what I had on hand.

Then she got several coats of black. 

Next up was something to tackle the glass-less doors.  I had some cork board in my craft stash so I got the idea to cover it in fabric and make the "windows" cork boards instead.  I dug some fabric out of my stash and ironed it.

 I measured and cut the cork to fit in the windows.

 Cut the fabric an inch wider than the cork

 I simply used Fabric Tac to glue the fabric to the cork board.  I started with the corners.  After glueing all four corners, I then went back and glued the edges, making sure to pull everything tight at each step.

Sorry this one is turned at a funy angle.  I cannot seem to figure out how to rotate a picture once it has been added to blogger.

Apparently I didn't get any pictures of the edges being glued down. :(

 I wanted there to be no seams showing when I was finished so I cut another piece of fabric to cover the back side of the cork board.  I cut it about 1/2 inch or so short of the sides.

 Although I had glued that additional piece of fabric down with Fabric Tac I went ahead and Mod Podged the edges so that puppy couldn't go anywhere!

 The finished "window" piece (I did the exact same thing for the second door)

 I then tried to hot flue the board to the door frame but it didn't stay :(  After picking all of the glue off and sanding/re-painting the back side of both frames I was ready to give it another try, but this time, I used Gorilla Glue!

Picture of one of the doors after it's finished and ready to be attached

 Backside view of the new and improved door

This picture was added to show how close I cut the cork board to the edge of the frame.  In hindsight I would scale it down a little more next time.  After attaching the doors back onto the cabinet, I discovered that they didn't close because the cork was too thick, it got in the way.  But the hubby saved the day by adding washers to the screws and it added enough height to allow the doors to close :)

The finished product.  (coming soon, a bulletin board/calendar added to different wall in the kitchen but will match!)

Linking up to:









http://www.creationsbykara.com/2010/05/look-what-i-made-day-9.html/look-what-i-made-3




~Jess~