Toy Boxes - Christmas Gifts For Grand Kids

I've linked this post to these blogs:








Thought I'd get a couple posts up and ready to go before this "storm of the century" hits us!!

As I've mentioned in previous posts, we've made a commitment to give "homemade" gifts for every occasion whenever possible. This past Christmas, I decided a couple of our grand kids needed toy boxes. I gave my husband the dimensions I wanted and a somewhat rough idea of what I wanted them to look like - I wanted them painted white and glazed, with painted letters.

Here's what we came up with:




I wanted the colors to coordinate with their bedroom decor, so Peyton's has brown letters and Kami's has green and pink letters.




The bead board was my husband's idea, so that there would be detail for the glazing. I like it!!

This one is Peyton's:






I think the letters could have been a bit smaller, but the next size down that I could find was too small.






And Kami's:












He used what he calls a piano hinge (don't know if that's the real name for it, or his name for it). Anyway, it won't slam with this hinge, so we don't have to worry about little fingers getting smashed.




This little thingy will keep the wood from rubbing together when the lid is closed and also keeps the gap even from front to back, which was very important to my husband!!




I'm loving how they turned out! And the mom's are loving the toy storage space. I see a more of these in our future!!

First Attempt At Glazing!

I've linked this post to the DIY Project Parade!





I have several pieces of furniture that I would love to paint and glaze. But, since I have absolutely no experience with glazing, (and not that much with painting, for that matter!) I've been a bit hesitant to try. Well, make that very hesitant!

I love the looks of this painted and glazed end table that I found over at All Things Thrifty.




And this yellow night stand.




All done with spray paint and glaze!

It sounds so easy, but I know me and how I can take something easy and turn it into a disaster!

So I wanted to start out with something small first. I found this nifty little organizer at the Goodwill the other day.

When I saw the detail, I knew it would become my guinea pig!








So I went to Wal Mart and bought some Krylon Ruddy Brown primer and Banner Red spray paint. Then I stopped at Lowe's and picked up some black-tinted glaze.




I carefully followed any directions I could find about glazing on the blogs I follow, and this is how it went:

Sprayed with primer:




Painted red:




Glazed:





More glazing:








And the finished product!




So what do you think? Does it look okay? I think maybe I left too much glaze in the grooves. Then I look at it again and like it!

What do you think? Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!!

Valentine Cookies

I've linked this post with the following blog parties!










Here's a sampling of some Valentine's Day cookies I made to send to my son and his wife in Vanuatu.














I individually wrapped each cookie, them wrapped all the cookies in a couple layers of bubble wrap. Hopefully, they will still be edible by the time they get there!!

Day 21 Challenge - You Pick

I fully intended to come home from work this evening and organize something. Anything.

But, instead, I watched this little man! His daddy and big sister are down with the flu, and his mommy desperately needed to run to the store.






We played hide and seek around the recliner . . . .







. . . . and snuck some of these Valentine's Day cookies I made last night for his Uncle Nate and Aunt Jen! Sometimes the organizing just has to be put off for more important things.














After he left, I packaged up the cookies (and a few other much needed items) to mail to my son and daughter-in-law who live in Luganville, Vanuatu. They probably won't make it there in time, but hey, it's the thought that counts! My thoughts just need to come a little earlier!!

I hope everyone enjoyed the 21 Day Organizing Challenge as much as I did!