Weathered Crate Stands

Finally!  What I did with those 4 square blocks & 4 paint sticks...take a look!

I started off with four 4"x4"x ¾"  wood blocks a friend gave me and four paint sticks (all free). 

I sawed off the ends of the paint sticks just below the indention and lightly sanded the cut ends.  I also lightly sanded all the cut sides of the wood blocks.   

I painted one set of the blocks & paint sticks yellow and the other white.  The first coat of paint is what will show through the cracks of the top coat of paint.   

Once the base coat of paint dried, I brushed on a cackle medium,  let it dry for a minute, then brushed on the top coat of paint.  Be sure to follow the directions on the crackle medium and don’t over brush it.

Once all the pieces were dry I added the sheet music to the ends of one set of blocks.  I did not crackle the side the sheet music is adhered to.  This you can find how to do on a previous post at http://somebitsofeverything.blogspot.com/2011/06/worlds-best-dad.html.

Tacked it all together.

Hot glued a flower on to each end.

And both weathered crate stands are done! 

The cost...only $1.00 for the the flowers bought at a dollar store.  The wood was free,

the paint and crackle I had!  :)

Wood Blocks & Paint Sticks?!?!

Stop in this Saturday and see what these wood blocks and paint sticks will be turned in to!!!

Little Rocker Re-do

I love a great deal, and free...love it even more!  :)  I got this cute little rocker from a friend - and yes it has seen its better days.  But, it's nothing a little sanding, some compound, and spray paint can't fix!  I did however run into some problems last week that kept me from getting this easy project done sooner...rain and humidity.

I started this little project with a light sanding using a fine grit (220) sand paper - a little extra sanding on the armrests.  Finished just in time!  The rain started to fall during this picture.  After this shot, it’s in the house to wipe this little rocker down with a damp cloth.

Some Spackle to fill nail holes and imperfections, another light sanding (only on the spackled areas) and another wipe with a damp cloth.

Now it's all ready to paint!  Spray one light coat, let it dry, then a second (or more if you have to – mine took three), and it's all done!  There maybe even a little cushion later to finish it off.  The Princess is going to love it!

Shrimp Scampi

In honor of my Hubby on Father's Day, here is one of his favorite dishes I make. 

 

Ingredients:
1 lb 30-40 count raw shrimp, shelled and deveined
¾  lb linguini
3 T olive oil
3 T butter
6 cloves minced garlic (about 1 ½ T)
½  a lemon, juiced
1 ½ T parsley
salt & pepper
Parmesan cheese

Cook linguini in salted water and drain.  Sauté garlic in the butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. Don't let the garlic burn - it will turn bitter.  Add shrimp, salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp has turned pink and slightly curled. Add linguini, parsley, the juice of half a lemon and toss.  Add more salt and pepper if needed, serve and top with Parmesan cheese.

Mangia!

World's Best Dad

For this easy Father's Day craft I started with wood letters.  Because the letters I bought were primed, I lightly sanded them and wiped them down with a damp cloth. I then painted only the backs and sides of the letters black.
                                

I found this great vintage world map scrapbook paper, traced the letters on to it and inked the edges.
A friend & fellow blogger has me wanting to ink everything! You can check out her blog at:
http://shakentogether.blogspot.com/ 

Paint on a thin and even layer of Mod Podge to the front of each letter and adhere the paper cutouts making sure you press out all the air bubbles.  Let it dry for at least 15 minutes and paint on another thin and even layer of Mod Podge, this time to the letters.  The second layer of Mod Podge will seal and protect the paper overlay.

                                                      

With another piece of scrapbook paper (red to match the red stamp on the last D), tag maker rims, a hole punch, silver Sharpie - to finish the punch-out and a piece of black ribbon I made a luggage-like tag and hot glued it to the first D.

Now to keep this post a secret from my Hubby.  Shhhhh.....  ; )