Paint A Pillow Giveaway!

I was contacted by the fine people at "Paint-A-Pillow" inquiring if I would like to try Paint-a-Pillow AND do a giveaway for my readers......The answer was a resounding YES and YES!!  Paint-A-Pillow is a sister company of Cutting Edge Stencils

I was in need of new pillows so the timing was perfect!  I went to their site where I was able to choose from over 150 stencils and choose paint colors 

I used these paint colors to play mad scientist and got the colors I wanted with the help of their handy color mixing chart

When the box arrived I was more than impressed with the packaging 

The pillow case was already on the cardboard frame with the stencil attached over it by the gold clips........All centered and ready to go....This is a no fail project! 

I was able to use either a stencil brush or a roller

They turned out perfect!  The key was the pillow case frame and the ability to center the stencil perfectly with the gold clips

Here's the beauty of Paint-A-Pillow......Now that I have the frame, stencils, and tools, I can order just the pillow covers for $9.95 and order additional stencils or paint ala cart

This allows me to custom design my pillows...I pick the pattern and colors I want......No shopping around for the perfect pillow....I create it!

So here's the deal.....Paint-A-Pillow is giving away to one lucky reader a free Paint-A-Pillow kit, which includes everything needed to create one fabulous pillow

Just leave a comment and make sure there is some way I can contact you.  I am unable to contact some Google + readers. 

Some I can, and some I can't I have no idea why?  It always makes me feel bad when you leave kind comments and I can't get back to you.

This Giveaway is Now closed

I will draw a winner by Random Number on November 21, 2014

US residents only

Good Luck!

  

Happy Creating

Carol

I was compensated with product for this post, but the opinions are all mine

Kitchen Reveal....I'm Done....Finally!

Yea.....I'm done with the kitchen remodel.  It was painful and inconvenient, but....Soooo worth it!

So many of you commented that you liked the old kitchen, but pictures can be very deceiving, this 30 year old kitchen was on it's last leg.  The laminate counter tops were covered with nicks and stains, the cabinets had been painted a couple times and were literally falling off the hinges, and the whole right side of the kitchen was wasted space where I was able to add cabinets and a huge counter top.

I only did one glass cabinet since I like to hide my junk lol!

This is my collection of a pattern called "Gay Fad", (What a weird name) It is such a pretty pattern

I love all of the slick storage options I have......

......And the spray faucet and single DEEP sink for hiding dirty dishes.  I also replaced the window ledge with matching granite

A nice feature is the drawers and cabinets have a soft close mechanism

Now....When it came down to the backsplash options.....

......In the end I decided to go with small subway tiles for two reasons.....

.......One was cost.  The fancy glass tiles were really expensive and since I was not brave enough to install them myself, the final cost would have been about $800 with installation.  I was able to install the small subway tiles myself for a total cost of $60

The second reason I used subway tiles is, I thought the colored tiles would be getting to trendy for the look I wanted, where as subway tiles are timeless.

To the right side of the kitchen I did a small granite backsplash

I love to turn on the under cabinet lighting and pendent lights at night

The valance is styrofoam like I did in my bedroom; The tutorial is HERE.  

It's screaming for a shabby sign to hang above it....I'll get to it.

My kitchen is painted green, but my plan is to carry out the blues I used in my Hollywood Regency bedroom to the rest of the house so.....That pretty blue color you see in the valance is the color I plan on painting the kitchen in the future......Not right now though....Because I'm EXHAUSTED!

So, I'm done!  I did it on a budget, I did not change any appliances, the foot print of the kitchen, or the floor.  I installed the backsplash myself and used Ikea cabinets (That's a whole other blog post) that were on sale for 20% off.

I realize it is not exactly a jaw dropping gorgeous kitchen, but it is the prettiest one I've ever had and I'm pleased with how it turned out, mostly for it's fabulous functionality with tons of storage and counter space.  The other day I was making a homemade salad dressing and pretending I was on a cooking show....All by myself, no one else around......The worst part is I'm telling you I did it lol!

Happy Creating!

Carol 

Kitchen Remodeling....All Of The Decisions!

Decisions, Decisions...So many kitchen remodel decisions!

Choose a counter top....Choose a backsplash....

Choose a cabinet style

......Choose a sink and faucet.....

Knobs or handles...Which handles....

.....Which knobs......And which way to have the doors open.......Do I want glass doors?

....Lighting.....

What do you want in the cabinets....Spice rack...Lazy susan?

...Appliances...Keep the old ones or get new ones...

Well...I am almost to the end of all my decision making and I'm so happy with how it is all turning out.  There is not one thing I would change.  

I'm in the process of doing the backsplash myself...A great way to save money and not a difficult Do it Yourself job!

One of my readers said "It must be fun doing projects for yourself"  ....It is!!

Happy Creating

Carol

Kitchen Remodel.....Demolition

I'm in the middle of a kitchen remodel....Oh goodness, this is a grueling process.   I'm not so sure I would have done this had I known what a difficult process it would be....I hope it will be like having a baby....I will so love the results and forget all the pain lol!

Here's my 30 year old kitchen before I started the remodel

I've been putting Band-Aids on it for the 10 years I've lived here...It was time for new cabinets and counters

The first thing I did was salvaged all of the old cabinet doors.....They will be great for making chalkboards and signs.  

Then I emptied all of the contents of the cupboards into my living room.

I have the BEST contractor in all of Florida doing the work.  I am truly blessed, without him I would have been in the looney bin.

Demo time

I went with Ikea cabinets, they were having a 20% off kitchen sale.......Would I go with Ikea if it had to do it all over again?????   

If you like, I will do a whole blog post on answering that question!

Here's my kitchen, fresh off the Ikea delivery truck...200 piece....I had 48 hours after delivery to inventory and claim any damage or missing pieces...I was totally overwhelmed!  You are only seeing half the pile in this picture!

Two weeks into the remodel and I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel

Hang with me, I had no idea how all consuming this project would be.  Here's the good news....I will never have to do this again lol!

Happy Creating
Carol

How To Make A Valance/Cornice.....Inexpensive And Easy

One of the finishing touches to my Hollywood Regency bedroom was to add Valances over the drapes

You are going to love this...the only tools you need are:

Hot glue gun

Straight pins

Batting

Fabric

And 

Styrofoam sheets from Lowes for $7.00

After I hung the drapes I thought they looked to plain and I wanted something to glam them up, so I decided to make valances

Many years ago I made valances from wood.  They were expensive, heavy, and took carpentry skills to cut and nail together......There had to be a better way!

I have been buying styrofoam at home improvement stores for other craft projects since it is soooo much cheaper than buying at craft stores

This is what I used.....There are 6-48" sheets to a $7.00 pack

I used a knife to cut a sheet for the top, front, and 2 sides.  I ruined a sheet because I did not compensate for the Styrofoam width on the sides and top.....I'm just saying that I had to do some careful measuring but, with 6 sheets in a pack I had plenty of sheets so, messing up was no big deal.

The only thing I used to attach all of the pieces of styrofoam together was gobs of hot glue.  It gave a good strong bond...I was amazed!

I first hot glued on the batting and then pinned the fabric on.   I hot glued the batting but pinned the fabric to make it easy to change the fabric in the future.

Now it was STILL to plain.......

....So I hot glued 2 rows of ribbon to the bottom....

I used 2 "L" bracets and set the valance on the brackets, there was no need to attach the valance to the brackets as they are really light and not going anywhere

The Bedroom is officially done!

If you are wondering what I'm up to now.....

...Here's my kitchen, do you see anything missing? 

Oh gosh, I think I'm a glutton for punishment.  Anyone that has done a kitchen reno will agree that it is the most difficult of all!

I'll be back when I can........

Happy Creating!
Carol