A Garage Sale Find- Repurposed

I have been seeing all those chalk boards on Pinterest and loving them.  Enter the neighboring city's yearly city wide garage sales.  My daughter in law wanted to go, so now I had a buddy.  With ideas and measurements in hand off we went to find some deals.  And oh the deals we found, my grandchildren made out like bandits, but thats another story.  This was my find of the day.

 Right size and shape, definitely not the right color, but I can fix that.  It was beyond my price range but at the urging of my daughter in law I counter offered and they went for it.  Yes, I had the frame I wanted, for the price I was willing to pay and it was my last purchase of the day.  Found this just in time!

Removed the back and took out the picture.  I thought I would need to find another surface for my chalk board but the back of the picture was perfectly smooth.  It was a paper board of sorts so I was not sure how the surface would be but "push on regardless" is my motto.

 There are plenty of recipes out there for chalk paint but I could not find a small enough amount of grout  to make it economical to try so for my first project I went for the ease of a spray can of chalk paint.  You can get this stuff by the quart or spray can.  This was definitely the most economical for me.  I sprayed 4 coats on the board, again the backside of my picture, letting them dry between coats.  Some texture remains but smooth enough to try.

Accent color for my kitchen is red, so red it is for the frame.  I should have primed the piece and painted it nice (sorry Mom, I know I cut corners) but instead I slathered on some paint from a can on the shelf.  First coat went on pretty streaky but my OCD made me make the streaks straight and even, good thing.  When it was dry, I loved it.  Just the right amount of shabby for me.  Let everything dry real nice overnight.  Next morning I put it all back together, found some chalk and made my first posting for the board.  I took down a basket rack that had been bugging me and hung the new chalkboard.  The basket goes into my garage sale.

 We here in Michigan have been waiting a long time for spring.  Those are the current projected temps for next week.  I can't wait. 

A 10 Minute Post

My quick Thursday night project.....The 10 minute table runner....really does only take 10 minutes to make. My friend Janie was talking about making them yesterday and the thought of it niggled at me all night and day.  So after work today a quick stop at Joann's and a little research on google and here it is.  My version of the 10 Minute Table Runner.  I really love it and I think several people are getting one from me soon. 

Santa's Workshop

I have cleaning to do, crocheted hats to make and decorating to complete, but .......what I really want to do is sew.   So to my sewing room I went and tuned in Buddy the Elf on ABC family TV and here I am.....in Christmas bliss.  I have cleaned my craft studio and organized a few things and found the electric scissors for my husband's gift wrapping experience but now I am sewing.  I love it.  It's soothing, it's comforting and it's fun.  I can find nothing else to say about it but it's fun, fun, fun.  My grandson Parker is the recipient of this particular project and he is going to look like million bucks in this little cardigan onesie.  Now I need a tie to go with it.  Oh yeah....another sewing project. 

Such fun making "stuff" for the grand daughters, this is a dress for JuJu and I made a similar version as a shirt for Ally. You girls are such fun. Need to get working on some new crochet items and increase the shop inventory.  I really think I want to add some adult items. I'm thinking maybe cowls and head bands.   This is going to require some serious thinking.  Or maybe not, I should just add them and see what happens.  What do you guys think?   Right now gotta go enjoy the summer sun and heat. Enjoy your weekend.  God keep you safe. 

My domesticity continues. I have been sewing some baby blankets, crocheting edges on other blankets and now I am dabbling in baking. My new fav is cupcakes, this flavor being Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Yummy to be sure. Chris loved it, the folks at work liked them and I am amazed with the aroma.....again yummy.

Projects I've been up to...

 It was Julianna's birthday....had to buy toys but so wanted to make her something as well.  Well this is it.  I really love it and she sure looked cute in it.  Wear it well sweet girl.

Blanket auction at church seemed like just the time to try out these two new projects.  Raggedy quilt so cute with the owls and flannel and this fleece blanket with crochet edge.  Both projects I have been waiting to try and a good cause to boot.  Hope everyone else is as pleased with them as I am. 

Meet Parker

My newest grandchild.....meet Parker David.  Weighing in at 9lbs 4 oz he is just to cuddly for words.  Sure is the apple of his grandpa's eye.  This makes 4 grandchildren, 2 boys and 2 girls.  We are truly blessed.  This has made for a very busy week and also a most joyous one.  Better get busy with a boy design for my crocheted hats. 

Speaking of crochet and scrapping and painting and sewing....I've been thinking this blog needs a new name.  I am not sure what blogger does in terms of name changes but I really need to look into that.  Sue Paints no longer fits my personality....guess my attention span is just to short for only one craft.