Fall Porch Decorating Pt 2 The Mailbox Makeover From You Know Where

My new fall arrangement clashed with my mailbox.  It was dirty and in need of a makeover anyway.

The red wasn’t working and I have a ton of diamonds on my front porch.  The mailbox is probably overkill.  When I painted the diamonds I used a cardstock cut out and outlined each one of them and hand painted them all.  I thought it needed a sealer so I attempted to spray the mailbox with clear paint, however, I picked up the black paint and had an overspray of black all over my diamonds.  This is important information for the rest of this story.

Ok so here is the before picture.

So I thought I will give it a quick coat of a paint and there you go.  All done.  Oh no.  That is not what happened.

  I will show you the after and then tell you the story.

I bet you are thinking what could possibly be hard about that?   I think sometimes the simplest of things can be the most difficult. 

It all started when I watered the backyard so I had to take my spray paint and cardboard to the front yard with my bed hair and no makeup self. 

I gave the mailbox a coat of Krylon in the color brown boots.  It worked for my suitcase but looked hideous on the mailbox.  Well maybe if I clear coat it then it will look better.  Nope worse.  I wondered what oil rubbed bronze would look like?  Great until I hung it and it as just too dark.  Ok espresso brown will work.  Nope think again.   How about heirloom white.  Ummmm NO!  

By the way my neighbor happens to go outside every time I do and sees me painting my mailbox with my no makeup bed hair over and over again.  He keeps asking me if I am sniffing paint.

Ok I am out of spray paint options.  I am realizing the initial color of the mailbox that was used on the house trim seemed to work best.  Problem is I don’t have anymore of it and I am trying to get the mailbox back up before the mail gets delivered.  That didn’t happen.  The mailman had to ring the doorbell to give us the mail.   So now my neighbor and the mailman think I am crazy.

I found some acrylic country tan.  It takes several coats.  I am liking it.  I used some rub on spanish copper for the plate which has also had a ton of different colors sprayed on it today.  Ok that works.  I glue my new house numbers on the plate. 

And now I can’t find the screws.  I dig in the garage until I find some replacements.  Do you know that rub on paint will not work on shiney new screws?  I have to give them a coat of paint and then use the rub on.  Ok maybe it all needs a clear coat especially since it is just craft paint on the mailbox.  I reach for my clear paint and give it a spray of OIL RUBBED BRONZE!  Yep I did.  I even thought about this mishap earlier when I sprayed the brown boot colored paint with the clear paint.   Only I am aimless enough to make this mistake not once but twice.  I never learn. 

Here is a little bit of over spray I missed when I repainted again!  Yep again. 

So if you don’t like my mailbox makeover please don’t tell me.  I just might cry.  Am I the only one that has such a hard time with simple projects?

 

Tracy

 

Linking to

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming

Fall Porch Decorating Pt 1 Front Door

A metal container hangs on the transom next to the door.  I keep if  full of seasonal floral stems that I  change for spring/summer, fall and winter. (You can see my spring arrangement here.)  Some of my last year items were looking a little sad so  I got some new ones this year.  I found some great floral stems at Michael’s and one of them from our local grocery store.   I only had to use 4 of them to fill up my container plus my 2 artichokes that I reused from the spring/summer display.

I love the brown sunflower.  It is a single stem floral.  I also am all about anything with a  curly stem on it.

I think it turned out great, but it clashes with my mailbox.  I think the old mailbox is getting a makeover tomorrow.  It never ends.

UPDATE:  You can see the mailbox makeover post here if you want.

Happy Fall Ya’ll

Tracy

Linking to

Show and Tell @ My Romantic Home

Show and Share Day @ Just a Girl

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots and Jello

Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Do You Want to Be on My Side Bar Blog Feature?

My sidebar feature has been one of my favorite things I have done to my blog.  I love going through a blog, writing about it and picking a photo.  I am amazed at the great blogs out there. 

I have one more blog feature request on my list.  I have loved bloggers asking me to put them on my side bar.  I feel privileged to do so. 

If you would like me to feature your blog let me know.  I have a list I keep and I go in order of first come first serve.  I always email the blogger and tell them when I have their feature up and running. 

I hope you have enjoyed visiting the side bar blogs as much as I have enjoyed putting them there. 

I also want to thank you all for the nice comments I have received on my 400 followers giveaway.  Wow.  It warms my heart and encourages me to continue to be creative.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Here’s a funny photo for you.  My little painted wreath would not stay up using that clear adhesive dot so I had to find a new use for it.

Tracy

Find It Game Knock Off

Do bloggers ever buy anything already made or do we all look at something and think how easily we could make it ourselves?  I don’t know if it the thrill of the try or the fun in making it for less, but I think we all love this kind of challenge. 

I was at my hair appointment last week and while waiting I noticed a colorful game called Find It.  It was a clear cylindrical tube with small colorful bead like pieces filling the container with different items mixed in.  The object is to turn it and look for the items until you find them all.  For some reason anything metal like a penny is the most difficult to find. 

The website (click here) has different themed games.

This is the one I played with.

My mind went crazy trying to think how to make this.

I ate the last of some peanut butter at work today and thought it would make a great container for my knock off game.  I stopped at Walmart to get some colored beads, charms and alphabet beads.

IMPORTANT!  These metal charms below do not work well.  The website talks about how hard it is to find the penny and different strategies to find it.  I think foam rubber would  work really well for this game but not metal objects.

I dug through drawers and my son’s room to find stuff to put in my jar.

I ended up using one metal charm (the star) and a penny so there would be a couple of challenging items.   I also put each letter of the alphabet in the jar. 

I made a list of all the items and printed it on colorful paper.  I drew a circle using the top of the empty jar and cut it out.

I rubbed on some Mod Podge to stick it to the lid.

And now I have a fun game to take to work so the bored children that come with their parents to dental appointments will have something to do.  I think it would be a good idea to glue the lid on.  I just haven’t yet. 

So let’s play!

Here is the button.

The car, rubber band and globe.

The frog and dice.

The toy soldier, marble and lego.

Eraser and golf tee.

And a few letters.

 

I am sure you are tired of finding it and looking at all of these photos so I will end this post.  I think these could make fun Christmas gifts or they would be great for traveling. 

What would you put in the jar? 

Tracy

Linking to

Creative Share @ The Trendy Treehouse

Get Your Craft On @ Today’s Creative Blog

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

400 Followers Giveaway

Wow.  I can’t believe I made it to 400!  I love even numbers more than odd.  Is anyone else like that?  I am so happy to have reached this milestone. 

A few of my coworkers have some really pretty watches I have admired.  I thought it was the perfect 400 follower prize. 

My son wrist model was not as cooperative today as he was for my 300 follower bracelet giveaway so I had to use a wooden pear.

The watch is a rubbery very flexible and comfortable band in a soft gray with rhinestones.   I might have to go get one for myself.  I can’t quit looking at it. 

Here’s another shot so you can stare at it some more too.

What do you have to do this time to enter?  Just leave a comment.  I like simple and easy. 

Watch out (get it watch out?) for Sunday September 26th at 5pm Central for the winner.  Well it might be a little after 5pm, but the giveaway ends at 5pm. 

Thanks for making me feel appreciated and good luck.

Tracy

 

Winner of CSN and White Mini Pumpkins

Everyone loves a white pumpkin it seems.  While doing my weekly chore of grocery shopping, I saw these cute mini white pumpkins with curls on the stems. 

 

Aren’t they adorable? 

Now for the winner of the $35 CSN Giveaway.  Thank you so much for entering and reading my blog.  I appreciate you.

Comment #2 from Beth Ann @ The Thrifty Ba

I will send you an email and tomorrow CSN should send you the gift certificate by email.

 

Tracy

 

Painting Hardback Books

The third time is a charm right?  I hope so.  I woke up again not feeling happy with my latest fall set up again!

I still had a little bit of my caramel latte Krylon spray paint left and some purple Reader’s Digest books.

Before I was ever a blogger I was a spray painter.  Nothing is safe if I have a can of spray paint, however, I have never sprayed a book before.  Reader’s Digest are easy to find so I thought why not try it.

I always spray paint outside on a piece of cardboard.  I opened the book to get the outside sprayed all at once.

I know it isn’t a good photo, but hey I remembered to take one so that is brownie points.

To get the edges I placed the dried book on an old votive holder so it would sit off the ground and I did one side at a time. 

The paint went on so easily and it didn’t take much paint to cover the book.  It dried very quickly too.  And caramel latte never looked so good.  I love this book makeover.

This is the look I love.  I am finally satisfied with my table which is a good thing because I am now out of paint.  If you want to see the other idea for this table then go  here.

The paper edges look so pretty with the metallic paint.

I kept my wreath and just used a clear adhesive dot to hang it from the mirror with fishing line.

And finally my finished table.

I hope I haven’t bored you with all off my different attempts to get this just right.  At least we learned you can spray paint a book! 

Will you spray paint a book now?  You should.  It is fun and easy.

Tracy

Linking to

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming

Motivate Me Monday @ Somewhat Simple

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make It 4 Monday @ Cottage Instincts

Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Live

Power of Paint @ Domestically Speaking

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts