Shadowbox Earring Holder

There are about a bazillion earring holders in blogland/cyberworld.  I was going to make one out of a frame and wire mesh like many people do, but then I found something BETTER! {In my humble opinion}

I honest to goodness can't remember if I found this at Marshall's or TJMaxx, LOVE them both!  And you could probably find something like this at either one.  It's a shadow box with a hinge door that opens and has a magnetized close.  The inside is a thin foam covered with burlap.  I bought 2 of them! {I have a lot of earrings...}

It was white when I bought it and I spray painted it Coral Isle to match my lamps and bring some more color accent to the room.

I also glazed the details with a dark brown:

I hung {most} of my earrings in the 2 shadowboxes.  I used pins for some of the hoop ones that don't have hooks.

I hung them in the corner of my bedroom right next to my necklace holder.  It is so handy to have them in close proximity.

I love that I can see right through the glass; do you ever pick out your accessories first, then chose an outfit? I do that sometimes, it's a good way to think outside the box a little bit and put together new combinations...

It opens so easily and I don't have to worry about earrings getting tangled, rifling through them to find a mate, or getting lost. Plus, it doesn't take up room on the dresser.

 Seriously, it's so handy if you're looking for a cute easy way to display/store your earrings!  I love it!


Linking to:
Southern Lovely
Someday Crafts 
Lil Luna 
Blue Cricket Design 
Domestically Speaking 
Sew Much Ado 
Todays Creative Blog 
Nap Time Crafters 
Finding Fabulous 
Remodelaholic 
Tatertots and Jello 
Design Dazzle 
504 Main 
Young and Crafty 
Whipperberry 
Redoux 
Be Different Act Normal 
The Gingerbread Blog 
Lil Luna 
Restore Interiors 
Domestically Speaking 
Blue Cricket Design 

Pinspiration Accomplished

Have you seen this quote describing Pinterest before? {I found it on, well, Pinterest} 

I saw it a while back, thought it was humorous, but then became determined to not let it happen to me!  I have already done a few things that I found the inspiration and ideas for on Pinterest.  One of them was this hairstyle:

I actually did something similar to this to my hair!  Twice!  And neither time did I think to get a picture of it.  But, I never would have thought to try it if I didn't see this picture.

Another project I did was make some flip-flop hangers.  Remember when I shared this picture?

We have some awkward space in the corners of our closet where we can't really hang clothes and there is wasted room.  Since I might have a wholelotta shoes, I figured I should try to use that space! 

I had a broken pants hanger one day that I was about to throw away, when I remembered the flip-flop hangers I had seen on Pinterest.  I did a test run on it and liked the way it worked so I asked for some pants hangers from the dry cleaners the next time I was there. And they gave them to me. For FREE. 

 So, here's what I did.  Take a hanger and break the papery part in half.  This just allows you to get it off a little easier.  You king of have to work at it a little, twisting it off.

After the paper part is off it will look like this:

 Then, just bend up each edge to the center, like this:

 And you're left with a cute, little hanger:

 Just slip your shoes inside and you're good to go!

 Soooo easy!  I didn't have to cut any wire and it took about 2 minutes per hanger.  They are definitely not as cute as the ones that Jen did on EPBOT; but they function and they hide in the corners of my closet!  What a great way to conceal those seasonal shoes!

So there!  That's at least two things that I've actually done something with from Pinterest.  I need to get in the kitchen next and re-create some of that yummy food I've found!

Have you done anything with the inspiration you find?  If not, remove yourself from the computer for a bit and DO IT! :)

Biggest Project of my Life

Last winter, I noticed a big cylinder desk with a bookshelf in my grandma's backyard in her semi-covered shed.  I expressed some interest and she was happy to let me have it.  I immediately went over with my dad (in the snow) to collect it.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the desk where it was in the shed.  It was full of junk my grandma's stuff. Dusty, dirty, peeling, cracking finish, weathered and worn out.  This baby was DAMAGED!

It sat in my dad's garage for a few months the rest of the winter and during the summer while I was away.  I have been furiously working on it a couple times each week so I can complete it before winter gets here. 

If the average person would have come across this desk I'm sure they wouldn't give it a second glance.  But this desk has extreme value to me; it is an heirloom and belonged to my great-great-grandfather (at least that's the last person we know it belonged to).  My dad remembers it being in his grandfather's house as a boy and he and his cousin were convinced that it had a secret hidden compartment and always tried to find it.  (We have yet to find one) I don't know who built this desk, but it was done by hand with extreme craftsmanship and building quality.  This baby is a true antique built of pine, square nails and devotion.  Did it come from the 18th century? The 19th century? I so wish that I knew more information about this desk and where it came from or who built it.  Part of me wants to believe that it was my own ancestor that built it by hand and worked on it so feverishly. 

This desk is three separate pieces with a bookcase on top.  Here are some pictures:

 

 

Square nail

Bookcase

 Despite how old and haggered this desk is, the slider roll-top is soooo SMOOTH and works so well.

 

As you can see, I have taken on a HUGE project.  Quite possibly the biggest project of my life.  I doubt I will ever work on anything this old again.  I'm glad I have done other projects to somewhat prepare me for this!  So far, it has been amazing and I have made quite a bit of progress.  I am working on stripping it and sanding it.  The wood grain was actually painted on, so there are layers and layers of paint on this thing!  I plan to stain the desk, possibly a classy, dark walnut; I can't cover up this antique with paint.  Hopefully desk will live on for generations to come and won't need to be refinished ever again!

If you by chance know where I can find more information on this desk, please let me know!  I have spent a lot of time searching and haven't found much. 

More updates to come soon!

I'm still breathing

Hi Friends,

Just wanted to let you know that I am still alive.
Barely. (I'm being dramatic)
But, still alive.
I have been so sick the past week, but hope to be on the tail end of things.

I promise to share some great things soon.

Renovated Bread Box

I like a clean counter.

As a pharmacist I have worked with some messy technicians, and some messy pharmacists. It DRIVES me CRAZY! I like to joke with one of my technicians at work about leaving empty bottles on the counter and always cleaning up after her.  One thing that I am very particular about is keeping order, especially at work. {Have you guessed I'm your typical "type A"}

I try to keep order at home too, although it proves to be a bit more difficult. 1) I'm not getting paid; and 2) I have professional "messer uppers" that live with me.  I'm not one that likes a lot of things or appliances out on the counter.  I feel like it can get cluttered quickly; especially if you have a smaller kitchen. I don't function as well when I don't have space to work. or think.

I'm not saying I'm clutter free, because I'm far from it.  It's something I fight with every. single. day. just like everyone else.  I like to hide clutter/things/necessities as much as I can with something that is functional and pretty.

I'm not saying bread is clutter, but I do like to hide it on my counter in my pretty bread box.

I picked up this bread box at a thrift store for $4 dollars.

My usual weapon of choice to paint with is spray paint, but I couldn't get the door off this thing for the life of me!

So I used some plain old acrylic craft paint with a sponge brush:

I didn't sand it, I didn't prime it, I went straight to painting! (luckily I remembered to take a before picture before I got too carried away)

I gave everywhere 2 coats of paint; except the middle section...

There, I decided to add some scrapbook paper with modge podge.

I gave the front of the box a quick glazing with some black glaze.

Spray painted the wooden knob with Oil Rubbed Bronze.

Sealed it all with a few coats of Polycrylic...

And was left with this:

 I love how the scrapbook paper is the same shape as the cut out wood design.

I don't even think I planned it that way.

 I love how the wood grain still shows through the paint

My toaster fits perfectly on top of it.

Which means there's less counter space being taken up by multiple items.

Which means less clutter.

Which means SANITY!

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Tatertots and Jello
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