The Shabby Bungalow

Look what fell in my trolley!

2011-09-22T17:56:00.000+01:00

I detest doing the weekly food shop. It has to be done but I just don’t find it fun. I know you can food shop online but I don’t think I would like to order meat etc that I can’t actually see before I buy.

What makes food shopping more bearable is when something like this ends up in your trolley. Didn’t leave much room for food though lol

♥ Thanks Morrisons ♥

Introducing………..

2011-09-16T21:30:00.001+01:00

………………..our beautiful first grandchild

Riley James

Born on 12th September 2011

at 1.46 am

Weight 7lbs 2oz

♥ We love him to bits ♥

9/11…..10 years on

2011-09-11T00:05:00.000+01:00

The image above is still as shocking 10 years later as it was when I watched it live from my TV screen on 11th September 2001.

I had been with my Father-in-Law to book our family holiday to Greece the following year and came home from the travel agents made some lunch and sat down to watch Neighbours as my Father-in-Law loves that programme.

There was a news report on that a plane had gone into one of the Twin Towers and we thought how awful it was and that it was a tragic accident. However, we then witnessed live on TV the second plane going into the other tower and realised this was a terror attack. I only tore myself away from the TV that day to pick my kids up from school. We were glued to the TV hoping to see survivors being rescued but then the two towers collapsed along with all hope for remaining survivors.

I will never ever forget this day and will spend a few moments in silence today thinking of all those affected by this atrocity.

♥ Never forget ♥

Christmas Craft Goodies on Ebay

2011-09-06T23:02:00.001+01:00

I am still sorting out my crafty goodies and have some more listings on Ebay

Click here to be taken to my auctions

I have quite a few Christmas bits and bobs

Rubber stamps

Christmas Cardmaking Quote Book

9 yards of beautiful Making Memories Christmas ribbons

Christmas novelty buttons

Few crafty bits for sale on Ebay

2011-08-16T20:57:00.001+01:00

For the last few weeks I have been selling off some crafty bits and bobs on Ebay. I have a huge cardmaking stash and thought it was time to clear some of it out. Lots of my auctions are brand new items – to say I had a cardmaking addiction is an understatement.

You can take a peek at my items here

Click here for my Crafty Ebay auctions

Here are some of the things on there at the moment

Bargain picture frame

2011-08-11T17:23:00.000+01:00

We recently had a new shop open in our town called B & M Bargains. I have never visited one of these shops before and they do sell quite a lot of rubbish but in amongst all the crappy bits are some little gems. I picked up this photo frame and it is a whopping 14” x 14” so quite a substantial size.

I’’m going to find a nice family pic turn it sepia and put it in the frame and maybe put it over our bed.

Guess how much this frame was…………..

……. the princely sum of £2.99!!!!!!!!!

London Riots Part 2

2011-08-10T21:10:00.001+01:00

I found this picture of the Sony Warehouse fire aftermath on the Daily Mail website. My Mum saw the actual fire unfolding from her bedroom window she did not get to bed until 4 am in the morning. My brothers walked past here today and although the fire happened on Monday night there are still 4 fire engines there to damp down as the building is still smouldering.

But here is a great sight just to make you feel so much better about our nation. The good people taking to the street with their brooms to clear up the mess made by the rioters.

London Riots

2011-08-09T19:19:00.001+01:00

Don’t like to bring doom and gloom to my blog but I am just in shock at what has been happening since Saturday night. The riots are so meaningless and the town that I lived in for over 40 years – Enfield – was looted and vandalised on Sunday night. Last night right near my Mum’s house the largest Sony warehouse in the UK was looted and set ablaze.

It is all so awful to watch. One gentleman has died and another is critically ill in hospital, people are homeless and others have lost their businesses. These are hardworking people who have just seen their lives go up in smoke.

I have seen terrible images but thought I would share this one with you from the Enfield riots on Saturday night. It made me feel especially sad as I went to school with the man who owns this shop and he has had the business for over 30 yearsHe lost approximately £40,000 worth of stock.

Picture heavy post of our new patio

2011-08-07T16:57:00.001+01:00

We have finally made some progress in one area of our garden. We now have a patio to the left as you walk our from our back door. we still have so much to do in our garden but it is lovely to finally make a start. Just thought I would share some pics with you. you can click on them all to make them larger.

RIp Amy Winehouse

2011-07-23T23:32:00.000+01:00

Amy Winehouse was found dead today in her home at the tender age of 27.

What a tragic end to such a young life. Drugs sadly were a big part of her life for the past few years and she had gone on a major downward spiral over the last couple of years

♥ RIP Amy ♥

Lovely free printable

2011-05-21T19:27:00.000+01:00

Look at this lovely free printable from Eighteen 25. I have only just found this blog and have added it to my faves as it is fab.

I can't wait to print this off and put it in a frame - there are various colour combos available

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/05/filler-print.html

Remember my nice tidy living room .......

2011-05-01T16:52:00.002+01:00

........ I want it back!!

My daughter is decorating her room and has taken over the spare room (which leads off our living room) and she has chucked loads of her stuff in my living room:( Still it gives me an excuse not to hoover! lol
On Friday her and hubby made a 180 mile round trip to Ikea to get some bedroom furniture and it is being assembled as we speak so hopeully won't have to put up with her mess much longer.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

2011-05-01T15:29:00.000+01:00

I watched all the highlights of the Royal Wedding when I came from work and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I thought Kate's dress was stunning

Wills and Kate....Our Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T22:07:00.000+01:00

The most talked about event of recent times is finally here.

I really hope the sun shines a bit for them for their special day.

We have no festivities planned as unfortunately I have to work but I look forward to watching all the highlights on the news channels in the evening when I am back home from work.

RIP Archie :(

2011-04-05T16:45:00.000+01:00

We had to have our beloved Archie PTS this morning I am completely heartbroken. He has only just turned 7 and has battled through so many illnesses but he couldn't beat Westie Lung Disease even he wasn't strong enough for that
I feel completely empty but know that we have done the last final act of kindness we could show him

I can't write any more at the moment I am too numb :(

RIP Archie we love you

Chalkboard update

2011-02-26T19:32:00.002Z

I have had this chalkboard for years and years and was fed up with the orange pine it had got more and more orange as the years passed!! The chalkboard was also very shiny so I bought myself a pentel liquid chalk pen to use on it instead of chalk.

I painted the surround with cream paint then antiqued it so it looked a bit shabby. I then printed off a picture of my two kids which I had designed using a scrapbooking digital paper as a background and a little sentiment "sometimes we pretend to be friends" as although they are 19 and 23 they still fight like cat and dog! lol Then I stuck a piece of ribbon along the bottom edge and made a bow and attached that too.

The good thing is that the picture and ribbons are only attached by double sided tape so when I get bored I can rip them off and put another picture there. I am not overly impressed with the liquid chalk as it doesn't wipe off properly and you can still see what was written there previously :( Apologies for the horrible flash the light was fading fast

I am linking this post to the following parties :

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

Heart Shaped Cucumber

2011-02-09T20:04:00.000Z

I honestly thought it was April Fools Day but it is only 9th February. Today especially for Valentines Day Sainsbury's have started selling heart shaped cucumbers

This is the blurb from the Sainsburys website

There will be a whole new way to show your love this Valentine's Day with the launch of a Heart-Shaped Cucumber from Sainsbury's. Just in time for the most romantic day of the year, the vegetable will exclusively hit stores for the first time today, priced at £1 per portion.

Perfectly shaped once sliced, surprise your loved one with an at-home spa treatment complete with a relaxing face mask or play Aphrodite - Goddess of Love by making a romantically dressed Greek salad.

The seasonal shaped variation tastes as fresh and light as the common cucumber and looks great due to the added delight of its curves.

A limited number will be harvested this year so customers are encouraged to shop early, but other seasonal shapes are planned for later in the year.

Elaine Young at Sainsbury's says: "Valentine's Day carries such an element of surprise we hope this year's fun love cucumber will get hearts racing, whether it's in a romantic packed lunch or a lovingly prepared salad."

Valentine's Cucumber will be in Sainsbury's stores from 9 February priced at £1.00 per half portion.

Patience is a virtue

2011-01-09T20:55:00.001Z

Remember when I bought my new TV back in June 2010 and plonked it on the old glass cabinet that was actually moulded to fit my existing TV. It always looked really awful and I was on the lookout for a cabinet that we could paint cream.

Well I have searched since then and looked on Ebay every day but couldn’t find anything that I liked or any I did like were out of my price range. Today was my lucky day I went into the charity shop and found this lovely little cabinet. Once it was put in the living room and the TV was put on top I am actually thinking that I may not paint it as it looks nice against my fire surround.

I am over the moon with my £25 bargain and better still you can’t see the wires anymore :)

Happy 2011

2010-12-31T19:05:00.001Z

❤♫❤♫❤.•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥ ¸.•*¨`*•.♫❤♫❤♫❤.
╔═════════ ೋღ❤ღೋ ═════════╗
ೋ ❤❤❤~~HAPPY NEW YEAR~~❤❤❤ ೋ
╚═════════ ೋღ❤ღೋ ═════════╝
❤♫❤♫❤.•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥ ¸.•*¨`*•.♫❤♫❤♫❤.

Wishing all my readers (not sure there are too many of them now lol) a very happy and healthy 2011

♥ I would love to blog a little bit more in 2011 as my posts during 2010 were very thin on the ground hopefully I will be able to manage my time a bit better and manage to fit a bit of crafting into my weekends ♥

That’s it for another year

2010-12-27T23:25:00.001Z

Well that’s it almost over for another year. I have one more day to go then its back to work. Have had a lovely Christmas with my family and got some lovely pressies here are just a few from the kids

These lovely little polka dot candle holders, my daughter knows that I’m going through a “I love red” phase at the moment!

This beautiful red polka dot ceramic bowl which she filled with ferrero roches ♥

A lovely photo frame which matches another one I have in my living room and she even printed off a half decent picture of me and her Dad (I hate having my photo taken!) and turned it sepia and put it in the frame

And hubby bought me a new pair of Timberland boots I love the original style Timberlands and my old ones are looking a little bit worse for wear :)

Here’s to a healthy and happy 2011 to you all

Technorati Tags: Timberland

How tidy are you?

2010-12-15T21:55:00.001Z

Some of the girls on a forum I belong to have started to show off lovely room transformations from 2010. Then the conversation started about how tidy people rooms were. Since we did our makeover of our living room in 2009 I find it very easy to keep tidy and most photos I show of it make it look like we don’t actually use the room but we do. So I have raided my photos for some pictures of the room actually in use!!

Here is a tidy pic to start off

Christmas Decorating 2010 – virtually no change from last year

2010-12-13T18:59:00.000Z

Well the tree and decs have gone up and it is almost identical to last year.

When the boxes came into the living room Archie had to have a little nose he likes to help

All I have bought new this year are these 2 little post boxes by the fireplace. They came one inside the other and are actually bottle holders. They came from Matalan and cost a bargain £3.00 for the two.

Then the tree is exactly the same as last year I have only added one new ornament and that is this cute little Gisela Graham heart. I got a picture of my kids, turned it sepia, printed it out and put it in the frame. I think after Xmas I am gong to print it out again with the date on as it will be nice in years to come to actually remember the date when this photo was taken :)

Technorati Tags: Gisela Graham,Matalan,Christmas

Happy 23rd Birthday Rikki

2010-12-12T07:10:00.000Z

Happy 23rd Birthday to my Son Rikki

have a brilliant day

you deserve it ♥

Happy 19th Birthday Abbi

2010-10-21T08:00:00.000+01:00

Can’t believe my lovely daughter is 19 today. I am so proud of my girl she has achieved so much this last year passing here driving test at the 4th attempt (she would not give in LOL) and 2 weeks agos giving up her Estate Agency career as she was so unhappy and taking up a new career as a trainee dental nurse.

Love you so much Abbi have a lovely 19th Birthday xx

Safe at last

2010-10-14T22:55:00.001+01:00

33 Chilean miners trapped under the ground for 69 days and for 17 of those days they had no contact with anyone above. The rescue operation was the most fantastic thing I have ever seen and I am so happy that all 33 men are now back and reunited with their loved ones.

Here they all together at the hospital and all wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes.

Technorati Tags: Chilean miners

Candlesticks waiting to be painted

2010-10-04T10:25:00.001+01:00

I have been looking for big chunky candlesticks for ages and found this pair at a boot sale for £5.00. They are absolutely massive and when I can get time I am going to paint them cream – more clutter for the living room!!

You can see the size of them against the fire surround

Technorati Tags: Candlesticks

Love the detailing

Can’t wait to get the paint on these!

More red accessories for the living room

2010-09-28T23:19:00.000+01:00

Remember a year ago when we completely made over our living room and I went for a neutral look. Well it wasn’t long before I was yearning for some colour in there and decided that red would be my accessories colour. I have recently acquired these red bits for my living room

Love these reversible dotty cushions bought 2 with flowers on the back and 2 with the dogs on the back

Cute heart coaster

Love this frame ♥

Could not resist this cushion from Past Times

Definitely loving the reds in my living room

Keep Calm and Carry On Quick Project

2010-09-23T17:11:00.001+01:00

Download your Keep Calm and Carry On pic from here

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...d-carry-on.svg

Print in whatever size you want

I framed mine in one of these frames that I picked up from Wilkinsons, think they were about 47p for 3 – soooo cheap

Voila quick, easy and so thrifty.

I am linking this to to Melissa’s party at 320 Sycamore for under $10 dollars under 1 hour – mine was under 50p and under about 10 minutes :)

click here to go and see the other entries http://www.granvillehouse.blogspot.com/

Morrisons bargain

2010-09-18T17:57:00.001+01:00

Well it has been absolutely ages since I blogged I might as well give it all up but I still pop in occasionally even if it sometimes months apart :)

Just wanted to share this wonderful bargain I got today from Morrison’s. They have them in HOME and LOVE and they come in black or white for the princely sum of £3.00. I am going to antique mine as I have all cream painted furniture and the white sticks out like a sore thumb. They are a really decent size much bigger than it looks in the picture.

Will try not to leave my blog for quite so long next time.

Forgot to post on my Birthday!

2010-06-25T22:44:00.000+01:00

Well last Friday the 18th June was my Birthday and I forgot to even post.

So thought I would share a piccies of me blowing out my candles on my cake. The candles spelt out Happy Birthday which were a lot less candles than I would have needed for my real age ☺

We watched the England match which was absolutely diabolical but fortunately while I was at work on Wednesday we had a much better match and are now through to the knock out rounds.

World Cup 2010

2010-06-12T10:27:00.001+01:00

So excited as today sees England's first match in the 2010 World Cup.
I have put my bunting up in the living room and this afternoon the TV in the corner is going to be replaced with a 42" TV.
In all our years together we have never had a new TV set we have always had hand me down TVs from family members

Wishing England the very best in the World Cup

Still here

2010-05-28T22:50:00.003+01:00

Hello long time no blog but I literally have nothing to show. the whole point of my blog was to show the transformation of our bungalow but there is no transforming going on at the moment.

I'm quite sure there won;t be many people following me now but for those of you who still are I am posting a link to a fabulous giveaway at the Vintage Amethyst blog. I have entered and have everything crossed I would just love to win this giveaway ☺

Hope to be back soon I am due some time off work soon and hopefully I can get the paintbrushes out and do a few projects ☺

Click here to enter the fab giveaway at Vintage Amethyst

Happy Mother’s Day

2010-03-14T01:00:00.000Z

♥ Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mums out there ♥

We will be making the four hour round trip to see our Mum’s tomorrow I can’t wait. I will have my kids with us so 3 generations will be together – just how I like it :) !♥

Party last night

2010-01-31T21:05:00.001Z

We made a four hour round trip down to London for a family party last night. It was fantastic to see all our family and friends and I finally fell into bed at almost 3 in the morning

I am usually on the other side of the camera but there were unfortunately a few taken of me last night.

Thought I’d share this one as it is me dancing and I wasn’t even drunk! On the left is my lovely Mum and on the right my sister-in-law Jan

I’m not really into blogging much these days as I have so little time and haven’t done any makeovers since October last year. I will blog occasionally if I get any bargains to show off but I think this blog is going to be a boring little one for now!!

And still the snow is here!!

2010-01-09T13:11:00.001Z

Well there is still no let up in the big freeze here in the UK. We have had 3 more lots of snow today – this is my garden today – front and back – we live in a cul de sac so the road stays as snowy as the pavement as there is very little traffic down here.

Archie is absolutely hating the snow as he has no fur on any of his paws – it’s such a shame as he used to love it when he was younger.

Over with for another year

2009-12-30T22:45:00.001Z

Hope you all had a fab Christmas we really enjoyed ours.

Hubby bought me a mobile phone – a complete surprise and very welcome as I was using a hand me down from my Son – I just never buy new mobile phones so it was a great gift.

Here are some of the other goodies I got – I love the 3 glass cake stands from my Mum and they can be used singly or stacked :)

I love how we walk into a tidy room in the morning with all the pressies wrapped and it ends up looking like this!!

Wishing you all a very happy new year and hope that 2010 brings you everything you wish for and more

xxxxxxx

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T21:58:00.000Z

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!

Will the snow ever go?

2009-12-22T21:13:00.001Z

I used to love snow but having to drive to work in it every day (and that scares me) has made me not so keen on the snow.

Just a few pics of my snowy garden and street

Chav Chic????

2009-12-20T22:05:00.001Z

Bought this ginormous canvas for my Son’s Birthday – I did feel silly though walking through Boston (Lincolnshire, that is not the USA! LOL) with it. He loved it though :)

Archie was a bit bemused by it

Happy Birthday Rikki

2009-12-12T00:10:00.001Z

Cannot believe that my “little boy” is 22 today

Happy Birthday Rikki – enjoy your day xxx

She passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-08T19:15:00.001Z

Yay her persistence paid off and today on her 4th attempt my lovely daughter finally passed her driving test!!!!

She will now be able to get her little car on the road – so pleased for her :)

Tree up and mantle decorated

2009-12-03T22:49:00.001Z

I have 2 days off work and have had a great time putting up the tree and decorating my new mantle – I have waited almost 4 years for a mantle to decorate and it looks so cosy.

Apologies for the rubbish photos but my camera doesn’t like dark shots :(

New blog header

2009-11-14T23:43:00.001Z

No makeovers going on at the moment as I don’t seem to have the time or energy so I though I would make up a new blog header. Did a collage in Picasa of a few piccies around my home.

I’ll leave you with a scary pic – my Son (he’s 21 – do they ever grow up!) – in his Jedward mask – don’t know whether it’s John or Edward! LOL

Archie doesn’t like Jedward either. Note hubby in the background watching X Factor on the TV :)

Latest thrifty purchase

2009-11-07T18:33:00.001Z

Got this lovely little cake plate from the charity shop last week – only paid £2.49 for it – I love finding little gems like this.

Shameful…………………

2009-11-01T18:05:00.001Z

……………………. is the only word I can use to explain how my ribbon box looked when I tipped it on the floor. I love my ribbons but I don’t look after them. How are you supposed to find a particular colour in this mess.

This is another job to put on my to do list – walks off hanging head in shame!!!!!

A few living room before and afters

2009-10-24T23:36:00.001+01:00

Well it has been a long and messy process – getting rid of the slate on the walls, getting rid of the huuuuuuuuge 70’s fireplace, having walls re-plastered, the ceiling re-plastered, a fake chimney breast built, lots and lots of painting of the existing furniture but it is now so clean and soooooo tidy!!!! I have lots more cluttering to do – far too many blank wall spaces for my liking but I am so happy with the end result. Here are a few before and afters…….

Just a randon shot from the other end of the living room

And I am loving my bit of bling – the chandelier – these are only £20 in Wilkos such a bargain and such a dust collector LOL – but who cares I love it :)

I am linking this post to the before and after party at Sanctuary Arts at Home and Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

My beautiful girl………..

2009-10-22T00:03:00.001+01:00

………………. has enjoyed a quiet 18th with her family and is hitting the town on Saturday with the youngsters.

My Mum got her this lovely balloon :)

Me, Mum and Abbi together – 3 generations :)

Some of the family

Happy 18th Birthday Abbi

2009-10-21T00:10:00.000+01:00

Can’t quite believe that my beautiful daughter is 18 today.

Happy 18th Birthday Abbi – love you lots xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Crappy day

2009-10-16T17:27:00.001+01:00

Been a crapppy day today – my daughter failed her driving test for the second time and I feel so sad for her:(

I am just soooooooooo tired lately so I haven’t done any makeovers for a while so I thought I would share this frame with you that I did a couple of weeks ago. I seem to be doing a lot of frame makeovers lately. It’s just that I have so many old frames that don’t match my decor anymore but I still like the frames so paint is the only answer

This was a picture that my friend got bored with years back and gave to me

I painted and antiqued it and also painted the blue mount on the inside cream then I put an old style picture of my Brother and his family taken about 15 years ago at Whitby. I love this photo and really like it in the cream frame.

I am linking this to Frugal Friday Link Party at the Shabby Nest

I am an X Factor addict!

2009-10-10T22:57:00.001+01:00

I don’t watch much tele these days but I love X Factor.

The live finals started tonight with the usual disagreements between the judges.

I really liked Danyl although he got some stick from Danni, Cheryl and Louis

My fave quote tonight was from Simon Cowell to Jamie”Afro” Archer when he said “If Louis had you, you would be in a blazer singing Father and Son”.

Can’t wait for results show tomorrow night :)

ETA – Louis will not be there tonight as he has jetted off to Majorca following the sad and sudden death last night of Stephen Gately from Boyzone

STEPHEN GATELY

17th March 1976 - 10th October 2009

Footstool makeover

2009-10-04T22:53:00.001+01:00

I bought this little footstool for £3 some years ago at a boot sale. It had a red velour cover and I took that off and recovered it with this fabric.

This doesn’t go now with the new look I have in my living room so I painted the legs and distressed them. My kids said “Why have you put that brown stuff on – it looks dirty and looks like you haven’t painted it properly!! LOL My kids always tell me the truth :) I had bought some linen type fabric that I really liked for a £1 a metre at a local shop. When I bought it home hubby said it looked like a potato sack - you can see where the kids get it from! LOL Anyway I covered the footstool – not a particularly wonderful job as I’m not sure how to do corners so I make it up as I go along. Then I realised I didn’t have any braid to cover the staples and tacks so I raided my ribbon stash and found some gingham ribbon. That will do until I get some braid – I’ve only stuck it on with double sided tape! LOL

I am linking this to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

UJ Sofa

2009-10-02T12:05:00.002+01:00

You would need a really quirky home to carry off this Barker and Stonehouse Union Jack sofa and you would need a hefty bank balance too – it’s £1600 in the sale!!!!!!!

I know who’s home this would look great in but there wouldn’t be the heavy panelling on the walls – just whitewashed walls and it’s Happy Loves Rosie's home – if you’ve never paid a visit you’re in for a treat and she has a Westie as well so I am a fan :)

Occasional table re-do

2009-09-29T13:24:00.003+01:00

Another item of furniture that I have had for well over 20 years. This one got the paint treatment too. I really like this little table but as I am lightening everything up the dark brown had to go :)

I’m pleased with the finished result – I just love how paint transforms pieces and means you can still keep things that you love

And it fits in nicely in this little corner of my living room – I will post pictures of the finished room soon although I still have lots of blank wall space to fill and I am on the hunt for nice cushions for my sofas.

I am linking this to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. There are some fab transformations at both of these places :)

New header

2009-09-25T22:39:00.001+01:00

I’m loving my new blog header

I found it here and what a wonderful blog this lady has. If you haven’t seen this blog before it is a feast for the eyes – so many fab backgrounds and headers. There is a wonderful bunting background to match the header but because I use Minima Stretch template so that I can post larger photos it doesn’t work. It works perfectly though with the normal Minima template on Blogger.

Cream and red spotty ribbon

2009-09-22T22:02:00.001+01:00

I am a complete ribbonaholic (there is no such word I just made it up!LOL)

When I used to card make I used ribbon on lots of my cards – I still have masses of ribbon in my craft cupboard

But still I had to buy this reel of ribbon when I saw it in a local shop. It is by East of India and I don’t even know what I am going to use it for but I’m sure it won’t be long before I think of something.

Mirror makeover

2009-09-17T17:24:00.002+01:00

This was one of those projects that you start and wonder why the heck did I paint it with a brush – this should definitely have been a spray paint job!!!! I didn’t get a proper before pic so had to quickly take a pic while it was on the island in my kitchen ready for painting. Excuse the disgusting reflection – my kitchen is a hovel :(

See the detailing all around the mirror - this was a nightmare job to paint!

The mirror is massive and I am pleased it is finished. See this post for details of how I antiqued the paint job on this mirror. Now I need to clutter up the mantle piece – 5 items is far too few for me!!

I am linking this to:

Do It Yourself Day at a Soft Place to Land

and also to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Still working on a mirror

2009-09-16T23:10:00.002+01:00

Am enjoying my week off work doing lots of little projects when I should be doing housework, cleaning windows etc. After starting on this mirror I think cleaning windows seemed an easier choice. It’s a big mirror and I hand painted it with a brush when spray paint would have been quicker and easier.

Just thought I would share with you a little bottle that I have been using a lot this week. It’s an antiquing paint that I have had for years. I usually water it down, slap it on the project and wipe off. The frame was perfectly OK like this but just a bit “too clean” so out came that little bottle again :

Slap it on liberally!!!!!

Quickly wipe off

Wipe off a bit more

Finished result!! :) Gonna try and get this mirror on the wall tomorrow :)

Picture frame makeover

2009-09-13T22:25:00.000+01:00

I don’t have a proper before pic just this one where it is masked off ready for painting. I decided after I had painted it and antiqued it that I didn’t like the picture and decided to leave it as it was and make it into a 3d picture using some of my cardmaking supplies as I don’t cardmake anymore but have loads of stash.

Firstly I printed out a quote on card that I had saved from a wonderful blog back in December. These words are very poignant to me at the moment with hubby’s redundancy now only just over 2 weeks away. The blog in question belongs to Tracey and she is creative, clever, funny and everything inbetween and her blog is just wonderful. If you have never paid a visit before this is the address – you will be hooked http://acottageindustry.typepad.com/

I then gathered together a piece of card to fit over the glass, a brad, a charm, made a bow from gingham ribbon, some old lace and couple of blooms

They were all arranged very simply and stuck down and here it is my little 3d picture in a frame. Thank you Tracey for the inspiration with your lovely Words to Live By on your blog :)

I am linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch – love this site – so much inspiration – check it out if you have a few hours to spare!!!

I am also linking this to the Frugal Friday Link Party over at the Shabby Nest. You need to check this blog out as well – there are so many fab blogs out there I really do need to give up work to have time to read them all ! LOL

Making a start on some projects

2009-09-11T23:13:00.001+01:00

This was taken last weekend – I started painting a picture frame and an old footstool – not finished but I now have a week off work – my first full week off for over a year and I intend to finished these projects next week so watch this space!

Please excuse the hideous kitchen – this is yet another room to be gutted in our Shabby Bungalow

Notice the top half of that big cabinet behind my island – this is from the living room – hubby is also off next week with me – guess what he’ll be painting! LOL

The dresser is dressed!

2009-09-04T23:02:00.017+01:00

Thought I'd show you the dresser from the charity shop - I had originally shown it painted but not dressed

The dresser in it's original form

The dresser painted - hubby did a great job :)

Finally dressed. I will keep adding bits to it and it will end up really cluttered - I can't help myself! LOL I have tried my very best to not let it look kitcheny as this is in our living room :) That horrible phone next to it on the little stool is the next thing to be moved - we need to move the main telephone point! So many jobs - so little time :)

I am linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch – love this site – so much inspiration – check it out if you have a few hours to spare!!!

Just a few more living room pics

2009-09-02T23:40:00.007+01:00

The living room is almost finished now. Just another great big unit to be painted. Curtain poles to be bought - curtains to be taken up and put on poles. Then load of piccies etc to be put on the walls as I hate bare walls! LOL

These are just a few more piccies of when the work was in progress

Fake chimney breast plastered

PVA'ing the ceiling ready for plastering

Ceiling being plastered by our good friend

Ceiling plastered

Laminate flooring being put down

Random pic

2009-09-02T22:38:00.000+01:00

Just took this photo off my daughter's Facebook page - I think it's great - it was taken by her friend when they went with her family to Newquay for a holiday last month. Wish I could have gone with her :)

New sofas

2009-08-31T22:21:00.002+01:00

Well we now have our new sofas and they are unlike anything else I’ve had because they are so modern even the kid like them! LOL We have 2 x 3 seaters and they are quite big so I am sure if we had visitors we could squash 4 on each of them! LOL Don’t know well they will cope with life in my bungalow as things tend to get worn quite quickly – they will soon be looking shabby chic :)

These arrived on Wednesday but the excitement was marred by the horrible redundancy news we got on Tuesday. Still at least he's got something comfy to sit on while he looks thru the job pages!!!

Plastic frames makeover

2009-08-31T00:02:00.002+01:00

Take 2 of the tackiest frames ever – bought these from our 90p shop – this is what our Woolworths shop has turned into. They are silver plastic and if wasn’t for the fact you could paint them I would have walked straight past them.I printed off a couple of pics of the kids with Archie – found some pretty scrapbooking paper to use as a backing. Then I gave the frames a couple of coats of paint and a light brush over with some antiquing paint. My daughter says they need to be antiqued a bit more and I sort of agree with her but they will do for now. I love projects that are quick, simple and cheap :)

I am linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch – love this site – so much inspiration – check it out if you have a few hours to spare!!!

Not a good day :(

2009-08-25T22:53:00.001+01:00

New sofas are coming tomorrow – but the excitement has been spoilt by hubby coming home from work today and saying that he is being made redundant at the end of September. He is going to be another statistic – it is such a shock when it happens to your family.

I try to keep my blog happy but every so often life throws horrible things at you :(

Will be back soon hopefully feeling more positive than I do at the moment.

Will it ever end

2009-08-19T22:29:00.002+01:00

Just a few piccies tonight to show you we are still in a mess here :) I’m sure it will be finished eventually but it’s driving me bananas!!!!!

Remember my nice tidy guest room this is it now – look at the dust on the computer table! You can’t even see the sofa bed. This is all stuff I have taken out the cupboards because I had the great idea of painting all our dark furniture!!! LOL I’m sitting on that chair now writing this! LOL

Long time no blog

2009-08-14T22:27:00.001+01:00

Can’t believe it has been so long since I last blogged. I have no camera as I lent it to my daughter to take to Newquay with her on holiday and she’s not back til Tuesday.

The Living Room is still a mess – but we now have all the plastering finished and the coving has been put up tonight. Think we have a good few weeks work still and so much furniture still to paint – what a silly idea of mine to paint all our dark furniture! LOL

I will be back next week but I hate to do a blog post without piccies so I will see what I can find from my old albums.

Here you go til next time …………………. it’s a video of me on our trampoline – I am a really unfit 47 year old so don’t jump very high! LOL

Then my son got on the trampoline and made realise just how bad I am!!

Picked up the fire surround

2009-08-05T22:47:00.002+01:00

Hubby and daughter went to pick up the fire surround that I won on Ebay.

As soon as he bought it inside I got him to put it against our new chimney breast. I’m really pleased with it and think it will be sanded down and waxed.

Don’t you just love Ebay?

Chimney breast done

2009-08-02T20:50:00.002+01:00

Well this weekend the chimney breast has been built and plastered. Our friend is so talented and he is so good at plastering :)

While the chimney breast was being done hubby was shabby chicing again – he has started on our old telephone table now that used to be in the hallway – I can’t stop him now! LOL

Won a fire surround

2009-08-01T23:13:00.002+01:00

Won a fire surround on Ebay tonight.

Can’t believe the prices they are selling them for in places like B & Q and Homebase. So good old Ebay to the rescue. Don’t know whether this will be painted or stripped and waxed yet – think we need to see it in the flesh before we decide.

Hmm – distress & antique it or leave as it is?

2009-07-31T22:52:00.002+01:00

We have painted the dresser we bought a little while back – well actually hubby did it not me! LOL

Now we don’t know whether to leave it as it is or antique and distress it.

What would you do?

Before

After – not so bright IRL had to to use the flash on the camera.

Bargains from Matalan

2009-07-28T19:52:00.002+01:00

Don’t get out shopping much these days especially to big stores but I had a day off work yesterday as I had a hospital appointment and managed to get to Matalans.

Got some bargains

Jack Daniels Coaster, Shot Glass and Pourer reduced from £6 to £1

This fantastic pre-lit Christmas topiary tree – just need to sort out the base as I don’t want blue it is for my hallway. It stands at almost 3 feet tall when assembled. Was £40 reduced to the princely sum of £3

These lovely little vintage looking mannequins reduced from £8 to £1 – only 50p each couldn’t believe it and they are really sturdy heavy little things. Keeping one for the living room and have stuck one out on the hallway table

Chuffed to bits with my little bargains :)

Out will the old doors – in with the new

2009-07-26T23:53:00.002+01:00

Gone are the old mouldy, draughty almost falling out of the frame aluminium patio doors

In are the shiny new draught free french doors. It will be wonderful to have winter without my heavy curtains blowing into the room because the wind is whistling through the draughty doors! LOL

Next job concreting parts of the floor after filling in gaping holes. Will post when more progress has been made – could be a while.

Living Room – Day 2 Part 2

2009-07-19T20:05:00.002+01:00

2 blog posts in a day – amazing for me! LOL

All finished now apart from the hearth. Hubby let me take the last section of slate off after he had done all the hard graft :)

All back to work tomorrow so everything will go back on hold for now :(

Remember that wheelbarrow he got from the dump it’s found its way into the living room and hubby thought it would look with some dressing – get that thing out in the garden now! LOL

Living Room Day 2

2009-07-19T11:35:00.002+01:00

Well the fireplace is now gone – the mess is unbelievable – we are back to work tomorrow so work will have to cease for a while. We now have a nice gaping hole in the ceiling and yet more uneven floor work. I’m now on the virtual chill pills! LOL

BTW Archie our Westie is only allowed in the living room when demolition is not taking place :)

If you click on piccies they come up a bit bigger

We have started on the Living Room

2009-07-18T20:33:00.002+01:00

And what a job this is going to be. We have lived with “crazy paving” on the walls now for 3 years and I will be so glad to see the back of it. Whilst we were knocking out the corner part of this construction today we came across an old sheet of newspaper from 1978 so this was obviously all done 31 years ago and was probably a good look then!!!

You can hopefully click on the pictures to enlarge them – warning this is a picture heavy post

These are the before photos this morning

We now have 2 walls cleared of the crazy paving and there is mess everywhere. I will never moan about redecorating a room again – it will be bliss compared to this. There are huge gaping holes round the old patio doors where damp has got in. We need to redo the floor in sections and we need to hire a plasterer to redo the walls. We are having french windows installed where the aluminium patio doors are – this is happening next Saturday so we will sort out a plasterer after that has been done.

Our little Archie

2009-07-07T14:47:00.001+01:00

Had a day off work today and took our little Archie to the vets to have his claws clipped. He had to have a reverse sedation as he gets very stressed at the vets. All went really well until he had a fit coming out of the sedation. He also had a fit on Saturday so we now have to keep an eye on him and just hope that these are a couple of isolated incidents and not the onset of epilepsy.

He is only 5 and has suffered from demodex mites (demodectic mange) for the last 3 years and is on permanent daily antibiotics. He has had a lot to contend with as he also had a bone disease as a puppy – it is called cranio mandibular osteopathy (try saying that when you’ve had a few!) aka Lion’s Jaw so spent his puppy time on painkillers. Fortunately as his bones are now fully grown he is not in pain with the condition any more.

Off to check my little boy

Waddington Air Show, Lincolnshire

2009-07-05T03:00:00.001+01:00

Have spent the day at Waddington - great day and fantastic weather.

Didn’t think an air show would be my thing but it is a really good day out and the atmosphere is great.

The day is rounded off by a display by the Red Arrows – I cringe when I watch them. They are clever but very scary at the same time.

Happy 4th July

2009-07-04T11:52:00.002+01:00

Happy 4th July to all my American Blogging Friends

I want this sofa so much

2009-07-02T22:49:00.000+01:00

I really love this sofa from DFS but I just think that this colour would end up really grubby in my house with the 2 mechanics living here – suppose I could ban them from the living room! LOL

I want a sofa that looks homely and classic and this fits the bill for me. I was thinking of painting all my furniture cream in my living room but don’t know if this would go – hmm decisions, decisions.

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T18:47:00.001+01:00

Was so saddened to hear of the death of Michael Jackson

I was lucky enough to see him in concert at Wembley, London on the Bad Tour in August 1988.

I have always loved his songs and they hold memories for many different stages of my life

His life was very troubled and blighted by bad press. We will never know the full truth of all the allegations against him, I will remember him from the early days when his music was enjoyed by many people.

Master Bedrooms at Kelly’s Corner

2009-06-26T00:37:00.005+01:00

Show Us Where You Live Friday today at Kelly’s Corner is Master Bedrooms – I can join in with this one as our bedroom has recently been decorated

Check out Kelly's bedroom plus loads more – have fun :)

I remembered to water it!

2009-06-24T00:01:00.001+01:00

Remember this tub from two weeks back

This is how it looks now – grown a fair bit as I have remembered to water it :)

The lobelia around it is also growing quite rapidly.

A Couple of my Birthday Pressies

2009-06-21T23:59:00.000+01:00

Just thought I’d share a couple of pressies with you

Lovely set of 3 tin pots on a stand from the kids.

They bought it in Past Times……I love that shop:)

Kids also bought me a rabbit ornament

that is ceramic but looks knitted

Also a cute mug from the kids – they spoilt me this year :)

)

Hubby bought me a distressed looking dog (hope he’s not implying anything! LOL) doorstop.

Fab cake as well – t’was yummy!

Cute nightshirt with a little dog on from hubby – I’m getting really worried now! LOL

Mum got me this lovely little pot holder – excuse the state of the pots -

I got mud all over them potting up the busy lizzies! LOL

Did very well this year and I’ve got £50 to spend – love having money that’s mine all mine!!!!

New purchase

2009-06-20T12:36:00.002+01:00

£75 from the charity shop – hubby was more excited than me – that man is learning.

Very ugly at the moment but it has potential – watch this space – don’t know how long for though :)

We liked it because it has detailing on it

ETA – still can’t believe that hubby has changed so much in a matter of weeks – don’t know whether it’s the credit crunch or he’s getting old but he seems to be more of a bargain hunter than me lately! LOL

Love my little potting area

2009-06-20T01:00:00.001+01:00

Hubby recently cleared out behind the garden shed and made a little potting area for me. I wont be going in there when all the spiders start arriving.

Head under the Forsythia arch

The water butt is there for me to fill up milk cartons for watering the pots

And the table is the perfect height for making up my containers

It’s my Birthday

2009-06-18T00:03:00.001+01:00

As it is now past midnight I can say “It’s My Birthday”!!!! I have booked 2 days off work and My Mum and her partner are coming up to from London to stay – can’t wait and I’ve already had flowers from hubby :) I don’t usually have many presents to open but I’ve got a few waiting for me in the morning – can’t wait.

Roll on 4 days off work – I really need the break.

ETA – I am just waiting for my Mum to arrive – have had 12 cards so far and so many lovely pressies – will show piccies in a couple of days as I am going to be busy with my visitors. I am loving my Birthday so far even though I’m getting old! LOL

Quirky signs

2009-06-16T23:09:00.000+01:00

I love quirky signs – this one greets my guests as they come through the front door and sums me up perfectly.

What quirky signs do you have in your home?

Painted candlestick

2009-06-12T22:15:00.002+01:00

I picked up this candlestick at the charity shop last week. It looked so grubby and dirty but when I picked it up I couldn’t believe the weight of it – it is really solid and there on the top was the price - £1.00 – couldn’t really resist at that price. I am really trying to see potential in anything even it looks totally crappy! LOL

I found some metal craft paint in ivory which I have had for years but luckily it was still OK to use. Gave the candlestick a couple of coats of paint, then a bit of brown antiqueing paint. I then found a candle – luckily I had one that fit the candlestick perfectly. I added a strip of Laura Ashley scrapbooking paper round the candle and stuck a wooden heart on with a 3D foam pad.

I am quite pleased with my one quid buy from the Charity Shop.

Go to Sanctuary Arts and check out the fabulous make over open house

Please ignore me…

2009-06-12T21:26:00.001+01:00

I am testing whether I can put larger pictures in my blog posts

I’ll have to stick with medium pictures as the large ones get cut in half. Oh well.

BTW the pics are my lavender coming into bloom and a beautiful double flowering clematis that my Mum bought me called Vivian Purnell.

Must remember to water this!

2009-06-10T06:00:00.004+01:00

I love this fuschia – it is called Paula Jane and I have had this one before and it flowers through to October if you remember to water it! LOL I haven’t got many flowers in the garden this year – too busy spending money on the inside :)

Got my lamps

2009-06-05T21:04:00.002+01:00

Finally got a couple of lamps for my bedroom from good old Wilko’s - £10 each – bargain. They are cream with brushed gold and make the room look really cosy. Just need to sort out some piccies for the walls now – hate bare walls. BTW the funny looking marks on the wall are the reflection from the crystals.

These beasts need taming

2009-06-01T19:24:00.002+01:00

We really need to tackle these beasts this year. We had a 40 foot conifer in our garden that had stood for 40 years. When we moved in 3 years ago I looked up at it and said it was going to fall down and everyone told me not to be so stupid - what happened 8 months later - yep - it split in half right down the middle and fell into the garden behind us - could have been worse cos had it fallen the other way it would have fallen straight on our bungalow

This is why I want something done with these ones before they get to 40 ft! LOL

Just another thing to add to the growing to do list

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

2009-05-29T20:10:00.001+01:00

Over at The Shabby Nest there is a Frugal Friday Linky Party

Thought I would share my bed again as this was such a cheap makeover. Had the bed for over 15 years and was really bored with the gunmetal grey.

Used half a tin of melamine paint (didn’t say it couldn’t be used on metal! so we chanced it) – total of £2.50 as the can was on sale for £5 and the result a “new” bed – I’m so happy with it.

Join in at the Shabby Nest and have a look at the wonderful makeovers there :)

How do you hide your mess?

2009-05-28T10:48:00.003+01:00

This is the inside of the top half of my craft cupboard - I craft about once a year these days so it really is time I sorted out this whole cupboard! LOL This is a glass fronted cupboard so it wouldn't look too good with all this on show through the glass so my remedy was to stick a couple of bits of cream damask on the inside of the doors - problem solved.
I look like such a tidy person - just please don't look in my cupboards! LOL

Before

After

Show me your before and after of your clutter :)

So happy with my console table………. now with pictures of mirror makeover

2009-05-25T15:19:00.002+01:00

…………. that I won yesterday on Ebay for £50. Have been after one of these for ages as I had a telephone table out in the hall that was too big for the space.

My new table isn’t so deep so fits the space better and it looks larger in the hall as you can see more floor space – loving hubby’s work boots by the door! LOL

Hubby has now taken our dark oak mirror off the wall and is masking it up ready for spray painting to match the table – bless him :)

ETA – mirror is now painted and it looks so good – hubby has much more patience than me – but it needs shabbying up to match the table and as he made such a good job of painting it I am too scared of wrecking it! LOL

Right the mirror is now done – hubby painted on the antiquing paint while I stood there with a cloth wiping the excess off then he put gold Rub N Buff onto bits of it – he has done me proud this afternoon

The finished mirror on the wall

I have just taken part in Metamorphosis Monday – never taken part in this before – head over to Susan’s at Between Naps on the Porch to see her fab Dining Room makeover and look at all the great before and afters

Rice Crispy Cakes

2009-05-22T22:16:00.001+01:00

Aren’t they just the easiest things to make in the whole world – that’s why me and my Daughter make them! LOL

How comes he can buy junk????????

2009-05-19T13:54:00.001+01:00

When I see something "junky" I want to buy hubby says "here we go..........." but it's so different when it's him. He went to the dump to get rid of rubbish a couple of weeks ago and came back with a rusty old wheelbarrow with a flat tyre and bolts missing and get this he paid a fiver for it!!!!!!

Here he is with the offending item

And here it is fixed with new bolts and tyre pumped up and I hve to admit it has actually come in handy so I take back all my sniggering and plastering him all over Facebook so his family and friends could have a good laugh too!!!!!!

Archie had a little ride round the garden in it - bless him.

Our garden is like our bungalow ……..

2009-05-17T00:34:00.002+01:00

....... lots to be done!

This time of year everything grows at the speed of light especially the weeds - wish someone would invent 36 hour days so we could get all the jobs done :)

Live Writer

2009-05-16T21:09:00.001+01:00

Just having a little play around as I didn’t know you could post blog posts from Live Writer so I am just testing it out – ignore me! LOL

Me aged 5 ! LOL