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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Top Projects 2010

It's that time of year where we look back over what we have done this past year. Today I am sharing my favorite projects for 2010.

We will start with my letter art. This has been one of my most favorite projects over the past few years.

My newest letter sign was actually a Christmas present for my sister in law. It's a 2 fer. I made 2 sets of letters to make 2 different signs in one frame. All my SIL has to do is open up the frame & flip over the inset.

One side says "LOVE"



This side will work for Valentine's Day. Or she can use it all year round. Cause all you need is Love.

The other side says "Noel".

I take all the photos used in my letter art signs. Most of the items are found around my house.

Another sign I haven't shared before is the one I made for my cousin's wedding back in October.

Their last name is Bunker. They said it was one of their most favorite gifts they received.

The first letter sign I made in 2010 was this Winter one.

2010 was the first year I decorated just for Winter.

This summer I made this sign for my niece that was getting married.


Being Mormon we believe that marriage is Eternal. Not just "until death do we part".


Another fun and easy project was to dress up my candles.


For Thanksgiving/Fall I printed out some music from The Graphics Fairy website, wrapped it around the candle (taped it on the back) and wrapped around some twine.

For my the candles on my Christmas mantel I wrapped around some burlap strips and added the crystal snowflake pins.



I wrapped these Christmas candles in some glittery ribbon I picked up from the thrift store.


I added some iron on spider trim around my Halloween candles. And no, I did not iron it on. I just taped it on.

Next I will share my favorite furniture projects.


This is the before photo of my china hutch. I found it at an antique store about 15 years ago for around $100.00. I've wanted to paint it since I first purchased it, but I couldn't decide between white or black. I am so indecisive. Plus I am a procrastinator.

2010 was the year that a decision was finally made.



And black it is. Now I need to decide if I should distress or not. Hopefully it won't take me another 15 years to decide. I love it painted black. What took me so long to paint it?

Another furniture project that took me 15 years to complete is this trunk that I use as a coffee table in my family room.


Here is the before. And yes, it has sat in this nekkid state for 15 years, in my house. Not sitting out in the garage.

And here is the after. Isn't she purdy? This one I did distress and I love it.

Next are a couple of wreaths that I made this year.

The first is my version of the book page wreath. I punched out a bazillion scalloped circles. I used distress ink on the edges.

I love how my wreath turned out. Pretty easy.


This wreath was made by gluing split peas to a dollar store Styrofoam wreath. I love how this turned out. Except for the fact that the peas faded pretty fast.

Since 2010 is the year of being "green", I decided to recycle the split pea wreath at Halloween.


Since the green had faded, I just spray painted the wreath black & added a Halloween medallion that I made.

The following project was a result of visiting Tai Pan Trading store in the spring. They had these flower balls that I obsessed over. But I wasn't about to pay the price they wanted. So what is a cheap girl to do? Why make my own.

I found the Styrofoam balls at the thrift store. But you can find them at Dollar Tree as well. My flowers came from Dollar Tree. I pulled off the flowers from the stems & glued them to the balls. Easy peasy.

Looks fabulous sitting on this candle holder.


And sitting in this cloche.

My next project was done at the beginning of summer. It was the beginning of my aqua stage.


I purchased some clear glass vases at the thrift store and squirted some paint inside. Twirled the paint around the inside of the vase. Let them dry and I got this:


Gorgeous aqua blue vases. The perfect accessory to my summer mantel.

The next projects were all done by using my computer, a printer & paper.

I found this photo display at the thrift store. I printed out some letters to spell "Winter" and added some winter like birdy prints. Cheap and easy.


This was my favorite cloche I did this year. It was from January. I added some sticks to some vintage bottles, added a winter birdy print on a bed of Epsom salt snow. I then wrote Brrr on some rocks from my backyard.


For Valentine's Day I printed out some vintage Valentines in Sepia tone as well as some Love quotes.


Another cheap, fast and easy project. I printed out vintage letters that spelled "Love" and put each letter in a separate frame that came from Dollar Tree.


I printed out more vintage valentine's printed in sepia tone and taped them to my white plates for my Valentine china hutch.

Another easy project was making this hat for my statue. Do you remember making these hats out of newspaper when you were a kid?




I also made a bunch of patriotic fans and taped them to my plates for the 4th of July.

I think my favorite crafty projects and decor was at Halloween.


I made these gauze mummy candle holders. Pottery Barn knock off chalkboard rocks. Spooky labels I found on the Internet were printed out & taped to some vintage bottles. I spray painted & glittered a Dollar Tree bird and made over some Dollar Tree pumpkins. And then I made this Happy Halloween sign.

I covered a Dollar Store pumpkin that I spray painted white with some spider web lace. More spooky labels on bottles.

I made over most of my family room wall with paper. Lot of bang for little to no bucks.

And finally I used a dry erase pen to draw spider webs on glass candle holders. I also added glitter spider webs to the votive candle holders and glitterifed some spider rings to add some pizazz to the goblets. Made for a fabulous tablescape.

Wow! For being a lazy procrastinator I guess I got quite a lot done this past year. Well I hope you have enjoyed looking back over my favorite projects for the past year. I hope you can see that it doesn't take a lot of money to change up your home for the seasons.

Tomorrow I will recap all the tablescapes I've done this past year. Which really wasn't many (compared to years past).



Linking to:

BTB Party @ Savvy Southern Style


23 comments:

  1. Cool! That was a fun overview of your projects over the year. I loved the "flower balls"... (oops...can i say that?) they are adorable! You are so inventive!

    Cindy

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  2. Wow, you were busy! Not sure I could keep up. Can't wait til next year to see what you do. Hugs, Ginger

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  3. You're so talented, I'm always inspired when I visit your blog! I love everything, especially your photo signs, I might have to try that sometime. They really do make spectacular personalized gifts. I hope you will come by my blog and join in my first Masterpiece Monday linky party. I'll be putting the link up sometime on Sunday the 2nd. Happy New Year! Mary :O)

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  4. You are one clever and crafty girl. Thank you so very much for sharing such great inspiration!

    I can't wait to see what 2011 brings.

    Have a very Happy New Year!

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  5. I don't even know where to start, all that you accomplished this year is great! The china cabinet that you painted black is fabulous. Who would ever guess that it was the same piece of furniture. I also love the wreaths that you created this year.

    I'm about to become your newest follower!

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  6. I'm like wow! You really did a lot. I love the your neat and simple and inexpensive ideas. Love that china cabinet. So creative with the various wreaths too. Happy New Year. Looking forward to your blog in 2011.

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  7. fabulous projects! I found you on Southern Hospitality's blog. Your photo word signs are very sweet - you're right, that would be a lovely gift. And your little flower balls are too adorable! Love them!

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  8. fabulous projects! I found you on Southern Hospitality's blog. Your photo word signs are very sweet - you're right, that would be a lovely gift. And your little flower balls are too adorable! Love them!

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  9. All of your projects turned out so good but I think my favorites are the China Cabinet and the candles. They turned out so cute.

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  10. Wow! This post is quite an inspiration! I'm so glad that I stopped by. Your wreaths are all very nice and I love those framed signs.

    Happy new year to you!
    -Rene

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  11. You did a lot! Somehow I missed the trunk project. That turned out so beautifully! Love all the wreaths too! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous projects!

    Manuela

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  12. Hi Kim, those are some great projects you did this year. I love those letter signs. That is so cool how you can see a letter in objects around you and take a photo and make those. Very unique! Thanks so much for joining the party!

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  13. wow! I do love your lettering and I really love those painted vases! I know that my go-to thrift store has tons of these.....

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  14. What wonderful projects! You were very busy this past year!

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  15. Great projects this year!! Love all the candle and wreath ideas!

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  16. Love these crafts!!Especially your framed words...so creative!!

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  17. Hi Kim! Oh, look at all of these wonderful projects. You are absolutely the most talented and creative one and very busy!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  18. Hi Kim, I love all of your projects! I like the letter art you did with LOVE. I think I will have to do something like that for my picture wall. Thanks for sharing :o)

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  19. Your book wreath and those fab Christmas candles are my faves! GREAT projects!!! Thanks so much for the visit. :)

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  20. I love all your projects, but am especially loving your letter photograph art. Just gorgeous!

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  21. What a great post! I love seeing all of your wonderful projects! The painted hutch is my favorite. You can't go wrong with black.

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  22. First time visiting your blog, love your projects. I have bookmarked this page- it will help me with my 'to-do list' for 2011. What a great year!

    craftytexasgirls@blogspot.com

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  23. Loved all your ideas...so cute, so fun, so crazy. Terry

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