Spider Web Window

Where has the year gone?  Here we are in the middle of October.  Christmas is in a little over two months.  Yikes!

And where have I been?  I'd love to say that I've been laying on a beach in a tropical climate.  But no, I've just had a serious case of laziness.  Like really bad.  Almost fatal.

I need to do something, and fast.  Halloween is in less than 3 weeks and I haven't even decorated.  Well I have, just not finished enough to post about it.

I'm hoping to get motivated this weekend.  Only because I am having a Halloween party on the 20th.  So I need to get going.

Maybe if I post about something Halloweeny from last year that will get me in the mood. 

Something Gothic and Victorian and Halloweeny.  

 

Last year my hubby made me this fabulous spider web leaded glass window. I barely mentioned it last year. So I thought this year I would post more about it. 

It was inspired by these spider web windows we saw at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA

Once I saw these windows, I knew I needed one of my own.  

Here is a closer look at a couple of the spider web windows in the Winchester Mystery House.  

If you have never been to see this house, you must put it on your bucket list.  It is beautiful and spooky all in one.  It's a fabulous Victorian house.  

Lucky for me, my hubby knows how to do stained and/or leaded glass windows.  So I asked if he could make me one and he said "Anything for you babe as you are the best wife in the whole wide world".  Well, he may not have said it exactly like that, but that is what I heard.   

First hubby started out by drawing a pattern on some kraft paper.  Then he purchased some glass from the local stained glass store.  We are lucky to have one in the town we live in.   He spent a day cutting out each section of glass and fitting it on the pattern. 

Next he put copper foil around the edge of each piece of glass. 

Then comes the flux & soldering.  He kept moving the soldering gun so I never got a good picture.  He didn't want to take the time to stop & model.  Just wanted to get it done.  

I know there is another step that turns all the copper and soldering black, just can't remember exactly what he did.  

Finally he put the window into an old frame I had picked up at the thrift store.  I paid $5.00 for the frame many years ago.  I love how this frame is black and gold. 

Here is a closeup of the detailing on the corners of the frame.  

It's really hard to take a photo of something sitting in the window.  I had to really lighten up the two photos of the frame so you could see it.  

I love the prism circle in the middle. 

Here you can see that he used different types of glass.

I was so happy with how the window turned out.  It is my most favorite Halloween decoration.  But after a week or so we decided that it needed something else.  But what?

How about a spider?

My hubby found a spider ring on ebay that had a purple crystal for it's body.  He cut off the ring part & glued the spider to the window. 

And now the window is perfect.  The spider was just the right touch.  

The window ended up costing about $40.00 to make.  But can you imagine how much you would have to pay to buy one in a store?  And have you ever seen a spider web window in a store?  

I just love how my spider web window turned out.  So much so, that it's been sitting on my window sill all year. 

My hubby is definitely a keeper.  

Now hopefully I will be more motivated to finish up my Halloween decorating.  How about you?  Do you have all your Halloween decorating done?

Kim

Linking to:

Weekend Wrap Up Party-Tatortots and Jello

Pinterest Challenge Party-Summer

Boy is it hot!   Sure wishing I were at the beach.

I guess it is time to take down my 4th of July/Patriotic mantel and put up a Summer one.

I plan on using a few of the same elements from last years Summer mantel.  My favorite three items to be exact.  And since they were all knockoffs of stuff I had pinned to Pinterest.  I thought I would join in on the Pinterest Challenge, summer edition.

What?  You say that I am a day late for the party?  Well, better late than never I always say. 

My first entry into the Pinterest challenge is my "Life is good at the beach" sign.  Here is the original I found online last year that I pinned. 

I found it at Dean Miller.  The original is actually a metal sign that they sell for $19.99.   I loved the colors and it was exactly what I wanted for my summer mantel.  That is, except for the price. 

I like FREE better!  Hubby had 3 cedar fence boards sitting on the side of the house.  I asked him "pretty please" if he would cut them down for me to make this sign.

He was so excited that he jumped up and down for joy and clapped his hands.  Just kidding.  But he did say "yes".  In fact, he made me 2 wood plank signs.  The other one I still haven't done anything with. 

Here he is putting all the pieces together for me. 

Next I painted the board with some white craft paint.  I didn't want it to completely cover the board.   Then I used some aqua paint and painted 3 areas.   I pretty much copied the inspiration sign. 

 

I did more of a whitewash effect with the paint.  I wanted some of the original board to show through.  The best part about using cedar fence planks is the roughness of the wood.  Adds great texture.                       

 

I was then going to use a stencil for writing the words.  But you know how lazy I am.  I decided to just wing it and live dangerously, by free handing my words.  Scary!  But it all worked out.  Lucky for me.                  

I used a pencil to sketch my letters.  Then I used some grey paint to paint "Life is Good".  White paint for "at the" and red paint for "BEACH".  I then used a black sharpie to outline "BEACH".   I then lightly sanded it    and called it done.                                                                                                                                            

My next project was inspired by this image I found on Pinterest at Obee Designs. 

 

Aren't you crushing over these vintage SeaSide beach pails?  I know I have been ever since laying eyes on this image.                                                                                                                                               

I had to have one of these pails.  

I found one on eBay last year.  Yipee!  But wait, I'm el cheapo.  I'm not going to pay $100 for a vintage beach pail.  No matter how much I wanted it.  I guess I will have to make my own.  

Plus, I wanted an aqua blue stripe, not a royal blue stripe in mine.    And I wanted it to be FREE.  

                                                                                                                                        

Luckily, I had a plain tin pail in my stash that came from either the Dollar Spot at Target or from Michael's dollar bins a few years back.  So I painted the bucket with some red, some white and some aqua blue. 

Next I took my handy dandy Sharpie pen and lived dangerously again.  And wrote "Seaside", free hand.  The adrenaline was a pumping.    I girl can only take so much danger in one day.  I was fast becoming an adrenaline junky.  (OK, you can stop laughing now.)

Problem was, it wasn't looking very vintage.  So I shabbied it up a bit with some sandpaper.  And then used some watered down burnt umber paint and slathered it on.  Then wiped it off.   Much better. 

Still doesn't look like it's 100 years old.  But for free, I'm estatic.

And if you must have your own vintage Seaside beach pail.  I found you one on ebay.   It's only at $49.00 currently and closes in 2 days.  But if you are cheap like me.  You can make your own.  Just like me. 

My final Pinterest inspiration project is bunting made from a map.  Here is my inspiration pin from Five Brothers One Sister. 

I really liked this one.  But I wanted mine to say "Summer".  And to be in a slightly different shape.

Now I'm not that handy with making computer graphics.  In fact, I down right stink at it.  I have not a clue how it's done.  So I had to make mine the good old fashion way.

I got my neighbor to give me some of her old maps (again a free project).  Remember when AAA used to give you free road maps?  Do they still do that?

I drew me up a template for the shape I wanted on some card stock.  Used my template to cut out the map.

Now I just needed me some red letters that spell out "SUMMER".  

I then remembered I had these vintage letters saved on my computer.  I have no idea where they originally came from.  I cut and pasted the letters I needed to spell "SUMMER".  Printed them out onto cardstock.

Then I painstakingly cut out each letter & glued on top of my map bunting pieces.  

I then punched a hole at the top on each side and strung them on a piece of twine.

And WALA!  I had the "SUMMER" map bunting of my dreams.

I really like the "S" section of the map since I grew up in San Diego county.  

And just because I am nice, and some of you may be every bit as cheap as me, I scanned my Summer map bunting just for you.

I don't know how to make a fancy shmancy download.  But you can right click on the images below and save to your computer.  You know, the "I have not a clue how to use a computer much" kind of way. 

And there you have my 3 Pinterest challenge projects.  Now go check out all the rest and get crackin' on making your Pinterest inspiration dreams come true. 

Hopefully I will get my Summer mantel completed this weekend.  And even though I am reusing 3 items from last years mantel, it will look a little different.  Shall I dare say, even better than last years?  At least that is what I am hoping.  But the laziness monster is still possessing my body, so who knows what will actually happen.

It's still hot.  I still would rather be at the beach.  But I guess my pool will just have to do.  

Linking to:

Centsational Girl: The Pinterest Challenge  

Finally! My 4th of July Patriotic Mantel

Hello!  Is anyone still out there?  It's me.  

Yes, I am still alive. I've just been lazy.  It is what I do best. 

Next to being a procrastinator.  

Since the 4th of July is tomorrow, and I am having a BBQ/pool party, I better get to decorating.  So far, all I have done is my mantel.  

I think it turned out pretty good considering all my Patriotic decor stuff is still up in the attic.  I just used what I had around the house (without having to climb up in the attic).  As well as some free printables from the internet.  And we can't forget some flags from the dollar bin at Target and the thrift store. 

Most of my frames originally came from thrift stores.  I just painted them and added chicken wire to some.  The frame on the left I got from the Western Eagle Bargain Store in Temecula.  I bought it on one of their half price days.  I think it cost me $2.50.  

Love this "My Country 'tis of Thee" free printable from HMH Designs.  I cut it down and clipped it to my chicken wire frame with mini clothespins.    I just found the star molds at the thrift store.  I got 6 of them for a buck.  

 

I made the book page medallion last year.  I just change out the center for each holiday.  I found some cute 4th of July tags at My Sisters Suitcase blog. 

This "America" printable came from Moglea.  I am not sure this was a free printable or not.  So now I am feeling quite guilty for using this.  But not guilty enough to not use it.  

These flags are from the dollar spot at Target.  I have a bunch up in the attic, but since I am so lazy, and they are so cheap, I had to get more.   And I know that is a run on sentence.  But I don't care.  That is how I talk.  If you are the grammar police, you can just go elsewhere.  I will write like I talk.  May not be pretty, but it's the truth.  

The glass beakers in the wood frame came from Lillian Vernon last year or the year before.  And of course, I got them on clearance.  You know I am too cheap to pay full price.  

Here is the left side of the mantel.   The chalkboard was made from an old cabinet door I picked up for a couple of dollars at the Habitat ReStore.  It is suppose to be hanging on the door that goes from my kitchen to my laundry room.  But again, that laziness thing, or maybe it's that procrastination thing.  Anyhoo, either excuse has kept me from hanging it up where it belongs.  So I get to use it in this mantelscape. 

This "Star Spangled Banner" free printable came from HMH Designs as well as the "My Country 'Tis of Thee" print I showed you earlier.

  
The pinspinner was another free printable from Allsorts.  

This Stars + Stripes banner was found at Paging Supermom.  I just love super easy projects.  And I love those who provide us with free printables to make these super easy projects even more.  Thanks to all of you out there who are super talented.  Which, I am not, but you make me look like I am. 

And one final look at my 4th of July Patriotic Mantel.  

I'm still toying with the idea of climbing up in the attic to get down my Patriotic stuff so I can decorate the rest of my house.  But then again, that might take too much effort.  You know how I hate working up a sweat.  

What are your plans for the 4th? 

Linking to:

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Patriotic Inspiration from my Summer Staycation

Last week I was on a stay-cation. And what is a stay-cation?  Why it is a vacation where you stay at home and do stuff in your own house or neighborhood.  In other words, it means you are too broke to go on a real vacation.

Originally I was going to do all kinds of projects around my house.  Such as, redo our master bedroom (which really means, clean it up), redo the boys bathroom (which really means, get them to clean it up so I can redo it), and paint my china hutch (which really means, work, which I am apposed to doing while on vacation).   

What I really did is, sleep, eat, go shopping, eat and sleep some more. And did I mention shopping?

It was the most relaxing vacation I've been on in a long time.  I highly recommend it.  But unfortunately, nothing got done around my house.  Oh well.

One of my stay-cation days was spent down in Old Town Temecula.  My favorite store in Old Town Temecula is Serendipity Antiques. 

The front of the store was all decorated in a Patriotic theme.  I just love this Uncle Sam.  Wouldn't he be fun to have on your front porch?

Love this flag made from part of a picket fence.  Hmmm, I have part of an old picket fence sitting on the side of my house.  Maybe I should make me a flag like this.  But don't hold your breath.

Love this vignette.

Not the sharpest photo, but I love this coffee filter wreath.  I need to make me one.  I like how you can add seasonal items to dress it up.

I love these patriotic ornaments and paper lanterns hanging from tree branches.  This would be easy to recreate.

Not a lot of "Patriotic" items in this area, but having lots of red items still gives it that Patriotic feel.

I totally need to make me one of these baskets.  This would look great on my front porch.  That is, until the heat of summer scorches it and it dies.

I did not buy anything on my day trip to Old Town Temecula.  Only because I couldn't find anything I couldn't live without that I could afford.  But I had fun looking.  

All in all, I had a great time on my stay-cation.  I'll probably do it again towards the end of August around my birthday.  But secretly I'm hoping to win the Lottery so I can go on an actual vacation. 

What are you doing for vacation this summer?  Are you going somewhere?  Or doing a stay-cation like me?  Do tell.