I recently came across a great deal.  I always have to check out the clearance section of any store I go into.  My mother-in-law teases me because I never pay for anything that is not on sale/clearance or that I have a coupon for.  I was in Lowes again, of course, and saw this light on clearance. Orig. $98, on clearance for $13.97 and I had a $10 coupon so it was only $3.97!!!!!!!! I love it in the bathroom.

Going back a little

Here is my first major project that I tried.  After looking on Pinterest I had the bright idea to redo my stairs.  Little did I know what a task this would become. I bought the stains and paints but wanted to try it out before actually ripping up my whole stairway so I decided to try it on the upstairs hall.

 The before one view of the hall towards the stairs

The opposite view towards the bedrooms and bathroom

 I did sand the doors a little, just enough to take the gloss off. Some said you I didn't need to do this but I didn't want to have to re-do it.

 Started wiping the gel stain on with a rubber glove and my husbands tube sock over top.  The easiest thing ever to do. 

I did the top of the door and my son wanted to do the bottom.  Really it was that easy that he was able to do it himself.  I let it dry and then applied a second coat.  I really liked the dark chocolate look so  I did not wipe off after staining just left everything on.  You can do it to whatever look you like.  Make sure to let completely dry before putting the poly on.  I also used the gel poly and just wiped on the same way.  I used General Finishes Java Gel. 

 The after of the hallway.  I painted the base boards and trim and replaced the light.



 Opposite view.  What a difference it makes.  I love it!

The vanity is Painted!

All I have left to do is the ceiling and the tiles by the mirror.  Still deciding on those.

Minions!!!

I have been a little sidetracked lately.  Just busy with stuff.  I LOVE PINTEREST!  I am always on there getting ideas for my home or crafts.  My most recent project was cupcakes for a BBQ party.  I decided I wanted to make Minions for the kids but wanted to make it look a little different that what I found online.



I was unable to find Twinkies at the local grocery store but "Cloud Cakes" taste the exact same.  I made royal icing (powder sugar and egg whites, you can use the pasteurized ones in the carton) in different colors.  The yellow I made a thinner consistency.

I cut the cakes in 1/2 and put on a rack.  I then spooned the yellow icing over the top until covered and just let it drip off.  I liked the look of this better than just plain Twinkies.

I used a baggie for piping the eyes. 

I made the grey a little thicker so it would look like goggles and then filled in with the white.

After a day of drying I added the black.  You don't want it wet otherwise all the colors will run into each other.

The black was kept in the baggie over night and then I started on the hair

Attached the eye on with a band of black

Then added smiles to everyone.

You can do the Minions ahead of time as the outer shell keeps the Twinkies moist  and everyone knows Twinkies last forever!

The finished product after the minions were dry.  I just piped blue frosting and stuck the minions on top. 

They were a big hit at the party with kids and adults alike!

One of the most recent projects, The Downstairs Bathroom!

A few weeks ago we kept smelling a band-aid smell.  You know that particular smell just like a band-aid. We couldn't figure out what it was.  I returned home from work and started a load of laundry.  I went up stars and started smelling the band-aid again.  This time it was really strong.  I was sniffing my dog because he was always around when the smell was so I thought he had gotten into something.  Not him.  I tracked it back downstairs to the bathroom/laundry room where it was very strong.and realized the washer wasn't running.  Our washer bit the dust with a full load of laundry in it and it had only filled with water.  What a pain.  The motor was completely burnt out.  It was a washer that we had gotten with the house so we just decided to replace it.  I had already repaired the dryer once so we replaced that also.  The problem was the new set would not fit in the closet space.  NEW PROJECT!

This is the before without washer and dryer.  I had already moved them into the dining room for pickup and forgot to take a picture. The old owners had boards across instead of shelves but it was particle board and massively sloped down in the middle so I had replaced it with the wire shelves. There was also bi-fold doors on that I took off to get the washer/dryer out.

I started tearing out.

 Our ugly green tiled floors. 

Finally all torn apart.  I was up at 4:30 am, when my husband left for work, trying to tear everything down.  No sledge hammer or pry bar just a hammer and me hanging on it to get the top down.

 

Dry wall starting to go up. YEA!!! Our new washer and dryer has been delivered! I love them!!!! I had them put them in the room because there was no way I was getting them in there. There was a light on the backside of the closed wall.  I took that out and put the wires into the ceiling.  Then took out the light switch and capped the wires. Bibbidi boppidi boo! 

Hey if I am going to redo half the room might as well redo it all.  So I took down the rest of the wallpaper border.

The light to the bathroom was on the outside wall in the kitchen. WHAT!  Whose brilliant idea was that?  I decided to switch it to the inside.   I have no electrical experience but figured it couldn't be too hard. Just remember to shut the power off! (which I did) 

 

Patched the wall in the kitchen 

 

This will get painted over when we redo the kitchen.

 

Drywall is up and all mudded, the problem now is the wall where the laundry part is a totally different textured finished than the rest of the bathroom.  I did try to sand it but would need a mega sander to actually get it knocked down.  So I decided to put plain wall paper over it and then paint.

 

Wallpaper is done and I started putting up board and batten.  Of course Baker(my dog) was there supervising at all times. 

 

I didn't put it along the whole wall as there is a big storage cabinet going in beside the washer and dryer and you wont be able to see behind any of it. 

 

Painted the walls and loving the color!

We were going to leave the vanity and replace it at a later date but as you will see below I was able to get a little extra help.

Couldn't stand the toilet.  Wrong color and used way to much water.  I am sure it was original to the house. I had already replaced the upstairs toilet so I knew how to do it and it was very easy.

 



Painted board and batten

Started installing peel and stick flooring over the tile.  I wasn't ready to tear out the whole floor and put all new in.  This is a inexpensive and great way to cover.

 

This is the almost finished project.  The washer/dryer are in, the storage cabinet is in (although not without injury as when I was putting it together I dropped the long/ big side on my foot.  I thought I had broken it but x-rays were negative. I am still tending the wounds 4 weeks later but life will go on.)

Keegan helping Grandpa with the plumbing

 Baker is supervising again

 

You will see the old vanity in the pics above.  I hated it.  Not only was it falling apart but it was way to short.  So with the help of my visiting mother and step-father (he did most of the work) we replaced it.  This is a stock, unfinished kitchen cabinet, a cut your self counter top and then we added the bowel and faucet.  Sooooo much better.  And the new mirror.

Almost finished.  Still want to tile around the mirror and maybe change out the light along with painting the vanity white. I also have to figure out the ceiling.  It is uneven and different textures so I am thinking of putting up white ceiling tile (patterned like the old tin ceiling tiles).  It is now a bathroom/laundry room that I love!

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All the little things....

Here are a few of the little things I have had to replace

Ok maybe not such a little job given that the old faucet decided to become a fountain at 8pm.  So we went running to Lowes for a new faucet and put it in within a few hours.  The biggest problem was getting the old bolts lose.  The rest was actually very easy.

 Hmmmm, came home one day and the disposal mysteriously stopped working.  Again the biggest problem was getting the old bolts off.

Updated the over head light in the hall, previously it was a latern style light.

 

In the beginning.... we bought a house.  The first thing I did was paint.  I couln't live with the orange undertones in the room.
                                                                             Before: 

 

After Painting walls and trim:

Excuse the mess, we were still moving in.  You will see my dog Baker frequently as he is ALWAYS there.