Before and Afters Seem to Have a Strong Pull...

One of my favorite things to blog about and/or view other blogs are Before and Afters.... along with tutorials in case I someday have the time to try it out myself! Yes, lots of dreaming. :) I just found Better After. This blog has over 3,000 Followers, so you may have already found it! HOWEVER, it is absolutely worth mentioning... I have even signed up to receive emails of new posts... Am I obsessed? A Welcome quote from the Blogger, Lindsey: "This site is inspired by you! This is a showcase of my favorite part of any design project or makeover: The before and afters! It's always better after!"

This just posted the other day. A lucky grand daughter is enjoying a new kitchen, with a fabulous view!


There are actually Zebras in the window view to match the curtains - ha!

To see this specific post at Better After, go HERE. Love it!

UPDATE: Creator of the kitchen, Denise Adams, now has the tutorial set up on her new blog! Go HERE to visit her blog, Stitches and Nails.

Halloween Pumpkins, Stairs and Mice

Our stairs are all dressed up and ready for October!

After~

Here is my stand-in "Before" -sort of! These are actually our steps to the downstairs -same number of stairs, same style. Sorry! (I really do not know what happened to my before picture!)



I picked up some orange craft pumpkins from Michaels, and gave them about 2 or 3 coats of Creamy Ivory, and painted the stems black. I used pencil to draw the letters on and "painted" them with a standard "fine" point permanent black Sharpie marker. Holding the marker on it's side allowed for the best flow of ink. The pencil was so forgiving -any mistakes, and they erased right off of the paint! Lucky me, I think it took me about 5 trys before I got my "O's" how I wanted them. Because I was marking over paint, I did manage to wear out my older marker. I found that the new marker seemed to be going that way too, so I just gave it a few good swipes over a paper towel, and it came back.






Since our risers are also wood, I starched some muslin fabric on to create more of a contrast. After the Fall, I will be starching on a new fabric! (Sorry, no pictures of this step, "somehow" I missed it. ) You can just peel the fabric right off and throw it in the wash when you need a change! I discovered this idea at Sew Can Do.

The mice silhouettes are a Martha Stewart product that I found at Toys-R-Us. Each package includes 12 pieces. The mice are made from a thick cardstock and are adheared with double sided sticky dots, which came in the package. I am sure you can easily make your own too. Aren't they cute?


If I were more ambitious, I could also paint the back of my pumpkins to spell out "E-e-k-!" Then we could change them around depending on our mood! And just where did this great idea come from? Kellie, at This Blessed Nest. She has a more detailed tutorial, and a lovely loooooooong staircase where she spells out H-a-l-l-o-w-e-e-n, alternately with T-h-a-n-k-s-g-i-v-i-n-g -so creative! Thanks, Kellie!

And of course my trustee supervisor, Staxie, was helping me all the way~


Check out these links, there is so much to discover~

I am linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch_Metamorphosis Monday
Cottage Instincts-Make It 4 Monday
C.R.A.F.T-Making Monday Marvelous
Sew Can Do
All Thingz Related
Thrifty Decor Chick


****

This post has been tagged! Thanks All Things!

Before & After -tiny corner table

Our front entry, is has a large floor space, but not a lot of "usable" wall space. Even if I had a lot to work with, I would have to be creative. Why? A lot of soccer playing happens in this space! The 2 front doors are one goal, and the entry into the kitchen is the other goal. If the ball bounces down the step into the living room, it is considered out of bounds. Then there is the closet side, and stairs leading up, which usually keeps the ball in play. :)

So, I was tired of the look my little table came with, and gave it an update!

Here is my After:


I cannot really have anything breakable in the front entry, so I used my shiny red bucket for color, and a butterfly for some whimsy! I think the butterfly is actually from the garden center and actually "goes" outside.

I used products inspired by THIS Hutch Redo from Traci at Beneath My Heart.

I gave the table a light sanding, 2 coats of the Valspar Premium Enamel -Satin Black (Latex Enamel, interior/exterior) and 3 coats of the Zinsser Polyurethane, Satin, oil-base, on the table top. And, a little more sanding.... The inside drawer is a fun turquoise (Rivers Edge, Behr/Home Depot.)





Your turn to find something just the right size to update!
Linked up to the Before and After Party: Debbie-doos~
Frugal Friday at: The Shabby Nest
Primitive & Proper ~Piece of Work Wednesday
Sassy Sites ~Free For All Friday
Naturally Me Creations: Who Made What