What We Accomplished Wednesday #70

Want to be a pin-up girl? Join the party, and if you are featured, I'll pin your project to my Green Willow Pond Features Board!

If you missed it, I shared my Christmas Kitchen Shelves this past week. The Christmas is all put away now, but this was one of my favorite spots in the house this year.

January is such a dreary month. It's cold, the Christmas decorations come down and the sun rarely shines (in my neck of the woods anyway). But it is flying by and before you know it, spring will be just around the corner. 

I always seem to get in a slump this time of year, which is why I am so grateful for the inspiration you bring to this party every other week. It is such a pick me up to see all the beautiful transformations, diy, and achievements!  Thank you for taking the time to stop in and inspire me.

This weeks top ten start with this gorgeous dresser painted by Kelsey at Vintage Storehouse. I'm crushing on the pink blush color!

Deb, at Seeking Lavender Lane, shared some highlights of the changes and projects they have made in their beautiful new home.  

This is such a fun and pretty idea from Heather, at Woods of the Bell Trees. She created napkins from thrifted white shirts, incorporating the pretty lace or ruffled details!

Isn't this dining/kitchen area beautiful? Brooke, from Start at Home, refinished and painted an old table into this stunning beauty.

Karen, from Karens up on the Hill, shares her tips for shaking the winter blues in the kitchen, with 5 tips for brightening up the space.

Who says you have to take down all the Christmas decorations? Brooke, from Creative Country Mom left up this mini tree and created a winter scene in this pretty corner.

Mindi, from My Love 2 Create, saw potential in this beat up old divided shelf. You won't believe what it looked like before.Look at all that great storage!

This studio at Artistic Endeavor is loaded with creative ideas for storing craft supplies.

This dreary month is the perfect time to relax in a hot bath. Sarah, at Ruffles and Rainboots, shares her recipe for a divine bath bomb. Sounds like bliss to me!

When I was in college, there was a local restaurant that sold the best gyros. It was the first time I'd ever had them and it spoiled me for their recipe. These chicken and vege gyros, created by Nici at Posed Perfection, sound so good! I'm definitely going to give them a try.

The Simple and Easy Rules

1. Only projects you have made/accomplished pretty please. This means no round up of others projects, give-aways, reviews of products, etc. Items for sale are okay, as long as they are in tutorial form, and linked to your blog post.  No links to shops or Etsy stores, or round-up posts of others projects please.  Link up to 3 posts - please link posts new to this party.

2. Linking back to the party (text or button) within your post is very much appreciated . You can grab a button from the side bar if you like.

3. By linking up here, you are giving me permission to feature you here, on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and/or Pinterest.  I'll only use 1-2 pictures from your post and link back to you. Then people will be flocking to your blog to read all about it!!  Spreadin' the love around baby!
Most importantly, go visit some of the links because otherwise it wouldn't be a party would it? 

I am no longer automatically adding you to my email list to send out reminders about the party. If you want a reminder each week, just use the little sign up form below. You will only be signing up for party notifications. I will not use this list for anything else, nor will I ever share it with anyone. ever. period.

Sign up for party reminders 

An InLinkz Link-up

Christmas in the Kitchen

A few days ago I shared my little burlap "wallpapered" shelf with it's Christmas decor.  Today I'm revealing (very late I might add) my kitchen bookcases that I use for dishes. I've shared lots of transformations of these shelves the past couple of years.  I think this one is my favorite. In fact I haven't taken it down yet because I like it so much. Alas I will take it down this coming week though.

I used my silhouette cameo to cut contact paper and used it like a stencil to create the chalkboard lettering. My little Christmas pumpkin made an appearance again this year.

Most of my Christmas decorations I had or I made. I bought very few things this year. This pine garland I picked up last year at work and added the red berries to brighten it up a bit.

I did buy those scented pine cones and filled a couple of bowls, as well as scattered some individually around the house. Although they are really strong smelling when in a huge box full of them at the store, at home I barely noticed the scent. Of course my nose is probably so accustomed to them from working at the store.

My Eiffel Tower got a tiny touch of bling with one of my glittered word ornaments. Peace. A precious commodity in this violent world. Christmas reminds us that one day, peace will reign on earth.

I did very little to this shelf except to remove the bowls, replace the plain white plates with some red and white ones and pop some red berries in the vintage silver creamer and sugar.

This shelf also remained the same except to remove what I had on top of the plates and bowls and place a single scented pine cone in the center. I made the red ticking napkins this year.

The shelf on the right got the same garland treatment.

This shelf got more changes. I did keep the green glass plate and tarnished sugar and creamer on the top shelf, but everything else was taken off. My silver coffee pot holds more red berries.

I also bought a few spools of this ribbon at the store. I love the chalkboard look with white script. 

Except for the silver platter, everything else on the middle shelf got the boot. I introduced some of my favorite mercury glass pieces.  The little fluted bowl on the right is one I created using mirror spray paint and vinegar to create the mercury glass look. I filled it full of faux white pips.

Finally the bottom shelf holds a bowl with more scented pine cones, my little pine cone tree I made a couple years ago, and a little tin pot with a grapevine ball. I made the pine cone tree a couple of years ago. I just used a styrofoam cone and hot glued pine cone scales to it, then brushed a little silver paint onto the tips of the scales.

The little tin pot on the left got coat of white chalk paint. I put a little moss on top and set a little grapevine ball on it. I did buy a few of these "grape clusters." They are actually little jingle bells painted brown with a glittery coating.

I have a couple more belated Christmas posts coming up, then it's on to the New Year!

Peace and blessings to you!

This post was shared at these fabulous parties:

Tuesdays with a Twist at MsMoozy's Open House
Frugal Crafty Blog Hop at Making it in the Mountains
Happiness is Homemade at Electric Red Barn

What We Accomplished Wednesday #69

Want to be a pin-up girl? Join the party, and if you are featured, I'll pin your project to my Green Willow Pond Features Board!




Happy New Year!  I hope and pray this new year will bring special blessings to each one of you. I'm looking forward to another year of creativity and fun!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I am in awe of your creativity! So many ideas, so little time. I wish I didn't have to sleep!

I like red and white together, so this fresh Christmas living room decor really caught my eye! Aren't those lanterns cute? Check out the full tour by Patty at That's So Pretty.

How cute are these Mason Jar luminaries that Poppy, from With a Dash of Color, made? I love the little chalkboard tag!

Banners are so cute, and I really love the book page banners. Beverly, from Electric Red Barn, tied this Noel banner to the top of a curtain with a sprig of berries. So pretty! She shares several ideas for "decorating on the cheap" for Christmas.

Mary, from Orphans With Makeup paints the most beautiful pieces of furniture. She displayed it so beautifully for Christmas too!

There are so many pretty and simple ideas here, I can't even pick a favorite. The burlap wrapped center piece, and brown paper packages did kind of steal my heart though. Check it all out at Love, Create, Celebrate.

Mindi, from My Love to Create, did it again with this creative sign. This piece is huge and makes a huge impact! She made the words separately so it is versatile too!

You will never believe what this piece looked like before. This is proof positive that white paint can transform absolutely anything! Christine, from Must Love Home, created these "french shutters" from some pictures she didn't like. I love how all the detail now takes center stage.

Aren't these dishes sweet?  Jody, from Southern Seazons, has been collecting these Better Homes and Garden Plates for a few years. She paired them with the beautiful white chargers, green plates and plaid napkins. So pretty!

Do you love the look of an old fashioned sled, but don't own one? Sarah, from Little Red Brick House, found one at Michaels and painted it with a grain sack stripe pattern. It turned out great!

Last, but not least, these yummy looking morsels are soft ginger cookies dipped in white chocolate. Oh yum! Find the recipe by Karee, at Vintage Chateau.

The Simple and Easy Rules

1. Only projects you have made/accomplished pretty please. This means no round up of others projects, give-aways, reviews of products, etc. Items for sale are okay, as long as they are in tutorial form, and linked to your blog post.  No links to shops or Etsy stores, or round-up posts of others projects please.  Link up to 3 posts - please link posts new to this party.

2. Linking back to the party (text or button) within your post is very much appreciated . You can grab a button from the side bar if you like.

3. By linking up here, you are giving me permission to feature you here, on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and/or Pinterest.  I'll only use 1-2 pictures from your post and link back to you. Then people will be flocking to your blog to read all about it!!  Spreadin' the love around baby!
Most importantly, go visit some of the links because otherwise it wouldn't be a party would it? 

I am no longer automatically adding you to my email list to send out reminders about the party. If you want a reminder each week, just use the little sign up form below. You will only be signing up for party notifications. I will not use this list for anything else, nor will I ever share it with anyone. ever. period.

Sign up for party reminders 

An InLinkz Link-up

Christmas Shelf Display

Happy New Year!  Do you love the fresh start of a new year like I do? There is just something exciting about it.  A chance for a new start...a clean slate. Before I can wipe off my slate though, I want to share some of my Christmas decor with you. I just never seem to have the time to do that before the holidays.

I have this odd little area between our living room and kitchen/dining area. There is a half wall with a small shelving unit at the wall end of it. Last year I painted the shelves white and used liquid starch to "wallpaper" the inside of the shelves with printed burlap. Anytime I want to take it down, I can just spray it with water and peel it off.

It's a very difficult area to photograph because the west facing windows adjacent to it glare into the camera.  I almost have to use flash to get a picture of it.


This little paper wreath is made just like my larger one, except this time I hot glued the paper on. It fit perfectly in one of the shelves. I added some old wood cranberry beads to it for Christmas. I didn't want them to be permanent, so I just wrapped them on with some fishing line. You have to be very close to even see it.

I cut a really long piece of the fiishing line, then tied it to itself  behind the wreath. I misjudged how long I needed so I had to cut a second piece, but it worked fine. I ran the line through each of the beads twice, which kept the beads from moving around once I set them where I wanted, but I could still adjust them as needed. The fishing line just disappears against the white wreath.

The red radio was a gift for my husband several Christmases ago. It fit into the color scheme perfectly.

 I love this little wooden chest.  It was a wedding gift that a friend refinished for us. I keep the floral headpiece that I wore for our wedding in it.

I'll be sharing some more of my Christmas decor over the next couple of weeks. I took an extra week off from the party, but it will be up tomorrow evening!  Hope to see you there.

I've shared this post at these great parties:

Roses of Inspiration at The Enchanting Rose