Super Hero Christmas - click image to read more

Here we have the finished shelf configuration

The hubby and I weren't supposed to be buying "big gifts" for each other this year because of the basement reno and our new sectional, so I HAD TO GET CREATIVE.

These images are before we finished all the shelves.  Sticking with the Super Hero theme (predominately Spiderman), I made some themed decor items for the basement.  I wanted to have some items that are't immediately obvious that they are Spiderman, here's my brainstorm:

Camera pillow - Spiderman was a newspaper photographer.

Camera blueprint image,  I bought this for $3.00 on Etsy and used a Dollar store frame.  I purchased the fan clock from Homesense, it was the kids gift to Daddy.  I love the look of the industrial or old fashioned rotary fan turned into a clock.

Power quote print - quote from Spiderman's Uncle Ben (originally Voltaire).  I made it in Photoshop, I did "case" it however, it was someone elses idea I saw online.

The microscope, my most favorite find.  Since I work in a High School, I asked the Head of the Science Department if she had any broken microscopes she would be willing to sell.  To buy them on Etsy, you are looking at $40 -$60 for just the shipping.  Luckily she did, so I bought one for $20 and no shipping.

The "S" was already featured in a previous post, I think with my 40% off coupon the canvas and silver paint was under $10.00.

Sean was kind enough to pick up some IKEA fake plants when he was there to purchase Boo's new Queen bed.  We already had the pots from the Baby Shower lighthouses from last year.  The "I love you more than bacon" was a Christmas present from the kids to my hubby from quite a few years back.

This DNA blueprint image is available through Etsy for $11.00-$12.00.  However, I found the DNA vector on line for free.  It's a free downloadable colouring page for Science class.  I downloaded the image and in Photoshop transferred it onto a free vintage paper background.  Again used a Dollarstore frame.

Camera Pilow - Click on image for more details

The image was a google search "camera clip art"

Decor on the cheap.  I had this fabric gifted to me from my mother in law, I think it was from a "shy baby" kit.  The pillow form I stole from my bedroom pillows, which to tell the truth are always stuffed in the closet except once and a while when I have company. LOL

I created this Camera pillowcase cover using the Liquid Medium and Acrylic paint technique found in this previous post of mine.

Originally I was going to try making a DIY fabric transfer using wax paper.  You have to flip the image for this technique.  Needless to say it did't work, because I only had parchment paper.  So I decided, what the hey, I'll just paint it.  Not until I was half way done painting did it occur to me that I forgot to undo the image flip, so anyone familiar with camera's will catch that this camera is backwards... oops.  LOL

I used equal parts acrylic paint with transparent liquid medium.

I cut out the regular photocopy or printed image with a craft knife and traced onto the fabric.  I just used a regular sheet of 8.5 x 11 printer paper.

I left a bit of the focus lens mount dial and the glass lens attached to the body of the camera so that I didn't lose the placement in the image then connected the lines in the drawn image.  I pinned my fabric to a sheet of wax paper so that the paint wouldn't soak through to my work surface.

I painted the pencil image using medium/acrylic mix.  Then let dry.

The fine lines I did with one of Boo's fabric markers.  I am not sure how well the the markers will wash.  I imagine you could also use a Sharpie marker.  Once dry, I went over all of it with an iron set to medium.

Envelope pillow case cover tutorial found here @ Instructables.com

DIY fabric paint tutorial here @ Instructables.com

X-Mas Cookies - click image for more details

We decorated Christmas cookies this afternoon.  I am so enjoying the Christmas sweater and mitten cookie cutters, any way you decorate they look neat.  Before baking I made a toothpick impression in the arms so it was easier to follow once baked and cooled.

I found a "In the Mix" Ninja gingerbread set at Winners, it came with plastic cutters so it was a must have for my hubby and kids. *Note for next year, flip some Ninja's over before baking to have more fighting options.

I mixed Moss Green Wilton dye paste with Wilton red paste to make the black icing.

Kinda looks like Colonel Sanders?

of course the hubby got creative, EVERY YEAR!  Usually it's extra dangley bits on the gingerbread men.

Quickie Joy - click image for more

I did this project a few weeks ago, but didn't get around to posting it. I purchased the the letters and snowflake wood cutouts from Michael's.  

I painted them with Acrylic craft paint,and free hand painted the polka dots.  
I didn't have to do anything to the snowflake, it was already shabby chic'd.

I glued clothes pins to the back sides and attached them to the chicken wire on the old window frame that adorns my fence during the nicer weather.

Merry Ho Ho Everyone!

The window frame is mounted to the brick using a brick clip from Canadian Tire.

Basement Before and After - Click on Image to see more

Okay okay, so our basement renovation has been a long time coming, it's why we bought the house 10 years ago.

Fall 2016 (Before)

During...

During... (hurray, bye-bye cinder block support)

After (X-Mas 2017)

The hubby has to finish the bricking the fireplace sides paint the beam and the floor.  We have some shelving projects planned for the New Year.  Soooo close to being done.  Hubby done good!

Faux Metalic Letter - Click image to read whole post

I wanted to get my hubby a metallic riveted alphabet letter for his man cave, similar to the one from my son's room, but couldn't find one.

What's a girl to do? Maker her own!

I bought a canvas letter form from Michael's using my 40% off coupon and bought a bottle of silver craft paint.  Everything else I already had on hand.

• Craft alphabet letter form
• Silver craft paint
• Burnt umber craft paint
• Pearl stickers (metal push brads would work too)
• Craft glue (I used Ranger Glossy Accents)

1.  Glue sticker pearls in place of rivets, let dry.

2.  Paint everything silver & let dry.

3.  Using burnt umber to dirty up the silver, adding more where dirt and rust are most likely to collect.  Using a clean wet paint brush and drag down from rivets while the burnt umber is still wet for rusty water marks/drips.

Designing for the Boy

We finally got around to painting the Boys room,  his only request was that hey wanted one navy blue wall.  I picked up a swatch from Benjamin Moore and he chose Newbury Port Blue.  The surrounding walls are Revere Pewter (we had left over from doing the hallway).

Notice the skateboard shelves, and Buddy's newly painted IKEA TARVA night stand.  We used a LEGO tire tread around the drawer knob. 

Grandma and Grandpa bought him a new bedside lamp, but we weren't able to go up on Easter to pick it up - he picked that out too from Target.com.

I think it turned out fantastic.  He did a great job picking the colour.  The cool numeral canvas I found at HomeSense for $22.00, what a steal.

We are thinking of building a floating desk below the kite.  Maybe if we have some barn boards left over from Sean's desk project?