Chalk paint pretty,and the things you do for family.....My little car has gotten a real run for it's money this month...Sept. I have added 4700 miles...in travels to Colorado,Wyoming,South Dakota and all the states in between and then off to Texarkana and a step into Arkansas...back home for jury duty. Hope I don't get picked and then paint a wardrobe for my Alexandria...and then pack it up and take to Texarkana to deliver the wardrobe and pick up my son who I left their to continuing taking care of my other sons house and puppies..if you call polar bears ....puppies.... OK that is where I have been and not posting much...so here is what I did while taking care of the puppies..

I did say Annie Sloan Chalk paint right...so lets get to it

 I will say this unit kicked my ......and the before pic...oops and )()(*(&^ I forgot until too late...the story on this unit is...First I was in Iowa,Grandpa Charles stereo radio unit...and a deep cheery wood veneer...with those cool ring pulls..then it went to Rapid City and was in My hubbys family, then to my Hubby who used it in his college dorm...USD Vermillion So.Dak. them to our little 1870 house we rented when first married....then into our boys rooms...in Waco, Dumas,Belton and then Morgans Point Resort/Belton Tx...then to my younger son when they moved back to Texas...so then to Temple, then Georgetown and now Texarkana...we know where it was built Tennessee this little unit can tell a story....do you ever think of all the places, your treasure have lived....

 So what happened to this unit...My son painted it white and green and put gas station stickers on it...and it was cute...held my grandsons books...but they were too tough on it....and it was not a ladder...so I painted it for the guest bedroom in their new place...first a coat of ASCP old white...Jason had used a spray paint so I had to cover a high gloss finish..chalk paint rules....so two coats of the white, the inside I used up my CoCo and then Emperors Silk two coats for depth of color..then I used the peal and stick letters...darn this one was harder...and this was not my first time...I see with the pics a few spots I need to fix too...some times you just have to step away to see your ooppps...

 OK this one has a Travel theme...She deserves it, so I thought of all the words for travel, journeys, and then some places to visit...Hey that is not how you spell Britain and It's Rome....Yeah I know...but this is a personal piece..and My grand kids have parents who love history...I mean my son is close to his degree major, history...and science...So Rome is Roman and Great Brittan is Britton and Alexandria is the great City with Roman influence and great history in Egypt...So I mixed a few other cities that would be interesting to see and Dublin is a must for Irish history buffs...So that is how the names came to be

Love color and  this is painted inside the doors and the entire interior in the red, and then the outside is a mat black with a little eggplant mixed....then add plaster of Paris...mix and you have home made chalk paint...the whole unit was waxed and buffed...then up the stairs to the guest room. Jason had given me these tins...I used in another little piece I did with this idea..and since they did not have a place for all their office stuff....I fixed that problem...here we go a place for it all...and the tins came back to them...now one problem was I worked for 3 hours with the door on top....it would not go back on...was not fitting like it had before...so I thought place on top...and I kinda like it this way...hide what you want, easy access to what you need...

So I added the little pot, and painted it red too,and then some chalk paint...took pic before I got some chalk. I did a chalk outline around the chalk paint on the little red pot, and wrote VISIT on it...then tucked in their latest magazines....then hung Jason's Marine pic from basic trainings...painted the frame to match...I had given them a little history of a vintage History book in red...yeap on top. Hung up the framed Medal from my Great Uncle Fred...he served WWI and WWII...this medal was awarded for those who served during 1912 to 1919, he served 1915 t0 1919...my Uncle Fred was very special to me...I think he would be happy to have Jason taking care of it now..O yea on the basic pic...is a Marine Epaulet from a sweet man who served in the Marines 1941..I met him while working and found out my son was on the USS Pelalui and he fought in the battle of Pelalui Island...History seems to find it's way into our lives...

 Some more of the guest room, this was my Bed from age 14 until I married...when I picked it up a few years back...I asked my son and Daughter in law...and they said yes...for Alexandria down the road...what color they said black so I painted a high gloss black...if you only knew all the layers of paint I chipped off of this when I was 14....I hung some of the items I have passed on from my Mom to Jason and his family...the frame original held the purse...but now it stand on it's own for pics...the purse I picked up for Alexandria starting a collection of Vintage purses..She was too little I have learned! this use to have more beading that hung from the bottom...O little girl....likes shinny

 I need or I should say want a new camera...I work on the pics but some times I can't improve them to show the beauty of what it really is...This picture was one I gave to Jason last year...a very pretty vintage frame and picture...

Do not give 2 year old vintage too early.....but she still is pretty...

 My Shark loving grand daughter...if some day you find out their is a gal studying sharks...I know who it will bee...I Painted her room a Turquoise...Pic does not show true...and then this material is from Spoonflower.Fabrics.Check it out...most original..I found the site and then My daughter in law, Cori and Alexandria looked and she picked out the one she wanted...Burp that is what it is called BURB...Bubbles...we need Bubbles in the Ocean Turq...so I found these crochet hoops at a garage sale in Wyo...and now they are Bubbles...in her room...with Sharkys as she calls them ....

So how about a few other vintage items that have been passed on to the next generation in our family...Cori is a huge Jackie and Jack fan...so when I saw this Magazine that my mom had...she framed the whole magazine...

 My mom had this original photo given to her from the photographer at the newspaper...the largest earthen Dam when they were starting the project....

 And finally back to travel and History...a cool map that's mate needs a new frame..I love old maps and think this is a special one....when it's mate is back it will be even more special....

Thank you for stopping by, and see you soon on my next posting...thank you for your comments, they make my day.......Kat(LINK'd at Miss Mustard Seed)

Fun with Paper...I play with lots of stuff, paint, decopag'e, hot glue stencils, and even ever now and them my sewing machine...that could be it's own post...but before I get in the car again for another trip, I will show you some of my paper creations....Or better explained as taking old music books in sad shape and torn pages and recreating with staples,coffee stains,use of cinnamon for staining, hot glue, mod-podge, and a I can do this..........

 This is my most successful creation, I call it a garland. Can be used many ways, this is a close up of the folds...and yes lots of folds...this is time consuming, and you have to like details because it can be many steps. I have sold over 15 of these...garlands for windows, fireplace, over a door..or a bed.

 This one shows how to use with a bed, and I think a great example of pretty. I made this one for my sister. She has a 100 year old Arts and Craft bungalow and this is her attic. One side is for her pretties and her grandkids, the other side is for the guys...

 This shows the whole garland, it is two sections. with lace ribbon on each end, the brass bed was my Mom's as was the hat, she used it for antique shows take a look at the top of my blog and you will see her dressed up with my Dad...he was teasing her....the Muff was Moms also, I had it-but decided to give it to my niece, she has the coat Mom wore with the Muff . Love all the textures...and that lil panda in the corner...Dad won it for mom at a carni...

 This shot shows a little more detail, the pic was in the attic..and a lil dim so the coloring shows very golden but more creamy in truth.Do you notice the straw hat, yeap that was my granddad's but my dad wore it too..


Do you want to see who checks you out as you head up to the attic

Ok this is Norman, yeap a Moose and a biggen....got to love Wyoming



So what else have I done with music sheets and paper

Yes this has been posted before, but we will have another fun time at Marta's and Friends in October...I better get busy!! The Ballerina O my, this is work. each of her Roses around the neckline and tucked at the waste. They started as coffee filters and cupcake liners..and then burlap ribbon...then lots of music sheets...rolled and hot glued to create a skirt..this was all glued and sew'n onto a dress. This really can be unzipped in the back and taken off the vintage mannequin...everything is attached to the dress....The cake is another time intense project...the top and middle are on book folded and glued and is intact to the book spine in the middle..the bottom is a paper mache box covered with rolls of papers...then again coffee filter roses and cupcake roses...ever sheet has been dipped in a coffee and cinnamon mix and then popped into the oven....on a low heat to get a vintage look- PS every thing you see has sold and most during Marta & Friends event...So see you in OCTOBER

 Yeap she is sassy, and a lil french...all music sheets and graphics from who else but the Graphic Fairy, see her on my side bar and jump over...I printed and then printed the graphic on the music sheet.Then Mod Podge sticky fingers to create this sassy lady, she is coverred head to toe,oops no toes..

 I said she is sassy, and the look on the back really says Paris chic perfect to hang all your pearls and beads...

I added a flirty slip that I stiched a burlap ruffle along the waist..can be worn  on it's own...so what was a sad falling apart, is now a sassy gal ....paper and a printer and the wonderful graphics....really look at the Graphic Fairy blog...

See this is how many thing start, Paper and looking for inspirations.....

 Close up on the coffee filter roses...they really are pretty, and with a show in October I guess I will be busy...O my burnt fingers..

 This shows the how you can make this in sections...old crochet work, ruffles and lace, watch those sales at Hobby Lobby and Walmart...and for a flat top, I use the same things that people making real cakes use, a cardboard round

This is a two layer cake, and the bottom section opens up for keepsakes..

 So if I can make a cake, why not a cupcake...so I made one, I took a solo cup and cut it for a cupcake shape, then folded music sheets and hot glued around the cup...then a cut a round of cardboard and decopaged for the bottom

 I open up and a great place for a wedding ring, or a special treat..fun for a gift, or request some more for a party treat....I even made it look like frosting

I then did a ruffle fold to create a top for the cupcake...nope has not sold yet ...but I hope ...maybe I need to make a even dozen...

 Close up of the cupcake roses...they are really pretty and a lil easier to make

Amazing how stuff that is broken,torn with holes can be pretty, and she sold ...kinda sad to say I had to mark her down- for her to find a new home...20.00 
But she started out with a few holes in her paper mache' body and this was all covered by a layers of music sheets...and then folding sheets in a way to create the look of feathers...OK I think you are paper tired by now ...yes I do wreaths too....we will show the hows of some of this down the road...but I will be hitting the road tomorrow and will see my Three Treasures....

 Ok Britton lets go clean your face, a little spagetti...but u got to say what a character...he is the Dragon trainer....with imagination that does not stop

 This girl, was into her cake, and sticky fingers and all....Hugs for Lexie

A little fuzzy but the terror trio, at play..Roman has Lexi's sharks...she loves her sharks..give them back now.....love the pucker ....and Britton has a smack down on the gorilla....So I will see them tomorrow....and they are headed to Disney World...with their other grandma...and parents....

I love that you stopped by- and if you are interested in the how to's- leave me a comment...I am interested if people want some tut's on how to make these lil treasures....so let me know via a comment or email...some of these are  fun for holidays...or special occasions .....prepare for sticky fingers..and watch those hot glue guns.. 


                        See you next time, Kathryn

Thank you very much!!!! This is short and sweet, I now am over 6500 readers...it amazes me to see where all the readers come from. To think people from Russia to Australia are reading my blog....is amazing...my thank you to each who stop by for a visit. Look around to my past posts for some of the kalamities or creations...and after this crazy month of travels is over.I will be back in the swing of more creations for the shop....

Happy Fall!!!!!it's here my favorite time of year

 I love falls grey blue skies, a hint of the cold winds of winter....but not yet

 I like wild water, and high mountain passes and last winter snows, that hang around way up here

 I like low valley rushing water and the sound of water over the boulders 

 I like the way the sun shines on the prairie grasses, and the play of color on sage brush

 I like early fall, the green that is still around, with the promise of color to come

 But what I love the most is the color of yellow gold that show up in the fall, So happy fall and get those pumpkins out, October is around the corner. How will you welcome Fall.

All these pictures,are from my last 8 days on the road, I went home to see family and my old friend the mountains of So.Dakota and Wyoming

I love fall, I love the color of Aspen and Birch.The sound of leaves dancing with the wind. I just came back from a trip home to see my Mom and Sis...

If you love fall enjoy a couple of pic

Yes if you know some of the back roads, and get off the road and into the woods, you can find some great pic's. These guys are some of my favorites to visit when I go home....and even though this is not the best of pics....it shows  them from a different view then what most people see. 

I love SYLVAN LAKE . Beautiful anytime of year, But I love fall colors contrast with these Granite rocks...You are looking at a special spot in the Black Hills of So.Dak and they are really really really old Mountains....

I love the reflection of the clouds in the water and the play of light and shadows, but I really want a new camera to get a sharper shot of all the details.................

 This is Spearfish Canyon, it is older then the Grand Canyon, I always think if these wall could talk? what stories the could tell us.

 The yellow is just starting and will only get deeper, the sumac is turning red, the Maples are few but wonderful to find. It has been a hot very dry summer in the hills and fall may not last as long. I am lucky I had the time with my old friend. When asked what makes you happy,Family first and a mountain view follows .......

 Driving out of the hills by way of Ice Box Canyon, most people come into the hills a different way, they miss this area in fall. Lots of Golden Yellows.

It was a cloudy day, with a hint of cool in the air, I will say it again I love Fall

 I like back roads, like Palmer Gulch above and I love hiking to high rough spots  like Black Elk Wilderness below.....

Thank you for stopping by for a visit and hope you like the view.....where ever you are, take a walk and find a little fall color. 


Thank you for your visit,and I love your comments I try to respond to each, Time for me to make more stuff to show you, but my time this month is crazy and next week I will be taking care of my Grandkids puppies ...they are off to Disney World......so see you soon with some new creations.