Willow & Paisley

Mint Motiff and 2S4Y

Hello Everyone!!

Mint Motif is sponsoring 2 Sketches 4 You this week so of course I just had to play along!  Cuz it's just plain fun!

Can you tell which squares are made with stamps and which one is patterned paper?  The blue, brown and orange are heat embossed using 3 of my favorite designs in the Very Square stamp set. The green square is actually from Pink Paislee's Bayberry Cottage pad of paper.  Oh and that awesome yellow silk ribbon is also from i{heart}papers.  

Are Mint Motif stamps new to you?  If so here's the links to where you can check them out over at i{heart}papers. Thanks for stopping by everyone!

Very Square -------->>>> click HERE

Very Square Sentiments-------->>>> click HERE

 

Thrifty Finds (yes more garage sale'n)

Steph and I had another FUN day out hunting for treasures yesterday. 

At our very first stop we each scored a great item that we love.  I found this mirror which I am hoping will work in our front entrance after the reno is complete ----once it's painted white of course.  I paid $5 bucks!  You HAVE to go see what Steph picked up for $5 at the same sale.....HERE.  You won't believe it {and I wish I had seen it first...lol}.

Such a CUTE wooden sewing box.  For $5 I was not about to leave this behind.  It's found a home in my craft room.

I paid #2 for the green glass stand but I'm not sure it's going to suit my house so it might go live at Steph's house soon.  The silver plate is adorable....$2.  And lastly the glass cloche and wood base.  $4 bucks at the thrift store. 

Blue planter $0.50 cents.  Wood bead necklace which I LOVE....$3.  {{yes, my dogs are so snoopy}}

So here's a question for all you spray painters out there.  At what point do you decide to paint or not to paint an item?  The reason I ask is I picked up this rocker (on the left) at a garage sale for $5.  There was an older man there who told me it was his daughters when she was little.  She was the one having the garage sale and she made it seem like she was sad that she was selling it but said her own daughter out grew it too.  {{Does anyone hold on to keepsakes anymore?  I don't think I'd ever sell my childhood rocking chair if I had one.}}

Anywho, since I have no emotional attachment to it do I go for it and paint it?  Or because it's probably close to 35 yrs old and I know it's history do I leave it in it's original condition {which I like but wouldn't white be so much cuter}?  The little bitty one will be painted for my nieces dolls.  It was $4.

And this wire and metal tray?  To paint or not to paint?  I'm thinking yellow.  Since I've not yet actually sprayed anything yet I'm a bit hesitant to know what should stay natural and what should be altered.

 So there ya have it.  My fun junkin' weekend finds. Thanks for checkin' it out.

I am linking up to Rhoda's Thrifty Treasure party at Southern Hospitality.

AND

Debbie's Garage Salen Party

Thanks for hosting ladies!

 
 
 
  

Kitchen Renovation - End of Week 10 update

Hey everyone....I'll try to keep this short and sweet for you. 

So, what's happened in the Austin/Langlois household this week?

1.  Upper wall was cut open so that blown-in insulation could be put in the roof above the kitchen which then was re-drywalled and mudded.

2.  The walls received their first coat of Benjamin Moore Gray Mist paint.  However, there was a mishap on the colour number and the code was wrong so the colour is a bit off.  I thought it was looking a bit builders grade bland (with no gray tone to it) and Mark (our PM) thought the same thing so he investigated it and sure enough....we need to get new paint.  Whew.....I was glad to hear it because I couldn't imagine between the designer and I that we picked such a non-colour.  Although, trust me....the gray we chose is very light.

3.  Cabinets were delivered!!!!!!!  Oh. My. God.  I am in LOVE.  Check it out everyone!

This was just the first delivery.  They had to make 2 trips to bring all the cabinets.  Paisley's looking at the maze and thinking "What the.....?"

Can you see a peek of the green cabinet colour that will be my centre island?  

This photo below includes the second load of cabinets.  The guys bringing them in were asking where they are all going cuz my kitchen just does not look big enough for all of these.

Installation starts next week.  I'll be in Toronto for most of so I'll be coming home to fully installed cabinets (fingers crossed).

Our messy garage.....all the white wrapped items you see here more cabinet pieces....glass cabinet doors, drawers and door fronts and shelving.

Oh here's one of my fav's. This will be an end piece on the island which I will use to display my Le Creuset cast iron pots.

  

The inspiration for this was from Pioneer Woman's lodge kitchen.  The photo below is from Bakerella's blog post from when she visited the ranch.  I have 3 Le Creuset but I have more on my wish list.

Last but not least...we've been getting some nice weather and I am loving tending to all my flowers.  However, I have managed to kill 2 Basil and a Rosemary plant so far.  I have no luck with herbs.

I'm so glad so many of you enjoy these renovation updates becuase I love sharing them.  Have a WONDERFUL weekend everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #98

Hi All.  I've been very absent lately haven't I?  Hmmm.....not sure why other than I just haven't really been up to much.  Just taking it easy these days.

My Loonie card is pretty clean and simple but super adorable...if I do say so myself.  heehee.  The colours this week were chosen by Jewels and they are a jewel of a colour combo.  {{Oh I kill myself with my wit.}}

Hope you likey.  

Check out the girls and have a great day everyone!

Dee    Jewels    Regan    Maria    Wendy

I will be back this weekend with my weekly reno update and a thrifty post cuz Steph and I are going garage sale'n on Saturday!!  Oh yes we are!!

 

 

 

 

Thrifty Finds to Share

This weekend I didn't get to go garage sale'n as Steph was busy with her son's Lacrosse tournament (Um, Priorities Steph!!!  heehee) and I knew there was no way I'd get Mike to go with me again.  I've only been to one garage sale on my own and I much prefer company.

However, I do still have some thrifty finds to share with you.  These are items I picked up on our last few outings or at the thrift store but just haven't posted yet.

Corningware Cornflower casserole dish.  $3.  From what I could find out about this it was only produced 1 year (1958 or '59) with the white ceramic lid.  Now if only I had a stove I'd make a rhubarb crisp in it!

Metal Pear.  $1. 

Found this milk glass Fire King cake pan at a thrift store.  I paid $7.99.  Do you think that is too much or is it a good deal?  I collect Fire King Jadeite but I'm not too familiar with Fire Kings milk glass so I don't know if this is considered old or new but it's in good shape.  It will be perfect for a batch of brownies.  {sorry for the blurry pic...the camera couldn't focus on it}.

Small Fire King bowl with green design.  $1.99 at the thrift store.  Perfect shape.

Heavy duty wire basket.  $3.99 from the thrift store.  This will be great to use out on the deck for utensils etc.

Can you tell I'm on a big kitchen kick?  Who knows if half this stuff will make the cut into the new kitchen but it's been fun hunting for treasures.

 

Thanks for visiting.

I am linking up to Rhoda's Thrifty Treasure party at Southern Hospitality.

AND

Debbie's Garage Salen Party #5

Thanks for hosting ladies!

 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day Dad

 

Happy Father's Day to my DAD!!!  

Dad, I am a terrible daughter and I have not sent your card yet. {{I even forgot Dawson's 10th birthday...bad Auntie....so I will send a package to the both of you}}

WHEN will my life feel organized again??  Dad, if you are reading this and haven't seen the update on the kitchen post scroll down but don't freak out when you see the colour green for the island.  I LOVE it and hope you do too!  Show Mom too and see what she thinks.  The next thing you know she might have you painting something...haha.

Have the best day ever and we'll treat you to a great dinner next time we see you.

XO

 

Kitchen Renovation - End of Week 9

All is good in my life!

I will try to never speak of window trim again BUT first I have to tell you that it is now PERFECT.  A new paint company was hired and their work is absolutely impeccable.  In one single day two painters turned the bad spray job on the trim to pure perfection!  (remember the first sprayer took 2 weeks).  The trim literally shines like glass.  I keep checking for my reflection in it and can't stop touching it.

I tried to get some pics of the shine but my camera wouldn't capture it but I'll show you anyway.  So happy!!!!

Also this week our closet doors were delivered and a carpenter came in on Monday to fit them  for hanging, build the door casing etc.   The doors have since been taken to the contractors cabinet shop to be sprayed the same colour as the cabinets and trim (sorry, I know I said I wouldn't mention it again).

The inserts in the door are actually a light greeny/blue glass panel.  We have this same door on our basement bedroom and we love it.  Mike suggested them for the front closet.  I wasn't too sure about that at first but I am SO glad I listened to him.  They are going to be amazing.

I would love to put crystal door handles on these but nothing too big.  Does anyone know of a decent glass door knob or have any suggestions for style of door handles/knobs?   I'm not quite sure crystal will work with the greeny/blue glass panels.

 

And now.....LAST BUT SO NOT LEAST ~~~ our cabinet colours!!  

Our contractor has their own cabinet manufacturing shop and I went there on Friday morning to view 2 sample painted doors and sign off approval of them.  I am thrilled to show you these photos and I am giddy with how much I love my green island colour.

Here it is!!  I did not edit or do anything to this picture as I wanted to show it to you as true to the colour as possible.  The pictures don't even do justice to how breathtaking they are.  LOVE!

This is Sid.  He will be spraying all of my cabinets and they tell me he is incredibly detailed.  Very nice guy.  He's proudly showing the quality of his work.

Here's some more photos of our cabinets which are all cut and primed.  It's hard to believe that everything in the following pics will actually fit in our kitchen.

These are 2 racks of cabinet doors and the smaller drawer fronts. You can see on the very right hand side doors that don't have a centre panel as they are all my glass front cabinets doors.

I'm not quite sure where these go in the kitchen but I'm told they belong to us.  These could be the island.

More of ours but again not sure where these go.  Maybe these are shelves for the upper cabinets??

This is my main pantry.  I am so happy that it appears larger than I thought it would. There is 6 pull out drawers and there will be stationary adjustable shelves above.  These will hold alot of canned goods don't ya think?

My pots and pants drawers for either side of our range.  The drawer are "soft" close which is something Mike really wanted so I can't slam drawers when I'm mad now.  haha.

These short bases are going on the wall that has the opening cut out to look down to the family room.  They are quite low but will be topped with a drawer and then a slab of quartz.  I believe it's brought up to what they all vanity height.

Here's Sid dapping the cabinet doors.   He told us that he should have everything painted by next Thursday.  Then they will deliver Friday and we could be looking at an install date of Monday June 28.

And last but not lease these are our baseboards.  They were brought to the shop to spray rather than doing them in the house so they are done and ready to be brought back when the time comes to install.

And that's the End of Week 9 update for you.  I am one happy girl.  Mike and I both love the green (he's all for it, I promise, and yes ~~~ he totally gives in to my strange and quirky whims).  I hope you like it too!  Just imagine how fabulous that green will be up against our Walnut floors.  Amazing!

 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #97

Hi Hi.  Yay, it's Friday!!  I have to tell you that I LOVE the Loonie colour challenges that we do because they are almost always colour combos that I would never think to put together.  Like the red and orange in this one.  And hello....I LOVE it.  Wendy is the brilliant mind behind todays colours.

The die cut design is from a Cuttlebug flower die set.  Another retro looking card don't you think?  I think my garage sale'n addiction of searching for great old items is giving my creations a retro vibe these days (at least in my mind....heehee).

Sentiment is Technique Tuesday.  Love!

Here's a close up.  How sweet is that?

Check out the girls and have a great day everyone!

Dee    Jewels    Regan    Maria    Wendy

 

 

 

 

Embellish Magazine - Baby Theme

 

Hey wonderful people!  I'm so glad you stopped by cuz I have a fun new Embellish Magazine challenge to share with you.  Our FABulous sponsor is Wplus9 Design Studio.  {{Swoooon}}.  This is the first time I have used these stamps (but I have LOVED them from afar since day 1) and now I LOVE them up close and personal!

The designs are incredible and they stamp like a dream.  Thank you so much to Dawn for sending this great stamp set for me to play with.  I will be using it again and again. 

My little teddy is pulling his toy train.  The string on the train is technically laying on the ground in the stamp but I did a bit of masking in order to raise the string to the teddy's paw.  I think I will stamp a bunch of these images and mail them to my nieces to colour.  They are 2 & {almost} 4 so I think they would love them.
 

 

Here's the challenge details.  Please play along and link up your creation over at Embellish Magazine.

Sponsor: Wplus9 Design Studio

Theme:  Babies (any card for babies  such as welcome home, congratulations, you’re expecting – whatever!)

Colors:  peach, green, yellow, cream as per the polaroid colour swatches above.

PRIZE:  2 stamp sets.  Oh yeah baby!

 

 

 

 

Mint Motiff - Thank You

 

Hey there.....how's today going for you? 

I'm sharing a Mint Motif card with you today.  As you know the sentiments come in a "block" format which I love but it was super easy to stamp just the Thank You and create a different look with them. 

This card is entirely made using the patterns that come in the stamp set.  That's the great thing about these amazing patterns....you can make them into anything your heart desires.  Your own patterned paper, embellishments and even faux ribbon. 

The DT's getting excited to share a new Mint Motif stamp set with you coming out in July.  You're going to love the new set believe me!  Kim rocks with her stamp designs!

 

Have you ordered these stamps yet?  At $10 each how can you not???!!!!

Very Square -------->>>> click HERE

Very Square Sentiments-------->>>> click HERE