Something for the walls...part one

After repainting the powder room I needed to also update the decorations on the walls. I held onto an idea for a while but needed the supplies and the time to put it all together.

I started an obsession over frames almost two years ago. I wanted to find some realty big frames for our family photo shoot in the park. Big enough to hold up around us while we got our picture taken. I found two while on vacation at the beach in 2010 and they worked out great. I just couldn’t stop. I kept finding frames and a new collection by surprise began.

During one of my stops at a local antique store I found this frame for $2.00.



At the time I didn’t know for sure what I would do with it but I couldn’t pass it up.

$2.00!!!!

Ok, so it needed a little love.

I removed the backing and pulled all the pins and staples out. A good sanding and a few coats of paint and it was as good as new. I sanded a few areas a little more to give it an aged look but a clean and pretty aged look.

Next, all it needed was some chicken wire. Not as easy to come by as you might think. I did find small rolls at a local hardware store but the smallest roll was $21.00. I just couldn’t justify spending that and only needing about one tenth of the roll.

Father-in-law to the rescue. We stopped in there for a quick visit on our way to the beach this past summer. (They live half way in our trip East) He has one of those Grandpa like garages that has a little of something left over from every project he has ever done. Low and behold, in the corner behind the fishing rods was a tiny roll of chicken wire!!!! Perfect! (and free)

Tacked a piece on the back of the frame and added some black wire to the top as a hanger.

Now all it needed was a few decorative clothespins. I glued strips of scrapbook paper on the clothespins and sanded the edges.

Now I can pin up cute little notes.

I saw a bunch of frames at that same antique store just yesterday…Should I go back and get them????

Collection by Surprise

Did you ever take a look around and realize that you have started to collect something and you weren’t really even aware of it???

It suddenly occurred to me that there are quite a few frogs around here.

Last year when I redecorated the kitchen I wanted to add a little whimsy so I ordered this cabinet door handle for one of my kitchen cabinets.



When I went to pick it up I saw this little guy and grabbed him to go on the pantry door.

I’ve had this hide-a-key frog (empty) sitting on my front porch for a few years now.

On a trip home from the In-laws two years ago I bought this big toad at a roadside stand.

This past spring, this cutie moved himself into my rock garden. He’s about the size of a dime.

Take a look around. What do you have more of than you realized???