Spring has sprung!

I am finally coming out of hibernation!  We have had a tough, cold winter that has kept me inside and suppressed my creativity.  The weather is finally starting to shift into spring and I can tolerate working in the garage - although, I should clean the garage out at some point.

Anyway, this past weekend I finished two small projects.  I have a few pairs of old wooden shutters lying around in the garage.  For months I've had an idea in my head to use the shutter as a mail organizer/command center sort of thing.

Old wooden shutter from a Habitat Restore for $5

I used left over Chateau Grey chalk paint, which is a muted green/grey color.  After a small amount of distressing, I added a coat of clear soft wax.

I added a few hooks to hang extra keys and used wooden mini chalk board clothes pin labels.  This organizer is a great way to keep cards, bills and coupons off the counter.  I did a quick search on etsy for a shutter mail organizer and they sell for $30 and up.  I spent $5 for the pair of shutters, which means I still have one side left. I used left over paint and wax. I purchased the silver hooks for ~$1.70 at the hardware store.  I hung the organizer with Command removable picture hanging strips so I could remove the shutter without damaging the cabinet.

Finished shutter mail organizer

In addition to the shutter project, I updated my small wall gallery with nautical themed canvas.  I am sort of obsessed with nautical themed everything right now... anchors, rope, blue/white strips, etc. 

I used mod podge to adhere the images to blank canvases. Then added a black paint border with a sponge.  I've done this before and it is a fun, easy project.

For those keeping score, I made the currency collage a few years ago as a way to display all the currency I've collected while traveling.  I also created the subway art image used in the top right display which includes all of the places my husband and I have traveled together.

That's all for now!  I hope spring is here to stay.

Weekend Finds

Are you familiar with Habitat for Humanity?  Over the weekend I found a Habitat for Humanity (HFH) ReStore location near by.  I have never been in a ReStore before but thought why not?  The HFH ReStore resells building materials, home improvement products and general household goods.  The ReStore in my area was bigger than I expected - it was more of a warehouse.  Sorry I did not take any photo's of the store.  Below are the items that came home with me:

Finds at local ReStore

Set of wooden shutters, 3 mini twig wreaths, a world globe and a wooden chair.  The grand total of my purchase was $16.70.  Can't beat that!

The mini wreaths are added to my stash of craft goodies.  I do not have a plan for them yet but at .25 cents, I could not pass them up.

This is my second set of wooden shutters.  I will likely paint them white and distress them.  One of the sets of shutters I have will become a note collecting station - I suspect the other set will be a decor item.

I have been looking for a globe for a while now.  This one has a really pretty color.  I cleaned it up and made some minor repairs.  She is sitting on a half wall between my dining room and library because her color goes well with the dining room.

The wooden chair was a steal at $5.  The paint is already worn and chipped.  The color is within the color family of my craft room desk.

I took some sand paper to the chair and smoothed out the paint chips.  I found a light greenish paint color peeking through.

The extra distressing added a lot of character and interest to the chair.  I wish I knew more about the life of this little chair.

Take Care!