DIY Apothecary Jars....and Next Week's Line-up!

Hey Happy Creators!
I'm sorry the past two weeks have been "unexciting" here!  I tell you what-being under the weather is my LEAST favorite place to be.  Do not worry.  In an attempt to make it up to you, I have a fun-filled week planned for you and something pretty exciting for the last week of March!  Before I get to the tutorial, here's the lineup for A Week With The Girls!

Tomorrow, Gwen from The Bold Abode will be kicking things off with some of her favorite projects!  Wait till you see her bright and cheery porch!  Then, Friday, Miss Cassie from Primitive and Proper will be showing you one of her all-time favorite do-overs!  Calling all furniture "re-habers"-don't miss this!  Monday, Roeshel from The DIY Showoff will dazzle your mind with her quick and easy "blank wall filler" project!  I can't wait to try it.  Tuesday, Marilyn from The Artsy Girl Connection is going to give you a tour of her spot and some of her favorite projects, tutorials, and recipes.  She literally covers EVERYTHING!  Then, Wednesday join Janette from the Johanson Journey for an intimate 1 on 1 as she tells you all about our little interview.  Janette spills the beans on blogging, the good, the bad, and the BEST!  If you want some honest insight, don't miss Wednesday.  Then, finally Traci from Beneath My Heart will be wrapping things up with one of my favorite projects she's done.  I'm still on the lookout for something that will work.  Traci is one of the most sincere bloggers I've met.  I'm sure you'll fall right in love with her, and all of the girls on (starting tomorrow) A Week with the Girls!

Here's what you'll need for your DIY Apothecary Jars...
Glass candle holders from Dollar Store, little wood circles from Hobby to the Lobby, and wood finials from Hobby to the Lobby.  Anything you can find will work.

Also, while you're there, pick up three (or however many you're making) of these glass jars.  There are a variety....pick them up when glass is 50% off.

Some spray paint of your choice....I used my fav....Heirloom White...

And, finally, some adhesive and or liquid nails.  I used both because well, I was short on both, so ya know....

I figured (if I have the adhesive and spray paint) I can make one of these jars for around 9$ a piece.  I pick up the parts when they are 50% off at Hobby to the Lobby.  Then (since I'm cheap lazy) frugal-I don't use primer....because that's how I roll.  It takes more paint, but that's okay with me.  

 Just keep swimming.....just keep swimming.....I mean painting....

When they are dry, assemble them like this....

Sorry for the bad pics.  My garage workshop is poorly lit.....COME ON SPRING!!!!

These are great... Literally, you can fill them with anything.  I've seen a lot of these floating around bloggieland and Pintrest so unfortunately, I have not listed all 100 that have come before mine.  However, these are mine, and maybe you've not caught them anywhere else.  There ya have it.  Fill em' and enjoy em'!

Here they were at Christmas time!

See ya when I get back!

Getting Ready....

Dearest Lovelies-
I'm alive...just gearing up for YOUR best week ever?  What?  Did she say my best week ever?  Yep...I did.  You probably know I've been sick the past couple of weeks...yes, no good-and you may know that I'm leaving on Vaca!-Yes, good (assuming I start feeling better this century)-which leads me to why this is YOUR best week ever... okay, so month ever....Giveaway the last week of March....but before that, I have been working with some amazing bloggers and have quite the lineup scheduled for you while I'm gone.  So, hold tight.  Tomorrow, I'm revealing the "last project" before vaca....and the schedule for all your lovely guests!

Old Wine Jug Lamp Tutorial....Another PB Knockoff!

Source

Hello Beautiful People!
I'm not sure how the weather's been your way, but it's been extremely mild for Indiana.  Although, I say that, and according to Weather.com, snow may be coming Friday.  I've been overwhelmed with a sinus infection, a cold, and the flu for the last two weeks.  Finally, today-I'm starting to feel a little better!  I can't help but think it's partly due to the weather.  Typically, I'm never sick.  And wouldn't you know it, just as I start to feel better, the little Monsters start to feel yucky!  Oh, the joys of parenthood!  Before I get into the tutorial I want to share just a few exciting upcoming posts.  I'm going on vacation next Wednesday and since I will be gone for awhile, I asked some of my favorite Bloggie BFF's to enlighten you!  Beginning March 2nd through the 9th don't miss a post during  "A Week With The Girls"...just to tease you-here are their names...Kate, Gwen, Janette, Marilyn, Cassie, Sarah, Roeshel, and Traci...I'll let you think about it, and if you're lucky, tomorrow I'll reveal their blogs.  On to the tutorial...

Here's what you'll need:

Burlap lampshade (or shade of your choice)

Old jug, glass bottle...whichever you prefer

Bottle lamp kit

Phillips Screwdriver (when you assemble the lamp kit)

Light bulb

You can get the bottle lamp kit at Wallmart for around $4 or $5 bucks.  They also have lamp kits that aren't specifically bottle lamp kits, and they will work as well.  If you get one of those, you'll need heavy duty adhesive.  I didn't have a bottle lamp kit, so I just used the adhesive and it worked fine.

Okay, so literally I've been loving these lamps from Pottery Barn.  HOWEVER~I'm not rich, and honestly, if I DID have an extra $250-$300 dollars lying around...I sure as hell wouldn't spend it on a lamp!  Aren't they LOVELY?

$349.00  Pottery Barn

$99 Pottery Barn

$169 and $199 Pottery Barn

$149 Ballard Designs

$209 Pottery Barn

You get the idea...so there I was...STUCK...Hmmm....what to do what to do?  Make one!  This is the easiest of easy projects.  I'm sure Mr. A2B could do it...and he doesn't do things like this!    

First, the jug-My Grandma used this old jug as a door stop filling it with change all year, to put into the little plastic Easter Eggs.  I didn't want to get rid of it, but wasn't sure how to "showcase" it.  Since it has so much sentimental value-I wanted it to get attention.  Then, the shade.  I knew I wanted burlap.  it was a splurge, BUT I wasn't patient enough to scour all my junk places...I wanted it done...YESTERDAY!

Not to mention how great of a conversation piece it is!  It's on the ledge of the half wall up in the loft...so you can see it right when you walk in the house.  And, I'm planning on finishing up the gallery wall this weekend, so I'll get better pics of this when it's done.  I didn't want to spoil it for you.

And the best part?!?!?  Mine only ran me $18.98!!!  The shade was $14 at Target.  And the lamp kit was $3.99 found one that was "previously opened"....and I couldn't have cared less...all the guts were there!  Now that I saved $ on my lamp....I can dream about this little side table.... too flippin cute!

$179 Ballard Designs

Sharing here...

Pottery Barn Knockoff Tutorial...DIY Taxidermy Decor

Happy Friday!  I mentioned here that I would do a tutorial on how I created this but you know how it goes....kids...potty training....kids....monsters...sick kids.....sick Mr.A2B...sick me...ya know.  So, here's what we had....Thanks to my Dad's GREAT FIND!!  Yes...he found this in the woods...
The spot is the spray paint...Heirloom White...My FAV!  I almost forgot to take a pic.  WHEW!  Take this guy, add one coat of primer, two coats of HW....and we get....

This...Mr. Fancy Pants.

I picked up a wood plaque from Hobby to the Lobby with a coupon and it was under 7$.  I busted out the ASCP in Arles and French Linen. I finished him up after a little distressing with light wax.  Then the issue of attaching Mr. Fancy Pants to his "clothes"...yep some floral wire and picture hanging thingamajiggs!  True. Story. Here he is...in all of his Pottery Barn Glory!  Of course, it was during Christmas....

And Neeked...(now..."undressed" for the holidays)...

GIANT Picture Tutorial...Gallery Wall is Underway!

So, thanks to the internet and plethora of ideas that are available, I managed to deliver the awesomeness....cheapest....Valentine's Day gift. EVER.  The original idea wasn't mine.  Mandy over at Sugar Bee Crafts did a post about it here. It's a GIANT picture tutorial.  If you're interested in making one of these, I say Go for it!!!  It's super easy...and super inexpensive.  Here's what you'll need...

Can't WAIT!!!

Hello Everyone!

I'm still here.....I can't wait to show you what I did (am doing tonight) for Mr. A2B for Valentine's Day!!!

Includes:
Paper
Jump Drive
Spray Adhesive
Black Acrylic Craft Paint
Brush (DUH!)
and Foam Board....

Gotta go...I'm late for my date~!

Happy Valentine's Day!