I completed a project!

I completed my first home project since I got sick today.  It was a tiny project and it took me all day but I did it.  Unfortunately I have no pictures to show you because I didn't finish it until it was already dark.  Remember, the all day thing?  I plan on taking some tomorrow after getting home from chemo so I can share.

Until then I have a problem that has bugged me since we bought this house seven years ago.  All the doors are wood.  None of them are painted.  All the trim is painted so I don't know why they left the doors wood.  It's not like they are made out of fabulous expensive wood.  Just builder grade wood hollow doors.  Another thing is most of them are in my hallway which is dark as a tomb most of the time.

This is the view from one end.  The color looks a bit bluer than it really does in person.

 This is the view from one end at night.  Isn't that builder grade ceiling light from the 1970's just fabulous?  I know you are dying to get one for your house.

   

 

This is from the master doorway using flash.  There was no way to take this picture without flash.

This is the view you get when you walk in the front door from the foyer.  That's Rickey Hill peeking in the bottom left corner.

I know all this yummy wood grain is making you drool.  It's just so woody....  LB and I have a couple of ideas we are kicking around.  Hope you had a great weekend!

What would you do if all this wood goodness was in your hallway?

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Eating the Poisoned Apple Knowing it is Poison

I know I've been gone a long time.  There are lots of reasons and most of them are not pleasant.  Cancer sucks, I've said it for years, but chemo sucks so bad words can't describe.  I knew it wasn't a walk in the park.  I knew the doctors told me I couldn't work.  I knew it would make me really sick.  I knew all of the details.  I didn't know I was so clueless about how truly life altering it was really going to be.  I thought I would feel bad for a little while and then the rest of the time between chemo treatments I thought life would be basically normal.  NOTHING is normal when you are taking chemo.

I cut my hair and donated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths because I knew it was going to fall out and I didn't see any point in it just falling to the floor when it could be used for a good cause.

I went and had my third surgery to have a port put in.  The port was so I wouldn't have to have my veins punctured repeatedly every time I went to chemo.  Because of the number of treatments I was to receive my Doctor wanted the port to be put in.  Thank God that woman knows what she is doing.  It makes chemo easier on me and I'm so glad I listened to all the advice and did it.  After all the other surgery scars what was a couple more.  The surgery was pretty easy and I'm so glad I have it now.  They draw blood out of it and give me all the medications for chemo in it all with only one stick.

  I went to my first chemo with a smile on my face and Fifi La Fluer to hold my hand.  (One of these days I'll have to tell you all about Fifi.  She and I go way back and have done a lot together.)

Good Lord I didn't know how things would change after that first chemo.  The day I went to chemo I felt fine.  While the first medicine was going in all the sudden my eyes went wonky.  I realized all the sudden the letters on my phone just looked like a honeycomb.  That was pretty strange.  Called the nurse and they slowed the medicine down and everything went back to normal.  The rest of the treatment went fine and we went to lunch when I was done.  That should've been my first clue things were about to change.  But no, I was still going along in my happy go lucky bubble. 

The day after my first chemo I felt a little off but I was still okay.  Mrs. BugEater came up to visit and I was so glad she was here.  I went and got the shot to help my bones produce more blood cells and we hung out.  I thought I was going to be able to handle this.  Day three I felt a little more off but pretty good until noon.  That's when I started feeling the nausea pretty bad.  I called the oncologist and they called in a nausea medicine and I thought it would be okay.  By that night I was certain something was wrong and I was going to die.  The next 4 days are pretty much a complete blur of illness the likes I have never experienced.  To say it knocked me off my feet is a complete understatement.  Holy crap I was SICK.

The second week after my treatment I started feeling more like myself but I was weak as water.  S-i-L and my girls came to see me and they brought some sunshine to the house.  We didn't run around like we usually do but we were having a good time.  On day ten late that night I sat down at my computer for the first time since my first chemo and I was reading email.  I sneezed, which normally isn't anything of note, and when I opened my eyes I realized there was a LOT of hair on the desk.  I mean a lot.  I touched my hair and a big ole wad of hair came out in my hand.  And so it begins.  The next morning it was even worse and it really bugged me.  Not because I was upset about it coming out but because it was everywhere.  I had a plan and it really didn't upset me.  The Nelson was way more upset than I was and she was certain I was going to be crushed.  It just really bugged me so I called LB and told him when he got home I wanted him to shave ever bit of it off.  Later that day my dear hair magician called to see how I was and I explained it was coming out and LB was going to shave it.  He wouldn't hear of it and told me to meet him at the shop and he would do it.

So we had some fun shaving it off.  Pink mohawk anyone?

Then it was all gone and bald I was.  Turns out my head is shaped just like my Daddy's was.  And it's not so pretty on a girl.  But it is what it is and I'm really okay with it.

Fifi got some new scrubs so she would be already to go to treatment number two.  I got new hair to wear.  This is a Raquel Welch wig and I get complements every time I wear it.  Having it to use as soon as we shaved my head helped a lot.  People who have known me for years don't even know it isn't my real hair.

Treatment number 3 and Fifi is still hanging in their with me.

LB has come to chemo a couple of times.  It makes him antsy which in turn makes me antsy.  It takes literally hours to do.  I finally told him I need him for lots of things but there is no reason for him to go to chemo every time.  When I want an Icee at 10p.m. he's my man but not at chemo.

It's been a really long hard road that I am still traveling.  I've been so sick getting from the bed to the recliner is an accomplishment.  But I'm still here and I've decided to try and do what I can to be as normal as possible. Being sick and sitting here in my head isn't a good thing.  I'll share more in the coming days.  I'm going to try and pay a little more attention to this blog from now on.

When LB was gone for four weeks the Phade came and stayed with me.  I couldn't have done it without her help.  DB has checked on me and spent time with me when no one else visited.  MAS has picked up the slack from me not being able to work and done too many things to list.  The outpouring of love and concern has humbled me.  So many people have done so many things I couldn't thank them individually if I had days to type.  I know all the prayers have helped me all along.  In the face of such terrible illness I have seen God at work in my life and I thank him every day.  I have learned there is always, ALWAYS something to be thankful for.  God is good.  He is always watching his flock.

Going to chemo is truly like eating the poisoned apple knowing it is poison.  I hope you have been doing fun things this summer since I haven't been able to.

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Life Update

You just never know what twist and turns life will take you on.  I've met with doctors, had everything checked out they can check, waited in waiting rooms till I want to scream and discovered through it all that I am so blessed.  When you get a serious health scare you really find out how special the people in your life are.  You know you have wonderful caring friends and family but when the chips are down you realize that you have the best life can offer.  If I could pick and choose my friends and family I couldn't have picked any better than I have.  Cancer sucks but it has taught me that the people in my life  are so special and what a blessing that is.

This picture was taken by my good friend Becky right before I was going to cut my hair off for the first time in 37 years.  She took many pictures of LB and me and they are wonderful.  It was after work for her, and it was hot and she did it because she is my friend.  This spot is at another friend's home.  She let us come out and take up part of their evening because she too is my friend.  These pictures mean a lot to me because I still felt great but knew life was changing and they also represent unwavering friendship.

The picture quality isn't great here since it was taken with a phone but it too is special.  This sweet man has put up with my hair for 20 years.  When he learned I was facing cancer again he was willing to do whatever he could for me.  Once I learned from the doctor that my hair was going to fall out he agreed to cut it for me so I could donate it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.  He has never let me cut it short even when I demanded he cut it, but he said he would do it this time but not to ask again once it grows back in.  I think he was more nervous about cutting it than I was.  He has worried about me and kept in touch through everything I've been through so far.

We got two large ponytails to donate.  I hope they make someone happy.  I figured it would be better to donate it than watch it fall out and help no one.  Here is the first picture of the new me.

This is probably the worst quality picture ever but it is the only other picture I have with the new short hair.  We'd gone to dinner with LB's parents and his Mom snapped this picture.

I never thought I would have hair this short and it's been a bit of a learning curve to style but I actually like it.  Everyone has been so complimentary of it and it certainly is cooler than my long hair was.  Who knows maybe I'll keep it short after it comes back in.

The past couple of weeks have really been interesting and I have more to tell, but it is late and LB has gotten out of the bed to see if I'm okay since it is very early in the morning.  The last weeks bring to mind a favorite quote from Helen Keller that I'll end with.

"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all."

Truer words I have never heard.  Hope you are having a great summer so far.  It's hot, hot, hot here.  Hope you are staying cool!

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Where the Wild Things Are at Our House

I never really noticed that there were wild things in our yard.  They came in one by one and next thing I knew there was a herd of them.  Luckily they have stayed in the yard and not been liberated by some nefarious person with evil intent.

The following fellow came from a local auction house.  His name is Bob and he likes to lurk in the bushes.

 This is Dillo the Armadillo.  He doesn't have a lot to say.  He lurks by the path that leads to the front door.  He seems fairly peace loving since he has yet to attack anyone walking by.  He hales from Mobile Alabama.

This feathered friend was a gift for my birthday a couple of years ago from two girlfriends and the leader of the herd.  His name is Flip the Flamingo.  He came from Ham Jam at Philadelphia, MS.

 This little guy is quite the scamp with multi-color plumage.  He likes to lurk in the split leaf philodendron.  He's not as social as others in the herd but he's very plucky!  He is a former Florida boy but seems to like living in Mississippi just fine

 Meet Flat Phil Flamingo.  He doesn't have as much dimension as the other boys but he guards his favorite Ligustrum with fierce determination.

Our final friend in the menagerie is Hooty Owl.  He sits right at the front door keeping all intruders away with his fierce face.  Can't get this guy to smile for anything... He came from my Oma's house.

DO you guys have any wild things at your house?  And I don't mean the kids.

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Happy Memorial Day and an Update

Just a quick update so you know I'm not dead.  Ha Ha, probably not so funny after my whole cancer post.  I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy two weeks ago.  I only had to stay in the hospital over night and was really glad I got to come home the next day.  It was my 42nd birthday and not the most exciting birthday of my life.  

I had a follow-up with the surgeon last Friday and he took out the drain they had left.  He said I would feel a slight tug.  CLEARLY he has never had a drain left in his breast because it felt like he was pulling the muscles out of my chest.  I told him as much.  Sister-in-law took me and said they took out like 12 inches of drain.  No wonder it hurt like hell.  The reports were as good as they could be.  All nodes tested were cancer free and there were good margins.  I go to the medical oncologist on Tuesday to find out what treatments we are going to do.  The hot flashes are about to freeze man and beast to death here at the house.  I'm moving around a lot better and it gets better everyday.  Still wear out pretty fast but considering I had two surgeries a week apart I'm pleased with the way things are going.  

I have several projects I want to get going on so feeling better is a good thing.  The Bug Eaters are here for the holiday and it's great having friends and family here.  Being a military family with a long history of veterans in our family tree I'm very thankful for those who serve or have served our country this memorial day.

Here is a picture with my favorite soldier LB.  This was at a Dining Out we went to on Saturday before I started my latest medical adventures.  I'm glad we had such a good time and got home before things went to hell in a hand basket.

What are you doing this holiday weekend?  Something fun I hope!

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Yum Yum Yellow!

I've always wanted adirondack chairs but they are SO expensive around here.  There is a Yard and Garden around the corner that has them in all these yummy colors but they are $600 EACH.  I'm sorry, that is as crazy as a sprayed roach.

When cruising the Home Depot a couple of weeks ago I spied these beauties.  They were kinda boring.  Anyone can have white chairs.  I don't want white chairs.  No sirree Bob! I wanted Yum Yum Yellow.  I want people to KNOW my chairs are yellow.

 And this was the price.  SCORE!!!!

So what's a girl to do?  Spray paint baby!  I used Krylon Fusion for plastic in Sunbeam.  It worked like a charm.  Covered great, dried fast, insto-presto Yum Yum Yellow chairs.  I had the little white table sitting in a box in the garage.  I got it at Lowe's last fall on clearance for $5.  (Can't beat that price with a stick.)  The pillows are Karma Living that I got from Joss & Main last time they had them on sale.  I love the crewel embroidery work on them and I certainly wouldn't do all that work for what they cost.  I love them in the chairs.  The bird house was made by a church in Pascagoula, MS from items salvaged from the church after Hurricane Katrina.  Sorry my coffee is in there.  I was sitting in the chairs when I decided to take some pictures.  This is the morning when they are in direct sun, but after about three in the afternoon they are in total shade and so pleasant to sit in and watch the world go by.

Someone should warn LB that there is a bunny stalking him.  The bunny is named Bob after my Daddy.  It's a long story I'll have to tell you one day.  I recently got Bob at an auction.  Isn't he fabu?

I hope you love my chairs as much as I do.  Spray paint is magic I tell you!

Have you transformed anything with paint recently?

(I wasn't compensated by any company mentioned in this post.  I just like their stuff.)

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

 

And So a New Day Begins

There aren't going to be pretty pictures or fun projects in this post.  It's not that kind of post.  It's a gritty real from the heart kind of post.

Last Monday morning around 4:30 a.m. LB had to take me to the hospital. I was having horrible pain in my upper left back.  I honestly thought it was a heart attack.  It had to be a heart attack to hurt that bad I thought.  Well they talked and poked and decided to do a CT to make certain I didn't have an aortic tear or a pulmonary blood clot.  The good news was I had neither of those but my gallbladder was large and it appeared to have fluid around it.  They then did an ultrasound that confirmed the gallbladder was inflamed and full of stones.  Do not pass go, do not collect $100, go straight to the surgical floor you're having an operation.  We waited all day to see the surgeon and I wasn't allowed anything to drink or eat.  I was about to get hostile in a big way.

The surgeon Dr. P. came by around 6.  Told us what the plan was and what to expect.  The original plan was a little pushed back because they had noticed something on the CT and wanted to do a mammogram before surgery.  For those who don't know I had uterine cancer in the spring of 2007 so I was a little worried at this point.

So Tuesday morning we did the mammogram and that afternoon they removed the offending gallbladder. Nelson told me I looked better after I arrived from recovery than I did when they took me.  I honestly felt 100% better after surgery.  That gallbladder pain is like nothing I have ever experienced and hope to never again.

Wednesday morning Dr. P. came in during rounds and said they needed to ultrasound the spot they saw on CT and possibly biopsy it.  I asked if he thought I should be worried and he honestly answered me.  I knew then IT was back.  I didn't need further test I KNEW.  But you always have to be sure so I went to ultrasound and they did want to biopsy it.  At this point I'm sporting 5 new holes in my body.  Not looking so good.  They did let me go home after that.

LB was heading to war college orientation in PA that night so I pretty much downplayed everything so he would go.  I wanted him to go and not worry and do what he needed to do.  I knew in my heart we would have things to worry about in the future.

Nelson, MAS and MomMcD all came to help out my first couple of days home.  Feeding me whatever I wanted.  It was great.  Then Friday afternoon I received the call.  I knew the call was coming.  I wanted to avoid it.  I knew it wouldn't go away.

Dr. P. was calling to tell me my pathology report was back and it wasn't what we wanted it to be.  It's in my body again.  Two weeks short of my 5 years clean.  Back again to try and break me.

CANCER SUCKS!


It's in my right breast this time.  Stage 1 Grade 2 cancer.  CANCER!!!  Oh, how I hate that word.  I wanted to scream and throw things.  But that's not the way I handle serious stuff.  Instead I sat in silence and contemplated.  Then I told Nelson.  You never want to tell your mother you have cancer.  The second time you tell her you want to throw up.  I'm her only child.  Reason 1001 why cancer sucks.

I then told MAS because she was with me the first time and I'm going to need her the second time.

I waited to tell anyone else because I needed to tell LB and he was so far away.  I decided I would wait until he got home tonight to tell him.  No need for him to be upset and so far away.  It would not change a thing.  I let him greet the dogs so they would settle down and I told him for the second time that I have cancer.  It wasn't the homecoming I wanted him to have.

I've told a couple of other close friends and family now.  It doesn't get any easier.  Not at all.

But this is what I will say here.

I WILL NOT DIE FROM THIS CANCER.

I WILL KICK THIS CANCER'S ASS!

I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST CANCER FREE!

I am not cancer, I have cancer.  I am SNM and I will not let Cancer become who I am.

Tuesday we start the rounds with the DR's to find out where we go from here.  I'm sure I'll share more as time goes on.  If I'm not around a lot please understand.  If you believe in a higher power and prayer please keep me in your prayers.

CANCER SUCKS!!!!!!


LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!
SNM

Still Looking for the Beauty in the Beast

So here is where we are on turning the beast into the beauty.  There was a lot of damage to the wood over the years and LB figured out a way to fix it.  I'll give you more details after we get a little further along.

This stuff sands beautifully and says it will hold nails once dry.  Guess my staples will give it a chance to show if it will.

Here is the backside almost sanded and ready to go.

Sorry this is the boring part of the work but it has to be done.  Moving right along!

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Found Treasure

I was sitting on the deck yesterday watching the small beastie running around the yard and started really looking around at nature.  It's a really amazing thing nature is.

I first noticed this interesting item in the grass.  We don't actually have any trees in the backyard.  They are on the other side of the fence.  I figure a gust of wind must have blown this into the yard.  I can't believe the two big beasties didn't grind it into dust with their gargantuan paws.

Then I looked around some more and found this little treasure caught in a clump of grass okay weed.

Then sitting on a chair was more treasure.

And on the deck near me even more treasure.

I've never noticed anything like this in our yard before in the 7 years we have lived here.  I think it all was fascinating.  I gathered it all up and I'm keeping it for some something I'll make in the future.  I wonder if treasures like this have been in the yard before and I didn't take the time to be quiet and see them? 

 "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Maybe it was a message.  I'm glad I was listening.

What found treasure have you found sitting right under your nose recently?

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Mr. and Mrs. Bug Eater Visit

These are two of our dearest friends.  LB and Mr. Bugeater have been friends more years than we say out loud.   I loved Mrs. Bugeater as soon as we met.  It was a good thing, since Mr. Bugeater told her he would break up with her just seconds before she met me for the first time if I didn't like her.  They are the bugeaters because he is the lowest in rank in our group.  It's actually a joke with us not something serious.  He rejoined the military in his 40's and LB was the one to swear him in.  We are all up in each others lives.  They were going to the NCO convention last night because one of his soldiers was getting NCO of the year so I took some pics.  We don't dress up all that often and get pictures.  Next week is the officers convention so hopefully I'll have pictures of all of us looking all spiffy.

I love this picture because Mr. Bugeater is actually smiling.  No telling what I said to get a picture of him smiling but I'm glad I did.

Mr. and Mrs. Bugeater are family by choice not blood.  I couldn't love them any more if we did have the same blood running in our veins.  

Sadly they left after the party last night and took my children with them.  I'll have to introduce you to the children sometime.  They weren't up for pictures today.  I think they run when they see me coming with the camera which admittedly is all the time.

I have to get back to the Nekkid chair.  What are you doing today?  Something fun I hope!

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

And the Suffering Continues...

Apparently the hives weren't the only results of my little allergic reaction the other night.  After I took the Benadryl to stop the hives I was knocked out.  That children's Benadryl packs quite a punch.  I was late for work the next morning.  The office called at 8:15 when they hadn't heard from me and I was still weaving around like a drunk when I got out of bed.  It didn't wear off until almost noon.  That stuff should come with a warning!

Then my hands started peeling.  I mean peeling like a lizard peels.  BAD, bad peeling.  I've put Bag Balm on them a gajillion times a day and still peeling.  I've trimmed the skin off as it peels and they are still a wreck as you can see.  This is how they look now that it's almost stopped.

LB went to Lowe's for me today and returned home with these.  Wasn't that sweet?  Guess he doesn't like the amazing lizard wife.  He even got pink, my favorite color.  Who knew they had work gloves in pink?  (Don't tell LB but they really helped with the work I did today.)

So here are the tools all assembled now that I have my gloves all ready to protect my hands.  Those small tacks in the pictures came out of the chair.  LB inspected them and thinks they are original to the piece.  Hard to believe these are 120 or so year old tacks.  I guess they did make things to last back in the day.

After working all day I had this lovely pile.  This is the second round and the cleaning fairy already cleaned up the first pile.  I swear I don't know why old chairs have so many staples.  It really doesn't take that many to hold fabric.

That's my big helper's feet next to all the trash from today's work.  It's not easy to work around a 100 pound Chesapeake but I got it done.

And here she is all nekkid.  That's the original burlap around the bottom.  I'm going to leave it.  It was good enough for the last 100 years so let's hope it'll be good enough for the next.  I'm also going to re-use the original cotton batting and horse hair.  It's really clean, and let's face it, I certainly couldn't replace those items with anything better.  Horsehair is considered the finest you can still buy.  I am going to cover it with a layer of cotton quilt batting so it's all contained.

We are a little concerned with the edges around the chair where the arrow is pointing.  It looks this way in several places.  It apparently has been recovered several times in it's long life and the wood around the edge is really showing the damage.  It seems those old tacks were really hard on the wood in old chairs.  Unlike modern tacks the old ones actually split the wood when they entered it.  You can really tell in the edges.  LB is going to help me reinforce the really bad areas.  He and BugEater discussed it tonight and I think he has a plan.  I hope so...  Need something to put all those new staples in.

So what fun things are you up to this weekend?

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

Willing to suffer for beauty...

This is one of my recent auction finds.  I have only seen three of these ever and with this one I now own two of three.  My first looks just like it did the day I got it.  It was in MUCH better shape and cost a lot more.  I thought it was a great deal for $125.  I only got this one because it was so pretty cheap I couldn't leave it behind.  It is a unique piece for $35.  Even though the Annie Sloan chalk paint is in the picture I don't plan to paint this piece.  The wood is the only thing in good shape.

 Here's another view where you can see the fabulous carving on the sides.  As you can see the fabric has seen many better days.

 Here it is tonight when I quit.  I got everything off the back and started here on the sides and the front.  Why in the world do old chairs have so many staples???  I swear I've already bled to the chair gods and pulled out a million and I have at least a million more to go.

I stopped tonight because of what's going on in the next picture.  I guess the fine fuzz on the chair is actually cat hair.  Holy crap Batman!  I'm seriously allergic to cats.  I realized after leaning on it I was getting hives all over.  They started on my arms near my elbows.  That's what this is a picture of.  They now cover my arms.  Yippy!   I went and took a shower and lots of Benadryl.  Tomorrow when I work on it I'll be wearing long sleeves for certain.

I will continue.  A girl has to suffer for beauty.  Or so I keep telling myself so I don't scratch.  I REALLY WANT TO SCRATCH!!!  Please let me scratch my arm, my leg, SOMEWHERE.

The following is the fabric I'm going to use.  It's by Premier Fabrics which is made right here in good ole Mississippi.  I really like doing business with local companies.  They have a store right around the corner from the house which puts WAY too much fabulous fabric dangerously close to the house.  I had picked out other fabric that was a cool France print with French writing and the Tour de Eiffel.  It's out of stock and they didn't know when it will be back in stock and I was impatient.  So I decided to go with this.  I know it's ultra modern but I like the juxtaposition of a victorian chair with ultra modern fabric.  Let's hope it looks like I want.  I'm using the Greek Key on the back, the grey for the welting and the zig zag everywhere else.  I think it's going to be groovy.

So have you ever suffered to complete a project?  I may actually take a little Benadryl before I start tomorrow.  My skin will thank me.

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM 

The Bunny

I hope the Easter bunny was good to everyone and that Easter was celebrated with those you love.  LB and I had a really nice Easter.  We had a late Easter lunch with Nelson and MAS.  The food was great and so was the company.

I did find a little time to do a craft or two and several of them showcased bunnies.  I actually collect rabbits.  Nelson has given me a rabbit in some form or another for as long as I can remember.  Some of the rabbits don't actually look like a rabbit.  The year we bought this house my rabbit took the form of two Hunter ceiling fans.  It's the tradition that makes the rabbits special.

This little crafty piece was something I worked on this weekend.

I bought the little frame at an estate sale for a $1 earlier this year.  It had a paper picture that looked like maybe it came from a magazine glued in and it was a dark wood.  The frame is real wood so I figured one day I'd find the right little thing for it.  I slapped some Annie Sloan French Linen paint on it and waxed it with clear and dark wax.  I really like the way it turned out.  The bunnies are from a paint chip sample, Valspar to be exact, that I punched with a bunny shaped punch.  I popped them out with a popdot and glued the little pom pom on for the cotton tail.  I saw a canvas done with a Martha Stewart punch and pink paint chips online somewhere and liked the idea but I wanted something that would work year round.  While looking for something else I found that I had an Emagination bunny punch and the rest is history.  This paint chip was once colors I was considering for the family room that didn't make the cut.  I'm sure glad I kept them!

So we had a great Easter weekend.  Did you and your family do anything special?

Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss!

SNM

Picasso I am not...

I'm so not Picasso.  I can't paint a painting for the life of me.  I've tried.  I can't draw either.  I've embraced the suck and just moved on.  But, I learned I can cheat and create art that sorta passes for a painting.  

I started with this great tool.  If you haven't used one of these I recommend you run, not walk, to fetch one.  It is the bees knees for sure!

Then I went to Michael's and purchased this.  I used the coupon I got on the Michael's IPhone App.  If you have an IPhone I recommend you get this app.  No more worrying with paper coupons.  Just pull it up on your phone and the cashier can scan it.  Easy peasy!

I cheated here too.  Instead of taking the time to paint this with paint and a brush I used the DIY Diva's best friend.  Spray Paint.  I used a $.97 can of black spray paint from the Lowe's.  Painted in minutes and dries just about as fast.  I did a whole bunch at one time.  Then I took my vinyl I cut with the Cameo and just stuck it to the canvas.  It doesn't really want to stick but with a little patience you can get it to.

I then took an assortment of natural sea sponges and Martha Stewart Crafts Acrylic Craft Paint in different colors and went to town.  I learned that if I didn't like it to just keep applying more paint in more colors.  I bet I used 10 different colors.  Sponge, sponge, sponge, add color, sponge, sponge, sponge, add color and so forth and so on.  I did this until I liked the way it looked and then peeled off the vinyl.  This is what I ended up with.

Not too shabby for the girl who isn't an artist.  I really liked it once I actually hung it on the wall.  Unfortunately I gave it to my sister-in-law before I could get a picture of it hanging.  I have another one all ready to paint just haven't gotten around to doing it.

So that's my cheater art.   Have you ever tried a painting like this?  If not I highly recommend it.  You might find you are an artist after all.

Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss!

SNM