A Lapin Life

Living Room Tranformation

2012-02-27T11:56:00.000-05:00

Our English Tudor living room needed a makeover.

~ After ~

The paneling had to go or at least be covered up. Having wood floors, a paneled wall, and wood beams on the ceiling made the room seem dark. It also made the room feel uninviting.

The first thing we did was try and balance out the room with wood blinds. It helped but the room still felt not right. We decided we needed a more formal mantel and radiator covers.

(The wood blinds helped tie in the wood beams on the ceiling.)

(Our new mantel made a wonderful difference to the look and feel of the room.)

It was looking better but I was still not happy with the results. The new radiators covers were so pretty but the radiators stood out and needed to blend in. I painted the radiators with Benjamin Moore tudor brown.

It was beginning to look so much prettier but still there was the paneling. I decided to cover over the paneling with Ready Patch Joint Compound. It was hard work since it's like putting on peanut butter. I also had to make it look just like the rest of the room. My walls have an old world finish to them. Being an artist helped a lot with this process. You would never know the wall was not plastered over 100 years ago. It took me a long time to finish.

When it finally dried I repaint the room with Benjamin Moore richmond bisque.

Now the wood beams on my ceiling match all the mahogany that I adore in the room.

Am I finished yet ......... no there is still more to come.

I love adding to a room overtime.

Thanks for stopping by.

Please forgive me for not recently stopping by your blog. I'm still having issues with my tooth. The abscess tooth needs another round of antibiotics.

Have you ever had a year of bad health? Ugh!

xo,

Dee

Island Fun ..... In My Dreams

2012-02-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

~ cabana boys ~

I had a root canal about 5 years ago. Little did I know I would need a second one in the same tooth today. Last week I was getting strange headaches. Then early Saturday morning I woke up with pain on one side of my mouth. It felt like I had lock jaw. The next day my face, head and ear hurt so badly. Three doctors later I found out I had to have another root canal.

The doctor left one of the canals open to drain. I was told to be careful eating and only eat on the other side. Since any kind of chewing hurts I think I'm going to lose my love handles in no time. :-) Now if only I was heading to an island. A girl can dream. :-)

I’ll be back in a few days. Talk to you soon,

xo,

Dee

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Birds, Nest, and Eggs - Wood Tags - Tutorial

2012-02-13T10:42:00.000-05:00

Tags look great on baskets.

Here I added a tag to a crown cloche.

The pictures tags are from:
Megan @ Lilac and Lavender

For this project I used my laser printer and thin plywood to make the tags. My husband was a sweetheart and cut the plywood for me. He also drilled a hole in the tags for the twine. I lightly sanded each tag.

You will want to make more than just one ... trust me.

~ I made five tags ~

I used Elmer's glue for this project. I put a thin layer of Elmer's glue on the wood tags and added the pictures. You can put a picture on both sides it you like. When they dried I used my round nose pliers to poke through the paper opening up the small hole for the twine. You can use anything that will fit through the hole.

Then I sealed the wood tags with varnish.

Now I added the twine when the varnish dried.

The tags look great on cloches, crowns, wreaths, door knobs, pillows, baskets, lamps, candlesticks, cork boards, French bottle trees, and so much more.

~ Tag a lamp ~

~ on a pillow ~

~ Just have fun with them ~

Happy ~~Tagging~~ I mean Crafting!

Dee

I'm linking to:
An Original Belle
DIY by Design
Savvy Southern Style
It's Overflowing

French Wine Charms - Made from Cork - Update Tutorial

2012-02-10T19:25:00.000-05:00

A winery was selling cork wine charms.

I had all the supplies on hand to make my own.

~ Ooh La La ~

French Stamps!

French "grenouille" all in fun! The frog stamp does not come with the set.

My uncle Jacques calls himself a French Frog.

While I was at the winery they had these red bottles.

It makes the wine stopper look extra special.
I did a post on how to make them. It's on my sidebar.

I adore the color 'RED' in the winter months!

To make the wine charms you will need:

non-tapered # 9 corks

earring hoops

jump rings

wood and silver beads

stamps

StazOn inkpad

To cut the corks I used a bandsaw. You could use a hacksaw. Then I used a belt sander to smooth the corks. A hand sander would work just as good. Drill a hole in the cork with a small drill bit.

You can buy the French stamps on my sidebar.

Happy Crafting!

XO, Dee

I'm linking to:
It's Overflowing
Cindy Adkins Whimsical Musings
I Gotta Create

2805 Potpourri Friday!
An Original Belle
DIY by Design

Look What I Won from Southern Scraps!!!

2012-02-10T12:10:00.001-05:00

I won two strands of Howlite beads from Fonda at Southern Scraps.

~ I love them!!! ~

Thanks so much Fonda!

xoxo,

Dee

New York Giants Win!!! Super Bowl Commercials

2012-02-06T12:28:00.000-05:00

Giants win Super Bowl XLVI with 21-17 win over Patriots

photo credit: Getty Images

(Super Bowl Commercials Here!)

xo,

Dee

100 Year Old Staircase

2012-02-02T18:30:00.000-05:00

I have a love hate relationship with my staircase.

I'm not a fan of all the oak. My front hall is small and narrow. The staircase seems overwhelming. Should I paint the wood underneath the staircase? Or just leave it alone. The wood looks like plywood. The staircase must have been open at one point.

The side is so ugly. There must be something I can do.

Should I just paint the side of the staircase?

The brown rug is there just during the winter months.

Do you think I took enough pictures? lol
I'd love to get a seagrass runner someday.

The walls are painted linen white. They look white due to the flash.
xo,

Dee

Let There Be Light

2012-02-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

Want something dramatic? Change your lighting.

I did!

Before

After

Before

After

Thanks for stopping by.

xo,

Dee

Valentine's Day Hearts - Grapevine Wreath Tutorial

2012-02-01T10:26:00.000-05:00

Supplies I Used to Make The Wreath:

grapevine wreath
shiny red wired ribbon
cardboard boxes from Christmas
scissors
red paint
poly sealer
and
hot glue

Wrap your pretty wire ribbon around your grapevine wreath. Now trace your heart shape onto the cardboard and cut (9) hearts out. Apply (2) coats of red craft paint and a light coat of poly to seal the hearts. Add a little hot glue to the backs of each heart and place on your grapevine wreath.

~ Spread the Love ~

I reused a wreath I had on hand.

Happy Valentine's Day!

xo, Dee ♥

I'm linking to:
I'm featured - I Gotta Create
Young and Restless
Whimsical Musings
An Original Belle

What is it?

2012-01-30T20:00:00.000-05:00

House Fairy???

Let's play a game to see who knows what this is?

This is my living room when my children were very little long before I learned to decorate. I went around the room taking pictures.

Do you see it?

It has its own shadow!

I used my digital camera. I did not see it when I took the picture. I have never seen it except for this picture.

What is it?
My bird Lucky is not fond of it. lol

I have no clue what it is? One person once said it's a House Fairy!

xo,

Dee

Valentine’s Day Printable - Be Mine!

2012-01-29T13:23:00.000-05:00

I'm linking with:

Claire Justine oxox

Boys Room, Bulletin Board, and Curtains

2012-01-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have saved a few blue jeans pockets over the years. The pockets are great for bulletin board.

I covered the wood bulletin board with batting and a dark denim fabric. I then nailed the upholstery nails into the wood making my way around the board.

I glued the pockets and upholstery nails to the denim fabric.

The pockets can hold a child's eye glasses, paperback books and small toys. Even an ipod will fit.
My son loves his bulletin board and uses it all the time.

My boys love red and blue. I made the light switch cover with a Wallies wallpaper cutout.

The wall colors are red and richmond bisque by Benjamin Moore.

The curtains are two separate panels with gathers on both ends top and bottom. Instead of having the curtains just hang straight I brought up each panels gathered bottom and put them on the curtain rods. The curtains now have a full dressy look without being overdone.

The red wall has an antique color-wash over it. It was to tone down the red and make the room look more boyish!

I'm linking to:

Ivy and Elephants

French Push Pin Memo Board

2012-01-18T22:21:00.000-05:00

~French memo board ~

This one is for sweet Barbara who asked me to make one for my Etsy shop.

I glued two cork boards together and added a wood backing. Then I covered it with batting and a checked fabric.

The push pins I made from straight pins that I spray painted gold. I cut/stamped out the small fleur de lis using a stamp punch. I put the two together and created the push pins.

I used two ribbons.

A satin green and a linen white to match the check green fabric.

The large fleur de lis is topped off with beads.

XO,

Dee

I'm linking to:
Domesblissity

Test Post - Did you see my last post?

2012-01-18T19:30:00.001-05:00

It's about redoing my fireplace I posted this week.

Is anyone else having problems posting?

xo,

Dee

Living Room - Fireplace Mantel and Wood Radiator Covers

2012-01-18T19:30:00.000-05:00

Living in an older home has brought us much joy. Back 100 years ago things were done by eye. We are always amazed at how nothing is level when we use a ruler. We have learned to hang pictures by eye. Rulers are only guides in our home.

When we decided to update our living room our first thought was to change out the mantel and radiator covers.

Before: Not much of a mantel and the stones around the fireplace seemed kind of strange looking.

My husband cut a piece of plywood and nailed it to the paneling. We loved how much better the fireplace already looked.

The wood boards in the fireplace are from my son Karate days.

We updated to a gas fireplace. It's so lovely at night.

Now back to the mantel. It had to go. It just seemed to be too small in size. We wanted the room to be more formal.

Here's a side view of the fireplace stones. In between the stones were crumbling plaster that had been painted.

I know it looks really bad. Nothing at all fancy about the fireplace. Do you see why we needed to update it?

We are blessed to have gorgeous peg and grove hardwood plank floors.

We went with real mahogany wood for the mantel. It took sometime getting the stain as dark as we wanted.

I love the difference the new mantel makes. I think it's so much prettier than before.

The new mantel has really warmed up the room.

Even the radiators look so much better with their new wood covers.

What updates have you done in your living room?

* I have since plastered over the paneling and painted the room.

xo ~ Dee ~

I'm linking to:

Potpourri Friday 2805

Romance ♡ ♡ ♡ A Love Affair

2012-01-14T13:34:00.000-05:00

❤Red! ❤Pink! What's your color for romance?
I received the cross-stitch and frame from my sweet friend RJ.

I like both!
❤❤❤ XO, Dee

I'm linking to:

How Sweet the Sound - Pink Saturday!

Antique Outdoor Lighting

2012-01-13T18:21:00.000-05:00

Some things are worth saving. Our antique light fixture needed some love. I stripped off the old paint and applied a rust blocker and painted it black.

I also cleaned the glass. Under all the grime was this gorgeous antique glass.

My husband took the lighting apart and I refinished it.

It was a lot of work but so worth it!!!

~ Small updates do make a difference. ~

Thanks for stopping by this old house.

xo,

Dee

I'm linking to:
Knick of Time Interiors

Tooting My Own Horn

2012-01-12T18:44:00.000-05:00

My wine stoppers have been a success. Not only am I selling them locally
I just sold 40 on Etsy! They make great party favors and hostess gifts.

I've been crafting up a storm and 'loving it'!!!

Make your dreams come true!

I Am...... Are You?
I'm linking to:

Ivy and Elephants

Wine Stoppers

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

My wine stoppers were a big hit last

night. Everyone at the party loved them!

~ To see how I made them ~
Click Here - make pretty cork wine stoppers.

XO,

I'm linking to:

Savvy Southern Style
DIY Show Off
Claire Justine oxox
DIY by Design
The Southern Product Queen

2012-01-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

My sweet friend Mariette from Mariette's Back To Basics

is having a fantastic giveaway!!!

~ International GIVEAWAY ~

till February 4

Stop by now to enter!!!

You get to select the letter you want!

(Mariette's Back To Basics)

xo,

Dee

Queen of Bulletin Boards

2012-01-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

I have been giving the name "The Queen of Bulletin Boards" for some time now. You might say I enjoy making them. I made two of these memo boards.

I used to different kinds of ribbon and glued them to the checked fabric. Underneath is a large square cork board.

I drew the large fleur de lis on index cards and painted them gold. I added clear glass beads, gold beads and wire and glued them on.

The smaller fleur de lis I made using a punch cutout by Anna Griffin. I found another company who sells similar ones.

http://www.scrapbooksupplyhouse.com/fleurdelis11.html

How I made the fleur de lis push pins:

I spray painted the ball head straight pins gold. Then I glued them to the gold beads. When they were dry I added the smaller fleur de lis to each one.

Here I used the white ball head straight pins and no gold beads.

I hope I've inspired you to make one too!

Happy Crafting!

xo,

Dee

I'm linking with:

Deer Antler

2012-01-04T18:46:00.001-05:00

I've started to decorate my son's room with

the lodge - Indiana Jones look.

Look what came in the mail from my sweet and wonderful

friend.

(Mary from The Retired Nester)

It's the most beautiful

deer antler I have ever seen!!! ........

Thanks Mary!

Estate Home

2012-01-02T12:30:00.000-05:00

Our friends restored the outside of their home and also added on.

These pictures are from the party we attended.

They don't build homes like this anymore.

Before pictures!

They had some crew working!

Rubber molds were made to recast these.

~ Me and Hubby ~

We have gone up in the tower. You can see for miles up there.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo,

Dee

I'm linking to:
The Southern Product Queen
Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design

Celebration of Burlap

2011-12-30T20:30:00.000-05:00

Chalkboard paint and burlap tops!

Seashells from the beach in Florida!

Burlap pillow with jewelry pendants pins!

Burlap runner!

I love the ruffle, brown ribbon, and flower!

Burlap frame made with paper cutouts!

Burlap and stencil turned into a memo board!

Large coffee can received a makeover with burlap!

Woodworkers transfer tool makes canvas art!

Burlap coffee bag gets framed!

New patterned burlap turns into a

memo board!

A candle, burlap remnant, and a charm!

Burlap dresses up a cork stopper!

Patterned burlap for my antique bench!

Candles get a makeover with burlap!

A year of burlap love!

xo,

Dee