Today I'm going to share a very simple DIY project. You can copy this if you like or use this to get your own ideas going. It's always amazing to me what a little paint and some flowers can do.

I had an old rusty bike sitting in my yard waiting for a little TLC. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do with it so I just left it. Yes, that's water. My backyard floods sometimes in spring much to my dismay.

 

 

If I do end up finding more pink paint, I'll give the bike a thorough cleaning and sand it prior to painting. You can see the rust underneath the paint because I did this in such a rush. I should've taken the time to sand it down to create a clean surface.

 

My next task was to search for a basket for the bike. I ended up finding a dark coloured basket that I already had on hand. I took some cream coloured spray painted to brighten up this old basket.

 

 

 I placed the bike to try to get a picture of how it would fit and if it would work to attach a basket to the handle bars.  

 

 

I had some thick heavy duty plastic on hand which I used to line the basket. I used an upholstery stapler to attach the plastic to the basket. I filled the basket with dirt and used some black zip ties to attach the basket to the bike. 

 

  Finally, it's time to plant the annuals. You can see the black zip ties from this angle, but they aren't noticable from the street.
 

   A couple more close ups of the basket... 

 

 

   What do you think? Should I try to find more pink spray paint and repaint it pink?

 

 

 

 It's truly amazing what a little paint and some annuals can do. What projects are you inspired to try next? Sometimes it just takes seeing someone else do something to become inspired to try an idea you've had on the back burner.   

 

Wishing you a lovely day filled with moments of sunshine and splashes of joy.

~ Jennette

I had to build bigger window boxes this year. The photo below shows the old window boxes which I built a few years earlier. 

I didn't take step-by-step photos, but I'll share instructions of how you can build your own window boxes and try to keep it simple. You can add a window box or window boxes to your house. Do you have a garden shed which could use a little more character? Add a window box. Let your imagination go and create something that matches your style.

• Step 1. Measure the width of your window. I built my window boxes so that they'd stick past the trim just a little bit. My house is old so the two windows aren't the same size.

• Step 2. Use scrap wood or purchase new wood. We had old 3/4" plywood on hand that I used for this project. Not the nicest stuff, but it's sturdy. 

• Step 3. Cut your pieces or find a friend or family member who can cut them for you. I'll share the measurements of the pieces that I cut.

• Bottom piece - 78" x 9". I was going to make it 10" but I didn't have enough plywood, so I made do with what I had.
• Side pieces - 78" x 7". Cut 2 of these.
• End pieces - 10.5" x 7". Cut 2 of these.
• The completed measurements of this window box was 79.5" (length) x 10.5" (width or depth) x 7"(height).

• Step 4. Assemble the pieces. You can use screws or nails or whatever works for you. I used a pin tacker and lots of wood glue. Attach the sides to the bottom piece first and then attach the ends to complete the box.

• Step 5. Let the wood glue dry.

• Step 6. Sand if desired.

• Step 7. Clean the box of all dust. Paint or stain the box the colour of your choice. I used Pistachio from The FAT Paint Company which is the same colour as my front door.

• Step 8. Seal your box. You can use polyurethane, lacquer, Clear TOP coat from The FAT Paint Company. Whatever you use, make sure that it's meant for outside protection.

• Step 9. Line the inside of your box with heavy duty clear plastic. I had a roll on hand and used an upholstery stapler to attach the plastic. This protects the wood as well as helps keep the moisture in.

• Step 10. If you like, add decorative pieces to your window box. You can do this prior to painting if you choose to add wood pieces. I bought some super ugly hinges and spray painted them black.

• Step 11. Hang your window box. I used simple L brackets and plan to eventually add chunky corbels for a decorative look.

• Step 12. Add dirt and plant your flowers.

I love this saying! It reminds me of my all time favorite saying, "𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦."

Kindness doesn't cost anything and it makes everyone involved feel good. The ripple effects of one kind word or deed can bring so much good and healing to this world. We all know how much an angry word or unkind action can hurt. Spread some kindness every day. 💕

There's a lot of unknowns. Generally speaking life is full of unknowns but now we're all forced to live a little more from moment to moment. To be honest, that's how I've been living for the last few months while my mind is trying to heal.

I'm a big believer in prayer and miracles. I felt like God sent me a little touch of hope tonight. I glanced out my window and thought I saw a light. I looked again and low and behold there was one of my solar lights valiantly shining through the snow. Just the touch of hope I needed. 🙏🏻 Some days I just marvel at how much God cares for me and all of us. This hope is for each of you too 💟 Sweet dreams and wishing each one a restful weekend.

There's so much we can do for each other during this time. There's big things and little things. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to do it all. This may seem like a tiny challenge but no deed of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted. 💜

Take care! Stay safe and wishing each of you all the best. Praying you'll have moments of sunshine and feel the warmth of God's love.

I mean it. You can do it. You're strong. You're brave. I don't know what each of you are going through, but you can do this. Don't give up. Just live right now. One breath at a time. You don't have to see further ahead than the next step.

For me personally, my faith in a great big God and having a host of friends and family definitely helps.

I love this saying. It's so true. It doesn't matter much where a person is...when you're with those you love, it's home. 🏡

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I'm so thankful that every day is a new beginning. Another chance at a better day. Another day to heal a little more. Spread a little more love.⁣
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Have a wonderful day 🌺

I've been wanting to do this since last summer. It felt so good to get this project finished. 💪

The house number is erased in the photo, just because it's not considered a good idea to share such info online. 🙂

❄ I'll be taking a break from writing blog posts, sending out newsletters and posting on social media for awhile. You as my customers and followers have been such wonderful supporters throughout the years I feel like I can't leave you hanging.

❄ As well as taking a break from blog posts, newsletters and social media, I won't be taking custom orders, creating new stock or hosting paint workshops for now. 

❄ My retail location will still be open and you can purchase any item(s) in stock. My retail hours are staying the same. Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm.

❄ It's time for me to rest my mind and take care of my mental health. I don't know how long this will take or what sort of time frame I'm looking at, but I'm receiving good medical help. Right now, my top priority is working in our accounting office and resting as much as possible.

❄ I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might be. It's a difficult decision to make but it's quite necessary for now. Thank you in advance for your understanding. 💟

I'll keep this short and sweeet.

I just wanted to let you know about this sweet sale. It's the perfect chance to buy some last minute gifts or pick up that item you've had your eye on for awhile.

Needing some Christmas cards? Now's the perfect time to stock up on these. Spread the word to family and friends.

Enjoy the SALE and happy shopping!

Click HERE to shop my Christmas/Winter Collection.

A Very Special Christmas Story - the perfect children's book telling the Christmas story in a simple and easy to understand way.

White Rustic Wooden Snowmen - These rustic wooden snowmen have come back in the large and extra-large sizes.

Rustic Wooden Snowmen - I decided to change things up a bit this year and offer more of a rustic wooden snowman instead of just the white version. These also come in both large and extra-large sizes.

Rustic Wooden Gifts - These are great for shelves, mantels, window boxes, stocking stuffers and more.

Rustic Wooden Gifts - These are great for shelves, mantels, window boxes, stocking stuffers and more.

4x12 Rustic Wooden Sign - NOEL

4x12 Rustic Wooden Sign - Merry Christmas

10x12 Rustic Wooden Sign - Tiptoe Softly to the Manger

Rustic Wooden Angel

To shop the rest of Netties Expressions Christmas Collection, click HERE.

I designed a number of new Christmas cards for the holiday season and re-designed some others.

I know with all the technology some people have moved to e-cards or not giving cards at all. I still think that there's nothing like an actual paper Christmas card. You can just feel the love and thought that was put into it.

Click HERE to shop my 2019 Christmas Card Collection

Click on any of the images shown below to visit the product listing in my online shop where you can purchase these greeting cards.

I went down to visit my printer on Wednesday for a press check. My book is being printed at Friesens Corp in Altona, MB. This book is made from start to finish right here in Manitoba. I think that's pretty amazing.

If you ever get a chance to tour a book printing company like Friesens, do it. It'll give you a completely new perspective and appreciation for what all goes in to printing a book.

Above you can see the text sheets from the press check. The only thing I was worried about was how the colour would actually come out on the paper that I had selected for the book. It was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! I'm so happy.

From here I did the press check on the cover and then back to do the press check on the last text sheet. I brought copies home with me to keep which I'm so thrilled about. It's like having a blue print of my book.

This 6x9 paperback book is perfect for the little people in your life. This children's book tells the true Christmas story in a simple way that's easy to understand. You're never too old to hear or read the Christmas story. It's a story that's precious the whole year through.

Inside the book is a Christmas lullaby as well as a page depicting Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Now the next step is waiting for the books to be bound. Once this is finished I can pick up the books. The scheduled date for me to pick up the books is Friday, December 6th.

Now is where you as my customer come in to the picture. You can now pre-order this book. All pre-ordered books are signed and come with a matching bookmark.

Pre-order 4 or more books and receive a FREE matching art print.

The books are $9.99 (CAD) + GST and shipping if applicable.

Pre-order this book today through my online shop or in store. Is this too complicated? Send me a text, email or drop by my retail location and I'll get your pre-order set up for you.

PRE-ORDERS CLOSE November 30, 2019. Regular orders will start on Friday, December 6, 2019.

Pre-orders will be mailed as soon as I've received the books. In store pick up will be the first to be notified when the books arrive. Can't pick up your book in store? Ask a friend or family member to pick it up for you and save on shipping.

Payments accepted: Cash, E-transfer, Debit, Mastercard, VISA

Text: (204) 937-0953

Email: jennette@nettiesexpressions.com

I'm super excited to let you know that I'm doing a 2nd printing of my book, A Very Special Christmas Story.

The first printing that I did was a bit of a test run to see how or if the book would go over. You all blew me away with your enthusiasm for my book. It was truly a humbling experience to put my heart out there and receive so much positive response from all of you. I will be forever grateful!

I love this quote for so many reasons. I think we can all relate to it. It makes me think of the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", or one of my all-time favorite songs called, The Windows of Gold. 

I wasn't expecting to actually share the words to this song since the quote for today is not this song. But, I thought it would be simpler to share the words than try to explain the message in the song for those who don't know the song.

The Windows of Gold

Happiness grows at our own fireside, and is not picked in strangers' gardens. ~ Douglas Jerrold

***Please remember that these graphics are designed by Netties Expressions for your personal use only. Please respect this and do not try to claim these as your own or use them for resale.

I've drooled over magazines, pinned piles of tables on Pinterest, but never actually did anything more than that.

Today I want to share a simple but rustic farmhouse style table which you could also build yourself.

I cheated on this build since I used the base frame from this old work desk for my first farmhouse table build. 

 The boards from the desk top were removed and saved for other projects.

I ended up using these boards when I built my Third Faux Fireplace which you can read about here, and also when I built my Wall Mounted Coat Rack which you can read about here.

Below is a super crude sketch of the table top that I built. Part of the reason the table top is made from planks that are different widths is because I wanted to use up some thick planks that we hand on hand just waiting to be used.

I know the plans for this table are not the most professional, but I hope this inspires you to tackle your own projects for your home. 

It started with my first faux fireplace that I built way back in the day. It's still working great, but it was in major need of an update of some sort.

This is what it looked like before I tackled this project. 

I have to insert a small disclaimer here. My basement had water damage and had to be completely redone. You'll notice that the whole room has changed when you see the "after" photos.

 I had a can of Fusion's "Homestead Blue" paint on hand. I'm a FAT Paint retailer and generally use their paint. To be honest, I really wanted to try some FAT Paint on this project but I've also been trying to use up paint that I already have on hand. It definitely helps cut the cost on these different projects.

I purchased a Duraflame insert (DF1020ARU) from Electric Fireplaces Canada. I love these inserts. They heat up the room quite nicely as well as adding such a cozy touch.

Other than that, it was just a fresh coat of paint in a different colour and styling the mantle just a tad bit differently. The transformation was so amazing to me!

Here's a close up of the fireplace insert. It's hard to get the flames to show like they do in person. 

Here's a different angle...

Now that you've seen what a coat of paint can do to something, grab your brush and paint and tackle that project you've been thinking about or dreaming about.

Happy painting! 

Here's a glimpse at the FAT Paint display in my retail location. Drop by to check it out. I'd love to see you. If you're not sure what paint colour to pick for your project, let me know. I'll be more than happy to help you.

...and don't forget about the paint which is on a final clearance sale. Once these beautiful colours are sold out, they are gone.

You can order your paint through my online shop and then pick it up in store or drop by my retail location. Click here to place your paint order.

If there's not a FAT Paint retailer close to your area, you can order your paint and have it shipped directly to you. Click here to order directly from The FAT Paint Company.

My May paint deal is on for the entire month of May. Spend $10 and use the coupon code to claim your discount.

Thank you for dropping by! 

Because of the shape that this dresser was in, I decided that I better go about this project the correct way.

I took the dresser apart. Removed the drawers, took the knobs off the drawers, took the mirror off the dresser and also took the mirror apart.

I bought some furniture stripper. I used a cheap bristle brush to apply the varnish remover to the entire dresser. (Be sure to wear rubber gloves, long sleeves and don't go barefoot when applying this. It burns if it lands on your skin.)

I let it sit for 5-10 minutes before using a scraper to start the process of removing the stain from the dresser. You can tell once it's starting to work as the coating starts to bubble. I ran into some really tough areas where I had to use a few coats of this furniture stripper before all the old stain and varnish was removed to my liking.

Sources:

Stain: Dark Walnut by Minwax

Polycrylic: Satin finish by Minwax (for sealing the stained mantle)

Wood: leftover wood scraps from an old work desk top

Other supplies and tools needed: Wood glue, screws, air nailer, orbit sander or sanding pad, mitre saw, hooks, screw driver

Image above is from Twelve on Main

I adjusted my plans and bought one of Duraflame's inserts through Electric Fireplaces Canada. The model is Duraflame's 20-in infrared electric fireplace log set (DF1030ARU)

Here's a glimpse at what I quickly sketched up. Very plain and very simple. Drawing is not my strong point as you can see below.

This desk came with our office when we purchased it back in 2015. I immediately knew that it could be used or repurposed for something or other and snagged it for myself.

Here's another glimpse of this desk. I used the bottom half for building my Farmhouse Table earlier (I'll be sharing a post on this in the next while) and set the top pieces aside for later use.

I wanted the mantle to be rustic with a lot of character. I ended up using part of this desk top for my mantle.

Here is what I sketched up with the dimensions for you all. It's a super rough sketch, but it'll give you an idea of the size and dimensions.

I started with the base of the mantle or what I call the hearth. I cut this 13 1/4" deep by 46" long. I sanded both sides as well as the edges to make sure that there'd be no issues with splinters later on down the road.

I wanted a thin hearth so that the kiddos wouldn't trip on it.

 I cut the two pieces for the front and side. Both of these were cut using scrap GIS plywood that I had on hand. 

The sides were cut to 13 1/4" wide x 48 high".

The fronts were cut to 10.5" wide x 48" high. The plan says 10" wide because I wasn't sure that I'd have scraps that were actually 10.5" wide.

The corner pieces are not attached to the base in the picture shown below.

There's a whole lot that happened between the picture above and the picture below. I wanted to get this finished in one evening so I ran out of time taking all the step-by-step photos. I enlisted the help of my Dad just to get it done a little faster.

Below you can see the completely assembled faux fireplace waiting to be painted. The curve of the middle piece ended up being a sharper curve than I had drawn.

I didn't have enough plywood to cover the opening in the back, so we ripped some wood to different widths and planked the back. 

The fireplace seemed too plain without any sort of trim so I ended up using ripped and stained wood which was actually meant for framing my signs, to trim out the fireplace.

The top of the desk which I showed you earlier was made up from a few pieces. We had to cut the one piece a little shorter to use it as a mantle piece. It wasn't quite deep enough and we ended up ripping another piece from the desk to 2" wide and then screwing the two top pieces together to create a nice mantle top.

The actual fireplace didn't end up looking like my original plan, but to be honest, I liked it much better.

The mantle top has an extra piece attached to it to make it look a little thicker. This piece is 1 3/16" deep and 3/8" thick and runs the full length of the mantle piece. I didn't change anything with this top from the desk after cutting it to length except for sanding it smooth, staining and sealing it.

Below you can see the fireplace as it's drying.

Here's a snap in between coats.

I used leftover paint from painting my stairwell for painting this fireplace. The colour is Benjamin Moore's Amherst Gray. The paint which I used is by Dulux.

Here's a glimpse of the completed mantle. I love the warmth and richness of the stained top. Plus, I think it's so neat that it comes from an old work desk. It's repurposed wood that most likely has a lot of history in it.

The gray in this photo below is a fairly true representation of the actual colour in person. You can see the faux flames reflecting on the back of the fireplace. The insert provides lots enough heat to keep my basement rec room warm.

A thick sparkly rug from Winners does a great job of creating a soft place to sit in front of the fire.

Something important for you to remember when you build something for yourself. It doesn't have to be perfect. You can see that I didn't get this curve perfect, but it's a rustic fireplace. I was impatient and winged it with creating this curve. I used the lid from a large round garbage can to draw the curve. Not ideal, but it worked for me.

I thought I'd cut the curve with a jig saw and ended up using the band saw which worked just fine.

You can also see how we ended up planking the back side of the fireplace instead of using one straight sheet of plywood. I thought of using faux brick paneling, but I didn't have any on hand at the moment. 

Another close up of the beautiful mantle top.

This image will give you a better glimpse at the thin piece that was originally used to create a ledge to this desk top.

There's so many ways to style a mantle. You can easily create your own cozy space just by combining a few items from your home.

 And...here's the finished mantle in all it's glory. There's no natural lighting down here, so it's a little hard to get the colours to come out correctly.

I really hope this helps you to build your own style of faux mantle/fireplace. It definitely adds both character and warmth to a space.

Good luck with your own build. If you do tackle your own, I'd love to hear from you on how it worked.

Have a beautiful day!

Sources:

Duraflame fire place insert: Electric Fireplaces Canada (DF1030ARU)

Paint: Amherst Grey by Benjamin Moore (Dulux paint company)

Stain: Dark Walnut by Minwax

Polycrylic: Satin finish by Minwax (for sealing the stained mantle)

Wood: Scrap lumber that I had on hand. GIS (good-one-side plywood) and pine

Other supplies and tools needed: Wood glue, screws, air nailer, orbit sander or sanding pad, mitre saw, jig saw or band saw, clamps

I don't think todays saying needs an introduction. All I ask is that you read it over a few times and remember it as you go about your day.

When I have been faced with the loss of a loved one, gone through difficult times or the years where I spent so much time in the ER while the doctors and specialists tried to figure out what was going on with my heart. I had so many experiences where I knew that God obviously wanted me to stay here longer. The wealth of money meant nothing to me. The blessings I had during that time could never be bought with money.

I'll keep things real and admit that sometimes it'd be nice to have a little more. But when I stop and ponder about life and what that all holds for me...the things that really mean the most to me could never be bought. No amount of wealth could ever buy the things that are the nearest and dearest to my heart. I'm am truly blessed way more than what I ever deserve.

Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

***Please remember that these graphics are designed by Netties Expressions for your personal use only. Please respect this and do not try to claim these as your own or use them for resale.

Winter can be a time of gray skies and long winter evenings. Right now I'm in the beginning stages of tax season which lasts till the middle of June for us. This means the days can feel super long and exhausting. I love January though as it's a time of year filled with days of beautiful, thick hoarfrost covering trees and most surfaces. This makes for the most gloriously beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I always marvel how beautiful God makes the world for us. If our hearts and eyes aren't open to this beauty and the miracle of it, we'll go through life missing out on so much.

This saying is another one of my favorites and one that I try to remember when it feels like the mountains are too high and too steep for me.

No matter how tall the moutain, it cannot block the sun.

***Please remember that these graphics are designed by Netties Expressions for your personal use only. Please respect this and do not try to claim these as your own or use them for resale.

Wishing you a beautiful day!

I'm starting the year off with a little bit of a different line for my first Inspirational Tuesday post. These posts will also be bi-weekly instead of every week.

Sing when the shadows fall...for in time the sun will shine again.

There are times in a persons life when it feels like the shadows have fallen and the sun may never shine again. This saying spoke to me and seemed to be filled with so much hope, I thought I'd like to share it with the rest of you. 

***Please remember that these graphics are designed by Netties Expressions for your personal use only. Please respect this and do not try to claim these as your own or use them for resale.

Wishing you all courage for the year ahead!

If you had your eye on an item or two, now would be the time to place an order. You can still put these up this year or purchase them for next year. There's nothing like shopping ahead to cut back on the stress during the holidays.

This sale is on until January 12, 2019. Click the image below to go straight to the sale page.

I'll share some of the sale items with you below. Click HERE to check out all the sale items.

There's still a few tickets left if you're interested in coming out for this private shopping event.

This is the perfect evening to spend with friends and family. The evening starts at 7pm and runs till 10pm to allow enough time for relaxing browsing.

Remember to show your ticket at each shop. Once your ticket is stamped you can enter it for the chance to win one of eight $50 gift cards. 

Each shop will have exclusive discounts as well as complimentary refreshments.

I'm looking forward to seeing each of you who are planning on coming out.