Momma's Old Lamps: Make Over

So sorry for the delay... Christmas was a whirlwind, but wonderful. So excited to accomplish more projects this year. :) Here are my first two lamp projects. 

Lamps are fun because they are a super easy presto-chango! A little spray paint and a new shade can bring your lamp zooming out of the 70's and into 2013. 

After having a yard sale back in October with my mom and sister, my mom was left with these beauties. 

No one wanted them, so I decided to see if I could give them some new life. :) Starting with the brass one, I whipped out my favorite Rustoleum "Kona Brown" and went to town. Now I would normally spray paint a lamp, but in this case I had the brown left from the Vanity Victory so I just brushed it on. Bought a $14 lampshade from Meijer and viola! It is in my family room and I get so many compliments on it now! 

So it was on to the "pretty" porcelain lamp, with the brown seventies flowers. 

Not my style... 

I noticed that it had some flat surface areas and I had recently discovered the joys of chalkboard SPRAY paint... yes SPRAY paint! How fun is that!!

I had been looking for a way to jazz up my new office, so I thought- that would be a great way to jot notes to myself when and add some warm lighting to the fluorescents we have now.  

Then I bought a $10 white canvas lampshade from World Market and decided to try my hand at painting it. the night I had time, I realized I didn't have painters tape. Because of my impatience I decided to paint it anyway. So... its not perfect, but its fun. In the wall close by is the painting I did at Pinot's Palette a few weeks ago. Together they jazz up the office. :)

  

Project in Short:

- Two free lamps from Momma

- Two lamp shades: $24

- Chalkboard Spray Paint and leftover paint $8

Total for two lover-ly lamps with new life! : $34 

Pondering Paper...

Today I am pondering paper. To go or not to go back to a paper planner for 2013?? BLASPHEMY!!.. I know, right? I mean I of all people will tell you how I CANNOT live without my iphone and the beauty of  amazing apps!! SIDE NOTE: One that you need this time of year is Better Christmas List.  Keeps me on track with WHAT, HOW MUCH and WHERE this time of year. :) And I have been using a blackberry or iphone for my calendar since 2005!! But between changing jobs and changing devices... I have missed some appts., duplicated items and basically just gotten fed up with my digital calendars. Seems I am not the only one....The Washington Post featured this article in December of last year...

Gadgets got your schedule scattered? Maybe it’s time to go back to paper.

Sometimes my heart just longs for this...

Ah yes, the old school planner. Nothing like the day you get your new planner and new pack of markers. HEAVEN!

So... just to explain what has brought on this agony- and what has pushed me over the edge is this...
My work computer is ALWAYS a virtual desktop. The home base is somewhere in IN or OH and all I know is that I cannot sync any other calendars with my desktop Outlook. Now, I can hear you techies already... "but it all integrates fine on your iphone!" Ah- so true. But...
1. It is not convenient to look at my phone when setting up a work meeting that may or may not overlap with something personal.
2. There is no way to "blow up" the screen on my iphone to see a lovely months view with all of my calendars in one place. I NEED this.
3. Finally, I think it will just help me to feel grounded.

I will keep you posted on how this goes and if it lasts!

***As I was writing this I heard the news about the school shooting in Connecticut. Just sicking and scary- how do parents ever send their kids to school. Scares me to death and the fact that my husband is an administrator in a high school where I know everyday he would risk his life to save a child... ugh. Why does it have to be this way??

Blessings to all of you.
Julie

UPDATE 12/17/2012....
Thanks to my sister I found this website and I may or may not have just SQUEALED with excitement. :) I am getting this planer and doing it up AHS style! WHOOP WHOOP... I'll update again when it's here!! And here is someone who make me feel like I am not alone! http://www.erincondren.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=1156&products_id=3499

UPDATE 1/14/2013...
It's here, I've used it.. and here's the scoop...PLEASING PLANNER.

A Cozy "Come on In"

One room that was important to me to update ASAP was our Front Room (Living Room, Sitting Room... whatever you may say it to be) We now call it the "Green Room" :) Whatever you call it it was the first space guests see when they enter our house.
I had tried to hang pictures and add curtains for color, but it just DID NOT feel cozy. I know a rug would bring warmth, but my hubby loves the floors and begged me not to cover them. Plus, we love to sit in this space on Sunday mornings while the kiddos race cars across the floor. (Team Torzewski time)
Adding color helped me to feel more at home and in my opinion added a LOT of warmth to the room. Here are some panoramic views... Don't mind the hubby eye candy! ;)

This is just after I painted, so there are many more fun projects to come before this room is complete. However, just the color did wonders for me loving the space. It also inspired me to extend some coziness into the foyer, which was completely PLAIN- except the lovely lighting fixture -ack! This will change soon enough- promise!

So, as far as the tree goes I was inspired by a branch with some hooks on Pinterest...

I sell Vinyl just like this, but when I had left over chocolate paint from another project (Firing Up the Fireplace- coming soon) I just decided to go for it and paint this tree free handed.

After stepping back, I felt like it needed more branches...

Finally finished...

Here is how it looks from the "Green Room"... I love the contrast. (again- don't mind the lamp with no lamp shade... yet another fun project to come!) But we aren't done yet!

I found some really cool rod iron hooks from Anthropologie, just $8 a piece. I couldn't resist! So I added them throughout the tree and finally did you some of my Uppercase Living Vinyl to personalize it a bit....

 Project complete ... Quicked and Cozy!! Hope you like it. :)

Would you hang you coat please?? 

Be back later this week with a couple more fun projects from the "Green Room"

Vanity Victory

One of the first things that can date your house is the vanities in the bathroom. Old wood look with old hardware does not make me smile.
But it does give me a quicked project to take on and that is exciting!

Goal: giving the bathroom a new look- FAST!
I tackled this one the second week we were in our house. A quick trip to the home store for my favorite quick cover Rustoleum paint and some new hardware and viola! No sanding required. :)

Master Bathroom

Guest Bathroom

Project in Short:

- Brushed Nickel hardware for both bathrooms, $40

- Rustoleum paint in Kona Brown, $10 - lasted through both vanities with some to spare!

*quick FYI- this color goes on with a purple tint, but don't freak out- it changes when it dries. ;) Its a little scary- but promise it turns out great! :)