Christmas Cheater Chalkboard

Hello, has anyone seen my van? 




Yep, it was this kind of day here in Colorado. Not only lots of snow on the ground, but bitter cold temperatures to boot. I'm so glad I didn't need to be anywhere today!




I know this is silly, but I just love this lamp post next to our driveway. I can see it from my bedroom window, and when it's all covered with snow like this, I just think it's the cutest thing. 
A little weird, I know : ) 

Okay, on to today's project-  a super speedy "cheater" Christmas chalkboard!

You know how it is. 

Sometimes you're working on a space and you need something for a certain area or wall. 

You realize you don't have "the something" you want for that space. 

You know you're not going to buy something for the space. 

Certainly you can MAKE something for that space, right? 

Right!




I've mentioned here before than you can create a chalkboard-like surface on just about anything by simply painting it with black craft paint, and that's exactly what I did with this piece.

This past summer I made some chalkboard style signs for a friend's wedding. What I used for the painted chalkboard style surface on one of the signs for the drink station (hence the water stains) was an ugly old oil painting that I picked up from a 'free' pile after a yard sale. I simply painted over it with black craft paint, 'seasoned' the surface by rubbing chalk over the entire surface and then erasing it.

Yes, apparently I did watermark a photo of an old water stained piece of cardboard. : )




I've had this chippy white frame for some time. I don't really remember, but it might have been a curbside freebie, as well.

I decided I would create a framed Christmas cheater chalkboard for the area I was working on. I cut the piece of black painted cardboard to fit the back of the frame, and hot glued it in place. 




Boy, the photos just get more attractive as we move along, eh? 

I think I must have seen on Pinterest some time ago that you can use soda can tabs as picture hangers. Brilliant! A friend gave me a whole bag of these recently, so I decided I would use one for this project. 


I decided to hot glue the tab to the frame because:

1) The glue gun was already plugged in 
                               and
 2) I was too lazy to go find the screw gun and screws at that     
     moment       

It's really very light, so I'm sure (hoping) the glue will be just fine.

Do you like my epic chalkboard lettering skills? haha
Really, I was just going for a "homespun" look.  


Home Sweet Christmas Home- ironic because we won't be home. But we'll all be together and that makes wherever we are a sweet Christmas home, right?

I tied a thrift store plaid scarf into a bow and attached it to the frame with a thumb tack.

I was able to create just what I was looking for to finish this space without spending any money and in, literally, just a few minutes. 

I really love that. 

I am overwhelmed by the astounding number of beautiful Christmas home tours that are going on in the blogging world right now!

I may or may not get a holiday home tour posted before we leave for California, but this week I will show you the space I created the cheater Christmas chalkboard for, okay? 

I hope you'll come back for a visit soon. Thanks for reading, friends!

Jeanette 


Sharing at these wonderful parties this week

Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage    
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors

Warmed Up with Red-Master Bedroom

Recently I did a post called Perfectly Pale where I highlighted some of the whites and neutrals in my home, indicating that is where my design "comfort zone" is heading. Less color, more whites, in pursuit of a more peaceful atmosphere.  I also mentioned (and promised to show you) how I do still use and enjoy color at Christmastime. 

If there is ever a time to add an infusion of red to your basic neutrals the Christmas season is it! I have two areas in our home where I bring in the red most during this season, for an infusion of cozy cheerfulness. One is the kitchen/dining area, and the other is my master bedroom, which I'm sharing today.

Now, I've only been blogging "seriously" for about 8 weeks and I guess I feel a little shy about showing such a private area of our home to my 44 followers the WORLD! Awhile back I did share a little part of this room when I showed you my Faux Fireplace Mantel, so I guess I'm ready to go for the rest? Well, okay then, come on in!

 

 I know I always seem to be apologizing for my photography, but I'm doing it again. It was dusk AND it was gloomy and gray out, so some photos aren't too sharp. This actually works a little to my advantage because I didn't vacuum! : ) Oh, how I would love to snap my fingers and have that ceiling fan be replaced with a lovely chandelier. But we're not here for that!

Normally all the fabrics in my room are pretty white/neutral. Simply adding layers of linens and pillows in varying red prints instantly creates a warmer feeling in the cold winter months.

I sort of fantasize about painting the bed white someday, but I'm not ready to tackle it yet.

Yes, there is a superfluous twin bed in my room right now. It came out of the kids' room and I intended it to go to the basement, but it landed here and stayed. We use it sort of like a daybed/sofa when my laundry pile isn't there. 
Again, just adding layers of colorful blankets and pillows and decorative items, like the postcard garland on the vintage sled, immediately creates a warmer feel to the room.

Red print pillows and a soon-to-be skirt on my "project chair" in a Waverly floral fabric I've been in love with for years.

The name escapes me at the moment, but it has been used in many ways around my home(s).

  
This piece doesn't really have anything to do with cozy color (except it's warm wood tones) but I thought I'd show you just because it's a favorite of mine.

 I think it's the front panel from an old piano? But for now it's standing in the corner of my room being used as a clothes hanger!

 I'm thinking it's also destined to be painted white someday. 

Ok, so I only just realized today that my dresser has a FACE! I can't decide if it's funny or just creepy!

 All her "age marks" just make me love her more.

 An interesting note about the dresser top; the shop owner I bought this from told me that when she acquired the dresser the veneer top had been badly damaged. She removed the veneer and covered the top in this Ralph Lauren wallpaper (!) and a heavy piece of glass.

Over the years it's been fun to put photos, cards etc under the glass. I've been tempted to see what's under the wallpaper, but I'm sort of afraid to mess with it! Maybe I'll cover it with some of my vintage sheet music next?

Nothing says "warm and cozy" quite like a red plaid blanket, right? Especially layered on top of fluffy white duvets and charming red print bedding. The super heavy PB quilt is actually on loan from my friend who's living in China right now and the Waverly floral is a fabric remnant from a past project. I have always loved florals and plaids together, and I think I always will.

It's so easy to use things you already have to pull color into a room! I used some of my favorite crafting/decorating books here. Tired of this color? Swap them out for another! Don't get me wrong, books never need to match a color scheme, but when you are doing a seasonal (temporary) color scheme, why not use something you already have and love?

Blankets, pillows, books, candles, picture frames are all easily whisked away when your design mood changes, with very little time and no money spent.

There's my cozy (I do like that word!) little electric fireplace I made the mantel and faux brick backdrop for.

Thank you so much for visiting my warmed-up-with-red winter bedroom! Rest assured, in a few weeks I'll be ready to have things back to Perfectly Pale in here! It's been a long day....I am SO climbing in this bed right now : )



 









over at:

  

French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday
At the Picket Fence-Inspiration Friday 

Common Ground-Vintage Inpiration 
Six Sisters'-Strut Your Stuff Saturday 
It's Overflowing-Overflowing With Creativity! 
Funky Junk Interiors-SNS 
Homemaker On a Dime-Creative Bloggers' Party 
Liz Marie Blog