Tuesday, March 22, 2011

$5 Outdoor Furniture Makeover


Here is my hand-me-down bench before. I am glad to have it. Don't get me wrong. Some people can pull of the retro look. I am not one of them. My only choice for a fabric store is Hobby Lobby and this one doesn't carry outdoor fabric. Not to mention the fact that I just started sewing and a kindergartener could probably do better. I needed an easy solution. One that didn't involve measuring and math skills or pinning. Then it hit me like a ton if bricks while shopping at WalMart. Where else? A fabric lined outdoor tablecloth for $5.  I just cut it up and wrapped each cushion like a present and hot glued it on. Less than 5 minutes. SWEET!! I was pretty proud. Then I thought it needed something so I had just cleaned out my son's closet and was so sad that 2 shirts no longer fit and really wished I could do something with them. Pillows for the bench? I just turned them inside out and made a seam at the top and bottom (without pinning or cutting first, sorry Mom) trimmed off the excess and then unbuttomed them and turned them right side out. I stuffed them with WalMart sacks. My genius son said let's put a big rock in them so they won't blow away and then I buttoned them back up. The bench looks so much better and now every time I see it I see that sweet little boy in those 2 shirts too.

Friday, March 18, 2011

TV Tray Table Revamp


This was just your plain tv tray table that I have had forever. They came in a set of four. Although, I think now WalMart sells them individually. I did not sand it first because I wanted it to have character. I spray it with Krylon Ocean Blue. After it dried I sanded some of it off around the edges and in various spots. I printed the letter B off of my computer on regular paper and had my son color a big square around the backside of the B with a lead pencil.  I laid the B facing up on the top of the table and traced it. Where he had colored came off when I traced so now I had my outline. I traced over it wil a fine tip sharpie and then filled it in by hand with black paint. Simple and quick project. Everyone that comes over loves it and wants to know how I did it.


I've linked up to these parties:
Sunday Scoop
Under the Table & Dreaming
Lamb Around
Lolly Jane
Mad In Crafts
Polly Want A Crafter

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Candle Holders




I am sure you have seen these candle holders all over blog land here is my version. 


I bought 3 vases in 2 different sizes and 3 candle holders in the same same from Dollar Tree. I glued the candle holder to the bottom of the vases. I used super glue because it is what I had and I am cheap. Please note that it causes a whitish haze around the candle holder where the glue was. That was totally fine with me because I don't plan on leaving them empty ever so it will be covered up and no one will ever notice it. I promise. If you don't want the haze you will need to use E6000 glue.



Next, came the candles. I could not find candles in 2 different sizes that did not cost a fortune. So, after an exhaustive search I bought 3 candles of the same size at Dollar General for $1 each. They were way to small but I knew I could think of away to fill the space below the candle and hide it with the split peas I had intended to use. I thought I could use bathroom cups and cut to size when I remembered I had these "party cups" in my craft supplies I had gotten at Dollar General for painting because I thought they were neat.  Anyway, I  hot glued 2 together for the shortest ones and 3 for the tallest one. I sat the candle on top and used my finger to hold it in place while pouring the split peas in.




Friday, March 4, 2011

Welcome

This is my first blog post. I have debated what to write about for some time. I decided to tell you why I picked the title for my blog. I am a self proclaimed Super Mom. I hadn't planned on being a one. In fact, I remember the brat that I was 20 years cringing at the thought of having a child. I remember telling my home economics teachers what a waste of time her classes were because I wasn't going to be a homemaker. Funny how things turn out. I grew up with a Super Mom so I knew how to do it. After I got married I was a terrible housewife. Then when I got pregnant I realized someone would be calling me mom. My mom didn't do those things for me because she had to. She made memories. Good memories. I wanted my child to have good memories. Great memories. At some point I remembered the class party from 3rd grade. My mom was not room mother that year. Instead of goody bags we were given Cousin It dolls made from 2 liter Coke bottles and yarn. I remember that doll to this day. I am scarred for life. Needless to say I have been room mother for my son's class every year so that he has not had to face the same horror that I did 30 years ago. Anyway, I have always taken things to an extreme so I have taken being a Super Mom to an extreme. Most people would think I am going overboard by making meals with colored themes and shapes on holidays but my son will always remember that about me. Although he is 9 years old now and no longer carries shapes sandwiches in his lunch box to school he still enjoys them at home. My nieces still get a kick out of shaped pancakes. We are always making something together and we are always making memories at the same time. If you don't think I am a Super Mom just ask my son he will be glad to tell you.