Painting (un)Surprise.

Ashley got me a Thank You gift.

Actually she got me a few. 

 She didn't like the black mat I had, and kept telling me I needed a cuter one.

Doesn't it look cute at our side enterance. 

Ashley and Tyler went away on a little getaway...but more for an ikea baby shopping trip.

While they were away Kristy was nice enough to pet sit for them.

So I decided to surprise them with a painting project Ashley had started a few months ago, until everyone told her to stop as she shouldn't be doing any painting while she was pregnant. 

You know what is worse than looking at a project that needs to be done.....a project that is incomplete. Lol 

Here is the project.

The sides of her stairs. 

 Actually they don't look too bad here besides the yucky cream colour.

But just picture them with one blotchy coat of white paint. Ashley said it drives her crazy looking at it everyday.

Now doesn't this look nicer. 

As well as Sebastian who got in the paint twice. Black cat/white paint oh oh. 

I just need to caulk where the trim doesn't fit tight.... But that is for another day. 

 Not only did I paint the sides of their stairs, I also painted the baseboards that Oscar teethed  on when he was a puppy. 

Boy, was there a lot of teething marks. 

 The trim will need to be replaced, but this is a good cover up until that gets done.

This is oscars room...I know such a spoiled dog to not only have his own bedroom, but he also has his own double sized bed!!! 

I had to lock him out as I painted because he wanted to help, lol. 

I think he was confused that he was locked OUT of his room as opposed to inside his room. 

 As much as Ashley and Tyler love Oscar he is going to have to either give up or share his room with the baby.

My painting was suppose to be a surprise. 

I wanted to see how long it would take them to notice. 

When I asked Ashley how much I owed her for the stuff she bought me. 

She told me it was a thank you for painting 

I asked her. Who told you I painted. 

She replied. You painted?!? What did you paint?!?  Did you paint the stairs!!!! 

I asked her what painting did she mean 

The baby's dresser. 

So I ruined my own surprise. Lol. 

I also ruined my birthday gift she got me.  I helped them unpack and saw it....but at least they know I'll love it. Lol

We are at the cottage and it is drizzling.

I went for a short walk, but thinking it may be an organizing evening as it looks like rain all night. 

Hope you all have a wonderful and creative weekend :)

Tracy :). 

Laundry Room Project.

Projects. 

Like I shared with you yesterday...I have many. 

I also have many that I haven't shared with you yet.

Last month I worked on a project for Ashley's house. 

She has a sump pump in her unfinished laundry room.
There are 2 holes in the concrete floor and I wanted to cover them up somehow. 

Here is the finished project. 

Not only does this cover the holes, but it also is a nice folding table or just a place to store laundry products...and it looks pretty :)

Here is the before picture...blah.
See the high tech way the sump pump holes were hidden, teehee.

The first thing we had to make sure of is that the desk fit...it did!!

Which made me very happy as I didn't need to make a one, like I had planned.

Next thing, I had to do was cut a slot out of the desk top for the pipe.

Plus the desk had to be easy to pull out, just incase the sump pump needed quick access to.

 

Ashley had this desk from Ikea. 

Her dog, Oscar chewed on a couple of the legs when he was a puppy. 

The legs were still stable, just didn't look so pretty.  

Next, to disguise the ugliness, lol. 

See.... Not to pretty under there, and we are all about things being pretty as well as functional.

So I cut some lumber to size and nailed it to the desk 

Ashley was at work, so I was on my own with this job.
I needed another set of hands to hold the lumber while I nailed in the other side, but I'm pretty resourceful, especially since I didn't bring any claps with me, lol. 

I used a piece of my scrap wood for a spacer so the spaces would all be the same distance apart. 
Then I just kept on cutting and nailing, cutting and nailing.

Ugliness is slowly getting hidden.

I needed to rip the bottom board (cut the board the whole length down the centre). 

I inquired at Home Depot, but they don't do that :)

Remember I didn't bring my clamps...but luckily for me Tyler was home at this time, so I asked him to help me hold the board so I didn't saw off a finger or two. 

See how much thinner the bottom board is...I ripped it good ;) 

Now doesn't that look a lot better:). 

But now to make it prettier. 

Because the desk was white, I painted the boards white as well. 

So much prettier and more functional than the before picture. 

I was at Ashleys house working on a couple other projects today....but more on those tomorrow.

Whenever Ashley has a new idea for her house, she always coxes me with "This will make a good blog material". Honestly though, she doesn't need to cox me at all.
Actually these projects were my doing.....I just can't stop with the projects, lol.

I hope you all had a very creative day :)

Tracy :). 

Friday Night Scrapbooking has Begun :)

I am so happy that my Friday Night Scrapbooking has started up again.
If you aren't familiar with my FNS, Every Friday Night I invite my friends over to my house and we create.
Sometimes we do cards, scrapbook pages, colour or sometimes just sit and chat while the other ladies craft.
Tonight I created 10 "Thank You" cards for Ashley to give out to her friends or family that have helped her or got her a gift for her new house.

I used some of my scraps of pattern paper for the background.
Then used a Stampin' Up stamp and punch. I used a McGill punch for the dark blue cardstock, it backs the Stampin' Up punch perfectly.

I kept the inside as simple as could be.
I just stamped a sentiment on a recipe/index card.
I wanted lots of room for Ashley to write her thank you note inside.

Ashley finally got her blinds delivered and installed today.
She was at work, so Heather, Kristy and I went to let the installer in to do his job.
You can see her new couch here as well :)

Ashley came home for lunch just as the guy drove away.
But she brought us pizza for lunch :)

Tomorrow hunting starts. So Wayne will be out and I plan on staying home all day, relaxing and trying to figure out my wooden stamp storage :)

Hope you all had a creative Friday :)

Tracy :)

Day 16 and Cement blocks 101

Day #16
"Supplies"
I use these supplies not only for my planner, but also for my Smash book, my journals and I take all this with me when we go away to the cottage for the weekend.
Let me tell you what is here.

I have my washi tape in the the two end containers. These containers are really neat as they clip on top of each other and there is a top lid that clips on here with a handle.
In the centre I have my travel tote. It is really a tool tote, but whatever works..right. And this works awesomely for me.
It houses my pens, some inks, stamps, sticky notes, flags, journal cards, my smash book and journals.
To see what is exactly in here...click on this link :)

It was a beautiful day to work outside. It was sunny, but not hot. Actually it was a bit cool, perfect day for some yard work.
But I didn't get to my yard work, I did Ashley's.

The previous owners didn't tend to the flower bed and it was so overgrown, we didn't know what was a weed or a plant. Plus it was full of sod.
So day 4 of Ashely purchasing her house, she and her crew, tore it up.
Here is what her front flower bed looked like since that day.
It has looked like this for a few weeks. Every time I am there I just cringe.
I actually couldn't wait to have time to get my hands dirty with this project :)

The blocks are in good shape, and to cut costs down we used the same blocks...we, lol. I worked on this all by my lonesome, lol.
The first thing I did was reshape the bed.
They had a funny shape to it. The girls called it a bum shape, lol.
So I cut into the bed and cut away the sod to make it straight and then curve up to the house.
I then lay down a layer of crusher fines for the blocks to sit on.
I had a bit of a setback, as I used all the crusher fines I had.
So called Wayne to bring me some...working at a gravel pit has its advantages ;)
Then I started laying down the blocks.

I found a nice long straight piece of lumber to push the blocks against so they would all be even.
That piece of wood/lumber is just there as a gauge, I take it out when the first layer is complete.

As I am putting down the blocks I make sure each one is level from front to back and side to side.
If not, then I add or take away some crusher fines from under the block.
This is very time consuming.
But very important. This is like you base layer, so you want it to be perfect.
So I used a level to make sure all was perfect and again I used that wood to make sure the blocks were even to each other.

Now the easy part.
Putting down the top layer.
Because everything is nice and level, all I had to do was put the top blocks in place :)
All 40 of them!!!
Ashley came home from work just in time to see me putting away my tools, lol.
Now the fun part....getting the soil ready for some pretty plants.
Now I just need to find some really nice top soil :)






















As I did this, Kristy and Heather were putting together Ashley's new bed that Wayne and I picked up for her from the border.
Doesn't the white headboard look gorgeous against that blue wall.
Her room is in the upstairs and it has the slanted ceilings...believe me when I tell you she measured this many times, to make sure it would fit before she ordered it ;)
She is staying in her guest room, which she calls Heather and Kristy's room, while she is working on her bedroom and dressing room.
It is so neat to see it all coming together :)
Oh ya I put those base boards back on...before I worked on her flower bed ;)

I hope you all had a very creative Monday.
I did, just not in the paper crafting way ;)

Tracy :)

Making Ashley house a Home finishing touch and a Tracy's Tag :)

I finally put this girl on one of my Tracy's Tags :)
If you remember from this post where I shared my completed girl, I had coloured her up awhile ago.
I completed this tag on my girls getaway the other week.
I used papers from a G45 collection.

Her is what the inner tag looks like.
I am going to add some pretty paper on the back for a note to the recipient :)

Ashley has to wait a few weeks for her window coverings to get installed.
Wayne and I didn't like the fact that anyone can look in. I am sure Ashley didn't like that either.
Wayne said just throw a sheet up there until the window coverings come in.
Well if you know me, then you know I couldn't just tack up a sheet. It has to look pretty...right.
What I did was take a white sheet and cut it in half. I put the cut side to the outside edge of the window and the sewed edge to the inside.
I figured the inside would get more handling and with it being sew, wouldn't fray.
I was going to sew the cut edges....but lets not go overboard here, lol.

Then lastly, I cut some white ribbon and tacked in between the wall and trim. I used a clear tack so you wouldn't notice it as much.
Tied the ribbon into a bow and viola...a pretty tie back.
Ashley just has to undo the bow at night for full privacy.
I was pretty proud of this easy, yet pretty way to use a sheet for a temporary curtain ;)

We are heading out to the cottage as I type this.
I am looking forward to a hot sauna to ease my sore arthritic knees, fingers and feet.
I am planning on doing some colouring and just relaxing.
I am also hoping to do a bit of blueberry picking :)

I hope you all had a creative Friday and a enjoyable weekend.

Tracy :)

Making Ashley's house a Home....Day 8 finishing touches.

Ashley has moved into her new home...but she was here at home twice today :)
She hasn't totally moved all of her belongings yet. But most of her stuff it gone....her room is so bare.
This is a photo Ashley took of her and Kristy relaxing in her spare bedroom.

Here is Ashley's living room all painted and waiting for her furniture.
She is ordering her couch tomorrow as it is on sale starting then, but not sure if she has decided on the material yet.
I liked the darker one, she liked the light one. I thought the grey colour was more to her wall colour. But her inspiration room is all white. So I am curious to see which one she choses :)
The painters tape is where she wants to put her couch and the size it will be.

Since her couch will take about 5 weeks to get as it is custom. We brought her our couch from downstairs in the rec room for her to use until hers is delivered.
She has her television set on the floor right now, but is going to mount it on the wall, under the mantel she has as one of my creative projects she wants me to make for her.
She keeps telling me that these projects is great material for my blog, lol.

Here is one of her favourite rooms.
It is her dressing room.
She has so many neat ideas for this room to showcase her shoes, purses and accessories.
So far she has two dressers (that her and her sisters have painted) back to back.
This wall colour is Cool Sky.

Today the blinds guy came to measure up her front window and the window in her kitchen/dining area.
They should only take a few weeks to come in.
I put blinds up in her bedroom today and put up her bedroom door that we had painted.

Ashley goes back to work tomorrow. I could go and do some more work, but I think I need to work on my own house, lol.
I have spent 8 days at Ashley's house and before then I was away to my creative get away, so my house is not looking to good right now, lol.
I think I would hide if someone came to my door :)
I have decided to replace my back door. Remember the door that the paint peeled off because of our cold winter.
Ever since we moved here, we had wanted a door with a small window in it as our back porch area is so dark. So figured now is the time to replace it :)
So the door guy is coming here tomorrow at about 2:00, so I have a few hours to clean up my embarrassing messy home ;)

I hope you all had a creative Thursday :)

Tracy :)

Making Ashley's house a Home...Day 7 Moving out Day :(

I knew this day would come.

Wayne and I knew Ashley wanted to buy a house, so we encouraged her to save her money.
I was with Ashley when she went for her loan.
I was with Ashley house shopping.
I was with Ashley when she put a bid on a house.
I was with Ashley when her bid was accepted.
We have been working non-stop for 7 days, 8-10 hours a day to get this house move in ready.
What did I think would happen!
Why then when she came home to pick up some things as she is spending her first night in her new home, did it hit me......my baby isn't living at home any more.
I gave her a hug goodbye like I would never see her again and wept like a baby.
She kept telling me "It's okay mom, you're going to see me tomorrow morning". "Its okay mom".
Yes my baby has moved out and I hope it gets easier when the other two leave the nest.
But lets not go there, I can't handle the thought right now.

Okay lets get on with the home repairs and focus my mind on other things.
This has been my nemesis today.
It is the closet doors for the hall linen closet.
As you can see the paint was peeling off. Yesterday I was scrapping a bit of old paint off the edges as the last home owner was a messy painter and had drops and over hang of paint.
While I was scrapping off the old paint....it came off in thick layers.
I think they covered oil based paint with water base paint...that is a no no.
So I scrapped off all of the old paint, then took the doors in the back and sanded them with my palm sander...about 4 times each side.
There were about 5+ coats of paint on these doors. I didn't sand to the bare wood, but enough to rough up the under layers of paint.
So far so good, my paint is adhering to the doors :)


















Today Ashley's satellite got hooked up.
She is mounting her flat screen on the wall, but we didn't get the wall mounts yet.
Heather, Kristy and Blake put together Ashley's 4 dining room chairs and her table.
I see a register cover is yet to be put in, lol.
We took them all off and repainted them.

The electrician came by today to look at all the wiring and receptacles.
He made notes of what he wants to change.
Lucky for Ashley, the electrician is Tyler's uncle who is a retired electrician ;)

Also the door guy came.
Ashley has ordered a new front and back door as well as screen doors.
They are also going to replace the door casings and trim.
She was shocked at how expensive it was going to be. But I reminded here, that its not just the doors she is buying.
She was going to get a wider door at the front door (easier to move  furniture) but it was going to cost and extra $800.00 to get them to widen the area.
Guess she will just keep the furniture moving to a minimum.

Remember I had told you I cut my finger yesterday taking Ashley's bed apart.
We did bring it over there late last night and set it up for her.
My finger is still numb near around the cut and it is throbbing a bit.
I am sure it will heal on its own, but Heather still wants me to go to the doctor....we will see.
And yes, that is white paint on my finger...wait until I show you my fancy manicure, lol.


















That is it for me tonight.
I am exhausted and my body is showing its age with all this bending and ladder climbing ;)

I hope you all had a creative Wednesday :)

Tracy :)

Making Ashley's house a Home...Day 6 Clean ducts and Opinions please

Look who is busy working....not Heather ;)
Another busy day working in Ashley new house.
Heather took a break in the shade as it was over 40C/104F.
Ashley doesn't have air conditioning so it was a hot one.


















These two young men flip houses as a side business.
They are friends of Tyler (Ashley's boyfriend) and they were nice enough to come and check out Ashley's house and do a few repairs for her.
Such nice guys...thank you Justin and Mike :)


















One thing on Ashley's must do list was getting her ducts cleaned.
They were full of dust and pet hair...gross.
We took the vent covers off as I wanted to give them a good cleaning and for easier painting.
This is what I got out of one of them...nasty.

The man that cleaned the ducts, didn't think they were ever done before.
He said that it looked like a sheet of insulation was covering the piping, but it was dust and pet hair.
This is the same duct that I pulled all that nastiness out of.

Remember those two young men that helped Ashley out with some repairs.
Well they turned the water off, forgot to tell us and then went out to pick up some supplies.
One of the girls panicked as they went to the washroom and couldn't flush the toilet....but I think they got their point across, lol.

 Ashley wants some opinions please :)
She is ordering her couch and is picking out her fabric.
She isn't sure which colour she should choose.
We both have picked different colours and she would like your opinion.
I of course told her that it is her home and her decision, but a little input wouldn't hurt :)

Well I am exhausted and have to go and re-bandage my finger that I tore apart trying to take Ashley's bed apart.
Heather was helping me and when she saw all the blood she freaked out and then ran upstairs to get a bandaid.....came back down with some gauze and tape and wrapped it up.
As I was laughing at her, I told her,  I didn't cut the tip of my finger off you know. It looked like she put a marshmallow on the end of my finger the gauze was so thick, lol.
She was trying to convince me I needed to go to the hospital, lol.

I hope you all had a creative Tuesday :)

Tracy:)

Making Ashley's house a Home..Day 5 and the start of a new driveway

Another busy, early day for us.
Wayne had to work today, but Ashley took holidays, but goes back to work on Friday.
Today we focused on painting the rooms we haven't got to, and painting all the trim and baseboards.

I thought I would share some photos of her home with you all, since many of you wanted to see the house.
This is her living room. It is a light grey/blue colour called Silver Screen.
As you can see we removed the baseboards to paint them in the garage.
I now want to take off all the baseboards throughout the house as when I took these ones off, there was a lot of pet hair behind them...gross.
Look at those beautiful hardwood floors. They are original to the home.

This is another view of the living room.
I painted all the trim a nice crisp white.
As you can see I still haven't taken the painters tape off ;)

The dining room area just off the kitchen.
Ashley picked the same colour here as it is open concept. She also painted the ceiling the same colour :)
Again I see painters tape I have yet to take off.
I started on the trim around the closet to the left tonight, but will finish it tomorrow. I think I will take the door off and bring it in the garage to paint. I may try and pawn off painting the door to one of my girls, lol. Painting those slats don't look fun.

This is her spare/guest room.....or as she likes to call it Heather and Kristy's room :)
I love that my girls are so close :)
The colour she chose in all the bedrooms is this light blue colour called Cool Sky. Oops, Ashley just read my blog and told me the whole main floor is all the the Silver Screen colour...only her bedroom and dressing room is the Cool Sky. Again she painted the ceilings the same colour and the baseboards and trim a crisp white.
The trim and baseboards were all a dark wood.
The desk in the center of this room is from Ikea. She painted it the same crisp white and is going to use it for her computer desk.

We were very surprised to see that the new driveway got started today.
The company that is doing her driveway is the same one that bought Wayne's business.
So Wayne came by to measure the driveway, went to talk to the owner and about an hour later, the owner came by and told us they would start today.
I guess that saying is really true...It's who you know, lol.
Here they are digging up the old asphalt.

I thought it was pretty cleaver how they dumped the Granular A into the backhoe bucket so they didn't waste any on the road and didn't have the hassle of cleaning it up :)

They hand raked the whole thing and then packed it down with a packer and then with the big roller.
I think they will lay the asphalt later in the week.
As this was happening, Sharon came by with her son, who is a brick layer, who is going to repair Ashley's steps, which is in much need of repair.
Sharon was shocked at how much we have done since she was here on Friday, plus that the driveway was getting done so soon.

Because we are working on so many things at once, it is hard to see everything that has been done.
I have to remind Ashley of this, as I think she was getting frustrated that things weren't moving fast enough for her.
I can totally understand how she feels though, she just wants to be moved into her home.

I hope you all had a creative Monday :)
I was very creative...just not in the paper craft type of way ;)

Tracy :)