Completed Projects
April 30, 2009 at 7:25 am , by Emily
I do everything wrong. I was so encouraged by Melissa at The Inspired Room when she posted her Project Procrastinators challenge. The list I have of things I want to get done around here is long, but I got right to work. If you go to Melissa’s place today, you’ll see all I was supposed to do this week was choose a project and show the before photos today. ahem. I don’t follow directions well and I spent the last week doing projects. Never fear, though! I have many more put them off projects that I can work on. I just don’t have photos to share. I am all messed up.
I chose a few manageable things that I could do fairly simply. I had to be realistic about what I’d be able to get done with two little ones under foot. And for not a lot of cashola.
The first was this chalkboard at the end of one of our cabinets in the kitchen. It’s always been a bit of an awkward space where we had a couple things hanging. I thought it was perfect for chalkboard paint. The paint went on a couple weeks ago but it needed trim. For weeks. Finally – done! And free! We had the chalkborad paint leftover from our other DIY chalkboard in the kitchen. And the trim was scrap wood we already had.
The next thing is in the kitchen as well. When we recently did our kitchen makeover, there were some things I still wanted to add, including a stool at the island.

I found a stool on Craigslist for $5 and celebrated. But it drove me crazy that the stool and the top of the island clashed. Suddenly the top of the island was in need of change. I know, it’s little things, but those little things matter when it comes to making a house a home and making the space I am in for so much of my life one that makes me smile. So, I decided to paint the top of the island black with some leftover paint we already had. I decided to do it but then put it off…but not anymore! Now it’s done.
Much better.
Next…my daughter has wanted her name spelled out on her wall for a while. We had the first letter of her name but she wanted her whole name. So picky, 4 year olds can be. I did it!This is the only project I had to go out and buy anything for. I got the other 3 letters and some scrapbook paper to decoupage to them for a grand total of $5.50. Hubby saw the project and wanted to help.
The finished product and one happy kiddo
Have you been putting off projects? Head over to the project procrastinators BEFORE party.
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by Shannon
On April 30, 2009 at 7:48 am
I have been procrastinating on just about everything. The big garden till by hand and plant as fast as you can has taken over our spare time.
I really like the black island top. I love the combination of the blue, white and black in your kitchen. Oh and the tile. And the chalkboard. My husband is hoping I don’t get any ideas since we rent
.
Shannon´s last blog post..Food Roots – April 30th
[Reply]
by neimanmarxist
On April 30, 2009 at 8:31 am
oh. your last photo of your daughter next to her name is just beyond fantastic.
i procrastinate too. but as a grad student, i like to think of it as my job.
neimanmarxist´s last blog post..Partway is Not The Same As Nothing.
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by TidyMom
On April 30, 2009 at 8:46 am
Show off! there you go getting your projects done before the rest of us get started! LOL They’re GREAT! I’m SO in love with your kitchen!! and I love the look on your dd’s face in the last picture!! – she looks SO proud!!
TidyMom´s last blog post..Procrastinators Party Project!
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by marie
On April 30, 2009 at 9:16 am
i HAVE been procrastinating! but… i am finally getting in gear and finishing things up. it feels GOOD! your kitchen is so cute!
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by Amanda
On April 30, 2009 at 9:45 am
LOVE chalkboard paint- have not used it yet but now really wanting to try. and the island looks amazing with the black top!
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by the pleasures of homemaking
On April 30, 2009 at 9:45 am
You have been so productive! I love the island top painted black – looks fab and I love chalkboard paint so anything that uses that is wonderful and the letters came out so cute!
Manuela
the pleasures of homemaking´s last blog post..Project Procrastinators Party!
[Reply]
by Writer Dad
On April 30, 2009 at 9:50 am
$5 stool?!? SCORE!
I haven’t gotten a single home project done in six months so you’re a ninja compared to me.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..The story garden
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by Janis@An Inspired Life
On April 30, 2009 at 10:54 am
WOW….great job. It must feel great checking things off your “list”.
Janis@An Inspired Life´s last blog post..You’re invited
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by teresa
On April 30, 2009 at 11:42 am
Great projects- hey, since yours are done- head on over and help me get mine done =)
Love your island.
teresa´s last blog post..Oh the Shame….
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by June
On April 30, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I love your projects! Your chalkboard with molding is so cute!
June´s last blog post..Procrastination Party!
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by Denise
On April 30, 2009 at 5:08 pm
are you for rent?
Denise´s last blog post..this may take a while
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by melissa @ the inspired room
On April 30, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Oh your photos are adorable! Love your projects. And you don’t do everything wrong, you are just ahead of the curve
Thanks for joining in!
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by aimee
On April 30, 2009 at 10:16 pm
That chalkboard is awesome! I’m still so totally in love with your kitchen…makes me want to start on mine tomorrow!
And the letters are wonderful! I’ve been wanting to do that forever for my little chick. So awesome. Don’t you just feel great now that you’ve marked so much off your list (only to create space to add some more!)
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by living with lindsay
On April 30, 2009 at 10:53 pm
hahahaha You’re hilarious! Love all the projects and your daughter looks so happy with her new wall letters!
living with lindsay´s last blog post..A Basketful of Inspiration
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by Jo - To a Pretty Life
On April 30, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Lovely projects! The picture of your kitchen after you painted the island top looks like it’s right out of a magazine. Your daughter looks so satisfied with her name on the wall! Thanks for commenting on my project. I’m hoping to make it a bit distressed to keep the character…but distressed in a well-loved way, not the current was-left-in-the-shed-for-too-long way
Jo – To a Pretty Life´s last blog post..My Procrastinated Project
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by paisleypenguin
On April 30, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Love the letters!
paisleypenguin´s last blog post..Change of Plans
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by Shannon @ Silver Trappings
On May 1, 2009 at 12:05 am
Wow, you’ve been busy. I love the black island top! I’m amazed that your husband got in on that kind of craft project. Good for him! Just think, now you have two more weeks to do even more!
Shannon
Shannon @ Silver Trappings´s last blog post..
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by Sarah @ Thriftydecorchick
On May 1, 2009 at 10:31 pm
These are all adorable!! That’s so sweet your hubby helped! We have a big chalkboard in our kitchen too — love it!
Sarah @ Thriftydecorchick´s last blog post..L. Herbert Designs Giveaway!
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by Red Writing
On May 2, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I love the chalkboard in your kitchen. It looks great…and painting the top of the island was a great solution. I too sport a “simplify” sign in my kitchen. It is a continual effort… Good luck with your many projects!
Red Writing´s last blog post..Diet Food
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