Monogram Canvas

I managed to complete another project!! I wanted to change what I had on my dining room table and had seen a seasonal monogram at Hobby Lobby that I thought would look good on a painted canvas. Yes this is another easy peasy project, but they are just as good as the not so easy ones, right?

And I decided to play with PicMonkey to edit my photos and after playing with only 3 pictures I really like it!! So this is your warning that there'll be all kinds of different edits until I find what suits me!

Supplies;

Canvas

Letter

Paint, foam brush

Hot Glue Gun

The exact term for the kind of fake foliage on the letter is eluding me right now but I liked it for spring/summer.  My paint is a metallic peridot green and the canvas is 12 x 12.  The letter was 40% off so it was about $4.79 and I used the good ole' weekly coupon on the canvas so it was about $4.19...so about a $10 project! And I love it!

Painted 2 coats of paint, took the ribbon loop off, hot glued the letter on and done! 

What kind of easy projects do you have going on?

Sharing at the fun places on my Link Parties Page!

Happy Thursday!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Learning From Burnt Mac & Cheese

You know how when you're not feeling well, your mind just isn't all there sometimes?  Well this happened to me yesterday.  I've been fighting allergies this past week and yesterday was a day I'm thankful is in the past.  Lil' Hunkie woke up at 5:30 am and was just into everything.  It was just one of those days. 

 Lil' Hunkie is a picky eater and one of the things he'll eat is mac and cheese.  So we buy the individual cups to make things easier.  That's what he wanted for dinner. So I get one out of the cabinet, pull the plastic off, take the cheese packet out and put it in the microwave for 3 minutes.  I go to the bathroom and come back...it's still cooking but I immediately smell something burning and look over and sure enough....smoke coming from the microwave! I rushed over and opened the door to find the cup melting.  The kitchen filled with burnt smoke...I open the window and start to fan the door that goes into the sun room while choking.  I even got the box fan from our bedroom and pointed it towards the doorway to the sun room to try and help! The house still smells!

My first thought....what did Kraft do to this particular package?

I even took photos thinking "they've got to see this!"

I got a knife out and poked at the burnt mass of macaroni.

Slowly it started to come to me....I forgot to put water in it!

I have made mac and cheese this way for Lil' Hunkie for quite sometime now.  How could I have missed putting the water in?  It was just one of those days.

Then I thought....that's how I would look if I didn't have the Holy Spirit.  If I didn't have God.

Dry. Burnt. Smelly.

God refers to Himself in Jeremiah 2:13 as the "spring of living water".

He is the water that my spirit needs.  I can't be what He's called me to be without it, just like macaroni can't be eaten without first being cooked in water. 

Then I thought....how great of me to immediately put the blame on someone else.  Why was that one of the first things I thought? I'm a little ashamed that I did. It's because it was a dry day spiritually for me, I was operating without the 'spring of living water'.  

And now I know more than ever the importance of water to macaroni. And more importantly,

 the importance of Living Water to my spirit.

Be blessed today.

   

Easy Sliverware Art

I am happy to report I'm almost done with my craft space!  Last week I finished up my craft table and while I had the paint out I slapped some paint on a Dollar Tree tray for a silverware project I've been wanting to do for a while now!  When we moved in to our new house there were a few dishes/silverware left in the dishwasher, some I threw away....the silverware was perfect for what I had in mind!  So I had all supplies on hand except for the tray so yeah beside being easy this is also cheap!! Ha! The best kind right?

Supplies:

Tray

Scrapbook paper

Silverware

Mod Podge

Foam brush

Hot glue gun

Scissors

Paint, optional 

Paint tray or can leave plain.  Paint silverware, again can leave plain.

Cut scrapbook paper to fit inside of tray and apply mod podge on both sides. I let it dry before I applied the top layer and then let the top layer dry overnight...thus the night time pics.

Glue silverware on and hang!!  I hot glued an saw tooth hanger to the back.

This is in my dining room and I am enjoying it!  Lil' Hunkie even likes it!

This was my inspiration...

from JOYS OF HOME.

Craft room reveal coming soon!!

Happy Thursday!

Sharing at the awesome parties on my Link Parties Page!

Soiree Day-Born To Rock Baby Shower

I have a cute, cute baby shower to share today!!  Molly of Still Being [Molly] and friends gave a special party for their church's worship leaders. I loved the details and plain ole' fun they created!

Born To Rock Baby Shower by Still Being [Molly]

All photos courtesy of Still Being [Molly].

So cool! The invite looks like a band flyer!

Love the Swag Bags!!

In place of a guestbook, guests were asked to leave "tips' in a guitar case for the new parents. So creative!

Molly has tons more pics and a lovely impromptu photo shoot with the momma to be that you must see!

Happy Soiree Day!

May Birchbox

Time to share another Birchbox!  This month's box is my first 'themed' box. Or maybe 'inspired by' is a better way to say it. It is a Gossip Girl (the TV show) box.  Now I haven't ever watched Gossip Girl and don't plan on starting but I am aware of the impact the show has had on the fashion and beauty worlds. So I was kinda expecting a little bit more glamour in the box like maybe an all makeup sample box but what do I know? I'm not a Gossip Girl!  There are some nice items that I have tried already so it has still been fun.

Contents:

BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette Spray

*Smells so lovely!

Dr. Jart + Waterfuse BB Cream

*Felt nice on, I just have too many blemishes to wear this alone.

Ojon Volume Advance Volumizing Conditioner

*Smells divine, haven't used it yet.

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

*You would have had a good laugh if you could have seen me drop this! I don't know how it came out of my hand but it did....then made it's way to my shoulder, the wall and finally the floor! I love the sparkle!!

Twistband Hair Tie

*Haven't used it yet....

Extra:

Notecard

It's cute and is upside down in my pic! Ha!

I also wanted to tell you about these...

I've been using the L'Oreal Voluminous Mistake Proof Marker Eyeliner and really like it. I like using liquid eyeliner on my top lash line but sometimes it can smudge and I have to let it dry before applying mascara but not with this! And if I was good at a cat eye this would be excellent for making one! 

The other two items I bought yesterday to try. Saw good reviews on both.

Covergirl Eye Enhancer in Mink

Hard Candy Shiny When Wet Waterproof Mascara and Liquid Eyeliner

We'll see how it goes!

Got any new makeup you love?

Happy Friday!

Soiree Day-Celebrate Grads

With Mother's Day being over it means one thing...graduation time!  I don't know about you but graduation time can always make me feel old.  From kids growing up in church to 2nd cousins, this year had been one leaving me in awe of who's graduating! So today I thought I'd share some creative graduation parties!

Neon-Themed Graduation Party at Martha Stewart

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart.

DIY Printable Party by Frog Prince Paperie

Photo courtesy of Frog Prince Paperie.

Keys To Success by Celebrations At Home

Photo courtesy of Celebrations At Home.

Southern Style Graduation Luncheon 

by Spare Me the Details via HWTM

Photo courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess.

Will you be celebrating with any graduates?

Happy Soiree Day!

Saturday Song

Hunkie has requested I learn today's Saturday Song.
He does so good at picking out songs...his 'ear' is a little bit
 different from mine and it blesses me.

I pray this song blesses you.

Happy Weekend!

I've got a Nude'tude!

A Nude'tude eyeshadow palette from The Balm that is!  I had viewed a review/tutorial of the palette by Emily of Beauty Broadcast and knew I wanted to someday try it.  Well someday came a little sooner than I thought thanks to Birchbox!!  In my last Birchbox I got some expired samples and Birchbox made it good by giving me points.  (Points are earned when you refer someone and when you shop.) So I had about 300 points or $30! I was going to purchase Benefit's Erase Paste if I liked it after sampling it which didn't turn out so I was just looking through all the products and to my surprise came across The Balm's Nude'tude palette! I spent a total of $11 after using my points...$5 for shipping and $6 for the palette. I was so excited about it that I tweeted I almost stole it!  Thanks Birchbox! 

A lot of people are comparing this to the Naked palettes by Urban Decay. Some like it better, some not.  I like it just as much as the UD. But I do think the range of colors is better verses both UD palettes.  The Nude'tude has a pink (Stubborn) and a purple (Sexy) shade which neither UD palettes have really. So to me this would be a better traveler.  But, even though the packaging is rad, it seems as though you get more product in the UD palettes. I think it's all in perception though!

I haven't tried all colors yet but they are good quality and if you're looking for a nude palette I rank this one with Urban Decay.  And when choosing one I would think about what colors you wear most and let that help your decision.  And actually the Nude'tude is an excellent one to start out with!

What's your favorite palette?

Happy Friday!

{I was not paid to write this post. I got some cool new makeup that I wanted to share with you!}

Soiree Day-Celebrate Mom

Time to celebrate our moms again!  Looks like we've got an overnight stay with my mother-in-law planned for Friday night and then a cookout with my mom on Sunday afternoon.  And nope I have no clue as what to get either of them! It's usually a picture of Lil' Hunkie so we'll see what I can come up with! Both ladies are totally fine with just getting to spend time with us.  

One thing that I've enjoyed with my mom in the past has been a Mother/Daughter Tea hosted by our church.  I'm not sure how it happened that moms and teas got together but I think it's a lovely combination!

Here's a roundup...

{To Pin please go to source and pin from their site. Thanks!}

Vintage Mother's Day at Catch My Party

Photo courtesy of Catch My Party.

Girlie & Modern Tea Party in the Park 

at Hostess With The Mostess

Photo courtesy of HWTM.

Mother's Day Tea Party from Country Living

Photo courtesy of Country Living. 

Mother's Day Tea Party by Fiskars

Photo courtesy of Fiskars.

Mother/Daughter Tea Party at Bird's Party

Photo courtesy of Bird's Party.

Vintage Tea Party at Amy Atlas

Photo courtesy of Amy Atlas.

Are you ready to celebrate Mom?

Happy Soiree Day!

This & That

Well I jumped on the Instagram app bandwagon!  I'm an android user so I thought it pretty cool that they finally made Instagram available.  I also joined the Photo A Day bandwagon too! Fat Mum Slim hosts this photo taking exercise.  She provides a prompt for each day and you get to be creative with your picture taking and make memories at the same time!

You can see my Instagrams in my side bar and you can of course follow people so come join the fun.
And go to Fat Mum Slim's site for info on the Photo A Day challenge...there's still time!

And in case you were wondering I use Labelbox to add fun labels and Diptic to make collages.  Labelbox was free but Diptic was $.99. 
And in other fun news....I sure do hope it says vintagegwen.com in your browser bar!! Yep! I did it!  I had been thinking about buying a domain for a while now and it just needed to be done! I must say, I'm proud! And excited!
Happy Monday!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Heaven Welcomes A Saint

It's been almost a month since a very dear lady in our church went home to heaven.  

She fought tongue cancer for about a year.  

She was sweet but still a powerful prayer, an encourager, a blesser.  

She always made sure to give me a hug anytime she saw me.  I already miss her.  

She also could write beautifully.  Her Christmas cards were always handmade with a poem she had written. She knew the power of words.  

So today in honor of one spectacular lady I want to share a worship song that she wrote.  When she wrote it, she took it to a very talented young ORU student who put music to what she'd penned.  Sorry I don't have a recording of it but the words speak for themselves.  

Through The Ages

by

Dorothy Young

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah

Hallelujah to the King

We will honor, trust and praise You

Through the ages we will sing

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah to the King

You are holy, You are holy

Through the ages

Through the ages we will sing

We lift our voice

We lift our song

We lift our praise 

To honor You

Have a blessed weekend.

Craft Table Paint Fail

So I finally got one of my best friends to come and assess how to organize some things. 

 I'm not the best at organizing because I have a hard time visualizing.  And this particular friend is excellent at decorating and organizing.  And of course she saw things differently and her ideas are better use of space and so the plans have changed!  So for the last week I've been working on what will be my craft space.  I had it in a corner of the den. My friend moved it to the sun room/laundry room! And by doing that I can now make myself a bigger closet in the den.  Our house is an older one and lacks closet space.  

The first thing that I've been working on for my craft space is a crafting table.  I did some looking on Pinterest and saw all the fabulous craft rooms. And decided I wanted a kitchen table and almost made one.  But Craiglist came through and I found the perfect one for $25 about 20 minutes away!

It's nice and sturdy and just needed cleaned up.  I decided to paint the whole thing with the leftover paint from my china cabinet redo. Doesn't sound too hard right? Uh, wrongo! I've decided that painting furniture is like having babies....each one is different!  With my china cabinet I did nothing before I started painting.  And thought I could do that again. Nope! {Yep! I'm such a newbie when it comes to painting furniture!} Guess I needed a lesson learned! The paint on the top did not stay on at all!  And the polyurethane did not turn out even! I used a sponge and I guess it being in the shade affected how I was seeing what I was doing! 

Major. Paint. Fail!

So after cleaning out the sun room, I have added a bookcase, 4 storage benches and a laundry cabinet.  And am now working on fixing my paint fail.  This is what it looked like yesterday morning...

It's going pretty slow...as I don't have a fancy sander.  Just that brown scrapper you see.  Thank goodness the legs are ok!  I will sand and prime the second go around. 

And then I have this to paint too...

Just might have to give the painting a rest after this! I got the chair at a local antique shop for $10! It used to have arms which is ok, I didn't want one with them so I'll have to fill in the holes. The next time you see her she'll be pink!

So when those two are done then I can move in all my crafting supplies!

And get started on my closet! And hopefully a few crafting projects that are floating around in my head!

Please tell me I'm not the only one with a crafting fail?

Back to scraping I go!

Happy Thursday!