Let the gardening begin

image from Katy Elliott

The last day of frost on average for our area of the country is May 5th. Oh yah, let the gardening begin. Now I really love the look of cottage gardens like above, but truth be told I am really not that great at this gardening thing. Since we moved in a over eight years ago, I have planted umpteen perennials that have not returned. We have sandy soil and I lose gusto for watering plants. But I am ready to try some more. I do however do a decent job at container gardening, it is quicker and easier in my mind.

I do feel the cottage garden needs a little junk for character. So I added a little junk to my fence. This crusty mailbox thingy was found for 2 bucks at a garage sale and I thought it would look cute hanging on my gate with flowers planted in it. I planted bacopa, geraniums, and pansies. Now let's hope the kids don't knock it off. Now if I could only talk someone into painting my fence white.

The Junk Mammas

Laundry

While I was rummaging last weekend I spotted this silver basket with wheels. I decided for $2.00 I could do something with it. I searched online and found one just like it with a liner for $49.00 and of course the super cute Pottery Barn one for $89.00.

Pottery Barn

I am always looking for places to put our laundry, with a family of 4 it seems to really pile up. Cute wicker hampers seem to be a thing of the past, or they are really expensive.

So with my new sewing class under my belt I thought I could attempt the liner with some muslin I picked up.

Here's my new hamper, it is so handy I am hoping to find another one someday.

Junk Mammas

Fabulous Find

Sandal is season is here. Time to get those toes pretty again.

I tried Sally Hansen's new Complete Manicure Nail Polish and loved it. It claims to be a complete manicure in a bottle. Five steps in one bottle, base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, color, top coat. It also had a new style brush, that I liked.

I picked some up at Target, and I was impressed. I have had it on over a week with no chips or no wear with just two coats of polish. Our Target didn't have the greatest selection of colors, but the Sally Hansen web site does have quite a few. I picked out Commander in Chic and Pedal to the Metal. Check it out

The Junk Mammas

Quick $1.00 project

Picked this piece up at a thrift sale last year for $1.00. I originally intended to use it for a ribbon holder, but it just didn't hold enough ribbon. I have been looking for a paper towel holder, but haven't been able to find one I like. They all seem to be black rod iron, or chrome.

So, I cut off the arms and the base was just the perfect size for a paper towel roll. I may paint it in the future, but for now, I like the dark wood.

Added this to The Shabby Nest's frugal Friday Party, check out all the great ideas over there.

The Junk Mammas

Man Cave

I think we all have one of these in our house, unfortunally for me ours is not in the basement. My husband occupies our den which is right off the dinning room and the walk way to our main floor bathroom. 3 deer, a bear, a turkey, and some ducks adorn this lovley space. Plus, my husband uses this room as his catch all place, hunting clothes, books, even his everyday clothes at times are in there for everyone to enjoy. :)

My challenge was finding some storage, something inexpensive that I could transform into a stylist piece of furniture. I am going for a sort of english study looking room, with wildlife and a Pottery Barn twist- not sure if that is even possible, but here is my first project.

I picked up this dresser for $50.00 at a local furniture store, they had a trade in sale and this was the best I have been able to find for the money.

Today, I painstakingly painted it black. It is sort of an MDF material, so needless to say the painting didn't go so well. I sanded and repainted mulitple spots to just get the paint to stick. After inhaling all the fumes, I went to purchase pulls for the drawers, I came home with 6 pulls because I have 6 drawers right, wrong each drawer needs 2 pulls so tomorrow Iwill be off to the hardware store.

Stay turned for the finished product and some other touches I picked up for the room.

The Junk Mammas

Happy Easter~

Wishing you and your family a Happy Easter!

The Junk Mammas

Fairy House

Since Spring break is this week, I knew I needed a few things planned for my daughter to keep her from wanting a friend over everyday. We decided on making a fairy house I seen a few years back on a blog everything nice.



We got all our supplies at Micheal's and I already had the moss and saucer at home. My daughter painted the bird house I mean fairy house. And I hot glued everything else as she directed me to the correct placement. We left it outside for the fairies to pay a visit and leave a note with a little fairy dust. But the fairy forgot to stop by last night, so she was running around at 6:30 this morning leaving a quick note about how much she liked her new house. I was thinking that it would make a nice gift for my niece's birthday, if I bundled up all the supplies for her and her mom to make together.


We are enjoying a week of abnormally high temps around here. It is suppose to be close to 80 today normal high of 50. I am not prepared. So I am off to locate where are the shorts and sandals have gone. Hoping they still fit from last year.

The Junk Mammas

Lamps

I love this Pottery Barn Lamp!

And this one from Layla Grayce! I just couldn't spent $100.00 on a lamp, so I decided to try and make my own version.

First of all, I love the cream chippy paint on these, paired with a crisp clean shade. I knew I needed to find just the right base to start. The one below was found at Walmart for $5.00 on clearance, it wasn't the right color or tall enough, but the price was right and I thought it had a similar shape the expensive ones.

I started by adding a block on the bottom to make it taller, just cut a square of scrap wood we had in the garage and glued in on. (didn't end up using the wood on the finished project) Next, I coated it all with cream paint and added a crackle coat once it dried. Last, I applied my umber and sanded lightly.









Finished it off with a $15.00 burlap shade from Target and whala! My $20.00 lamp is finished!
Adding this to My Romantic Home Show and Tell, Stop over and see all of the great stuff. Also, added to Kimba's DIY, check out all the great ideas!!!

The Junk Mammas

Sewing 101

We started our sewing class this week and we are very exited! This is one thing that we have both wanted to do for a long time, especially seeing all the great stuff you all make with you sewing machines.

We headed to class with all our supplies in hand, like little kids on the first day of school. Kinda funny how that old feeling of butterflies came back. We are in serious need of instruction because I seem to fight with my bobbin and Jenny has trouble remembering how to thread her machine .

We walked into class winded from dragging our sewing machines to the third floor and picked a place to sit. The instructor greeted us as we got settled. We were confused what she said. The instructor speaks with a heavy Russian accent. Even though my mother-in law speaks fluent Russian, I know about to two words of the language. I thought, this is going to be interesting, we don't understand sewing terms already. It just takes a few seconds some times to process what she is saying. And she is funny.

What did we learn after our first class, I still have bobbin issues and Jenny has learned to thread her machine.

Wish us luck, we are going to need it!

The Junk Mammas

Sunday afternoon

This is how a spent a hour or so Sunday afternoon. Reading and drinking, Ohhh, to bad my house was a cluttered mess of toys and projects yet to be completed. I just found a spot that was cleared off and perused my magazines.

I found Flea Market Style at my local Walmart Saturday morning. And I absolutely recommend Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea. I bought it at the Starbucks in Barnes and Noble. I love love love it. They sell it by the cup or you can buy the tin. Give it a try if you like cinnamon. Funny how a cup of tea and magazines can make you just so happy.

The Junk Mammas

Easter with Martha

While browsing the Martha Stewart web-site I found some inspiration for Easter decorating.
I want to make an egg garland this year, love this.



I have made these carrots before and they work great with cheetos or cheddar bunny crackers inside also.

Hope you're inspired!

The Junk Mammas

Spring wreaths

Although, it is snowing here I am searching the web for a spring wreath to make for my front door.

Love this wreath @Maryjanes and Galoshes

She used brown paper bags to create this beauty.

Good Housekeeping

The eggs are a cute touch on the bottom of this one with the word welcome. They could be easily be removed and something else added in their place.

Haru's shop Etsy

Found this one on Etsy and the bright colors caught my eye.

What's dressing up your front door these days?

The Junk Mammas

Valentines day across blog land

We have spied some pretty cute stuff around blog land for valentines day, check out a few of our favorite ideas.

Clothes pin clip magnets @live.life.create.art.






Cotton candy ice cream cones @la*T* da.

Framed scrabble letter frame from Melissa at 320 Sycamore

Heart shaped paper clips from How about orange. I needed a video to figure this out.
Paper clip hearts video

Cute devil shirt that I saw about two years ago. Haven't made it, but my little devil could use it.

The Junk Mammas

Mac

This is our sweet little puppy Mac. He grew from the above picture to the one below in literally weeks. At about 10 months old and 70+ pounds, he has turned into a BEAST! He has chewed and ruined shoes, my foam pots outside, the bean bags he used to use as a bed, and legos seem to be his favorite snack.

We are starting our 1st day of training classes today at the Humane Society. Did you know most Humane Society's offer training, and it's about half the cost of the puppy classes at other places.

Since we missed the puppy kindergarten, we have to start with one on ones. After last weekends incidents, I knew I didn't have a choice. My husband gave me a week to find training for me, the kids, and Mac of course. (Mac doesn't seem to listen as well to us) Sam my 7 year old happened to be in the path of Mac on Sunday and was bumped into the coffee table, liquid stitches and a black eye, made me decide we needed more control over him now!

Wish me luck.

The Junk Mammas

Amaretto Chunk Cookies

I found this recipe in a magazine a couple years ago. I really like them, I loved the coconut in them. Try them out

Amaretto Chunk Cookies

Prep 30 minutes plus cooling
Bake about 10 minutes per batch
Makes about 4 dozen cookies

2 1/2 cups - all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon - baking soda
1 teaspoon - baking powder
1/2 teaspoon - salt
1 cup - butter or margarine (2 sticks), softened
1 cup - packed brown sugar
1/2 cup - granulated sugar
2 - large eggs
1 tablespoon - Amaretto Lliqueur
2 teaspoons - almond extract
2 cups - semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup - sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup - sliced almonds

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. On waxed paper, combine flour, baking soda, baking
powder, and salt.
2. In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and sugars until creamy.
Beat in eggs, amaretto, and extract. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture just
until blended. Stir in chocolate chips, coconut, and almonds.
3. Drop dough by heaping measuring table-spoons, 2 inches apart, on ungreased
large cookie sheet. Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes or until golden around edges.
Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.
4. Repeat with remaining dough. Store cookies in tightly covered container at room
temperature up to 1 week, or in freezer up to 3 months.
Note: each cookie contains about 145 calories, 2 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate, 8 g
total fat (4 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 20 mg cholesterol, and 105 rng sodium.

We are adding this to Kimba's DIY- check out all of the great stuff from your fellow bloggers.

The Junk Mammas

Chalk board labels

I know you have probably seen these a million times, they are everywhere. I wanted some chalk board labels to put on my sugar and flour jars. I have checked everywhere, and even looked online and was unable to find what I was looking for. One day at the dollar store I found some green chalk board stickers. I really wanted black, but they were removable, Wallie things I wanted. I thought I could paint them with some chalkboard paint I had at home. They were only $1.00 and if it didn't work I wouldn't be out much.

So I took out my black chalk board paint and went to work. After 2 coats and a couple of hours they were ready to cut. I did let them dry overnight before writing on them.

The Junk Mammas

W.S. Valentine wreath

I finally did it. I made a wreath I have been gushing over for the past year. The William Sonoma Valentine wreath.


First, I searched the Internet for some free valentine images. I then printed them on card stock and cut them out.

Next, I took a green foam wreath I purchased for a couple of dollars and covered it with some red ticking fabric strips.

Last, I placed my cards on the wreath, glued them on and added a polka dot ribbon for hanging. For a couple of dollars and an hour of my time, I added a new addition to my valentine decorations. We are also adding this to Show and tell Friday@ My Romantic Home, and Kimba's DIY. Stop over to both of these places and check out the great stuff.

The Junk Mammas

Wishing you and your family.....

A very Safe and Happy New Year! See all of you in 2010!

The Junk Mammas

Christmas 2009 has come and gone

Ok, so we fell off of the blogger wagon. Sickness in December totally put a damper on my Christmas spirit. I did manage to send out a few cards and the tree finally did get put up and then I broke the top off of it. It was just one of those years. But the kids enjoyed the season, that's all that matters in my book.

Now I am just relaxing with the kids watching cartoons and playing games in front of the tree. I typically wait till the New Year to take down my tree and decorations, but it is just cluttering my house and the broken top is just bugging me. But I am just to lazy to remove myself from the couch to clean anything up yet. I must be in a food coma.

I did decorate my dining room and porch before the sickness over took my house. So I will share my pictures. Enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

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The Junk Mammas

Stocking re-vamp

I bought these plain stockings a few years ago and always thought they looked like they were missing something. I saw in a magazine were they had button initials on the stockings and loved that idea. So last night I started on mine.

I hot glued the buttons in place, sewing would probably have been a better option, especially if you want to change them later on. But, I was looking for instant results. As it was, it still took me some time to do one and I have 3 more to go.

I love the way that it added a personalized touch, and I think it would on any stocking you have. I will post a picture once I get the others finished.

We are adding this to Kimbas DIY party, stop by and check out all the other great ideas.

The Junk Mammas