Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sunday Verses

Dear friends, since God loved us that much,
we surely ought to love each other.

1 John 4:11 NLT

As the sun sets, it reflects off the clouds creating beautiful and amazing light.  I have come to see more and more that we often give off poor reflections of God's love.  We are impatient with people, rude, demanding, short to accuse and long to forgive.  I get caught up in my own little world, my own issues and forget to reflect the love that God has so freely given me.  So the challenge for myself this week, and for you is to try a little harder to reflect God's love in such a beautiful manner that people pause to see God in us.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Under $100 Linky Party

Thank you all for prayers for hubby, who was supposed to be in surgery today.  They called yesterday afternoon and rescheduled it for Monday because of an emergency surgery.  Ugh!  We are both teachers and preparing for subs is so much work.  Oh well, someone needed surgery more. 

There were some really fantastic links last week, as always .  Here are some things that caught my eye:

Cottage Hill's fool the eye grandfather clock fooled me!
This panel headboard from Remodel This House is a great, doable idea with beautiful results!
I know, I have a love affair going with Chipping With Charm, but good golly, how adorable are these?
Junk Restore's ruffled bag made from a pillow sham is so hip!
I love this alphabet wall from The Sweet Life.
and Food, Folks, and Fun's cinnamon roll cupcakes sound delightful!
Time to get your link on!

Under $100 Linky Guidelines
1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!
2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.
3. Please include a brief description in link up.
4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.
5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.
6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate, thanks!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

From Chair to Island

I started with this chair:
Added some wood where the seat was, and in the criss-cross of the legs and for a top, a few hooks, some locking wheels (not in this picture) and got this:
I love making something completely different and unexpected from a simple, discarded object.  What are you transforming?

Monday, January 24, 2011

This and That Message Board

Happy Monday--sharing an oldie from my first year of blogging (when I had 10 followers), but it is a goodie!  You might see a few "re-gifted" projects this week as hubby has back surgery--5 hour surgery, 4-5 days in hospital.  This idea came from those fabulous junkmarket gals.  I had this Wabash fire door just waiting for the right project.  Accessorizing it, or finding what to put on it is always my favorite part of these types of projects.
repurposed message center http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-and-that-message-board.html
I used a metal juice holder out of an old fridge, a few tin camping cups, a little piece of chalkboard and some hooks for keys.  I didn't want to cover up the wording. 
repurposed message center http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-and-that-message-board.html
What can you dig up today to add a little fun organization to your life?

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Sunday Verses

 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10
Grace--unmerited favor--I have been thinking a lot about that word this week, what it means and why God gives it to us.  We found out this week that an acquaintance, friend, someone we have known for 10 plus years, has made a very bad choice and will have some serious repentance to do and restitution to pay.  As the news hit people in our community it was understandably met with different reactions: anger, hurt, sadness, disgust, sympathy, and, what I am choosing, grace.  Grace does not mean you condone someone's behavior, it does not mean you tell the person, "It is okay, I am sure you didn't mean to do that."  But it does mean that you extend to people what God has extended to us-- love and mercy, no matter what the sin. 

Some people were surprised to learn that I had reached out to this woman, had let her know I was praying for her and her family.  My response was that we all need grace, that we all are sinners.  I wanted my friend to know that there was nothing so horrible that God would not forgive and that although it would be a long hard road, redemption was available to her. 

Please don't think I am sharing this to say, "Aren't I wonderful, I gave someone grace?"  I am sharing it to say I am thankful each day for the grace God gives this sinner and I am thankful that because of Him, I can extend that to others.  Does someone in your life need grace?  Are you in need of God's grace today?  It is
available to you now for the asking!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Lone Star

When I made my yardstick heart, I thought, "Hey, I can make one out of belts too."  But, not being a super big fan of hearts (they still speak a little to me of the 80's, and although I do occasionally listen to the music from that decade, the geese and hearts make me a little ill), I decided a star would be much better.
 I used the same method I did with the heart--cut out a paper star and traced it onto the back of the belts and then cut them out (much easier!).  I glued them on a weathered old board I painted and voila, a lone star.
Find more ideas at Funky Junk Interiors and at The Crafty Side of Life! 

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Under $100 Linky Party

How are you all doing?  Hitting a mid-winter slump?  I tend to, it is so gray here, no fresh snow (and we need it), it is cold, everyone has colds, blah, blah, blah.  But creating makes me smile and lifts my spirits, and many of you have seemed to have found that secret too.  Such as:
Gail at My Repurposed Life shared an invaluable tutorial on repairing bad veneer.
100_9581
Cottage Hill's sewing cabinet is wonderful!
Check out this retro geometric wall treatment from Give A Hoot.
Serendipity Chic Designs' cottage bench is shabbilicious!
These do it yourself dog leashes from Redheads Craft More Fun are almost as adorable as her puppy models!
Check out Chrissie's Collections fun and bright chalkboard table!
And just to make your mouth water, peanut butter and chocolate popcorn from The Tootsie Wootsie.
As always, I look forward to what you share this week,  thank you for taking the time to link up, you are appreciated!
Under $100 Linky Guidelines

1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!
2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.
3. Please include a brief description in link up.
4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.
5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.
6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate, thanks!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Look What My Kid Made!

My poor daughter, I told her I'd feature some of her projects from time to time, and so far I have only shown off one.  My kids have been nuts for knitting lately with the round looms.  Both teenage boys are into it--they knit on the ski bus, at basketball games, and now my daughter has knitted one too.  But, she had to give it her own personal touch and created a crocheted flower (she and her friend figured out how to make these) to add to it.  Cute, if I do say so myself!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Sunday Verses



photo of Calcutta from Connect In.

If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
--Deut. 15:7

Tonight at church we had the pleasure of hearing Shane Claiborne speak.  His message is fairly simple:  love like Jesus did, take care of the poor and the hungry, find a need and meet a need.  We get so wrapped up in our lives and problems that we forget to see the needs of those around us.  Shane shared this quote from Mother Theresa, "Calcuttas are everywhere if only we have eyes to see.  Find your Calcutta."  My challenge for myself and you this week is to find someone that God has placed before you who is in need and fill that need.  I would love to hear if and what you do!


Saturday, January 15, 2011

Love Cannot Be Measured

I was chatting about immeasurable love the other day with a friend, and this idea popped right into the old noggin'! 

I started with some small pieces of vintage yardsticks. I laid them out with a litle space in between them.
reclaimed wood heart art love http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-cannot-be-measured.html
I then traced around a paper heart. I cut the pieces out with a handheld jigsaw, and I won't lie, it wasn't that easy and took a few adjustments and sanding to get it right. A bandsaw or scrollsaw would be easier.
reclaimed wood heart art love http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-cannot-be-measured.html
Next I taped off a "frame" and painted 4 different colors on the edge, rubbed a little of the paint off as I went and got this finish.  I then waxed the wood.
reclaimed wood heart art love http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-cannot-be-measured.html

reclaimed wood heart art love http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-cannot-be-measured.html
I glued the yardsticks on with a little wood glue and added the quote.
reclaimed wood heart art love http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-cannot-be-measured.html

reclaimed wood heart art love http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-cannot-be-measured.html
 Find more ideas at Funky Junk Interiors and at

WhisperWood Cottage

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Under $100 Linky Party

Heading to a financial aid meeting soon for son who will be off to college in the fall so on to some linky love!
Gorgeous, designer navy and coral pillows from A Blonde's DIY Life.
Marvelously Messy made the cutest dog bed from a bulb box.
Tattered and Inked showed off some fabulous burlap name art.  You could use this with other words as well, not just names.
Out with the new, in with the old is Chipping With Charm's Motto!
This wine glass chandelier from Condo Blues is a fun, sparkling idea!
Photobucket
Primp showed how winter white is always right!
Winter sure seems to bring out your creative juices--looking forward to this week's links.

Under $100 Linky Guidelines

1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!
2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.
3. Please include a brief description in link up.
4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.
5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.
6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate, thanks!


Monday, January 10, 2011

Love Is In The Air!

Or at least Valentine ideas are.  But football is on and I didn't get any current things finished or photographed, so in case you missed them, I thought I'd share a few things from the past years until I can get something new up here :).

Here are some fun warm and wooly hearts.
Valentine crafts http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-is-in-air.htmlValentine crafts http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-is-in-air.htmland a little love you,
Valentine crafts http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-is-in-air.htmlA wooly heart wreath, Valentine crafts http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-is-in-air.html
and a little painted suitcase.
Valentine crafts http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-is-in-air.html
What are you working on for Valentine's Day?