Superstar!

Did you say that title like Molly Shannon would?  I made a simple star using 5 pickets.

I laid them out in a star shape and screwed them together.  I put a little block of wood under the spaces where the pickets didn't touch.

I left the original chippy paint on the pickets, sanding off the loose pieces.

A little clear coat finished it off.  Perfect on a porch or above a fireplace.  Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors.

Under $100 Linky Party

Wow, summer officially hit and we have had record heat and LOW humidity and fires everywhere already.  I do not ever remember a fire season this early in Montana.

And there are fires in so many other states.  Please keep those who are fighting these fires in your prayers--they do some intense work! (Photo by Jeff Krogstad)

I have a few friends who are in a fire area and they have valuables packed by the door ready to go if evacuated.  Definitely gets you thinking, if you had 15 minutes to evacuate your home, what would you grab?  For me it is photos, momentos, those things that have meaning and can't be replaced.  As much as I love junking, building, my computer--none of those things came to my mind as something I would need to save. 

Now, I don't have a good segue into our linky party--you have a glimpse into my brain--it bounces everywhere!  I guess I can say here are some HOT links from last week!

Fabulous finishes Lake Girl Paints is creating.

Kids will adore these from Red Tart Art.

It's Just Me picked this up for a buck!

OM Goodnes, yum from Saving 4 Six.

A Girl and a Brush--beautiful chair

I adore lavender--Condo Blues shares how to make essential oil.

Sweet party parasol lights from Jellyfish Jelly.

Thanks for linking up and for sharing you with us :) !!

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.

My Turn to Shine

Inspired by Charm's sun art inspired me to try my own sunshine art.  Now, if you know me, I am not a precision girl, so no tape was harmed in the making of this painting.

i.e., I free handed this because that is what I do.  I painted mine the sign of an old table.

 It was quick and simple and it makes me smile :)!  Remember to SHINE!

They Weeble and They Wobble

What to do with wobbly chairs?  I have been working with chairs for a dozen years now.  Some chairs are just going to be wobbly no matter what you do.  Many are not worth the time and effort it takes to stabilize them, but that doesn't mean they don't have a purpose.  I screwed an ice cream maker can (painted with a little white) to the seat of this wobbly beauty.

 I painted the chair turquoise and then sanded and stained it.

Some white flowers were the perfect accent against the turquoise piece.

Remember, something past its prime may still have life when you repurpose it.

Find more ideas at Funky Junk Interiors.

Sunday Verses

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

--John 15:5

Two years ago, well before that even, we felt called by God to do something about helping the orphans of this world.  This was not our idea, it was God's.  We have 3 busy kids, busy lives working more than one job, you all know.  But despite our objections, God led us to a program in our area that hosts orphans from other countries for a month in the summer in the hopes of finding them an adoptive family.  This is Erika from Colombia, whom we hosted.  Last night we were blessed to see God's work through us come to fruition.  Erika's adoption by a wonderful family in our area was final and she arrived home this past week.  We got to see her and her happy family at church, what a joy it was.  Again, none of this was our doing.  The only part we played was allowing God to work through us, He gave us the idea, the strength, the time to help play a tiny part in changing a child's life forever.  God is good!

Smaller Salvaged Window Art

I worked with a smaller sized window sash to make this window art.

The salvaged wood pieces were mostly the wood scraps from the other larger windows I have done.

I loved the fun dripping paint colors on the sash--red, yellow green.

I added some of those wonderful vintage hooks I talked about earlier.

Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors.

Fun Pop of Color

I gave a thrift store oak chair a fun pop of color, or colors.

 A little orange, red, a touch of green, and a top coat of blue--all to add a little bright color.

I recovered the seat in that great Hobby Lobby fabric.

I love an extra, unexpected accent chair that can be used in a corner to add some color, as a desk chair, or as a guest room nightstand.  Find more ideas at Jennifer Rizzo's.

Under $100 Linky Party

I had fun reading your opinions from the questions I asked a few days ago.  Here is a little of what I garnered from you:  Colors are a matter of preference--hard to say what is hot.  I do know orange is popular, everything that was painted orange at Junk Fest sold, however some of you do NOT like it.  Burlap is over.  Someone mentioned that burlap became trendy when the economy tanked because it is inexpensive fabric--I agree.  I had a discussion recently with someone who thinks garden themes are becoming big because everyone is into growing their own food, even in the city.  It was actually this conversation that led to me asking the questions.  Painted furniture is more popular (well, according to my very teeny tiny survey) and you are not sure where the hippest place is (I wanted to plan a trip there--work related of course).

And, without question you DO NOT like the read more format, as nor do I.  When I discover a new blog especially, I want to be able to read lots of older posts at once without clicking back and forth.  I have noticed so many of the "bigger" blogs have gone to this format and it does clean up the page and you are able to see more posts on a page, but realized I was rarely clicking to read more, even on some of my favorite blogs.  So, no worries, I will not be going to that format and for those of you who have, you may want to rethink it as this question seemed to get the most definite response.

Now to show you some creative trends from last week's linky party:

Love this bike in all white from FrouFruGal.

Ombre dresser from Oops! Redone

Wee Share's fabulous skirt.

Pretty curbside frame rescue from Curb Alert!

Cool mixed metal bracelet from Jewelry Making Journal.

Six Cents shared 10 delicious meals you can cook and freeze in 3 hours!

Great piece with a great story from Juniper and Roses.

Thanks for linking up and for sharing you with us :) !!

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.

Upcycling

upcycling: the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new products of better quality

I am sure you all know what upcycling is.  It is not repurposing, but rather it is taking something outdated or something that has lost its use and making it better and useful again.  And that is what I have done with this shelf, as with so many others.

I picked it up for a few dollars at a garage sale.  It had no back so it was a little wobbly.  It was brown and had some dents and scratches. But some white paint,

and some colorful scrap boards (aka pallet wood) added to the back,

and a shelf that was past its prime has been upcycled. 

Opinions

I am looking for your thoughts and opinions on the questions that keep me awake at night.  Okay, they don't really keep me up, but they are on my brain.  I would love to hear you answers.  Yes, someone is asking you to give your opinion--go for it!

1.  What color trends do you think are up and coming in decor?

2.  Over burlap?  What style trends do you see in the future? French? Back to shabby? Garden themes?

3.  Furniture--do you want old pieces with character and history, newer Pier One type pieces, painted or natural?

4.  Where is the hippest, happeningist place in the US that is on top of decor trends?

5.  Blogs--do you like the read more here format or do you tend to not read more when given that option?

Thanks in advance--should be fun to see your answers!

French Crates

A friend gave me these crates--I think they were homemade and had been used in their girls' rooms.  They were painted white and mint green.  I painted them with ASCP in coco,

added some French script from The Graphics Fairy,

and leather belt handles.

Fun pieces that will hold a lot!

Sunday Verses

A Trio of Tables

If I were a betting gal, I would have bet you I had taken BEFORE pictures of these tables--good thing I am not a betting gal.  Picture wood with a glass insert. 

 I painted the table bases and had planned on doing three different things for the insert piece. 

But after adding my customary salvaged wood pieces to the white one, I chose to do the same to the other two.  Fun little pieces that would be great indoors or out.