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Friday, December 30, 2016

My Favorite Projects of 2016

I have said it before, but picking favorite projects is like picking favorite kids--it is just not right.

But, each year I do have some projects that I really enjoyed creating.  Usually my favorites are something new that I have not made before or they include a new technique or look.

Here are my 5 favorite projects from this past year:

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

YOUR Favorite Posts in 2016

It is that time of year--time to reflect, look back on the past year--what we liked and well, didn't like.  It is always rewarding for me to look back over my blog posts from the year to see what I accomplished and what you liked and what I liked.
favorite posts, beyond the picket fence, 2016 in review, reclaimed wood, https://goo.gl/wdYz0C
Today I am sharing YOUR favorite posts from this past year (at least according to my data).

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Talk of the Town Link Party

Welcome back to Talk of the Town!
Talk of the Town link party button
First, let's take a look at what you may have missed from your party hosts!

Monday, December 26, 2016

Cupboard to Kitchen Island

Don't you love those friends who get what you do and are always keeping their eyes open for projects for you?
old cupboard, kitchen island, upcycled, https://goo.gl/GTqvzh
A few months ago while I was selling at a show, I started getting messages from a friend who was in another town about an estate sale that had incredible deals.  I was so busy that I couldn't respond right away, but was finally able to tell her to buy whatever she thought I might like. I told her she can pick for me any day! This little cupboard was one of those things.  I think it was originally part of some kitchen cupboards that someone had added some wheels and a top to.


Sunday, December 25, 2016

Sunday Verses and Merry Christmas


Happy Sunday and Merry Christmas! Picking out names for our kids was never an easy task since we were both teachers at the time. One of us would suggest a name and the other would say, "I had one of those and um, no!" Mary had the benefit of being told what to name her son, Immanuel, God with us. God came to this broken world to be with each of us. He came to live among us, right where we are at. He didn't come for a just a few, he didn't come to only the most righteous and holy, he came for YOU (and would have come even if you were the only person on earth)! He longs to be with you, hang out with you NOW--not when you get your life in order, not when you start making better choices, not when you feel like it. He came to be with us because he loves us, loves YOU, period. I pray that today you spend some time with him and that you feel his unconditional love.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Old Rocker

Are you picturing this with that title?

But, I meant this old rocker that I purchased off our local Facebook garage sale page.
rocking chair, pallets, reclaimed wood, salvaged, fusion mineral paint,https://goo.gl/pstsSB
That I transformed into this new, old rocker.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Mountains

Move mountains...or at least give someone mountains for the holidays.  
wood decor, rustic, Montana, mountains, DIY, reclaimed wood, https://goo.gl/31oHkq
This is a quick and easy gift for you favorite mountain lover.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Talk of the Town Link Party

Welcome back to Talk of the Town!
Talk of the Town link party button

First, let's take a look at what you may have missed from your party hosts!

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Sunday Verses

Prince of Peace, advent, bible verse, inspiring verse, http://www.beyondthepicket-fence.com/2016/12/sunday-verses_18.html
Happy Sunday! Oh, it has been an "exciting" weekend at out house. Woke up yesterday morning to -27 degree temperatures and a furnace that wouldn't work. Then we decided to do a load of laundry so we could get the dryer going and warming up the house, and walked in mid-load to find the laundry room flooded. After we sopped up the water with the shop vac, we tried to do a rinse and spin cycle and the washer filled up with so much water the door busted open and we had to vac again. All while preparing to host about 20 folks at our home for a bunco party. And through all the "excitement" I was calm and at peace. I can only attribute this to the Prince of Peace. Jesus came to this earth to give us peace--peace that surpasses reason and anything we can fathom. We certainly do not live in peaceful times or a peaceful world and we will have stress, pretty much daily. But, through it all we can experience peace if we allow the Spirit to work in us. Jesus's peace is not a gift for the future, not something for only for a few. His peace is for all NOW, for all situations and times. We simply need to receive it and rest in it.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Hand-Lettering Signs

hand lettered, fusion mineral paint, joy to the world, Christmas sign, how to hand letter, https://goo.gl/UQPOsP
I often get asked about and comments on my signs and how I hand letter them. And I have posted on it before, but after getting questions on the reindeer sign in my Christmas home tour, I decided it was time for another post on it.  
hand lettered sign, reindeer sign, fusion mineral paint, Christmas sign, DIY, https://goo.gl/UQPOsP

Friday, December 16, 2016

Last Minute Gift Ideas for the Do-It-Yourselfer

gift ideas, do it yourself, drill, sander, woodworking, https://goo.gl/basni8

*This post contains affiliate links.*
If you are an Amazon prime member (and if you aren't, by gosh you should be!  Sign up HERE!), you still have time to get these great gifts for the do-it-yourselfer in your life.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Hot Cocoa Station

Hot cocoa, who doesn't love a big ol' warm mug full of creamy hot chocolate, bitty marshmallows, maybe a little whipped cream.
hot cocoa, chalkboard, thrift store finds, old drawer, hot chocolate, cocoa bar, chalkboard sign, hand-lettered, https://goo.gl/U8dcWx
In December my coffee area...station...bar...hangout becomes a cocoa station.  My coffee spot sits on my counter in an old drawer.  With a few easy changes it is transformed for winter.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Talk of the Town Link Party

Welcome back to Talk of the Town!
Talk of the Town link party button
First, let's take a look at what you may have missed from your party hosts!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Sunday Verses

bible verse, hope, advent, God's Word, http://www.beyondthepicket-fence.com/

Happy Sunday! I keep thinking about the words from O Holy Night "a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices". And Christmas does thrill many of us--the decorations, gifts, special foods, family time. But, for far too many folks, Christmas is a time of disillusionment. We are short on time, short on money, and short on patience--we are anything but hopeful. God knows, he knows we are tired, and lonely, and sad. He knows and he offers us hope. Hope is given to a weary world. Hope is a promise. Hope is the anticipation of something better. Hope is not something we need to work at, it is an unconditional, abundant gift that came to us as a tiny bundle wrapped in swaddling clothes...and that is thrilling. This season, let's rest in and accept and enjoy the gift of God's hope.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Christmas Home Tour

Welcome to the 2016 Christmas home tour of my 1931 schoolhouse. 
I am sharing this at Jen Rizzo's Link Party

Christmas Home Tour, rustic farmhouse, old schoolhouse,  https://goo.gl/xpejCP
I think this is my favorite Christmas decor/theme to date.  I started with a rustic vibe, that evolved into a rustic FARMHOUSE look as the decorating progressed. The pictures are plentiful and I am going to try and keep my words few.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

12 Days of Christmas, Day 12, Advent Calendar

Day 12, finally.  And day 12 is about counting down the final 12 days of Christmas.
Christmas countdown, advent, free printables, 12 days of Christmas, http://www.beyondthepicket-fence.com/2016/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-12-advent.html

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Talk of the Town Link Party

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas decorations, signs and project features at Talk of the Town - www.knickoftime.net
Welcome back to Talk of the Town!
Talk of the Town link party button
First, let's take a look at what you may have missed from your party hosts!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Teens and Adults


I think stockings have always been one of my favorite traditions of Christmas. (See the how to on making these stockings HERE.)


stocking stuffers, stockings, rustic decor,http://www.beyondthepicket-fence.com/2016/12/stocking-stuffer-ideas-for-teens-and.html
As kids, we would place our stockings on the couch or a chair on Christmas Eve.  On Christmas morn we would find the stockings stuffed, plus other Santa gifts placed around the stocking (our Santa was no dummy and knew placing the gifts around the stocking meant less wrapping!). *affiliate links* 

stocking stuffers, stocking ideas, teens, adults, inexpensive gifts, Christmas, http://www.beyondthepicket-fence.com/2016/12/stocking-stuffer-ideas-for-teens-and.html
We would find socks, small toys, gum, Pez dispensers, life saver books, oranges, and sometimes walnuts.

Monday, December 5, 2016

12 Days of Christmas, Day 10, How to Build a Stable


Christmas decor, rustic, farmhouse, nativity, https://goo.gl/xwgamA
 If you give a mouse a cookie...

If you know this children's book, you know that it is all about one thing leading to another.  

*This post contains affiliate links.*
That is how I felt this weekend while trying to finish up my Christmas decorating.  I built a shelf and coat hook for stockings (You will see these Thursday on my home tour day!) and I thought it would be a perfect place for my WILLOW TREE NATIVITY SET.  But, it looked dwarfed on the big shelf.  
nativity, stable, creche, Willow Tree, barn wood, Christmas decor, pallets, https://goo.gl/xwgamA
So, what is a girl to do?  Build a pallet table for the nativity set.  Which then led to me wanting a stable for my creche.  

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! No doubt you are in the throes of preparing for Christmas (I know I am!)--decorating, shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping--the list goes on and on. And in the middle of it all I know I need to stop, slow down, and take time to prepare my heart for the season. Rather than giving into the distractions and stresses of this time of year, I want to work on being still. I want to get rid of anything causing bitterness in my heart and eliminate those things that have become more important than Jesus. I want to be ready for whatever God may have planned for this season. This week let's take some time to get ready to celebrate the gift of God's unconditional love.

Friday, December 2, 2016

12 Days of Christmas Day 9 Farmhouse Pillows and 2 Free Printables

christmas projects, DIY, Beyond the Picket Fence, https://goo.gl/gFRphU
Hmmm, ever switch your decor plans midstream?  Yikes, that is what I just did due to these pillows I made for Day 9's project.  And that switch happened because of a mistake, but a rustic farmhouse Christmas it is!
Christmas pillow, farmhouse decor, printable, transfer, Christmas decor, https://goo.gl/gFRphU
Using my FREE printables at the end of this post, print on iron on transfer paper.  I used Avery brand purchased at Target and I will be using it again for day 12's project.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

12 Days of Christmas, Day 8, Copper Mercury Glass Centerpiece

Christmas DIY, decor, Beyond the Picket Fence, https://goo.gl/oJunq7
Every year I enjoy coming up with a different centerpiece idea for Christmas.   
Christmas centerpiece, Christmas decor, rustic, antlers, faux mercury glass, fusion mineral paint, https://goo.gl/oJunq7
For years I thought I couldn't "DO" centerpieces. (And after seeing this one, you might still think I can't, haha! 😄)

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Talk of the Town Link Party

Welcome back to Talk of the Town!
Talk of the Town link party button

First, let's take a look at what you may have missed from your party hosts!

Monday, November 28, 2016

Wish list DEALS

Boy, how things have changed since I was a kid.  Who would have thought we would have a day during the holiday season known as Cyber Monday?  I am pretty sure I would have thought it meant something about aliens coming to earth on a Monday.

At any rate, I just had to share a few UH-MAZING deals that are happening on Amazon today.  These are things on MY wish list (feel free to forward to my hubby 😉).  Don't laugh--I am pretty practical girl when it comes to my want list:

12 Days of Christmas, Day 7, Pallet Tree Crate

12 days of Christmas, DIY, Christmas projects, https://goo.gl/iqFqcR
I shared last year that the previous year BEFORE we bought a home with 12 foot ceilings, we bought a new 7 1/2' Christmas tree.  Last year I set the tree on an adorable wagon (SEE IT HERE) , but this year I am using the wagon on the front porch.

I decided to build a crate for our tree this year.
pallets, Christmas tree stand, crate, https://goo.gl/iqFqcR
Believe it or not, this is pallet wood.  Some pallets have sheets of plywood on one side.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! The world can seem like a pretty dark place some days. The Israelites also knew darkness, they knew hatred and evil and illness. But, the prophet Isaiah talked about light--a light that would be for everyone, a light that would bring hope and freedom. In this season when we see so many lights, when we add extra lights to our homes, let's remember God's Light that was born in a stable. And let's work on sharing the good news of His Light with others--share it in the way we treat people, in what we say and what we do, in how we love each other.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

7 Unique Gifts for the Cook

Taking a break from the Thanksgiving cooking and prep to share a few gift ideas for the cook in your life.  

While I am not passionate about cooking, I do enjoy it most of the time. Some fun gadgets or beautiful tools make it better and more enjoyable.

So take a break and peruse these ideas for the cook in your life (remember, you can buy gifts for yourself!).

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Talk of the Town Link Party

Welcome back to Talk of the Town!
Talk of the Town link party button

First, let's take a look at what you may have missed from your party hosts!

Monday, November 21, 2016

12 Days of Christmas, Day 6, Window Words

Christmas Projects, DIY, Christmas decor, Beyond the Picket Fence, https://goo.gl/BcyJKv
I just love when friends and family keep their eyes open for junk for me.  Such was the case with this window that my father-in-law spotted and grabbed for me (actually 3 of them). 
old window, christmas project, noel, DIY, red paint, https://goo.gl/BcyJKv
I loved that they were painted red.  

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Sunday Verses

bible verse, God's Word, Faith, Peace, http://www.beyondthepicket-fence.com/2016/11/sunday-verses_20.html
Happy Sunday! This verse hit me anew this past week as I focused on the "peace that comes from Christ" phrase. Seems to me that a whole lot of strife is running our lives. And even though we are working to find peace, folks are living in states of unrest because we are relying on ourselves to find that peace. We MUST let our peace come from Jesus! In this busy season with full calendars, tight wallets, and political turmoil, it is imperative that we spend not less, but rather more time with Jesus. Take an extra few minutes in the morning to read a devotional or the Bible, pray a little more throughout the day, spend more time thanking God at the end of the day and let HIS indescribable and unmatchable peace wash over you.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Young Guys Gift Guide

Is anyone harder to shop for than young men?  I have two young adult male children, and while I love them to pieces, shopping for them is always a challenge. 

And since I struggle with shopping for them, I thought you might too, so I decided to share 10 ideas that have been proven winners for young men!
boy gifts, gift ideas, shopping for teen boys, http://www.beyondthepicket-fence.com/2016/11/young-guys-gift-guide.html

*This post contains affiliate links.*