Under $100 Linky Party

Thanks all for your sweet comments and prayers.  One more "fun" thing happened yesterday:  got home from the hospital and I set a can of minwax polyacrylic on top of my dog's crate.  It got knocked over, dripped through the handle part and she was covered in it.  We tried to wash her, but it didn't come out (supposed to be water soluable)--she is a crunchy mess.  We had a good laugh!  Hubby pretty sick today :(--this too shall pass.  Now, some fun links from last week:

Phil says spring is on it's way--celebrate it with this great idea from Creekside Creations.

Uniquely Chic's rustic beachy dresser makes me smile.

Here is a sweet idea from I Heart Naptime.

I can almost smell this lavendar R from Bon Bon Bonnie.And what about these fabulous letters from Lucy's Designs?

Welcome to the Good Life's Anthro inspired lacey top is sweet.

Posting early, headed back up to the hospital and seems when I schedule linky party posts I seem to find an error when I get back to them, want to make sure everything is up and going.  Thought I was going to have loads of free time this week, not so much. 

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!

Mama Told Me There's Be Days Like These!

Hubby's surgery went well yesterday, after a slow start.  They had him under, but then came out to say that there was too much humidity in the OR and it was dripping from the ceiling and a sterilization issue.  I said, "Please try to clean it up, we have already postponed once."  45 minutes later they were back in business.  Six hours after that, surgery was done and went very well--the cyst was hard to remove and they had to stretch and separate the spine to get it all.  He was in a lot of pain last night, but doing better today.

Then today, after spending the morning with him, I went to start my car and it wouldn't start.  Now mind you it was no warmer than negative 6, but it was turning over.   Tried some Heet and some fuel injection cleaner, but a friend's husband thinks it is a fuel pump.  This is a 3 year old vehicle that we bought brand new!  Car issues stress me beyond belief and they fall under my husband's department.  On the way to get me, son popped a tire on his car.  Really?

So, after my cleansing cry, I listed 10 things I was grateful for:
1.  Hubby's pain much less today.
2.  We have health insurance.
3.  Teachers providing meals this week.
4.  Friends checking not only on hubby, but on me as well.
5.  That my husband doesn't need his car right now so I can drive it.
6.  That we are blessed enough to own cars, even if they do break down occasionally.
7.  For heat--was -18 this morning.
8.  For friends who can take my daughter afterschool since I wasn't making it back in time.
9.  For nurses--they truly are amazing and do so much!
10.  And lastly but certainly not least, for God, who will take care of us no matter what!

And because I didn't want to leave you without a little something, something, I am regifting this stool project that I redid a top for.

 Loved the paint job so left it as is, just painted a bird on fabric and attached it with upholstery nails.



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.

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!

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?

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.

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. 

What can you dig up today to add a little fun organization to your life?

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!

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! 

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.

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!

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!