Under $100 Linky Party

Sorry I have been a little sparse around here, have been having some internet issues (lost about 3 hours on the phone thanks to that!) plus in a week's time my son had 5 basketball games, hubby and I went to marriage conference, we had out of town company,  had a birthday party for my daughter, and two Valentine's Day parties--and that was just the extra stuff on top of the usual routine.  Whew, I am tired and ready for a four day weekend with not 1 single thing on the calendar!  Here are some things you all have been busy with:

Catnap made the sweetest storage table from 4 drawers.

A romantic chair from Biljana Shabby.

A fun tutorial on coffee antiquing from Down to Earth Style.

An ingenious memo "board" from Chipping With Charm.

I love bread pudding, but when Potholes and Pantyhose added butterscotch sauce, mmm!

Can you believe Design Dreams built this mini shed for $30?  Check it out!

Modern Country shows off the cutest outfits--she is expecting, but a lot of these would work for those of us that aren't.

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, thanks!

Gather Love

Here is an oldie I painted (and should have kept)--may you gather love this Valentine's Day and always.  How do you gather it?  Why give it, of course, it really is the best way.  Happy Day! 

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage

This weekend we attended a Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage conference, and laugh we did!  OM goodness, Mark Gungor the speaker is so incredibly funny and nailed marriage and it's trials on the head.  As he put it, it isn't going to be perfect, but you want to balance out the positive to poo ratio. 

 I highly recommend his books/dvd's available on his site.  I am telling you, a good marriage doesn't just happen--it is work, and patience, and work, and work, and work.  One of his DVD's is about how to not kill each other.  He also has some great things for singles and for teens.  Invest in your relationship today!  Here is hubby and I, 27 years ago, before we were married.

And no, this post isn't my usual Sunday verses, but taking care of your marriage honors God.  And no it isn't about junk, but a junky marriage is one kind of junk I do not like.  Have a beautiful day!

25 Random Things

1.  I currently cannot eat enough of this Mediterranean quinoa I have been making, mmm so good, have eaten it the past 4 days.

2.  I feel guilty right now because I am not at my son's basketball game under the guise of preparing for daughter's birthday party.

3.  I have prepared nothing yet, have perused Pinterest.

4.  I do have a sore throat--couldn't yell at game.

5.  I don't understand positions in basketball at all--have been watching my sons play for 12 years.

6.  I sleep so much better on the couch--love my hubby dearly, just not sleeping with him.

7.  Real sleeping with him, not the other fun stuff--that I do like :).

8.  We went to a Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage conference this weekend--so funny and good.

9.  We got out first real snow of the season yesterday--so beautiful.

10.  Love looking at snow covered things.

11.  Hate driving in snow, scares me.

12.  Could be a homebody for several months in the winter if life allowed it.

13.  Think I could live in a secluded cabin for a few months.

14.  If I could build and paint in a big shop all the day long, I'd be a happy camper.

15.  Would need a maid and cook, my house goes to hell when I spend an entire day working in the garage.

16.  I am so much happier and more relaxed when the house is clean and tidy.

17.  My house rarely stays clean and tidy for long.

18.  I still have some hope I will be completely organized.

19.  In reality, I know it isn't meant to be.

20.  I check Facebook daily--log out trying to ignore it for a few days, always log back in.

21. I justify it as a social outlet--a way to stay in touch.

22.  I refuse to play games on Facebook.

23.  I do enjoy playing the game of Life with my daughter on her ipod.

24.  Wish real life was sometimes as easy as the game of it.

25.  I hate the speed bumps and detours in life, but know that with God it will all work for good :).

Link up 25 random thoughts at Perfectly Imperfect.

Under $100 Linky Party

Pinterest?  Do you pin?  Oh, I do love the time sucking site that can create a long enough "want to make it" list to last a lifetime.  Pinterest brings people to your blog, but I also think it keeps them away.  I have noticed my last two posts have been pinned, and yet between the two I only have one comment.  I am honored to be pinned, but also find the phenomena somewhat interesting.  I also see that others have pinned some of your things that I have featured, which leads people here to my blog, and hopefully then back to your blog (I have seen items I have made that when pinned, lead to someone else's blog).  My point?  I don't think I have one :).  I am merely curious on your thoughts on pinning.  Here are some things that may get pinned from this past week:

West Furniture Revival did it again--this time making a great trunk out of a pallet and a crate.

Just a Little Creativity made herself a fun, Ballard inspired, travel corkboard.

This reclaimed wood sign from Twigg Studios adds so much character to a place.

I have made chalkboard tables before, but none as fun as this one from Life as a Thrifter.

Full Circle Creations shared a fantastic PB knock-off!

I love the look of this handbag that was made by From Generation to Generation.

Creative Chaos linked up a tutorial on a beautiful ruffled shawl.

Yummy cinnamon spread from Shelstring, and I can make it gluten free!

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, thanks!

Key to My Heart

Here is a quick, little project using a doorplate, a key, and a heart cut from an old book. 

 Put it all together on a weathered piece of wood and you have the key to my heart (or someone's heart!).

Sunday Verses

Under $100 Linky Party

Wow, each week I am blessed by your presence on my little blog here, blessed by your links and your comments--you make me smile and happy--thank you!  Here are a few of the many blessings shared last week:

Don't Disturb This Groove shared a lovely little chair makeover.

Great texture with this sieve message board from Modern Country Style.

Adore the stenciling on this cabinet from Sweet Girl Expressions.

Falling Down House shared some very helpful tips on menu planning.

And on that menu I'd add this recipe from Dream Home DIY for Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps.

Fantastic shelf styling tips from Turnstyle Vogue.

Sweet book page heart art from Twigg Studios.

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, thanks!

Crackalicious

I have had this old dresser for several years--bought it as a garage sale.  It has been hanging out in manland in the basement, holding video games and apparently, dirty dishes.  I decided it would be much happier in someone else's home, where it would be loved rather than ignored and abused.  The lovely crackle finish on it just can't be duplicated.

 I gave it a light sanding--there were cream, dark green and a peachy tan paint layers--and then added a coat of turquoise, sanded that and added stain to bring out all of those beautiful crackles.

Excuse all of the pictures of this baby, she just is too beautiful to not show all of them.

 I did add a mirror as the original piece did have one, based on the ledge on the back of the top.  I also added the glass knobs because I only had half of the original wood ones.  This darling is an oldie--made with square nails.  Now she awaits a new owner...sigh.

Motivated Mondays--Getting Creative With Message Boards

Okay, so I am giving up on a linky party sharing what you have done based on my Motivated Monday challenge--it just confused too many folks.  However, I hope you will still do the challenge, let me know and I promise to feature you :)!  This week's Motivated Monday challenge came from what I am working on right now, a message center.  It is not quite ready to show you, but here are a few examples of other ones I have made:

 This one was made from old fence boards, a freezer basket, the outside of a thermos, and a small metal bucket.

This one was made from an old screen door with a sewing machine drawer for mail and garden fencing to hold magazines and letters.

 

Here is one using an old ironing board with an enamel refrigerator lid for a magnet board and a measuring cup to hold chalk.

 

A locker basket and old hardware drawer were added to this ladder message center.

And this one had a freezer juice holder as a mail keeper and coat hooks and collapsible metal cups for pens and pencils.

The fun part for me is collecting the various items to use on these message boards.  What will hold mail, notes, keys, etc.?   Here is your challenge--create a message board using items in a different way than originally intended.  Collect and gather--look for something for a magnet board, something for hooks, something to hold mail and pens or scissors.  What will you attach all these to or what will be your backboard?  Get funky, think outside the box, create, and most importantly, have fun!  If you do this challenge, please let me know--I'd love to show it off!