Bamboo Floors and DIY Project Parade

I always tell myself that I'm going to hold off and just wait until the reveal to show you more progress in the kitchen but then I get so excited, I can't resist sharing some progress pictures. I'm too excited to wait! We still have baseboards, trim, built-in open shelving, decorating and our kitchen island to do but the floors are done! The new bamboo flooring is gorgeous!

And then (while writing this post) we discovered that Cali Bamboo entered our floor into the Project of the month contest. We'd REALLY appreciate your vote (Please, please! You know I can't resist a contest. Those dreams of winning get me every time.)  Winner gets a gift card for MORE flooring!  We'd like to eventually continue the bamboo throughout the rest of the main floor. Guest bedroom is next on the renovation list and currently has yucky plywood! Winning would be extremely helpful for our budget! 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE 

for #11!

Thanks in advance for your vote!

No signing up, logging in or giving email address...just 1 click vote once. 

Kitchen when we bought our house...some potential, right? It's big and open.

Kitchen now: still in progress but getting there!

 stove area back splash still on the to-do list
(that's Mr. DIY's mango salsa on the counter...if I would have known this was the picture they'd use for the contest, I'd have hung a fresher towel and cleared away the clutter!)

looking into the dining room before

See installation and reasons for our choice at GOOD BYE OLD FLOORS!

looking into the dining room now

Calibamboo.com

Antique Java

{distressed fossilized/wide plank}

strand bamboo = durable green product

 This area (below) is getting DIY built-in open shelving.  

The cart/etc. is temporary but functional for now.

 Lalka loves new floors.

The view looking in (Lalka is sitting where the island is planned):

The view looking out (love seeing our grape arbor). 

The patio off the kitchen is convenient for outdoor entertaining and dining too.

Dining room when we bought the house...

Dining room before floors:

(Fuzzy) after of floors.  Looking for new rug and working on some DIY decorative accents. And better quality pictures.  I promise. 

Okay, next time I'll hold off and wait until the reveal before showing you more.  Nothing like 100s of posts on a kitchen remodel to make you sick and tired of hearing about it, right?  I promise I'm not the type to insist you open your birthday present weeks ahead of time. I love surprises! I do have patience in some areas.  Just not when it comes to showing off! ;)

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE 

for #11!

Thanks in advance for your vote!
http://www.calibamboo.com/
(Project of the Month button on the left. Then vote for #11.)

No signing up, logging in or giving email address...just 1 click vote once. 
Then come back and link up!

Note:  We were not given free product or compensation. The bamboo was purchased by us after our own research and opinion is our own based on our experience. :)

What are you up to this weekend?

If you'd like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:

1.You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone's links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also - this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

5.  NOW you can "like" the links!  Most liked link moves to the top of the list!  What a fun idea!  Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week!  :)

Have a Happy 4th of July, friends
!
Your kindness is making me smile today! 
See the milestone on the right side bar?  You're awesome!

Don't forget about I <3 Thrift Day coming up!  See the button on the side bar for more details!

Brooch Wreath Tutorial/DIY Project Parade

I shared this two weeks ago at the DIY Club but wanted to post the tutorial here too.  :)

It's the time of year for shopping flea markets and estate sales this summer and you'll likely see lots of costume jewelry, brooches, charms, earrings, etc.  - CHEAP!  Vintage brooches are so pretty but they're not something I'd wear on a regular basis.  Although if you do this project, you'll be tempted. and develop a new appreciation for these beautiful pins.  Inspired by the recent trend of brooch bouquets, I loved the look of clustered jewelry.  

I have no need for a bridal bouquet, but a wreath - now that would add a pretty touch to home decor.  I could see this in my future vintage inspired dressing room:

Miranda

My wreath has a 10" diameter and took over 100 pieces to get to the point pictured.  Keep your eyes open at your thrift-hunting adventures and start collecting brooches, earrings, charms, costume jewelry, buttons, any small ornament.  You might even have a few pieces lying around that you'd like to include for display rather than hiding away in a jewelry box.  Brooches can get expensive.  We set a limit of $1.  Sometimes we'd go just a bit higher (no more than $3) if there was a pretty one we just had to have but for the most part, yard and estate sales proved to be .25 or 3 for $1. We also scoured the craft section in the thrift stores, scoring large baggies full of jewelry surprises. The local pawn shop/jewelry store gave us a good deal on costume jewelry too.  

My daughter, Bri, and I both made wreaths.  Mine is done in golds, silvers with a touch of white/blue/green. (Note:  Choosing certain colors makes finding pieces a little more difficult.) Bri wanted lots of color and created a beautiful wreath using a variety of pretty mix of costume jewelry baubles. 

Materials:

Assortment of brooches, earrings, charms, buttons, decorative pieces, etc. 

Straight pins

Hot glue

Styrofoam wreath

Deco Art MagiKote - a mandatory step (see reasons below)

Krylon spray paint or Deco Art craft paints

Brooch Wreath Tutorial:

1.

Apply Deco Art MagiKote to the Styrofoam wreath.

MagiKote has the texture of white paint. I love using foam brushes for craft projects.

Have a larger assortment on hand for crafts like the ones sold in bulk by Rockler.

MagiKote aids in making Styrofoam a paintable surface by sealing the texture, otherwise paint hits the top edges but not the Styrofoam craters. MagiKote also makes for a better pin-able and glue-able surface.  Brooches etc. get moved around a lot during placement.  If it wasn't for the MagiKote, there'd be a lot of Styrofoam crumbs and chunks falling out. 

Let dry.

2.  Paint the Styrofoam wreath form (a Styrofoam square would be cute too!).  I used Krylon's Brushed Metallic.  Color:  Champagne Nouveau. The MagiKote also creates a protective barrier so that my spray paint didn't 'melt' the Styrofoam form. 

I like that Krylon is quick, easy and fast drying. This sets a background for the pins.  I painted my to blend...

Bri painted hers using Deco Art Gloss Enamels (Citron Green) to pop and coordinate with other colors in her room...

3.  Layout a template to get an idea for placement, favorite pieces front and center. Side pieces can be smaller and aren't viewed from every angle.

4.  Start placement of biggest brooches and pieces including favorites. 

5.  Once you have the big pieces in place, fill in with smaller pieces.  Open pins stick into the Styrofoam.

Earring posts make placement easy.Clip-ons are just as easy but use wire cutters if necessary to cut backings for easier "pinning".

Use wire cutters to help when needed.  Barrets, pins, earrings all have backing that can be used to secure to the styrofoam.  Hot glue and straight pins will help too.

My wreath doesn't use glue but occasionally I used colorful pins, so it can be disassembled if needed...a fun way to display jewelry that is worn or prevent keepsakes from being ruined.

6. Optional:  Use a ribbon for hanging.

Here is my finished (almost - a few more brooches needed for the inside of the wreath)...

Bri's wreath:

All finished!  Well, almost.  We still have some extra spaces to fill in as summer progresses and I'd like to fill in the inside as well...it'll take some time. Fun for a game of "I Spy" too! What do you think?

What have you been doing this weekend?  

If you'd like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:

1.You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone's links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also - this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.


5.  NOW you can "like" the links!  Most liked link moves to the top of the list!  What a fun idea!  Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week!  :)

See my project linked and more DIY tutorials at 


Persia Lou

Grape Arbor Under Construction

We're sprucing up the grape arbor!  Rain is interfering with completion but it's under way.

This was our grape arbor when we bought our home...

This guy seemed to like it but we felt it was a tetanus shot waiting to happen. 

Rusty posts were replaced with wood beams...

I  had hoped to finish staining it this year before the leaves and vines sprouted but the weather hasn't been cooperative.  However, yesterday was a pretty sunny day and we were able to get started.

Krylon Wood Stain makes the task so much easier!  Using a brush to apply stain in hard to reach areas can be so tedious.  Krylon Spray Stain is much more time efficient with the same results. 

The nozzle can be rotated to provide a vertical or horizontal spray.

Before...

Shake and apply according to instructions on the can (just like spray paint).

A beautiful finish.  We're using the color "Earthen Brown".  It's the darkest stain Krylon offers. 

Have you ever stained the railing and spindles on a wood deck?  Hard work!  Think about how much easier spraying it on would be.  

Reveal coming soon at