Celebrating the 4th!

 

I hope everyone had a safe and Happy 4th of July!  Our barbeque went well!  The rain left us alone this year.  Since I got sick a few days earlier, everything was done last minute.  Some things were just left undone because I didn’t feel up to doing everything!  I even sent the kids to the store for supplies and we didn’t actually purchase the fireworks until the 4th but everything worked out in the end!

 

 

After sharing some beverage stations last week, I wanted to show you what I came up!  I pulled out all the vintage tablecloths I could find that were red, white and blue and used them for a more vintage look!

 

 

I purchased the drink dispenser awhile back at Goodwill.  I knew as soon as I saw it that I would be using for the 4th!  The little stool was a recent find from the barn cleaning!  Based on family memories, its about 60 years old!  It was the perfect height and color!

 

 

Another stool from the barn!   There were quite a few stools!  I guess since it was a diary farm they came in handy!  The tub will hold the 2 liter drinks on ice! 

 

 

The coke crates were in my fil’s barn!  We dug ‘em out and washed ‘em up!

 

 

This is where the desserts will go!  Another stool was used to add height and additional serving area.

 

 

I used the new tablecloth from Dirt Cheap on this eight foot long table!  Price for this long, long tablecloth…..$1!   I love a good deal!   The centerpiece I made is surrounded by some garland from the Dollar Tree.

 

 

For seating, I used this old church pew that I purchased at an auction a couple of weeks ago.  It will eventually be headed to our booth.

 

 

See my baker’s rack?  I got it at the auction, too!  I switched out the sewing machine table that was previously here.  I love that it gives me more serving surface and that it doesn’t block the view!

 

 

The table on the back porch was livened up a little too!

 

 

Even the plants have some patriotic touches!   Thanks for stopping by!

 

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

 

My First Sign

 

 

Hello, everyone!  Today I wanted to share with you my very first sign!  I love all the great signs that are being made around blog land and wanted to try it!  I recently saw a rustic sign at Destrehan Plantation that said “la cuisine” which in French, means the kitchen.

 

 

I am Very, very slowly working on this cabinet that was rescued from the dump!  While it’s being setting in the foyer waiting for me to finish it, I’ve been trying to find something to put on top of it.  It’s kind of short for the 10 feet ceilings and as you come down the stairs you can see the top clearly.  It was driving me crazy because I knew if I found something to go on top, it would lengthen the height, making it appear taller!  Finally, I said I’m ripping out the top trim!  So I did and I like it better!  I’ll show you the final results whenever I finish it!  Now, I’m left with a pretty piece that would make a fantastic sign!

 

 

I removed the little flat piece to give me more working room.  I filled in the grooves with wood putty and after it dried, I sanded it down good and gave it two coats of white paint.  After determining the size letters that I needed, I printed them out, using regular copy paper.  I purchased carbon paper from Office Depot to trace the letters onto the board.  It was only about $5 a pack and it will last forever! 

Using a couple of small paint brushes, I painted in the letters.  After it was completely dry, I lightly sanded across the letters giving them a worn look.  To tone down the brightness, I used a little dark wax.

 

 

And here it is, over the doorway in the kitchen!  I LOVE how it turned out!  The most difficult part was determining the size letters I needed.  After that, it was easy!

 

Have you made any signs?  If so, what method do you use?

 

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Project Inspired @ Artsy Chicks Rule

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

The Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn

Beverage Stations

 

 

Hello, everyone!  Remember last week I showed you some dessert table inspiration?  Now, I’m going to share some beverage stations!  The metal cart that Hunter refinished for me last year is still holding up find but it’s a little small for the crowd that we’re expecting on the 4th.  To see more about the cart, click here.  Check out these inspiring tables!

 

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I love all the galvanized tubs with the red bandannas!

 

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Even the sugar is displayed in a pretty hobnail dish!

 

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I really like the signs on this one!  I have used jars as drink dispensers before.   I have an old pickle jar that I’ve used before with a ladle.  To see that post, click here.  Even though I do like the signs, I do have the chalkboard tags that I made.  Click here to see that post.

 

 

I love the idea of using a larger piece like this little hutch.  There’s extra room to add in a few patriotic decorations!

 

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Now this is an awesome wagon!  You can serve plenty of drinks from this!

 

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If all else fails, I’ll just back one of Hunter’s old trucks to the back yard and serve them from here!

 

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Just kidding!  Thanks for stopping by!  I hope everyone has a safe 4th of July!

 

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Coastal Art!

 

You may remember my pledge to decorate our home in a Louisiana coastal style….at least for the summer, them it may go to a Louisiana French Country style!  I don’t know, maybe!  Anyway, I then shared the pelican painting, then the DIY oyster mirror.  Well that left the side wall empty!

 

 

I searched around for some coastal art but everything I wanted was just too expensive!  I decided to look at posters.  I have used Zazzle quite a bit in the past for invitations and business cards so I decided to try out some art.  I chose this crab…

 

 

and a larger oyster print.  The oyster print is really what started it all!  I’ve seen several that I just loved and thought it would tie in well with the oyster mirror.

 

 

Hunter made the frames for me after he cut the mats using the mat cutter that I found at Goodwill.  You can read about that here.  It took me awhile to decide what color to go with.  I finally decided to go with a blue.  I lightly painted, allowing some of the wood to show though.

 

 

After it dried, I applied a coat of clear wax followed up with a dark wax.  I finally discovered that applying a clear coat before the dark allows you to work the wax better.  Duh?!  It took me long enough!

 

 

I finally found a vintage clock!  It joined the BHG reproduction clock!

 

 

Now, here’s my question for you!  I also found a narrow but long Audubon print of sea gulls that would fit perfectly above the oyster mirror BUT do you think that will be just a little too much?  Let me know what you think!

 

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Project Inspired @ Artsy Chicks Rule

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Dessert Stations

 

 

Yes, I know the 4th is next week.  Yes, I know we’re expecting between 35 to 40 people for our annual 4th of July BBQ.  Yes, I know I haven’t planned any!  For goodness sakes, I just mailed the invitations yesterday!  Yes, I am a procrastinator, but I’m trying to get on the ball!  I wanted to set up a separate little area for desserts and have browsed Pinterest for ideas so at least I have a plan, kind of!  I have to tell you, I found some great ones!

 

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I love, love, love this first one!  Hunter has an old pie safe in the barn that I may get out and clean up to use.  I could use fabric or even scrapbook paper to line the back to give it a festive look.

 

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Putting food on ice is a necessity here in south Louisiana!  We won’t start our little shindig until about 6pm but it will still be pretty hot!

 

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I really like the idea of combining some nautical elements since we hold our party in the backyard around the pool.

 

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Party City has went all out on this fabulous table!

 

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I do love the vintage feel on this table!  I know the next one is going off theme here but I just had to share it with you!

 

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Just a simple bookshelf would work here!  Once again, line the back with some themed paper or fabric and you’re set to go!

 

Do you have any ideas for a dessert station!  If so, I sure would like to hear about them!

 

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Trash or Treasure?

 

Last week Hunter helped his great uncle clean out a storage room on the old dairy barn.  This is a big thrill for him!  I snapped a few pics of his first load including the old Bakelite radio you see above.  Hunter and I both have a love of old radios and fans.

 

 

Like these two here!  The large fan, made by Hunter, works great but the smaller one was not working….yet.  He found quite a few old chicken feeders.  I don’t know what his plans are for those!

 

 

I love the old chicken cage!  They were selling at the local auction last month for about $100 each!  I started to bid and he told me there were several in the barn!  Saved me some money, even though I don’t know what I’m going to do with it!

 

 

He opened this butter cookie tin and found two old wood planes!  He plans to keep these for himself!

 

 

As I said this is his first load!  I didn’t get any pics of the other loads but he ended up with several old farmhouse tables and quite a few stools!  He also got me an iron base from an old wood stove!  I just know that there has to be something fabulous that I can do with that! Do you have any ideas?

 

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Project Inspired @ Artsy Chicks Rule

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

The Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn

DIY Balloon Topiaries for the 4th of July

 

This year I wanted to do something a little different for the centerpieces on the tables at the annual 4th of July bbq.  I found some inspiration from Pinterest but it came without instructions!  Sometimes my mind doesn’t cooperate with me when I have a vision!

 

 

I picked up the hats and garland from the Dollar Tree.  The dowel rods were 79 cents each from Home Depot.  The balloons and ribbon were items I had on hand.  Now by no means am I an expert here!  I’m totally winging!

 

 

I used an ink pen to punch a hole in a cup.  I filled the cup with gravel from the driveway and glued in to a paper plate that I trimmed down to fit inside the hat.  After cutting the dowel rod in half, which left it 24 inches, I inserted it into the cup, pushing it though the gravel.  I then hot glued the opening of the cup around the dowel, hopefully giving it a little more stability!

 

 

After punching a hole in the center of the hat, I slid the hat over the dowel rod until it rested over the plate/cup base.

 

 

I attached some garland on the top of the hat to cover the opening.  After blowing up 6 balloons, I tied them to a ribbon and attached it to the top of the dowel rod.  I dropped a little hot glue to the top of the rod and attached a balloon.  The part of the balloon below where I knotted it is the part I adhered to the rod.  Does that make sense?

 

 

I made two for last weeks tablescape, which you can see here.  So far, so good!  They are still inflated and attached to the rod!  Are you hosting a patriotic bash this year?

 

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Project Inspired @ Artsy Chicks Rule

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

The Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn