Hardwood Floor Resurfacing

So we decided to resurface our hardwood floors that were under our carpet. The carpet has had it's turn in our home with 4 kids. So in it's tired state it was off to the dump. We have a friend that is a Hardwood Floor expert and he graciously (with some prodding) agreed to help.

This is after the rough sanding.

 

 This is after the finish sanding.

This is applying the water dye.

After the stain was applied.

The Best Lemon Bars -EVA!

I should have taken a picture of these sweet treats, but I'll do it next time.  I'm sure you all know what lemon bars look like anyway.  But seriously...these are stinkin' awesome!

Lemon-Butter Bars
Crust
1 1/3 c flour
1/4 c sugar
1/2 c butter, softened

Filling
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
2 T flour
1/4 t baking powder
3 T lemon juice, please juice your own lemons here!

powdered sugar

Directions
Heat oven to 350.

Combine all crust ingredients.  Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is crumbly ~ about 2-3 minutes.  Press on bottom on 8" square baking pan.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Meanwhile, combine all filling ingredients.  Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.  Pour filling over hot crust.  Continue baking for 18-20 minutes or until filling is set.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cool.  Cut into 16 bars.

"Spring"ing it up!

Feeling sad and blue?

 Add FLOWERS!!!

I was at Dollar Tree today getting birthday supplies for my son's party this weekend, when some other items caught my eye... (I already had the spray paint)

 I sprayed 5 pots white.

 Then used the overspray circles as a guide...

 ...and cut them out...

 ...to fit down on the inner lip of the pot.

 I went outside and scooped me up some dirt to cover the cardboard.  I started with the regular nozzle on my glue gun but switched to the wide flat nozzle instead and it worked SO much better!

 Just work in small sections so the glue doesn't dry before you can get it pressed in the dirt.

 I cut the foam blocks in half and put a piece in each pot.

 The flower bunches had 7 stems so I used a skewer to poke 7 holes through the back side of the cardboard.

 Now, put the cardboard in the pot and poke the stems through so it goes into the foam and voila! A super lightweight kinda real looking pot of flowers!

 Repeat 5 times and hang with super long twist ties.

I also hot glued a light green polka dot ribbon under the lip of the pot.  

Now that's my kind of makeover!

From drab to fab! Not bad for $11!  What do you think?  What projects are you working on to bring on the Spring?

Ceiling Fan Makeover

So here is my nasty brassy ceiling fan.  It came with the house and I never liked it.  When we were painting the ceilings, some paint got on the blades and I couldn't get it off.  I couldn't flip the blades over either because there were weights adhered to the other sides...

  

 Not so awesome.

 7 years after inheriting this classy fan, it was time to do something about it!  

First I removed the blades.

 I traced one for each blade on the wrong side of this wicker-like fabric.

 I alternated the direction of the blade each time to save on yardage.

 To center the fabric I lined up the pattern with the center of the blade, like this.

 You can see the center line in the fabric just above my pen.

 I cut right on the line.

 Then I grabbed the Costco pizza box from dinner the night before to protect my faux finished kitchen counter tops...don't get jealous!

 Use spray adhesive.

 I lined up the fabric on one of the blades.  I pulled back one side, sprayed and quickly re-laid the fabric back down to insure a good bond.

 Then I lifted up the other side.

 And sprayed the heck out of it.  

 Oh, I forgot to mention that I numbered the blades and marked each blades placement on the motor to make sure that it wouldn't wobble when I reassembled it.

 Enter the best color spray paint ever!  It's called Antique Bronze and it's beautiful!

 Isn't it purdy glinting in the sunlight? (Not that the sun will ever shine on the fan inside, but ya' know...)

 Now is the part where I get frustrated.  I couldn't detach the wires, so I left it dangling and taped the heck out of all the sockets.  Make sure you don't get any paint on those parts.

 While the bronze was drying, I finished the blades by using my crafter's piercing tool to poke holes in the fabric for the screws to go through.  (and don't get too jealous of my hardwood contact paper kitchen floor either!)

 I reassembled everything once it was dry, making sure to put the correct blade in the correct position. And ta-da!  I still didn't like it.  

Those stupid frilly globes were laughing at me, mocking my attempt to change the look of the fan...

So I took those suckers down and replaced them with smooth white glass globes that were on sale at Lamps Plus.

 Ahh, much better! Don't cha think?

 Now I just need to replace the 2 super bright bulbs for 4 softer ones and it'll be perfect.

Now that's my kind of makeover!