Seven

So, let me tell you a little bit about why I hate the number Seven right now. I know, there are so many reasons to loooove Seven, right?

• Seven is a prime number (That sounds cooler than it really is though)
• Lucky number Seven
• Seventh Heaven
• 7-11 (this is self explanatory)
• Seven brides had Seven Brothers...
• and even He rested on the Seventh Day

But right now, Seven and are throwing down. Seven is the age my youngest child will turn on her next birthday. (How did that happen?) Seven is also the day AFTER my birthday.

But most importantly, at the beginning of the year, I had a resolution to lose weight. I know, so does everybody else. I don't necessarily pride myself on being different, so just roll with it, ok? Basically, I just was tired of being a fatty boombalatty. Yeah, I said it. Roll with that too.

Anywhoooo, I started out okay and dropped around 10 pounds in January. Then came February. Even with the leap year, that short little month was a serious derailment. I mean, it's starts with the Super Bowl and midway you have Valentines day. Diet killers.

So, I slowed. I was down 10 at this point and the weather was looking better.

March and April rocked, and suddenly I found myself down 25 pounds. I was able to do this because I'd get up in the morning and get my kids on the bus and go walking. Sometimes by myself, sometimes with my girlies (thanks girls!). Either way, I was kicking butt and taking names.

Fast forward a few weeks after school let out. Not only have I not lost anymore weight, but now I'm up Seven pounds. So there you have it. My current loathing of Seven. Can you blame me?

Happy 4th!!

I finally found time to do a little project around here. A few weeks ago I found this wonderful wood tray on a trip to Goodwill.

My first thought was to make it into a chalkboard. I was in love with distressed wood finish and the scalloped edges; not so much with the little embellishments it had on it.

 

I'm pretty sure that's Holly Hobby up there in the left hand corner. Nothing against Holly Hobby; I had her lunch box all through elementary school. I was kind of looking for something a little less stuck in the 70s; just sayin'.

My first thought was to just do a chalkboard center, and leave the lovely wood grain on the edges. When I bought it, I thought this would be a simple task. After all, I already had the chalkboard paint.

Once I started into the project though, reality struck. I'm not a freehand painter - at all. I didn't think I could realistically tape off a perfect circle either, in order to apply the paint. You'll find if you read this blog with any regularity, that I lack faith in my own skills. It's a weakness and it's why I subtitled my blog the way I did. Making mistakes...but learning to love them.

Ah-hem.

Anywho...after some digging, I found out that they actually make a chalkboard contact paper. Eureka! I'd just get that, trace the shape and ba-bam - done!

I didn't want to just start out cutting into the vinyl. That stuff isn't cheap, even with the 40% off coupon from the HobLob. So, I improvised with what I had on hand. Parchment paper.

First, I traced the tray onto the parchment, cut it out and then used that to trace onto the vinyl. Working with a roll of vinyl isn't easy, so use whatever you have on hand to hold the roll open while you trace. You know, like The Hunger Games trilogy in a box set...

Once you have the desired shape, it's just a matter of cutting it out and placing it properly. Oh, and to ensure a good seal, using a clorox wipe to wipe off about 20 some odd years of wood polish...can you say yellow? ewww.

I won't lie to you, the contact paper isn't easy to work with. After pulling it up and reapplying it twice, I nearly gave up and just went with the paint on the entire thing. It isn't perfect, and something else I didn't really think about was that I should have sanded the surface instead of just wiping it down. The little girlies on the front still sort of shine through with little ripples in the vinyl. grr.

What I should do is take the vinyl off, sand the thing smooth and do it right. But, I'm lazy -something else you'll discover if you read this blog with any regularity. Short cuts are my speciality!

I think it turned out cute for about 45 minutes of work and $7 in materials.

Cheap and fast er, um, Inexpensive and delightfully simple!

I think it turned out okay. Maybe someday I'll do it the right way, but I probably won't. It's possible nobody else will notice, and you won't tell, right?