What I Won't Be Taking Into 2012!

Everyone is home this week. Needless to say, we will be having a lot of "togetherness!" As 2011 comes to an end... I have the usual hopes and dreams for the New Year. I would like to feel more productive this year. So, I am getting a head start with a fresh start!

I can't believe I am showing you this....I can only assume I am not alone? Here is what I will not be bringing into the New Year

All this STUFF under my bathroom sink! What is all of this, anyway? How did it grow to this...it is time to clean it out. What will you be getting rid of before the New Year?

My Uncle George

I was looking through old pictures, and I came across this one

It's my brother Larry, Uncle George, and me! Does anyone look familiar to you? How about now

Yup! My Uncle, George Tobias,  was Abner Kravitz in Bewitched! Kinda fun. I remember sitting in front of the TV with Larry, and yelling to our mom...."Uncle George is on!"

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Don't know why I felt like sharing that? It was fun for me to remember "Tuesday's". when Uncle George would come over for dinner. I miss him! I guess that's what happens when you look through old photo's. Will you be looking through old pictures this week?

Magnetic Periwinkle Chalkboard Wall

Like many things, it all starts with a request from the kids...."Can we paint the house rainbow?"..."Can we get a 3D TV?"...."Can we get a puppy?"....NO, NO, and NO! So, when the request came for a magnetic chalkboard wall....I said YES! 

Starting with the magnetic primer (it is called primer because it goes under whatever you want), but this IS the magnet part

 Paint about 3 coats...I think I did 4? I just used all of it! Here's a tip, if you are going to trim it with moldings...you don't need to tape it off...the trim will cover it!

When that is good and dry, move onto the chalkboard paint. Because I am obsessed concerned about how it will look (I did not want a black hole), I decided to use the tintable ones...

...and I chose periwinkle. Now, the metallic primer is a bit bumpy (all the metal fragments) so, it is a good idea to knock down the high spots before painting your chalkboard paint. I also did about 4 coats...I had it, might as well use it! While this was drying, I painted the rest of the room

Onto framing it with molding...I wanted a thick molding that would not only frame the chalkboard, but also hold chalk! I chose this profile...as you can see, when it is flat against the wall, the chalk should fit nicely

I always paint my moldings before I put them up. That way, you only need to do touch-ups for the nail holes. It is much easier than standing on a ladder and trying to paint. Like I showed you when I did the faux crown molding, I marked all the studs with blue tape.

With my usual tools, I applied the molding the same way as the crown molding

Always check for level...also be aware if there are other straight (or not) parallel lines. Here you can see that the crown molding is close. Since nothing in a house is perfectly straight, you may want to split the difference...use your eye and step back from time to time!

Now this is the part that works great, but will bother many contractors. Caulk is the best glue you could ever use! Once it is dry, it is stronger than ALMOST anything. Since the sides of my chalkboard are not on studs, I put a bead of caulk on the back of the molding to make sure that it would hold tight to the wall

I must warn you, If you ever choose to remove this molding it won't come off WITHOUT SHEETROCK coming off too! That is why contractors hate this!....but it works GREAT!

That is the periwinkle chalkboard wall....however, you still need to "condition it". Say what?? I needed to google this. After waiting 3 days for the paint to cure,take a piece of chalk on its' side and rub it all over the new surface.

Use an eraser, and wipe it all down...NOW it is ready!

You can use magnets to hang EXTRAORDINARILY talented artwork...if I do say so myself...and you can color on the wall.

All the chalk fits nicely in the groove

I have just enough chalkboard paint left over for a few small crafty projects...any ideas?

*Linked to Flower Hill Design*

*Linking to Saved by Suzy*

Basement update Faux Crown Molding

Well, I have been hard at work on my basement. This is how you last saw it

The drainage system was finished

I sealed the concrete, and had this subfloor installed

It has rubber cleats to keep it off the cold (hopefully never damp) concrete

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I DID NOT do it myself...I called Joe & Mike...my second husband's contractors. Now, it looks like this

Onto the fun stuff...I wanted crown molding. There is only one problem, I have a drop ceiling...looks like it is going to be faux crown molding

I marked all the wall studs with blue tape. It is super easy to find a stud on a drop ceiling...you just lift the tile

and you can see the stud. Since I can't nail into the ceiling, I decided to use door casing molding

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It has an interesting profile, lays flat....and is super inexpensive! Using my usual tools, I mitered the corners

When it came to a long run, I used a 30 degree cut...making sure that the joint would fall on a stud. That way, the nails would pull it together

add a bit of glue to the other cut

a few nails, wipe of excess glue, fill in the holes...and sand

Here is how it looks now

and that joint...

almost invisible. Tomorrow I will show you the other side of the room. Hint...the kids made me do it! The carpeting is going down this week. This was a long project! How long is your average project? Do you finish it before you start another one?

****Update - Magnetic Chalkboard Wall****

Let's Dance!

I wasn't going to post today...I am off to NYC and did not plan anything. HOWEVER, when I did a quick pop over to my friend, Rebecca's blog...Older and Wisor...I saw this

and had to share it! It made me laugh & cry....why cry? I dream of a day when my son is this happy!! I decided to "follow" him on Twitter...his handle is at the end of the clip.

Too much to do!

I am behind....Only one week of school for the kids....I have not finished ANYTHING...but I did find time to entertain myself on the net and bring you this Holiday humor....priorities!

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Google

Mid Century Modern Gingerbread House

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Are you behind?