This is before the update, white kitchen cabinets (Navajo White from Sherwin Williams).

My lower kitchen cabinets were in need of a new paint job after only  year after we moved in. The paint was originally sprayed on, a lacquer, and when water dripped on it, it began to bubble up and peel.

Then, eight years later, kids had added pencil marks and Sharpie drawings to the peeling paint. It was embarrassingly shabby and not in a chic way.

This is after painting the lower cabinets with Dorian Gray from Sherwin Williams.

I love, love, love the color. While we were painting, Emily mentioned that Layla had painted her kitchen cabinets white and gray. I wish my upper cabinets were whiter like hers are, but it probably won’t happen anytime soon. Although, it wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated and, with three of us (cousin, aunt plus me), it only took about 3 hours.

Before painting I sanded the cabinets and wiped them down with Peso.

We used an oil-based paint, which no one in the blog world ever uses so you probably don’t have to.

I’m so glad I did it. Now I wish I could buy new countertops and add a tile backsplash.

One thing at a time though.

While this dog is no respecter of persons when it comes to licking a face, she knows where she will find the best tasting face. There may have been Oreo cookie crumbs, chicken noodle soup juice or even a hint of bacon fat on that face, a dog’s bounty.

We decided to make the kids in our family their very own personal crown. To do this you’ll need felt and elastic, some sparkly things (or not, sparkle is completely optional). First design your crown on paper then, using your pattern, cut two pieces of felt in the shape of your crown.

Sew these together (two for added stability). At the back you’ll add a piece of elastic and if you want to get fancy, you can cover the elastic with pretty fabric.

Glue on some sparkle, an initial or even add some felt flowers or designs. Milo informed me he wanted a shark on his crown. The shark king. Whatever floats your boat.

I’ll be the Carmex queen.

What are you the queen of?

Supplies:

Felt in a variety of colors

scraps of fabric

embroidery thread

bigger fabric pieces for lining

buttons

We came up with this idea basically for a cell phone cover and from there it just grew. We ended up making iPad covers, iPod touch covers and Nintendo DS covers. They are fairly easy, but can be time-consuming depending on how much detail you go into. Only basic sewing skills required though.

First measure your electronic gadget and allow some extra room for seams, then cut two felt pieces in the size you need.

Choose your outer design. This is the fun part. We drew off designs of owls, cats, horses and birds. Find a silhouette on the computer, print it and trace it. Cut your design out of felt and embellish it with embroidery thread, buttons, and scraps of fabric. Sew your design to what will be the front of one your squares of felt.

Also sew on a button near the top for fastening.

Cut two pieces of lining fabric, fold down the top edge of your lining so you can hem it while you attach it. Pin the lining to your felt pieces, pop a hair band or string to act as a closure in between the felt and the lining, and sew it together on the top edges.

Stack your felt pieces with the lining inside and sew around the edges. Using felt made it easier on my daughters. There was no sewing inside out and turning.

Emeline came up with this Razorback design all on her own and made her daddy an iPad cover for the iPad we got him for is 40th birthday.

You’ve got to know someone who can use a gadget cover or two.