jars

Alex and I worked on a Pinterest project recently. We have been challenging ourselves to create something - anything! - we have pinned but never really got back to. 

We both have hundreds of them. 

She had these pinned and was really, really wanting to get on this:

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So cute, right?

I totally wanted to make some, too, but I just didn't have a need or place for them. 

Dang.

So I helped Alex with hers. (We worked on two projects that night. I'll show you the other one next time.)

Alex found her perfect jars at Target and we picked up these sticky foam letters from Hobby Lobby.

The instructions are pretty straight forward - five easy steps - stick the letters on, tape off what you don't want painted (we used painter's tape and plastic wrap), spray (using paint with primer), let it dry, pull off the tape, plastic and the letters, and bam - You have adorable jars.

Let's see how that worked out.

1. Stick the letters on - Super easy. It helps to not be too perfect with these, otherwise it will make you crazy.

Embrace the charming look.

2. Tape. So easy. Didn't even take a photo. 

3. And spray using paint with primer. 

Alex wanted black, so that was easy to find. She is a champ at getting nice, light even coats.

4. And letting them dry in between coats.

They look kind of cool like this, too, don't you think?

5. This is where the magic seems to happen. Nice straight lines - So lovely.

And pop off the letters. Surprisingly enough, they came off pretty darn easy. We thought for sure they were going to leave a sticky gooey mess.

Look at that!

So dang cute.

A great collection of fun, charming jars for the essentials. Alex is going to just love using these - She'll smile every time she bakes and sees her handy, creative work.

And she did.

For about 1 day.

And then this happened:

Hey, um, what the heck?

So, apparently, this didn't work out so well for something that gets used. 

The paint just flaked right off. It also rubbed off when it got touched or looked at. 

So, what next?

Scrape all the paint off.

Dang.

Fortunately, un-painting is just about as easy as painting, with less prep work.

If you ever need to scrape paint off glass, use a razor. Trust me when I tell you steel wool and plastic scrapers don't work nearly as well. Razors took that paint off like nobody's business.

And then Alex ended up with these super cute jars:

With no idea what is in them.

Fortunately, Pinterest has lots of genius ideas to offer up for other labeling options. I'll let you know what we try next.

cool old door

Have you ever tried really hard to make something work in your home and it just will not?

Yeah, me, too.

Hero found a great old door in the trash and dragged it home for a project he thought he was going to do, but it did not quite work out. I was like - Yay - That door is mine!

When we moved to the small house, we knew we would have to be way more selective with what came into and stayed here. When we get a crazy idea for something, we have to be willing to let it go if just won't happen - There is not room for stuff we don't love or isn't super functional.

And honestly, there should not be room in our lives for stuff we don't love or isn't working for us. Take a look around - Get rid of the stuff that is just not speaking to you!

Here it is.

Granted, it does not look like much here, I know. But I had visions.

And besides, look at this really great detail! That handle plate is dreamy....

This natural cracking of paint - Love it!

I had some thoughts on what to use this treasure for -

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My first thought was a headboard. We don't have one on our bed and I thought this would be perfect. But our bed hangs out under a window, and that is no place for a hunking solid door. Totally did not work at all.

Dang.

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This is pretty much the same style of door as mine, and I love chalkboards for sure, but we have absolutely have no space for this. Great use though!

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And although this is not the same door at all, I figured I could do something similar-ish. But again - Where the heck would we put this?!

Sadly, the door didn't make it long at our house. It's okay though. Some things are a huge hit, and some are just a big, fat miss, no matter how much we want them to be otherwise. Playing around can be fun, but when something just will not work, no amount of hoping and wishing is going to make it work. Time to move on.

I did find a good home for it - someone who sees the potential in it and maybe can give it the loving it needs.

And maybe I can visit it.