(re)Purposeful: Mod Podge Toilet Tank Lid...wha?

I was absolutely inspired when I stumbled across the blog: Mod Podge Rocks! (http://www.modpodgerocksblog.com/) I think it may have changed my life! The very next day I sprinted to the nearest Hobby Lobby and bought the biggest jar I could find, ideas swarming through my brain as loud as a hive of honey bees! Alas, when I got home, life happened...the kids needed me, the laundry was starting to overgrow the bins, my husband was sure he was starving to death...sigh!
Last night something magical happened...the kids STAYED in bed and my dear husband went out with his brother!!! Oh yes, I had the house to MYSELF! It was if I could hear the lonely Mod Podge jar calling to me from my workshop.
I knew the first project needed to be more like a lab experiment. That way if something didn't worked or (gasp) was ruined, it would be a learning experience and not a giant blow to my crafty ego! Well we have a toilet tank lid in our downstairs bathroom that was dropped and shattered into three big pieces. You can't buy replacement lids...or so I was told at the 3 hardware stores I tried.  Out of desperation, I glued it together and put a dish towel over it.
                                                            Perfect starter project!!!

SO first I watched the tutorials for Mod Podging  on the amazing blog mentioned earlier! Then I got busy! I'm no seamstress so there's not a lot of fabric laying around but I scrummaged up a twin sized sheet that had seen better days.  I cut out enough to cover the whole lid and wrap around the bottom and coated the fabric with Mod Podge (MP) leaving it in the workshop to dry. This keeps the fabric from fraying and also hardens it so it's easier to adhere things to. After an agonizing hour I couldn't wait anymore so I covered the lid with a medium coat of MP and smoothed the (almost dried) fabric over it. (Lay it down slowly and rub all the bubbles out!) I treated the corners like wrapping a present and MP'd the folds to hold them in place.

Next step:  I scoured the internet for images of birds until I found one I liked and printed it out. Using the image as a template, I then cut out birds facing different directions from some fun scrap-booking paper. I took it one step further and cut out a different color for their wings and beaks, made branches for them to rest on and cut out a bunch of leaves in coordinating colors and patterns. I used the MP to glue the wings and things on the birds and then used it again to adhere all the cut-outs to the fabric-covered tank lid. (Just a note: lay out your design first so you can tweek it before you glue anything down, soooo much easier than starting over because it doesn't look right) After waiting 20 minutes or so I added another coat of MP over the whole thing to seal it.

It still needed a little something... a little black ribbon around the edge with a coat of MP to hold it in place, finished it all off nicely! I LOVE how it turned out and will probably be looking for excuses to use the downstairs bathroom from now on!

Kitchen Project: Bowl Decor

When we bought this house, I knew the kitchen was going to require some attention.... Honestly, it's where the 70's went to die! The countertops are a dark brown, "butcher block" laminate and the cuphoards have these Gothic cut-outs that boggle the mind on how to update without completely replacing! Since we are down to one income, I've been taking little bites and doing one or two projects at a time to save us the giant one time expense of a gut job. 
The first order of business was to paint! The cabinets are a really toasty warm wood and I think their "Gothic" look could be interpreted as "old world"... and even if it's a stretch it's what the budget demands! I chose a warm orangey-tan color which took two trips to Walmart's paint center to find and then after a few beers I just mixed both "Oops" colors together and went for it!  It actually worked!

I also changed the painted-plastic hardware out for some oil-rubbed bronze handles that came in packs of 8 at Home Depot. What about the hinges, you ask? One great thing about a 70's kitchen is the hinges are so old and dingey, they actually matched the oil-rubbed bronze look!
So now that it's painted and has some "jewelry" on, I really need to dress up the walls! I found some black iron wall appliques at Hobby Lobby (50% off) and those look great but the walls still seem a bit bare. I've been biding my time, scouring the stores and once again Hobby Lobby has come to the rescue! They had these beautiful bowls marked down 80%!!!

Now I have no idea if they make those metal and wire plate holders for bowls...I searched Walmart and Hobby Lobby to no avail BUT did find these adhesive plate hangers and hope they hold as well as they claim!

Now they must cure for the day but I will definitely post the end results! I plan on putting them on either side or the iron appliques over the sink and two more over the stove.

END RESULT:

I really love it and so far none of the bowls have thrown themselves from the wall!