paint samples, more like stress samples

I recently discovered the concept of "test pots" of paint.

 

They are a mistake.

 

Last week my basement wall looked like this:

 

 

 

I was going crazy. I couldn't make a decision to save my life.

(Partly/Possible due to many other things {stresses} going on in my life, currently)

 

Anyway, I picked a paint color and it was none of the above.

I picked my color without testing it first because I was so fed up with not loving the colors I was "testing". Maybe I'm not as good a visualizer as I've always thought I was? 

 

I love the color I finally picked {test free}! So I probably would have loved any/all of these too if I'd just put them up on the wall and quite trying to "sample" them! We still need to do a second coat and this is just a phone pic, but I think you'll get an idea...

 

 

 

 

The color is "Wood Smoke" by Glidden, but I got it at Sherwin Williams because I'm a fan of their paint quality.

 

Our basement has come a loooong way... I owe some serious before and after pictures!



spring mantel with cute bunny butts

I had so much fun decorating my mantle for spring/Easter this year!

 

I usually don't decorate for Easter because of tax season, but I picked up the prettiest pack of double-sided scrapbook paper... I don't even know why I was looking at scrapbook paper. Then I was inspired by some pinterest "bunny butts" and the rest of the mantle just basically fell into place!

 

 

 

 

This cute Easter art was my original inspiration and then I searched and found this bunny banner template which I resized to my liking and traced onto scrapbook paper. I made the yarn pom poms and hand sewed them onto the bunnies. Finally, I used my sewing machine and a light colored thread to string them up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The frames I already had on hand and I printed the bunny silhouettes free from here!



 

 

Hyacinths are one of my favorite flowers because they herald spring with the most amazing smell! I went into the grocery store to get milk and these fragrant little beauties wouldn't let me walk past without bringing some home!

 

 

The trees I had from a project last spring. They are just Styrofoam cones wrapped with yarn/twin and hot glued. Easy Peasy.

 

 



 

 

I think my picture taking skills have diminished due to lack of use... the mantle is even more adorable in person! I really love it!!

 

Now if somebody could just convince spring to actually show up... kids will probably be hunting Easter eggs in the snow this year :)