Low Cost Train Table.

When my four year old son asked for a train table this Christmas I thought surely I could find a suitable set for an affordable cost even if I had to buy a plastic one from Walmart. Then, I began shopping and let's just say I had no idea the cost of a train table these days! So, you guessed it...I decided to make one.
Here's where it all began...a $6.00 thrift store end table! I painted it black (paint I already had) and cut the legs and castors off to lower the heighth. Then (with my dads help) I took an old used round table with a laminate top on it (great for cleaning) and cut it into a square. My dad then cut trim to fit and nailed it in. Then I began to work out a layout for the track using existing pieces I had at home and some my dad picked up at a thrift store for $3.00. Once I had the layout arranged where I wanted it we (my dad and I) mounted the table top to the end table with screws.

Here is the finished product. I painted all the tracks and some of the pieces black as well because I didn't love how the wood looked against the tan laminate and I felt a colored track might be too busy (even for my little boys). Then I painted the trim a bright blue and glued (epoxy) it all in place...I know that most train tables come with tracks unattached but I didn't want to be picking up pieces all of the time and since this gift was for a 1 year old and a four year old to use together I thought it would be best to keep it all in one place.

Notice the built in drawer for added storage. I took the old hardware off and tied a red rope at both ends for easy accessability.

Well, that's it. Not fancy, I know but I think my boys will just love playing with this table and track set. Can't wait to see their faces in the morning! Oh, I almost forgot...total cost for this project was $30.00! Can't beat that :)!

Snowed in?

I just love the simplicity of creating your own paper snowflakes. It's so magical to me that something as simple as a piece of white paper and a pair of scissors can create something so whimsical and delicate, so uniquely individual in design. The suspense that builds while opening each one becomes almost addictive and I find it hard to stop once I begin. Either way it's a great way to release some creativity on a cold winter day :)

Slowly...very slowly, but surely!

Bold you say? I was thinking the very same thing :)

Remember these? After much deliberation I have decided to paint the chairs black...the chairs which happen to be sitting in a garage 2 hours away from me and a BIG THANKS goes out to my in-laws for storing them until I can get them here! Two seat covers down...and four more to go! I am mixing up the fabric patterns a bit so keep checking back to see what the others end up like! Can't wait to see the red/orange color and pattern pop against the black in my kitchen!

Felt Wreathe.

I wish I could take credit for this idea but I actually copied it from a tutorial given on http://designspongeonline.com/ which happens to be one of my favorite design websites...check out their before and after link. LOVE it! Anyway, back to the wreathe. The styrofoam cost me $6.00 from Michaels and then I just bought 1 yard of white felt (you could use any color of course, I think a hot pink wreathe would look gorgeous in a girls bedroom) and cut a bazillion 3" round circles. Sorry I didn't count them! Then fold them in half and then in half again and stick a straight pin through the bottom corner and into the styrofoam. Yes, it is that easy and I think I may keep it up all year round...I am loving how it looks hanging on my door. I also pinned some burlap ribbon to hang it from but if you want a cleaner look just skip the ribbon and hang right on the nail.