Great Game to Play at a Party - Left Right Center

We celebrated my 50th (gosh, that number just looks wrong!) earlier this month.  Oh my goodness, I had so much fun! 

My sister and daughters threw the party for me which made it even more enjoyable!

My nephew-in-law-to-be was DJ for the evening.  We have to have music because we are a dancing family.

Well, at least we think we are...the videos tend to tell a different story.  

Never watch yourself dance on video.  

Ever.

You're welcome.

Beautiful DIY Barnwood Bathroom

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you may have seen the sneak peek of the bathroom that my friend, Jan, and her husband, Chris, built.  

We were at their house for a 4th of July party which gave me the perfect opportunity to slip away from the festivities and grab some pics of her cool bathroom to share with you.  Beware, I am that friend.

Rustic Candle Chandelier

I saw a version of this rustic chandelier on Pinterest and wanted to make a candle version to hang outside for an upcoming party.  So off to my hoard of scrap wood to see what I could come up with.

Repurpose Steel Drum Rings into Garden Orbs

Months ago I was visiting one of my favorite picking places, the metal scrap yard.  They had a whole bin full of metal rings from steel drums.

I grabbed four of the rings with an idea in mind.  At the metal scrap yard, you pay by the pound.   Like $.25 a pound!  I purchased a couple of other small items that same day and I paid about $3 for everything.  

Once I got them home, I didn't have to do a thing to them except assemble them into my vision, a metal garden orb.

Begin by inserting one ring into another ring. You want them to be snug.

Take a third ring and squeeze around the first two.  Once it's on, you can position the rings so that they are symmetric.  

Now, if there's anything hard to this project, it's this step.  Take the four ring and squeeze it down around the sides of the three.  This one will be horizontal to the three vertical ones.  

The rings come with a clasp that's adjustable by a bolt, similar to an embroidery hoop.  You may want to enlarge this ring slightly to be able to maneuver it into place.  Tighten it once you have it in position.  

That's it!!

If you haven't visited a metal scrap yard, you're in for a treat.  Most are used to "artists" that are looking for pieces for projects so don't be afraid to go look around.  You never know what goodies you'll find!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'm linking here:

RAIN ON A TIN ROOF    THE STYLE SISTERS    JENNIFER RIZZO    HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS    COMMON GROUND    HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY    FRIDAYS UNFOLDED   FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS    TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW    SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE    STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING    A DELIGHTSOME LIFE      DIY SHOWOFF      ART IS BEAUTY
CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP   IT'S OVERFLOWING   THREE MANGO SEEDS    ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS    PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY    THOUGHTS FROM ALICE   HYMNS AND VERSES

MISS MUSTARD SEED   CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Easy Burlap Flower Wall Decor

Like most of us, I was seriously having spring fever last week.  Changing up decor, packing away the winter items.  That's when I came up with the idea of making a large burlap flower to hang on my mirror in the family room.

This is like crazy-easy and you may have the supplies on hand.  Here's what you'll need:

11 feet of burlap ribbon in the petal color of your choice (mine's white)
3 feet of burlap ribbon in the center color of your choice (mine's yellow)
   (can be found here in various colors on Amazon) Jute Ribbon 4"X 10 Yards-Red
glue gun
glue sticks
9 inch cardboard circle or 9 inch disposable plate for the backing
paperclip for a hanger
scissors

For the petals, cut the ribbon into 6 inch strips.  You should have a total of 22 strips.  Next, fold a strip in half so that the finished edges of the ribbon are together.  Beginning at the bottom, cut a curved shape to form a petal (much like cutting a heart from a folded piece of paper).

Once you have the petal shape cut out, use the glue gun to make a gather at the bottom of each.  Pinch the bottom (straight edge) of the petal and put a dot of glue into the fold to make it hold.

Once you have all 22 petals finished, you can begin gluing them to the paper plate or cardboard.  Make 2 rows of petals, 13 petals on the outer row and 9 on the inner row.  

For the center of the flower, begin by gluing down one end of the 3-ft. ribbon.  Then, every 4-6 inches glue down the ribbon again.  Seriously, you're just sort of wadding it up and gluing it down where it touches the plate.  It's easy and pretty forgiving so don't worry about mistakes.  

Here's the finished flower before I hung it on the mirror.

I used a small Command Strip hanger on the mirror and glued a paperclip to the back of the plate to hang the flower with.  (Sorry the photo is grainy.  It was late when I finished!)

The burlap flower is very easy and very quick to make.  I think these would be great for a party, shower, or even a rustic themed wedding.  Imagine the color combinations...yellow petals with brown center for a sunflower, bright colors with yellow center for a zinnia.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!!
Angie

*Amazon link is an affiliate link to help bring The Altered Past to you :) Thanks!

I'm linking here:
RAIN ON A TIN ROOF    THE STYLE SISTERS    JENNIFER RIZZO    HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS    COMMON GROUND    HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY    FRIDAYS UNFOLDED   FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS    TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW    SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE    STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING    A DELIGHTSOME LIFE      DIY SHOWOFF      ART IS BEAUTY
CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP   IT'S OVERFLOWING   THREE MANGO SEEDS    ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS    PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY    THOUGHTS FROM ALICE   HYMNS AND VERSES

MISS MUSTARD SEED   CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

2-in-1 Easy DIY Farm Animal Cutting Boards

At our house, we are forever asking, "Where's the cutting board?"  I guess it's because we home school, which means we eat all three meals at home most days, which means we are always preparing food, which means the cutting board is constantly being used.  Know what I mean??

We definitely needed more cutting boards.  Not just more, but smaller ones for those small jobs like cutting lemons for tea or slicing veggies for a sandwich.  That's when I decided to just make some.

Here's what you'll need if you want to make your own:

a piece of 1" pine shelving
pencil for drawing or transferring your design on the wood
120 grit sandpaper
coconut oil (or food-grade mineral oil)
scroll saw or jig saw
drill and drill bit (if making interior cuts)
safety glasses

1.  Choose your design and draw or transfer it onto the board.  I knew I wanted to make a farm animal design and the traditional chicken on the back of a pig on the back of a cow seemed perfect.  I cut a puzzle shape between the cow and pig so that the board could be used as a whole or as two separate boards.

2.  Wearing your safety glasses, begin cutting your design out of the board.  Be slow and careful as you cut any curved shapes.  A scroll saw is great for making these cuts...just take your time and don't rush the cutting process.

3.  When I made the interior cuts between the pig and cow, I first drilled a hole.  This gives you room to turn the blade (if using the scroll saw) or it gives you a place to begin (if using a jig saw).

4.  After all the cuts have been made, sand the edges and any remaining pencil marks with the sandpaper.

5.  Now you're ready to seal your board.  I used coconut oil because it's natural and will not turn rancid like vegetable oil.  You do not want to use a protein or vegetable based oil!  Begin by rubbing in the coconut oil with a clean cloth.  Cover the entire board in an even coat.  Let it sit for 12-24 hours in a warm place.  Apply more to any areas that may need more and allow to sit again.  Repeating until no more oil is absorbed.  Wipe any remaining oil with a dry cloth and buff until it shines!  You can repeat after a few months to keep your board conditioned.

They're ready to use!!

Pretty easy!  ;)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!!
Angie


I'M LINKING HERE:

RAIN ON A TIN ROOF THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Super Quick and Easy Valentine Gift

These are super quick and easy gifts to make this week for a teacher, co-worker, friends, whomever.   It's the ol' Sharpie dots trick ;)

Start with a plain white ceramic coffee mug and the cut-out shape of your choice.  I'm using the ever popular heart.  You can cut your shape out of a sticker page or plain paper with a bit of glue stick lightly added to the back.

Select the Sharpie colors you would like to use.  

Begin with one color and simply add dots around the edge of the cut out.  Then add more dots.

And add more and more dots, changing colors as you move away from the cut out.  Once you're happy with the amount of dots, remove the cut out and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  

That's it!!  Once it's cooled, fill with your favorite candy and it's ready to give.

There are so many options for this technique.  My oldest made party favors for her friends using their initials on each cup.  What design would you do?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Best of 2014 - A Year in Review

You guys, this has been an amazing year for The Altered Past and it's all thanks to you, my readers.  I'm so thankful for your taking time out of your day to read my blog.  It's both exciting and humbling at the same time.  I really do appreciate you all.

As a recap of 2014, I'm sharing my top 6 most viewed posts.  The ones you all chose as the best projects from this past year.  Let's do this David Letterman style starting with #6 first.

The sixth most viewed post for 2014 Is the Patio Set Redo that I made for my daughter's first apartment.  She moved in this past summer and the set has been providing a cozy sitting area for her front porch.  (Click on the photo to read the full post!)

The fifth most popular post from this past year is the Gumball Machine Snow Globe.  I think it's my favorite.  I put the snow globe in my china cabinet this past week instead of storing it away with the rest of the Christmas decorations.

Coming in at fourth is the Take-Out Boxes I made for our Thanksgiving guests.  I was honored to have this post featured in a Huffington Post article.  I'm still amazed that I found the take out trays at the Dollar Tree.  I love that store :)

The third most popular post of 2014 is a project that is somewhat special to me.  It's the Old Window Repurposed into a Chalkboard.  The window came from my in-laws home.  The chalkboard hangs in our den and I change out the message with the seasons or holidays.  

Coming in at number 2 is an easy DIY project that I've done several times and will probably continue to do.  It's the Make Your Own Rubber Stamp post.  It doesn't take a lot of fancy materials.  You probably already have most of them in your home right now.  Click on the photo and check it out.  Then, get to making your own rubber stamps!

And, drum roll please, the most popular post for 2014 is the Pottery Barn Knockoff Grouted Pumpkins.  Another super easy project and the cost was less than $5!  

There you have it!  The top 6 most popular post for 2014!  This could not have happened without you.  I appreciate each of you and I hope you will like what 2015 brings for The Altered Past.  I feel God has some pretty neat things in store for us.  

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
MAKING LEMONADE BLOG

Thanksgiving 2014 Highlights

My sweet sister-in-law, Barb, that always makes sure to capture our events.  She's an amazing photographer and the photos in this post were graciously supplied by her!

Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Can you believe how quickly the holidays pass?  We had a great day with family and friends.

One thing I learned through all of the plans and preparations...it doesn't have to be perfect in order for everyone to have a good time.  The day should be about enjoying time together.

I did lots of planning and cleaning, yet after it was all over I noticed dusty areas that had been missed, clutter that hadn't been put away, decorations that didn't get put out.  Did it matter?  Not one bit.

Actually, of the 30 something guests that we had, I think all but 4 entered through my laundry room door.  Hadn't planned for that but it didn't change a thing.  I want guests to feel comfortable in my home.  Take a nap on the couch.  Get something from the fridge if they need it.  See that I have missed some dust and a couple of cobwebs,

Time spent together should be just that...enjoying your time together, having fun, catching up on each other lives.  Who wants to do that in a home that feels like a sterile museum.  (Phfft!  My home will never be described as sterile with us and our 3 dogs living here.  And the only reference to museum may be to say it's a museum of thrift store and yard sale finds, lol!  That's funny but so true.)

The tryptophan was kicking in!

Antique frame and chicken wire used to display photos of family members.  They were encouraged to take any of the photos they wanted.

One of my lovely clean up helpers sporting her matching apron and gloves.  You can read about making those in this post:  Hostess Gift

Playing Giant Jenga in the garage since it was so chilly and windy outside

And, of course, the skeet shooting tradition.  (Sorry for the blurry photo.  This was a snapshot from a video.)

If you ask my husband, he'd tell you I've come a long way in learning how to host without stressing about perfection.  I also enjoy the time with guests more now as well.  Much of my inspiration for stress-free entertaining comes from the Nester's book, The Nesting Place.  Myquillyn, the Nester, has been one of my favorite bloggers for a long time.  She has a gorgeous home, imperfections and all.  You can find her book here The Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful.  (Put it on your Christmas list.  You won't be disappointed!  You will enjoy entertaining guests like never before.)

Since I live about 3 hours from my family, we alternate the holidays between my family and my husband's.  Thanksgiving was celebrated with my in-laws this year.  They are just half of the wonderful people I'm blessed to call "family."  Christmas will be spent with the other half, my mom and siblings.  I'll be sharing our time together later in December.

One more family I'm thankful for is the family of blog readers...you!  I really appreciate your taking time from your day to visit my blog.

God bless!
Angie

PS:  Be sure to check back tomorrow!  We begin our week of Christmas Blog Tours!

(Affiliate link used for The Nesting Place)