5 Simple Updates to the Family Room

With the laidback, lazy days of summer here, now is your opportunity to freshen up the family room.  Who am I kidding?  Our summer schedules can sometimes be just as busy as the rest of the year.  However, that doesn't mean you can't tackle a little decorating too.  With these 5 simple updates, you can quickly and inexpensively add new life to your family room.

Country Living Fair Nashville

This weekend, I attended the Country Living Fair in Nashville.  I'm SO glad Country Living decided to hold a fair in my area.   It was held at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon and it was the perfect site.

I met up with this lovely group of ladies that we call The Nashville Influencers.  It's an awesome group and has provided so many opportunities for me.  I have to give a shout out to the ladies in the photo with me:  Nancy McNulty of Forest Home Media, Kristie Barnett of The Decorologist, Meryll Rose of Talk of the Town, Angela Roberts of Spinach Tiger, Dana Tucker of Forest Home Media and Bella Tucker, Beth Bryan of Unskinny Boppy, Geinger Hill of Forest Home Media, Rosemary Palmer of Not Just Paper and Paint, Deneen Glidwell of Dreaming in Color, Elizabeth Scruggs of Superior Construction and Design, and Denise Simons of Life Style with Denise Simons.  Some have blogs and I'd love for you to check them out!

Ready to see lots of photos from the fair?!  Here goes!

This table was amazing.  It's over 12 feet long!

Loved this cow painting.

Distressed navy blue dresser...must have!

Lots of great wire baskets.  I have these exact baskets for my bicycle ;)

Look at the size of that clock!  Wouldn't that make a great statement piece?

This bear rug reminded me of an episode of I Love Lucy 

when she sneaked into Richard Widmark's house.  #bestshowever

These are miner's baskets like the one I have for storing ribbons HERE.

That was probably not fun to have to sit on all day at school!

This was Mike Wolfe's booth from American Pickers.

I thought this was the cutest thing at the fair. 

Then, I saw Lola!  She was the cutest thing at the fair!  

This vintage Airstream belongs to Cari Cucksey of HGTV's Cash & Cari. 

Kitchen kitsch from Cari's booth!

I know this post was heavy on the photos.  Thanks for sticking with me to the end!  If you get a chance to attend one of Country Living's Fairs, GO!  You'll be glad you did.

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

Christmas around the House

Sharing a little of the Christmas decorations I've added to our home.  Have you finished decorating yet?

The snow globe picture I posted about here

I don't think I ever finish decorating.  My brain is always coming up with more ideas than I'm able to complete.  Guess I can always save those for the next year.

There are some things that must be used every year in the Christmas decor.  This is a little snowman that my youngest daughter made when she was just ten.  It's the Mad Hatter from the latest Alice in Wonderland.  I used to make altered snowman for my etsy shop back then and she wanted to make one too.

The decor in the foyer include a pair of vintage ice skates, a "SNOW" sign, and an antique crock with greenery.

I typically stay away from the traditional reds and greens of Christmas because they usually don't fit with my decor.  This year, I was dead set on using red and green tartan.  I love all tartans if you didn't notice my from tartan throw post :)  I found this needlepoint pillow earlier this year at the thrift store.  Its colors and design contain just enough blue to tie everything together.  (I have a thing for needlepoint pillows too!) 

Just a simple tartan ribbon added to a lamp shade

Thank you for stopping by The Altered Past and spending a little time with me as I share some Christmas decor.  I've got a little more to share later...the front porch and the shed.

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

Make a Snowflake Ornament from Keys

It's Day 4 of our Christmas Blog Tour and today's topic is christmas crafts.  Right up my alley :)

Remember the huge bucket of old keys my father-in-law gave me?

Yeah, it was a bunch.  I played around with them and came up with this idea for a Christmas ornament and I really like how it turned out.

For this project, you'll need:

6 long keys (like those used for doors)
12 short keys (like the ones used for locks and cabinets)
a thick piece of cardboard or mat board
a strong adhesive like E6000 or Liquid Nails
white spray paint
white iridescent glitter
Mod Podge
12 inch piece of fishing line

Begin by place the 6 long keys into a circle with the heads on the inside and the grooves pointing out. Next, pair up 6 sets of the 12 short keys so that the lengths are fairly equal to each other.  Now take each pair, stack the two keys one on top of the other and form a V.  Each "V" is now placed on top of the 6 long keys.  You should now have 6 sets of 3 stacked keys, 1 long key and 2 short keys.

You may want to play around with the different groupings to get a balanced look with the varying shapes and lengths.

Once you like the design, begin gluing each set with the adhesive.  They will still be 6 separate sets right now.  While the glue is drying, take the cardboard (or mat board) and cut into a circle big enough to glue the "snowflake" to but not so big that it can be seen from the front of the "snowflake".  Spray paint it white (if it isn't already).  Now that the glue on the keys has dried, glue the "snowflake" to the cardboard.  On top of the cardboard piece, place the key stacks in a circle with the small keys on the bottom and long keys on top.  You can place a small weight on top of the ring to press it against the keys until the glue dries.

Now that everything is glued and the glue is dried, you're ready to spray paint the whole snowflake white.  If your keys are rusty, you may want to use spray primer first, then your white paint.  The rust will bleed through just the white paint.

That could be the end of the snowflake but don't we need a little glitter?!

Yep, I thought so.  Much better!  Paint the entire snowflake with Mod Podge then douse with white iridescent glitter!!  Beautiful!

Now, to add the fishing line to hang the snowflake with.  I used a hot glue gun (because it's faster) to attach the fishing line to the back of the cardboard.  Here's a little trick to make the snowflake hang straight and not tip forward because of the weight.

Attach the fishing line at a second spot on the back of the upper most key.  This will be the key that will point straight up when hung.  See photo.

It's ready to hang!  Check it out!!

I hope you liked this craft for repurposing old keys!  Be sure to check out the other blogs today!

2 Bees in a Pod Casserole Carrier

The Crowned Goat White Ornaments

Concord Cottage Glittery Birdhouse Ornaments

bluwaterlife Beverage Station

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie