Dance in the Rain!

I’m baaaccckkk!  Did you miss me?  Of course you did!  And by you, I mean my mom and 2 friends that read every one of my posts! 

Anyhoo…I spent an amazing fun filled week in Sedona with my husband and son.  Before we left for our vacation my awesome husband gave me a CAMEO for our 10 year anniversary!!!  I was so super excited to get it, but bummed cause I didn’t get a chance to use it before Sedona.   My family did not want to come home because that meant that they had to go back to work and school, but I was thrilled to get home!  Let me tell you…I was itching to get back home to use my new toy!  So today, I will be sharing with you my very 1st project using my Cameo!!! 

After I pulled the Cameo out of the box, downloaded the software, and connected it to my computer, there is only one word to describe the way I felt…INTIMIDATED!  Eek!  I just sat there at my computer looking dumbfounded at the Silhouette program. There were soooo many different buttons and options that I was completely overwhelmed.  So I did what any normal person would do…I eat a bowl of ice cream and read a novel!

The next day, I  decided I needed some encouragement to conquer my Cameo so I hit Pinterest.  There are so many projects on Pinterest made using the Cameo.  Heck, if they can do it, so can I!  Encouragement found! 

 

I am loving how my pallet turned out!  This saying is so awesome.

      

What was so great about this project was that I only needed a few supplies.  I purchased 1 furring strip from Lowes and cut it into 6 pieces about 15” long.  I did not want them all the same exact length so I varied the length a little on each.  Then I cut a square dowel into 2 pieces about 10” long and 1 piece at 8” long.

Next I used my Dremel Trio to drill 6 holes in the 2 dowels, which I then hand screwed (yes, I know, totally lame) into each furring strip to hold it all together.  Then attached the smaller dowel to the top and put wall hooks into that.  After everything was attached I stained my pallet.

Ummm…why not just use an electric screwdriver you are wondering?  Well, because ours got ruined by being left outside.  So dumb…I know.  So every project I have done, I have had to use a hand screwdriver.  Let me tell you…it sucked. 

But, don’t you worry about me.  My husband just gave me, yesterday, for my Birthday a Makita Compact Cordless Combo Kit!  NO more killing my arm and back.  In case you missed that little Birthday plug for myself, yesterday was my BIRTHDAY!

Now onto using my new toy.  I thought that I could just cut my whole saying at one time, slap it onto my pallet, add some paint and voila I would be done!  Right…that SO did not work.  My Cameo did not like that at all.  The vinyl was a disaster.  So, I then did each line by itself.  It worked, but not as great as I thought it would.  Some of the words did not cut all the way through so I used scissors to fix them.  I played around with the different settings and honestly I am not even sure if my blade is in correctly.  I was quite discouraged by it all. 

Once all the vinyl was cut, I attached it to the pallet.  I thought that the adhesive vinyl would stick to anything, but it did not want to stick to my stained wood.  Anyone else have this problem?  It stayed well enough that I was able to paint, using a stencil brush, the saying onto the pallet.  I had to do three coats of paint.  Once it was dry enough, I removed the vinyl and sanded the words to give it an older look.  This project took way longer than I thought that it would…but I love how it turned out, so it was totally worth it!

 

 

 

I have realized that I need to play around a lot more with my Cameo to figure out everything it can and can not do.  Hmmm…now what should my next project be???

 

Let’s Party!

              

          

 

    

Tuft Love

If you could have one new piece of furniture for your house what would it be?  Most of you probably have an instant answer to that question…I know that I do!  For me, it would definitely be a new couch, but it has to be a tufted couch!  I lloooovvvee tufted couches, especially the ones in velvet!  They are so amazing! 

Since I am in the process of redecorating my house I am on the hunt for that perfect tufted couch/sofa.  What the heck is the difference between a couch and a sofa anyway?  Is there even one? The couch I have needs to go bye bye yesterday. We have had it for almost 10 years, and I can not stand it.  I have been looking for a long time for a new couch, but am quite cheap, so it is hard for me to spend the money on what I really like.  But…I just got a new inexpensive rug (thanks to HomeGoods) and am ready to take the plunge and purchase a new couch.  Thankfully, my husband has given me the green light to buy whatever couch I find, and he wants NO part of it.  How awesome of a husband do I have??? 

Now the hard part…finding the perfect ONE!!!  So the search/hunt is on, but unfortunately I have such a hard time making a decision! Also, my room that the couch will be going in is not that large and most of the couches I love are a little big for the room.   Luckily for me there is this little thing that I am obsessed with called Pinterest (Ever hear of it? hehe), that has made searching so much easier! 

 

Z Gallerie Royce Sofa.  I am really loving the shape of this and the velvet!

West Elm’s Chester Tufted Upholstered Sofa.  I like this one, but don’t love it.

How flipping amazing is this sofa?  Gorgeous everything.  I don’t know where to get it though.  So frustrating!

Terrain’s Slate Tufted Sofa.  This one is perfect, but way above my price range.  Ugh!

Really, really, think this couch is the bomb!!!  Oh, and love the lights!  Only problem is can’t find where the couch is from and it would probably be way above my price range as well.  Lame!

West Elm’s Elton Settee in velvet!  This couch is great and it is a lot smaller than the others, but maybe a little too small?

Swedish Teak Sofa.  How gorgeous is this couch?  I know it is not tufted, but think the color and style is amazing!

So which one do you like the best?  I am totally undecided, they are all amazing couches.  They all have a different look/feel to them.  I need to figure out which would work best for my room and which is comfy.  I think that it is time to hit a few of the above stores and sit my little bum on each of the couches to see which is the best.  I will NOT buy a couch without sitting on it first!

Wish me luck as I sit on a ton of different tufted couches/sofas!  Once I choose and purchase the perfect one, I will post a picture of it.  Knowing me, it will probably be a while though, but it will happen! 

Oh and ladies, if you are wondering, the key to having full control of purchasing a couch, is to drag your husband to each and every store there is and having him sit on every couch, twice!!!  He will then want NO part of it!  Brilliant, huh?