Tag Archives: painting

Keeping An Art Journal

Notebooks are a wonderful way to keep track of science, language arts, history, creative writing, and other assignments. It keeps things neat and tidy, and there aren’t loose papers all over the place. I quickly discovered that having one big three-ring binder filled with notebook paper and dividers just didn’t work out well. The papers often tore out and they were heavy and clumsy for my kids to use. Instead, by purchasing color-coded notebooks and writing each child’s name on the front with a big permanent ink marker, it kept things more organized. My kids didn’t feel as overwhelmed as … Continue reading →

Nursery Paint Ideas

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Are you looking for something a little out of the ordinary in terms of design for your baby’s nursery? An interesting paint job can make even the most popular “nursery-in-a-bag” look like custom designer decor. Skip the solid pastel wash and try one of these simple, yet elegant designs. The first step for any of these ideas is to pick your perfect color, whether it be pink, green, blue, yellow or purple. Head to the paint department and look through those handy paint cards – the ones that have 4 or 5 shades on each one. Pick a swatch that … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Home Decorating Ideas

Decorating your home is a very individual thing. When money is tight decorating becomes more of a challenge but far from impossible. Some of the things we have tried in past times were using photographs and pictures from calendars. Framing them in inexpensive frames and grouping them together as a display. Gift wrapping paper can also be used the same way. Select papers that complement each in design and color. Frame them and then arrange in a diamond pattern or some other interesting combination one wall. Stencils are another inexpensive way of brightening up a home and relatively inexpensive and … Continue reading →

Simple Crafts to Add to Your Halloween Buffet Table

Over in the FOOD blog I have been sharing dozens of simple, affordable and extremely festive recipes to feature on a Halloween buffet. But, devilishly tasty dishes are only part of a spooky spread. To make your table look as festive as possible you need some equally creative pieces to accent the bloody bites and Kitty Litter cakes. The following are a couple of easy crafts you can make a few days prior to your Boo Bash that are sure to have your costumed guests moaning with delight. PAINTED CANDY CORN CLAY POTS This craft is as straightforward as they … Continue reading →

Painting Kitchen Cabinets 2

If you missed the previous article, click here: Painting Kitchen Cabinets. Earlier, I talked about how to prep your kitchen cabinets before painting them. Now let’s get into the nitty gritty about selecting paint, using a roller or a brush, creating a smooth finish and then dressing up the doors and drawers. The kitchen is the most used room in the house. That is why it is so important to achieve the best possible finish on your cabinets. I’ve already mentioned the importance of getting 100 percent acrylic paint that is good quality. Why? Because paint that contains vinyl just … Continue reading →

Prepping the Family Room

One of my tasks today is to pack up my books from the shelves in the family room. This is because we are going to do some quick updates in the family room in the next couple of weeks. We haven’t abandoned the kitchen by any means. But while we are still reviewing our options, we can take advantage of the time to get some work done elsewhere. The motivation behind going ahead with the family room is the carpet that will be installed in a few weeks. To save money, we are going to pull out the old vinyl … Continue reading →

Stephen Colbert is Hanging at the Smithsonian

Well, a portrait of him is anyway. And the sight is shocking museum patrons all the same. Think about it… you are strolling through the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington near the “America’s Presidents” exhibit and right between the entrances for the men’s and women’s bathrooms is a gigantic portrait of the fake TV pundit standing near a fireplace. Who wouldn’t be caught off guard? The joke—-and it is a joke according to museum officials—-is supposedly on everyone who thinks Stephen Colbert has become a permanent resident of the prestigious museum. The portrait of the Comedy Central host … Continue reading →

Educational Vacations Growing in Popularity

I’ve been writing about the trend of “educational vacations” for a while now. But according to a new survey, the popularity of taking a “learning” vacation is once again on the rise. TripAdvisor.com recently surveyed more than 2,500 travelers and determined that 32% of them are planning to engage in educational activities while on vacation in 2008. That’s up 7% from last year. For those of you who are not familiar with the trend, an educational vacation is nothing more than combining a trip to a desired location with an opportunity to learn something new. For example, instead of lounging … Continue reading →

Easy Paint Clean up Tips

Want to spruce up your home before the holidays? There is almost nothing faster that makes a big impact like a new coat of paint. It looks clean and fresh, no matter what else you do to a room. New paint is the perfect backdrop for all of our holiday decorating. Here at Romansville, I have been trying to get my daughter’s room painted. It isn’t an easy task, since I have two little ones at home all day and another one at school. So I have been taking the painting in stages, literally doing one wall at a time. … Continue reading →

How to Choose a Paint Finish

Do you know the different between an eggshell and a semi-gloss finish when you are choosing paint? Here is an easy guide that tells you what all of the terms really mean and how you can choose the right finish for your paint project. As if choosing the paint colors for your home wasn’t hard enough, you still have to pick a paint finish. I have to confess that one time I spent so much time choose the color, shade and hue for our old bedroom, that I was completely clueless when it came time for the finish. The paint … Continue reading →