DIY Project Parade and LOTS of Tweaks in the Kitchen

Hurray! Long 3 day weekends = catching up on small projects for us mixed in with picnics and family get togethers. I couldn’t decide whether to share this post or wait until the reveal but I just get so excited about finishing touches and progress that I HAVE to share with my blog friends.  🙂    

We’ve installed bamboo blinds in the kitchen…

The over-the-sink light fixture is being change as we speak (or type or you read)!
 This window will be getting a frame in the near future…
Mr. DIY LOVES the view of his other love (Big Green Egg).
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We installed a magnetic strip to the backsplash. Not exactly “vintage/farmhouse” but the best part about owning a home is doing what you love, what works and compromising/mixing styles.  It makes for a great team. If Mr. DIY is happy, I’m happy.  The little touch of Ikea is okay with me. 

How to Hang Accessories on Tiled Backsplash:

IN THE GROUT, mark where screws need to be for hanging.  Use a level to keep things straight. 
Mr. DIY likes his knives and kitchen utensils within easy reach near the stove and cutting board. Enter:  The Grundtal (Ikea).  It’s magnetic.  
Breaking away for a minute:
He does the cooking.  For example we had ricotta/spinach/mushroom stuffed white fish wrapped in bacon this week.  I’ve told him he needs to start his own cooking blog. It was soooo good! This helps you to understand why compromising on decor in the kitchen to his liking and approval is important. When you get to eat like this often, your decorating tastes are a little more flexible.  🙂



Now back to the tutorial:
Drill into the grout line.
Add a ceramic anchor by tapping it in the drilled hole lightly…

Anchor in place…
Ready for screws…

Attach the magnet – carefully keep fingers away from the back of the magnet.  It’s VERY strong and you’ll get a pinch if your fingers are in the way!
Clean off fingerprints.  Bon Ami All Purpose Cleaner is great for cleaning stainless steel.
Utensils within easy reach!

Sharing here:
The Lettered Cottage
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An old antique chicken feeder becomes a cook book ledge/shelf…
Now the sliding ladder reaches the spice loft and cook book library…
(Please pardon the mess in the dining room…kitchen renovation leads to a little chaos.)

Anticipating the floor coming next week!
Then the island, some built-ins, finishing touches and we’ll be finished!

It’s a lot of little DIY projects for one post but what do you think? Don’t you love productivity?
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We also held a small get together/picnic yesterday – a couple of days without rain!  Woo hoo!!!  Doesn’t our patio look pretty and festive?

 Edited to join:
What have you been doing this holiday weekend?  


The DIY Show Off



If you’d like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:


1.You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

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DIY Show & Tell

Hello DIY readers! I have a few highlights and announcements I can’t wait to share with you today!  There are so many fun things going on! 
  • The DIY Club – quick before/after freshen up existing decor
  • Announcing the 2011 True Value Blog Squad!
  • DIY Project Parade Highlights
  • Giveaway Alert at the DIY Club for $50 blog design credit 
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I‘m sharing a quick easy way I took a dark monogram and gave it a fresh new look for the kitchen makeover using left over Dutch Boy and Dischanger (also featuring Rockler) at the DIY Club today. 
Yes! This is a sneak peek of the kitchen, although just a temporary placement.
Update:  Bamboo floor is scheduled to arrive within the week!  Can’t wait!

Before

More details at 
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Announcing the 2011

“Veteran” Blog Squad Members
·         Katie with All Bower Power: http://www.bowerpowerblog.com/
·         Josh with Bungalow 23: http://bungalow23.com
·         Kate with Centsational Girl: http://www.centsationalgirl.com/
·         Brian & Paul with Handyguys Podcast: www.handyguyspodcast.com
·         Layla & Kevin with Lettered Cottage: www.theletteredcottage.net
·         Roeshel with The DIY Show Off: http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/
·         Sarah with ThriftyDecorChick: http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/

“New” Blog Squad Members
·         Bruno with ManMade DIY: http://manmadediy.com/
·         Taylor with Mary Janes and Galoshes: http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com/
·         Marian with Miss Mustard Seed: http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/
My name is there too!  Listed as a ‘veteran’! I’m honored to be included! Woo hoo! You may already follow a few of those mentioned ~ I invite you to check out the ones you’re not familiar with as well.  Make a new friend or two!  I look forward to working beside these talented DIY’ers and seeing what their up to this year! Welcome to the new team members! Hello to my fellow veterans!  Knowing this bunch, there will be some amazing and creative projects coming up!

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Don’t miss the updates!

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 The DIY Show Off
The DIY Project Parade is going on all week!  Here are just a few of the projects that inspire my creativity. They are ALL worth checking out. Thank you so much for joining in and sharing your DIY ideas!
  
  
  
  
  
Find the images shown above listed below for the original link.
Have you shared your latest DIY project?  Link up here:  http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-project-parade-and-grape-arbor.htmlOr browse the thumbnail images below to spark your imagination and creativity and get started on your own DIY project (then come back and share!)…

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And finally, the TGIF giveaway at the DIY Club is now an all month long event. May ends soon!  Summer is the perfect time to give your blog a little custom update.  I love my new custom social media buttons! Aren’t they adorable?  
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
Marcia from Measured by the Heart is ready to give your blog a mini makeover to one lucky DIY Club follower!  Enter today for a chance to win at  
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Happy Wednesday!
Do you have some good news to share? 
Have a DIY project you’d like to show off?
Fill out the submission form ~ let’s see what you’ve been up to!

DIY Project Parade and Grape Arbor Sneak Peek

We’ve had so much rain this month so outdoor projects have been impatiently waiting. However yesterday we had 1 day of sun!  I was able to get started on staining the wood on our grape arbor.

Krylon Wood Stain 

More details at

Sneak peek:

Reveal coming soon (pending sunny skies)!

Get the details of what it looked like when we bought our home by clicking the picture below.  It’s come a long way!  
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Do you have a DIY project to show off this week?  I’d LOVE to see it!  Or please visit the links to get inspired!


The DIY Show Off



If you’d like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:

1.You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

The winner of the DIY Project Helper Giveaway is… Kristin!
1) A casual monogrammed “D” for some blank space on the top of the built-in in our DR.

OR…..

2) Cool, fun vinyl numbers (1-5) to put on the back stairs leading from the kitchen to the backyard. This area was always an afterthought but I am currently painting (BM’s Saybrook Sage – so pretty!), beadboarding, sanding, staining, plate wall displaying (!) and making this small area part of our home.