Arts and Crafts | Operation Home

Lately I’ve been seeing (and loving) many of my favorite blogs talk about watercolor art. And now, I’m jumping on the bandwagon as well. You see, I’ve always been an art fanatic. As long as I can remember I’ve loved anything artistic and creative. Studio art was actually my first major in college until I switched for various reasons (although, never because I didn’t love it).

A few weeks ago, Lucas wanted to paint, so I checked out his stash of supplies and decided on his cheapo watercolor paints. I grabbed a few pieces of cardstock and we got to work. Then, Joey saw what we were doing, he got in on the fun as well…

We painted for a while, although, unfortunately the activity didn’t keep Lucas’s attention for as long as I’d hoped. I think Joey and I were way more into it than he was, to be honest. In any case, here’s Lucas’s masterpiece….

And Joey’s…

As for me, in enjoying this post about watercolors over at Brepurposed, I immediately became enamored of the bold strawberry print and decided to create my own more muted version…

Which I stuck it into the frame on our counter…

I ‘m pretty happy with how it turned out and love the food-nod that is now incorporated in our kitchen. Plus, the “Keep Calm and Jingle On” print was WELL overdue for a change-out (seriously, you thought our front porch was bad??). Anyhoo, a happy little strawberry was just what the room was craving (pun intended).

And now, I’d like to finish this post on a sappy note. Feel free to skip over this paragraph if you’re not in the mood for heartfelt mumbo-jumbo. Seriously, it’s okay. You’re forgiven. 🙂 (Aaaand cue the violins…) Six years ago today I married my BFF and haven’t looked back a day since. I can’t imagine a better partner in crime or father of our child. And in sixty years, I look forward to rocking out together on our front porch while discussing denture care. Happy Anniversary to my very favorite and here’s to many more happy years to come! 🙂

(and, scene!)

Basket-painting. Oh, yes.

Basket-painting is totally my jam. It’s one of those little projects that I’ve done that’s turned out well each time (so far). It’s easy. It’s inexpensive. Plus, I really enjoy doing it. And I have oodles of extraneous baskets laying about, so it’s a total win-win. Basket-painting takes an otherwise boring basket and transforms it into a piece of art. Floats my boat every time. I mean, seriously, what’s not to like?

My obsession began when I painted this little guy as I decorated for Christmas….

So, simple. But I still love it just as much as I did on Day One.

Then, I Polyshaded my way to happiness with my basketcases…

Now… it’s onto our front room. Remember this cabinet? I last discussed it back when I added chicken wire...

After living with it for a while, I decided that the inside of the unit needed to be brightened up some. I thought about painting the interior, but decided to start by tweaking the woven boxes inside and see where that led. I felt that they were a bit too drab, (enter Yoda voice) so paint them, I must.

I wanted some light, brightness, so I pulled out some white paint + primer that I had in the garage along with this grey craft paint….

I removed the lids to the baskets, and gave the top half of the base a coat of white paint (I could swear that I took pictures of this part, but alas, they’re nowhere to be found.)

Anyways, once the white paint was dry, I added grey paint to the bottom half. I simply eye-balled the middle and freehanded a line around the perimeter of the box with a small artists brush, using the baskets’ weave as a guide…

…and then I filled in below my line with a larger brush….

I decided to leave the lid as-is for some contrast. And here’s how they turned out…

And here they are back in the cabinet (I keep switching the arrangement back and forth, so I thought I’d include shots of both. Ya know, since I’m an over-sharer.) …

The baskets definitely liven up the cabinet, for sure. And I love the simple blocks of color. I still want to paint the inside of the unit a light, bright color (and maybe the outside as well?) just to give the cabinet more interest, but I’m hereby undecided on color. Or…. OR, maybe I should paint the LEGS! Just throwing that out there. Ideas are flowin’, people!

So, anyways, this was a simple, quick, free and easy project that I’d happily do again. And probably will soon. Watch OUT!! No basket is safe!! 😉

What do you guys think? Anybody have any thoughts on a color for the unit? Paint the inside only? Outside too? LEEEEGGGGS??? Also, can anyone tell me if I can conceal our wireless modem? Or does it need to be visible behind glass??? I have a feeling that I’m thinking old-school on this one.

Lastly, you may find me to be MIA over the next week. I’ll be taking a step back, raising my hands from the keyboard, and spending some much needed vay-cay time with the family. Woo-hoo! So, I hope everybody has a great week!!