Rocking Horse Before and After

Is it just me, or are there lots of baby showers to attend these days? I think it's just this stage of life. Surely it's not the water.

When I'm out thrifting, I always stay on the lookout for unique baby presents so I'll be ready for the next shower. One morning I ran across this sad little wooden rocking horse for $2. It looked like someone had tried to spray paint it black and then gave up.
I couldn't help but imagine it painted and pretty, and the cheap price tag made it easy to say yes. So I took it home with the idea that, once refinished, it might be a great gift for a baby shower I'm attending this month. I started sanding and discovered this...
No wonder it was $2! But some wood filler, lots of sanding, and even more coats of blue paint led to this...


I used my trusty Silhouette machine to cut out a vinyl monogram in the baby's initials, and then whipped up some rosettes (how-to here) that match the nursery colors picked out by the mommy-to-be.

Unique, thoughtful and TWO DOLLARS. I can't wait to give this to her!

Linking to:
Sew Much Ado ... Beyond the Picket Fence ... Tip Junkie ... Skip to My Lou ...

Oh, my sweet Silhouette machine...

This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

I finally tackled my first Silhouette SD project. A friend is decorating her nursery shabby chic and I thought this would be the perfect addition for baby Maegan's room.

To create this look, I used a clearance find matted frame (leftover from this project), a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper, white paint and a sanding block. I used Silhouette's frosted vinyl to create the monogram, but you could also use etching cream and a stencil.

I just love shabby chic. What's your take?

Look What I Won!

I was beginning to wonder if all those Silhouette giveaways on blogs were a figment of my imagination. :) I could hardly believe it when I heard the news, but I won a Silhouette! Thanks to Vintage Revivals for hosting and sending me some very loving, encouraging emails throughout the claiming-my-prize process!