Great Lighted Pumpkin Decor

Seems that many of you already have your Autumn Décor finished. 

I love seeing what you have done.
Last week it was in the 80's here and I was loving it

This week the temp is in the 70's.  A bit cooler but still not Fall to me. 

My little Halloween witch was calling so I unpacked her and got busy.

 Then these came in the mail.  Oh Joy!  My lighted wax pumpkins I ordered from QVC.
Do you Q?  I love staying home and doing my shopping at QVC.  They have such unique items.
(They are not paying me for this I am just sharing them because I love them)

 

The pumpkins came in a set of 4.  I'll share the item # so you can easily find them if you like them too.  (#H200893)  These are called the Toile set.  There were two other designs but this one is sweet.  What do you think?

 

I mixed them up with other décor I had from years ago.

 Some silk leaves, Indian corn and little white pumpkins I got at the roadside stand and a few brown books to add height.

 

 Each pumpkin has two AA batteries and a timer.  Each night they come on automatically at the same time and stay lit for 4 hours.

 Our house is a Bi-level and the railing usually installed by the contractor in the entrance way steps was replaced by a half wall that I just love to decorate for all the seasons.  It is in the living room and is also seen in the foyer.

It is almost like decorating a mantle. . .long and narrow.  I kept it simple because we have a new little kitten.  If you  have a kitten you know what I am talking about.  Everything is fair game as a toy!
Anyone know what I have to do to make my picture size larger?  I can't seem to locate where to change it.  

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I love reading your comments.

Make it a Great day.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

How Many China Cabinets? Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Tutorial

 How many do you have?

This was my first. 

There is a matching buffet across the room.

Got more dishes? 

You know what that's like, right?

Need another cabinet.

Love the curve across the front of this one.

This is the one I am working on right now.

Pink inside!

Annie Sloans Old White and Scandanavian Pink mixed with old white inside.

This is my newest love! 

 What a treasure.

Love the chicken wire on the side doors.

Also nice that it comes in two pieces.

Makes it much easier to move.

OK, Back to the one I am working on right now.
Notice the difference in the color on the top and the bottom

This is a better shot.  The piece has already been waxed with ASCP Clear wax and left to dry, then buffed.   On the left I applied ASCP Dark wax lightly, with a brush and rubbed it off quickly.  On the right I have not used the dark wax yet.  The way I do it the wax just darkens the paint slightly.  Some gals use lots of wax and get an even darker finish.  All I want to do is darken it slightly.

You can see here that I mixed probably 1/3 cup of Clear wax with 1/2 tsp. of dark wax to get this color.  I never use the dark wax without mixing it first with clear.  It is just too dark for my taste.

I ever so slightly dip my waxing brush in in the dark mix.  Just a tiny bit on the tip of the brush.  Then I sort of dry brush it with the grain across the surface of the piece.

With a clean rag I wipe the dark wax off.

In the crevices on the right you can see bits of the dark wax.

This foot has not been waxed yet but above it has.

This is just the technique I use to get the finish I want for my pieces.

Here she is all finished.  She will sit for 24 hours then I will buff her and fill her with dishes!
She is sitting on the big wall in the sunroom.  This room is becoming an extension of my kitchen.
Wait till you see what I do with this room.

This is another pic of the top with the dark wax and the bottom still to do.

I remember before I started using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I was scared to start for fear of messing up a piece of furniture.  After a bit you get fearless, so don't delay, jump right in you will love the results.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Party Links

Romantic Home

Between Naps On The Porch

Stone Gable

Savvy Southern Style

Share The Love Wednesday

Feathered Nest Friday

Shades Of Amber

Large Embossed Metal Box?

 Hello Friends,
I went antiquing with my friend Joy on Thursday and this is one of the treasures I came home with.

 

 It's a large embossed box.  It is 20 X 13 X 16" deep.  It has a wonderful cottage on the top.  In the right hand corner it says "Ann Annaways Cottage.  Guess I'll have to do a little google research and see what I can find.

The ends are just hammered metal.  Nothing fancy.

It is very clean on the inside.  I wonder if it had a specific purpose or if it was just for decoration and storage.

It has a little chain on one corner so the lid stays opened.

 The back.

The front has an English street scene.  There is a pub on the left with a sign handing out front.

Sweet!

In my mind I am seeing it painted Annie Sloan Old White then rubbed with a little dark wax to bring out the pictures.  Then maybe a little rub of gold.  Any other suggestions?  I would love to hear your ideas.   What would you do with it?

Thanks for stopping by

~ ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~ ~ 

 

 

I am linking to these parties this week:

 

Romantic Home

 

Between Naps On The Porch

 

Funky Junk Interiors

 

French Country Cottage

 

My 1929 Charmer

Sweet New / Old Crystal Chandy

 

 A Dream Has Come True!

Isn't she a Beauty?

 

 I have been wanting an old crystal chandy for so many years.

A few months ago I want to an auction and there she was. . .calling my name.

"Ahrisha. . .Do you see me hanging here in the corner?"

"Take me Home."  She whispered.

 

That's a reflection of the Christmas tree in the mirror.  Yes, it's still up and I am lovin' it.

There is a tiny little metal tag wired to the top labeled "SPAIN".

Lots of bronze and crystals.  Just like I requested.

I am considering replacing the candles with new creamy colored ones with the drippy wax running down the sides.  What would you do,  Keep it original or replace them?

 

I hung her in a corner of the livingroom by the sofa for reading light.  I love to curl up here with a book.

 

I am sharing at these wonderful blog friends.

Stop by for a visit.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

 

Between Naps On The Porch

 

My Romantic Home

 

Share The Love

Be Inspired

The Thrifty Groove

Funky Junk Interiors

Joyeux Noel

Holiday Greetings to all my Wonderful Blog Friends~ ~ ~

I am in love with my flocked Silver and White tree.

 Wishing you Shining Days and Nights

Filled with the Peace and Joy

Of this Blessed Season.

 

 

May 2013 Be Your Best and Happiest Year Ever.

 

I am so looking forward to it.

 

See you all in the New Year.

~ ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~ ~
Stop by these great blogs for a visit.
www.savvysouthernstyle.net

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
 

A SERVER AND ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT

Hello Friends~ ~ ~
I found this great little server and it is perfect for the small space I have.  The above picture is the finished color after I painted it with ASCP in Scandavian Pink first then Cream and a mix of cream and olive to make a sage color over the pink.  I did a sort of stippling over the pink with the cream and sage.

 The finish after waxing looks amazing.  Here is a close up.

 I love how the pink pokes out here and there.  I was careful not to fill in all the spots with the stippled colors.  The finished color looks like leather or suede.

The below picture is the beginning of the process.  Have you tried ASCP in Scandavian Pink yet.  I love the old world shade of pink that it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pic above is the stippling that I did with the Cream and the Sage color that I mixed up.  It looks just awful till you first wax it with clear wax then with the dark wax to really blend the colors.  Then I wax it again with clear wax to further remove some of the dark wax.  I did not use the dark wax until I mixed it with a lot of the clear wax to tone the shade of brown that it is down to a lighter brown.  This technique works the best for me and makes it easier to remove most of the dark wax.

 After each waxing I let the wax dry overnight before I buffed it to a shine.  I'm not sure if you have to wait that long but it just worked for me.   Now scroll back up to the top picture to see the finished server again.  What a difference.  This technique is not for everyone but for just one piece here or there I love it. 
I am off to the garage to finish painting my new/old bedroom suite.  Gotta love this ASCP !

Sorry about the spacing of this post but I have yet to understand how to load my pictures.  If I attempt to move them around after loading I get big spaces.  I am at my wits end.  If you have suggestions I would love to hear them.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

I am linking to these Blog Party's

http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

www.carterscottage.net

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com

http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/

http://romantichome.blogspot.com

http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/
 

July 4th. Picnic

Hello Friends~ ~ ~

I was looking for a creative way to set up my picnic table.

Instead of a centerpiece I did an arrangement at one end of the table.

First I covered the table with a French Provencial cloth.

 I placed the napkins in an old crock.

You can purchase great big colorful napkins at Ikea.

 The silver in blue ball jars. . .

 The glasses in my Pottery Barn carrier. . .

 and the white dinner plates stacked all at one end of the table

under the old oak tree.

Everyone helped themselves from the bounty and found a place to sit under the wonderful oak tree.

The shaded coolness was appreciated by all.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday week.

TIP:  A centerpiece doesn't have to be in the center of the table.

Think outside the box and have fun!

I am linking to these great parties:

My Romantic Home

Tablescape Thursday

Stone Gable

The Style Sisters

The Dedicated House

Happy 4th. Of July Week~ ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~ ~