Niki's Notebook

Sidewalk chalk for big kids

2012-01-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

A clean chalkboard is so tempting. It invites you to let loose your creativity upon it. Sitting in class today, I noticed that all of the chalkboards were super clean. They didn't even have eraser marks. It was weird. But I felt like a small child, sitting in my little desk and staring at the chalkboard erasers, wanting to bang them together to create a small dust cloud. Or at least write my name on the little corner by my head. I managed to refrain from doing either of these things.

I've had an obsession with chalkboard paint for a little while now. Well, maybe not an obsession, but I do keep seeing ideas and really wanting to have them in my house someday. Here are a couple that I love. Gorgeous, right? And fun. I wouldn't mind doing this to any wall, but it's more unexpected in the bathroom. I would prefer to have a real mirror though.

Oh. My. Word. If I could draw like that, I would paint my whole room in chalk. Or maybe just fill up lots of sketchbooks.

A more practical application. A wall calender. Except I hate schedules...But they're a necessary part of life, and chalk would make it more fun.

Jar labels. Genius!

So cool, right? Who wouldn't want to draw on their refrigerator? Or, for the more practical minded, write grocery lists. This is a fun little idea that could be used for so much more than herb pots. It'd be a great way to mark cups for parties!

The possibilites for chalkboard paint are endless. It would have been super cool to paint my alarm clock (see previous post) with chalkboard paint...Someday, I will get myself some of this paint and paint something. I just have to decide what. My dresser? Desk? Door? Lamp? We shall see...

Love,

Niki

Picture credits: http://inspirationforhome.blogspot.com/2011/10/chalkboard-paint-ideas-for-craft-and.html, http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20409258,00.html, and I can't find the rest! Oops...So I apologize. If anyone knows the sources of the rest of these photos, please let me know so I can put them in here!

Even alarm clocks need makeovers sometimes!

2012-01-08T18:55:00.000-08:00

So one day, about two weeks ago, I was feeling creative. Sometimes, this feeling comes when I'm bored and have nothing better to do than make something fun. Anyhoo, my eyes fell on my alarm clock and decided that I might as well paint it, because I've always thought it was ugly anyway. And because I knew that someone else in the world was probably wondering, "How do I paint my alarm clock?" I took pictures of the process. (You've never thought about painting your clock before? Oh...well...now you have!)

Here's your "before" picture. Standard digital clock with a weird faux-wood thing goin' on. Yeesh. When was this ever stylish? And more to the point, why have I lived with this clock for so long?

Step 1: Paint your clock the desired color. It may take several coats. I used cream-colored acrylic paint, although I'm not sure that this was the best kind of paint to use. I think it might start peeling the more it is handled. Fortunately, you don't usually move your alarm clocks around too much...

Step 2: Paint an accent color. I chose gold because...well, because it's shiny and fun. I painted the buttons and around the clock face. But be creative. You could paint designs instead, or whatever. A chevron pattern would look awesome! Oh, and I (finally) got smart and put tape on the clock part to protect it from the results of my not-so-steady hands.

Step 3: Embellish! I decided to glue on buttons for a polka-dot feel.

Step 4: Enjoy your new-and-improved timepiece!

So there ya have it! An easy way to give your clock a fun, quirky facelift! Get it? Facelift? Because clocks have faces? Lame pun for the day... Well, that's it for now. Comments appreciated!

Love,

Niki

Third time's a charm?

2012-01-06T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well, for starters, I'm Niki, and this...well, this is my blog. I've blogged off and on since I was probably 12, but this time I want to try something different. What is this revolutionary new idea, you ask? Get ready...I decided that I want to write a blog that I would enjoy reading. What I mean is, I want to have a blog that is similar to the blogs I like to read. The blogs I like to read are about fashion, vintage stuff, photography, and food, and are loaded with DIY's. And the authors all have their own styles and voices, and aren't afraid to be unique. So that is my standard. We'll see how it goes. But if I like to read about that kinda stuff, I ought to like to write about it, right?

So what should you expect from this blog? I...uh...don't exactly know yet. I want to write about craft projects I do, fun new clothing styles, my growing photography skills, and maybe share a story or two. So, stay tuned! I have a couple DIY's up my sleeve to share soon.

Thanks for reading,
Niki