Craft-Along: Letters and Numbers

The theme for this month's craft-along is Letters and Numbers.

My project, a house number, didn't turn out quite right. The textured spray paint is more glitter than texture. The frame looks too large, and wind causes it to bang against the house.

Ah, well, such things happen! Not every project comes out right the first time. I might make some changes and try to salvage the project, or I might just start over. Either way, I'll have something to post in a few days.

If you're participating, look for my post on February 26 or 27 and add your link!

Working on the Workroom

My house has a small, rather awkward room which I refer to as my workroom. It holds my tools and craft supplies, and I use it for messy projects such as sanding or painting to keep the mess out of the main living space. Other than painting the walls, laying a sheet of cheap vinyl over the subfloor, and hanging a pegboard, I had not done much to the room. But recently I turned my attention to this long-neglected room, and its upgrades are now almost complete.

I repurposed some kitchen cabinets into storage for paints and supplies, and I sewed patchwork curtains.

I repainted the battered table and added another pegboard for my craft supplies.

Last weekend, I made the most dramatic change of all - replacing the flooring. The sheet of white vinyl had long passed its expiration date. I replaced it with Allure TrafficMaster vinyl plank flooring in a dark "Ironwood," the same as in my bathroom.

old

new

I also added a nifty little gadget to help address the lighting issue. The bedrooms in my house do not have overhead light fixtures. Instead, they each have a switch which controls one electrical outlet. The workroom didn’t even have this. (I assume it originally had a switch, but this was sacrificed when the previous homeowner took space from the room to create the laundry closet.) Lighting consisted of a couple of lamps plugged into a power strip. I had to walk across the dark room to flip the switch on the power strip to turn on the lamps.

But a new gadget has come to the rescue! I purchased a switch which plugs into an electrical outlet and is controlled by remote control.

from Amazon

I plugged a pair of hanging lamps into the switch, then used a small piece of hook-and-loop tape to put the remote control on the wall next to the door. Now I can push the button on the remote and turn on the lights right from the doorway. Hooray!

pair of hanging lamps

remote control just inside the doorway

Just two projects remain - installing baseboards and organizing the tools and supplies back into the closet - and the workroom will be done!

Craft Along with GIY: February 2017

It's February 1 and time for a new craft-along! During February, I will be working on a craft project for the monthly theme. Around February 26, I will post my completed project. You can share a link to your completed project on that post, or at any time during the month on this post. On February 28, I will compile the links on the Craft Along with GIY page.

To participate:
1.  Add the Craft Along with GIY icon to your post. Link the icon to this page:
http://gothityourself.blogspot.com/p/craft-along-with-giy.html

2.  On either this theme announcement post or my completed project post, leave a comment with a link to your project. If you're not a blogger, you can link to your webpage, Instagram, or anywhere else readers can see it. (Please link directly to the project page.)

The theme for February is Letters and Numbers. You can interpret this broadly:

• Embroider a monogram
• Paint or decorate a wood initial
• Create labels for boxes, drawers, etc.
• Make jewelry with a name or initials
• Draw or create art of an important date, such as a birthday or anniversary
• Decoupage or decorate a notebook or journal
• Sew an A-line skirt - I did say "broadly" ;) 

Or any other project that fits the theme. Creativity is encouraged!

I will be making a house number.


P.S.
If you're finishing up a January Pets theme project, it's not too late to post it. Just add your link here.