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Monday, February 11, 2013

Message Window


window_message_board_upcycle.jpg

I kind of have a thing for putting unconventional decorations on my walls. Part of the reason is the difficulty I have finding affordable artwork I really like... and part of it is that I love the challenge of repurposing things I find at rummage sales, thrift stores, clearance shelves, or even my own house! I always feel like part of making a house a home is adding your own unique decorating touches... and being true to your own sense of style and innovation!



So... I have plates on the wall in our dining room,


placemats in our living room,


baskets in our entryway,


a serving tray in our kitchen,


a medicine cabinet in our family room,


and curtain rods on our staircase landing.


Those of you who have been following me for a while may know that when we moved into our Lemon Tree Dwelling two years ago it was a real LEMON!! (proof here.) Since then, we have literally shed blood, sweat, and lots of tears to make it the place we now call home.

One of the last things we did was transform our overgrown forest into a yard by clearing dozens of trees, pouring a patio, and laying down sod. Since we love to have cookouts and bonfires and summer get togethers, this transformation made a huge difference in making our house feel like home. And an added perks to these changes were the old materials left behind... like this window that was removed from the basement when the patio was poured!


A few months ago, Jorden was about to get rid of it....and I told him NO WAY!! I had no idea what I would do with it, but I knew I'd do something. I love the fact that it's both functional and oddly decorative...and so I decided to turn it into something sorta functional, sorta decorative. A message board!


We went back and forth on whether to fill in the holes and repaint it (Jorden thought we should, I thought we shouldn't).... I'm still thinking about it but I figured we could give it some time and see how it fits in.



To hang it, we just screwed hooks into a ledge on the back and attached chandelier chain.


Since it's right by the front door, it will be the perfect place to write little messages or reminders to one another. Dry erase markers work beautifully, and wipe away easily....and the older girls can reach it if they want to write a message, too!


It's fun to think about what I might write next.....Don't forget your boots? Daisies after school? Doctor at 10:00? Or maybe something more like "You Are My Sunshine"? Better yet, how about a picture of the sun to help us remember what sunshine looks like....?  :)


Either way, I'm happy this window has joined our unconventional wall decor...and I'm excited to see how it makes itself at home.







Thanks for taking a peek inside my Lemon Tree Dwelling!
I hope you feel right at home :)
-Cathy

47 comments :

  1. You can do 'You are my sunshine' with a picture of the sun! That would be pretty. I love what you had though with all the hearts.

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    1. Thanks, Andrea! I'm saving the "sunshine" for a particularly gray day....which I'm sure we'll have soon - lol :)

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  2. Will you please come decorate my house? Pretty please? I am a home decor disaster.

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    1. Awwwww...I'd love to! I love home decor but I know it can be hard to put it all together. I'm sure you're not as bad as you think! :)

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  3. I love all of your unconventional ideas for wall art! Especially the baskets!! And your message window is fabulous!
    Selene from restorationbeauty.com

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  4. That message board is a great idea!

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  5. hi cathy... love the variety of art on your walls! placemats = clever : ) and i love the new message board... really cute!
    angie

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  6. Great post - I just love the hanging cards ( as well as everything else - but the cards sing to me !!! )
    Thanks so much for sharing - your newest follower - would love a follow back when you have the
    time
    Visiting from Twigg Studios - hugs,
    Suzan

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    1. Thanks, Suzan! I love the cards too....giant playing cards I received as a gift and finally figured out how to use them!

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  7. I love your idea - so mad at myself for getting rid of old windows years ago.

    My husband is a professional artist so we always have wonderful art on our walls - constantly rotating. I love his work, but sometimes I would like to do things like you have done with baskets, plates, etc. on the wall. But, since our house is basically an art gallery.

    Your message board has given me some ideas though.

    Have a wonderful Sunday

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    1. Thank you! I know....I always kick myself when I get rid of something I later figure out a use for. So frustrating! Art gallery walls sound great, but I could see it limits YOUR creativity! Maybe you could add a few touches here and there.... good luck!

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  8. Hello! Stopping by from the link party at Watch Out, Martha! Love this idea! So glad I found your blog! I may just have to try this one out... Old windows add such a neat feel to any room. Especially if the paint is nice and worn like that (I wouldn't refinish it, but I'll bet it would work either way). Thanks for the creativity!

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    1. Awwwww, thanks Rosie! I'm so glad you stopped by and I appreciate your feedback. I also love the look and feel of old windows! :)

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  9. I love everything about this - even the cute little heart themed corner it's sitting in! Thanks for the inspiration...this is great! Stopping by from The Dedicated House linky party.

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  10. My house is that way a bit...I used to have a door hanging above my couch, loved it! I have lots of windows also. Great post!

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    1. Thanks, Kristin! I love the look of repurposed doors/windows/shutters/etc. A door above the couch is so fun!!

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  11. This is super cool... the more and more I dive into the creative blog world, I am more and more inspired! this wall haning is totally something I am going to try out!

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    1. Thanks Arin! It's fun to be inspired by other people's creativity, isn't it? I love how it is like a flow of energy. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you give it a try!

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  12. CUTE! I love a good repurposing project, and it seems like you're a pro at it! I found you at the Fun in Functional Link Party--thanks for sharing your ideas with us!

    ~Abby =)

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    1. Thanks for your nice comment, Abby! I appreciate it! I love repurposing projects - my favorite!

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  13. I love your window message board! Such a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent this week. So thrilled to have you share with us. Hope you are having a great week.
    Hugs
    Kathy

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  14. Thanks for the invite - heading over now!

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  15. Oh, my goodness! This is toooo beautiful! I want one for my house! I love the white plates in your dining room as well! I'm definitely pinning this!

    I found you at Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts! I'd love for you to share this with our readers at the Pinterest Power Party and get pinned! Hope you have a Terrific Thursday!

    Danielle
    http://www.sewmuchcrafting.com/2013/02/pinterest-power-party-co-hosting.html?

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  16. I'm visiting through Diana Rambles "Pin Me Linky Party". I pinned this. I have a rustic wooden shelf in our kitchen I got from Colombia (where we lived for 16 years). I change what's on it every week to do with all kinds of things--whose birthday it is, the holiday, the season, where in the world my husband is ministering (he travels to 20-30 countries a year!), etc. I would love to get a window to hang under it that I could write "Happy Birthday ____" or "Pray for Jim in ____". We go back to Colombia for 3 weeks this Spring. I'll be looking! Thanks for the idea!

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  17. I love to way you are using this window. Great idea and very useful re-purpose. No way would I have gotten rid of it either! Coming from the Designed Decor link party.
    Susan @ Rustic ReDiscovered

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  18. What a sweet reminder to have in your home. Thanks for sharing at Pinworthy Projects.

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  19. So, so cute! The message board can be used all year long!

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  20. Love this! I do the same thing with a picture frame in the kitchen. I used burlap under the frame so it gives it a nice texture background and then I write the "weekly menu" on it. However, I love the idea of putting one by the door that could be used for notes. I painted a big square on the inside of the door that leads from the laundry room to the garage with chalk board paint for a similar concept but it always looks kinda messy. This would work much better! Cute!
    Hope to see you back at http://www.allmouseallthetime.com/2013/01/feeling-like-royalty.html

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  21. L O V E !! :)

    Brenda @ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com

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  22. Love this idea. I have a 10 pane french door on my living room wall, as a photo frame for my 10 children (then we adopted 2 more . . . oops no room for their pics). I have the matching french door hanging (from little chains) above our long kitchen counter where we removed the cupboards. I have an old window like this one in my entry, but the window pane was removed and replaced with a chalkboard. And, I have a 6 pane window propped on my mantel. Yep. I LOVE to decorate like this. I'll have to post some on the next link up over at Your Homebased Mom.

    I look forward to reading more of our blog.

    Thanks for linking up today. (My link is #1 with the Cappuccino Brownies.)

    Laurel
    mama of 12

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  23. This is really cute! I love old windows and I love your idea for a message board.

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  24. I love unconventional displays (I have an old window turned perfume display box/shelf in my bathroom)! I would love it if you shared this great DIY idea at Thrifty to Nifty Thursdays at A Jennuine Life. http://www.ajennuinelife.com/2013/02/thrifty-to-nifty-thursdays-8.html

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  25. What an adorable project... so sweet. xoxo~ Ruthie

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  26. Stopping by from the saturday link up...I love that!! I have been eyeing projects with old windows for a while now. I just need to go buy some and get to crafting! Haha. Yours looks awesome!

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  27. Love this! I'll be featuring you on this week's Clever Chicks Blog Hop! Please feel free to grab my featured button!

    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  28. Love Love Love this window! Thanks so much for linking up to the Pinworthy Projects Party this week!

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  29. How clever and so cute! Love the window and your decorating ideas! Thank you so much for participating and sharing it at SHOW-licious Craft Showcase Party!

    Marti
    http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/2013/02/saturday-show-licious-craft-showcase-21.html

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  30. Great idea~The cards are really cute.Thanks for linking up and sharing last week on Made in a Day!
    Kim

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  31. I LOVE this message window! What a cute and fun idea! Thank so much for sharing at Thursday's Temptation. I am going to be featuring your window at tonights link party!
    Jill

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  32. I love this idea!! We'd love for you to share this at our party! http://www.housewivesofriverton.com/2013/02/riverton-housewives-round-up-54.html

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