A Reminder and Sneak Peek

I always have to Google "Sneak Peek" to make sure I pick the right "peek".  I must remember "peak" is like the mountain.  Moving on.  

First, I installed Disqus to possibly help with the commenting woes since transferring to Squarespace.  It'll probably cause more problems (like none of my old comments transferred (working on it)) but let's give it a shot.  Let me know if you have problems.  Social media or e-mail me if you do! 

Next, I wanted to remind you all that Monday is the first link up for Dare to DIY!

The link party will go live on Monday morning over at Primitive and Proper.  Cassie is seriously one of my favorite people.  I think you should head on over to her blog and check out some of her projects.  You know, get to know the hostess before you show up to the party.

Here are the full details in case you have forgotten.

Party Date: Monday, Nov. 25

(Link goes live Monday morning at Primitive and Proper)

Dare to… be thankful!

DIY a Thanksgiving project to remind you to be grateful during this season. Ideas include a Thanksgiving advent calendar, artwork or banners.

There are also prizes!  One of you will win 1 artisan enhancement 8 oz leaf and foil, 1 artisan enhancement 8 ounce clear topcoat, 1 copper gilding wax, 1 silver gilding wax  and 15 feet of foil from Catfish Studio.

Here's a sneak peek at my project.  Thankful is a tough one but it's good to step outside of our comfort zone every now and then and just create!

The suspense.

Nate and I are also finishing up a project for our dining room.  It's so pretty and I can't wait to share!

More suspense.

Here is a sneak peek at what Ike will be working on this weekend.

There is absolutely no suspense there.

Happy weekend!  I can't wait to see what you craft up for Monday!

32.7

I'm currently in the middle of about 32.7 projects.  Which means I have zero productive things to blog about this week.  But hold on for next week.

Let me distract you with some cute pictures of Ike and weird Michelle ramblings.

Here is Ike wearing a scarf.  He looks quite stunning in it.  Notice the tennis ball in the office?  There are approximately 32.7 tennis balls around our house at this very moment.

Here I am wearing a scarf that I knitted on Sunday while watching The Wonder Years.  I go through these phases were I knit like 32.7 scarves and then I don't knit again for another 11 months.

I sold my hutch on Craigslist last night.  It was one of the first pieces of furniture that I painted.  Sort of sentimental in a weird way.  The girl that bought it was in love so I feel like it went to a good home.  Now we are finishing up a project to replace it with.  And I'm in love.  My husband is a furniture building animal.

Also, we put up our Christmas trees this past weekend.  They aren't lit or decorated but they are up.  Our house is in this weird half fall/half Christmas stage and it's making my OCD self wig out.  Ike's cool though.

It has snowed 32.7 times in the past few weeks.  Or like 2 or 3 times. I can't remember.  I have a feeling it's going to be a long Winter.  Anyone in a warm climate have a guest room for me from approximately January to April?

Ike likes to sit like this while I vacuum.  He kills me.

So, that's life around our home the past week.  I'm off the new few days so hopefully I can knock out 32.7 projects!

Who has that guest room for me?  Have you started decorating for the holidays?

Beer Bottle Opener {DIY, Tutorial}

This post is for the dudes that read Decor and the Dog.  (Hey, John and Nick!  And baby brother.)  

Or the root beer in a bottle drinking crowd.

I mentioned that we hosted a beer tasting the weekend before last.  We aren't big on special party touches (we don't really do the hosting thing well) but we use hosting as an excuse to get things done around the house.  Nate had been wanting to make a beer opener (which is clearly as important as our living room built-ins).  He totally got that done.  

Want to make your own fancy wooden beer opener?  This would make a great holiday gift for the dudes in your life.  Pair it with a six pack or two.  Gift complete.

It's also easy enough that I can make it without an ER trip.  #winning

Materials

• One 1"x2" board (We bought a 2' Red Oak board.)
• 1 1/4" lag screw
• 1/2" magnet
• Stain/Poly
• Beer

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the board to 8 inches long.  Sketch out handle.  (See pencil mark below.)

Step 2:  Use a scroll saw to cut on drawn line.  Sand smooth.

Step 3: Using a 1/2" drill bit, place the magnet on the bit.  Mark with painter's tape to get the depth of the magnet.

Step 4: Hold the screw on the end to help determine the best placement for the magnet.  Place a mark in the middle of the board to help guide where you will drill/place the magnet.  

Step 5: Drill the hole for the magnet.  Try to make yours more centered than ours.  Womp. Womp.

Step 6:  Drill pilot hole for screw.

Step 7: Stain/poly

Step 8: Hammer the magnet into drilled hole.  Screw lag screw in leaving the depth as thick as most beer bottle caps.  (Ours has a 1/2" gap between the wood and bottom of the bolt.)

Step 9: Open beer!  Look at the beer cap stick to the magnet.  FANCY!!!

Step 10: Host a beer tasting. And open ALL OF THE BEERS.

Like this beer opener?  Be sure to check out our beer tasting flight carrier!  (Also a great gift idea!)

Any thoughts on beer gifts for the dudes in your lives?