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?  

Dare to DIY

It's the most wonderful time of the year!   The time where we watch Elf 17 times in 3 weeks.  And...

It's Dare to DIY time!

Some of you may be familiar with this little link party originated by the lovely NewlyWoodwards.   "Dare to DIY" is a fun series of link-ups to motivate us to DIY projects through Thanksgiving and Christmas - and to do it together. It's a great way to complete some of those holiday projects and meet new blog friends.

The fifth year of this series of blog parties is going to be the best yet!

And why, you ask?

The co-hosts are awesome. 

Kim at NewlyWoodwards (The mastermind of this awesome DIY-ness.) 

Cassie at Primitive and Proper.

Michelle at Decor and the Dog (That's me!)

Rachel at Maybe Matilda.

We'll all be hosting one week at our blog and we'll have an awesome giveaway each week for one of you! That means more projects and more fun!

Here's the plan:

Each Monday morning, the link party goes live for that week's Dare to DIY challenge at the blog listed above. You can link up your best project (or two). Just remember that the post should correspond with the theme of the week.

The linky will stay live through Wednesday. Later in the week, each of us will spotlight at least 3 projects we loved from the week on our blogs. And one of you will win a special prize! We'll also pin those projects on our shared Pinterest board.

The only rules:

1. Please follow the Dare to DIY theme of the week (see below). You can share up to 2 projects.

2. Please link back to Dare to DIY on one of our blogs.

3. Please go to at least one other blog and comment. This is a party. So get to know a few other bloggers.

And here are the themes - starting in less than 2 weeks. Dare to do it, lovely readers. Dare to do it.

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.

Giveaway: 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.

Party Date: Monday, Dec. 2

(Link goes live Monday morning at Maybe Matilda)

Dare to… entertain!

DIY something for your table. This could be something from last week's Thanksgiving table or a new Christmas look. Get creative and use things in new ways. Or go true DIY and make something totally new. Ideas include place mats, table runners, place cards or centerpieces.

Giveaway: One of you will win 50 free Christmas cards from Tiny Prints.

Party Date: Monday, Dec. 9

(Link goes live Monday morning at Decor and the Dog)

Dare to… give homemade gifts!

DIY a gift made by you. Nothing is more special to give than something you created, so share projects that will be given in brown paper packages this holiday season. Ideas include bath and body items, kitchen gifts, hand-sewn clothing or home decor.

Giveaway: One of you will win a free stencil from Royal Design Studio.

Party Date: Monday, Dec. 16

(Link goes live Monday morning at NewlyWoodwards.)

Dare to… deck the halls!

DIY something new to deck your halls. Did you find something in a catalog that you wish you had? Wreaths, stockings, pillows or advent calendars? Make it! Inspire us all to do the same.

Giveaway: One of you will win $100 from Red Envelope.

So, what do you think? Will you dare?  I hope you'll join us!  Tell me you will!