I saw something the other day and it inspired a great idea. It was a beautiful wall decoration using a bulletin board. It made me think…what about making a Christmas tree on the bulletin board as a perfect alternative for those who may not want to put up a tree but still want the Christmas feeling. College students could be a great example. People who live in small apartments, those who won’t be home for Christmas, elderly who don’t want all the fuss. Just to name a few. By using a bulletin board, you can hang the ornaments and still be able to reminisce, play Christmas music and drink whatever it is you drink while doing it. Best of all, cleanup will be a snap! Let me show you what I did! Lucky for me I had a large bulletin board that I snagged from the trash last summer. I took it out of storage, cleaned it up, re-covered it with linen fabric, made a frame, painted it white and finally attached it to the board with Liquid Nails. The bulletin board is ready to add ornaments. Since I will be using my own ornaments this year, I went to the Dollar Tree to get ornaments for my bulletin board tree. I modified some of the ornaments. The bird and silver ring were two separate ornaments and I combined them. I had two of each of the deer and the sleigh, but they were pointing in the same direction, and I wanted them to face opposite each other for symmetry. To fix this I removed the decorations on one deer and one sleigh and attached it to the other side and just like that they are opposite each other. I used push pins and white-tipped straight pins to attach the ornaments. The push pins worked better with flat pieces, while the straight pins allowed the larger ornaments to hang freely. Although the ornaments were in place, they did not create a tree shape. After looking through my Dollar Tree collection, I found white trees and snowflakes. I used the white trees to make an outline and filled the remaining empty spaces with the snowflakes, which created the desired effect. I love the way it came out and look forward to making it a part of my Christmas decorations for years to come! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. As always love to hear your comments. What do you think of this idea? How would you use it?

A few weeks ago, I made the decision to repaint my entryway. I chose Nightingale Gray and Ottertail from Home Depot and painted sample squares on the wall. In the morning, I opted for Ottertail due to its contrast with the white moldings. Instead of my usual deliberation, I painted one wall and the stairs quickly. Unfortunately, I realized I didn't like the Ottertail color after finishing the entire entryway. At that moment, panic set in. Not only did my husband and I have a trip planned to New York City, but the holidays were approaching. What was I thinking! After calming myself down, I managed to put it out of my mind during our trip, which turned out to be wonderful. However, upon returning home, I had to confront the situation and make a decision. While I appreciated the dark color in some parts of the entryway where the contrast was striking, there were areas, like the painted stair treads, that I disliked. It meant repainting walls, stairs, and even the ceiling, but in the end, I was satisfied with the result. Would I go through this process again? Ideally, I would say no, but given my impulsive nature reflected in my blog's name, "Impulsively Creative," who knows what the future holds! Let's see what I ended up doing. This is Ottertail by Behr that I painted on the stair treads. It looked good to start but was too dark in the end. I tinted the ceiling paint with Absolute Zero by Behr in multiple rooms and love the softer look it gives compared to stark white. Recap of what I did: Repainted stair treads back to their original color, painted all the walls in the entryway Ottertail except for the wall going upstairs, the wall on the side of the stairs, and the wall leading into the kitchen from the entryway. Also painted the French doors white and tinted the ceiling blue. We added a small shelf using corbels that I purchased at the “Purple Painted Lady". I chose this artwork because it needed color, and I happen to love both prints. If you enjoyed tis post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

When it comes to completing a room, I often turn to artwork. Although artwork can be expensive, I have managed to find some beautiful pieces at affordable prices by seeking out bargains and thinking out of the box. Speaking of great deals, I recently bought a piece of art for only $7 at Goodwill. While I wasn't fond of the original print, I loved the frame. My initial idea was to replace the print, but then I considered using decoupage to cover it instead. I decided to go with the latter option. Let's see how it turned out: This is the print and frame I mentioned earlier. The art inside is titled Young Woman At An Open Half Door by Rembrandt. While I prefer not to paint over existing artwork, the piece had some damage that eased my conscience. Using spackling, I filled in the marks, then lightly sanded. To protect the frame, I taped all around the inside so as not to get paint on it. With everything prepped, I said goodbye to Young Woman In An Open Door whichthen started to paint (all products used will be listed at the end of the post). Once the canvas had dried overnight, it was ready to be decoupaged. Starting from the bottom and working my way up, I applied a thin, even layer of wallpaper adhesive. I then used a large chip brush to smooth out the paper. While the process may seem tedious, it is important to take your time. Rushing through can lead to rips, bubbles, and wrinkles. This advice is based on my own experiences. You may have seen that the decoupage paper was smaller than the frame. Not to worry, I used acrylic paints to match the background color and blend it seamlessly. Here she is! A beautiful piece of artwork added to my home, which totaled thirty-seven dollars: $7 for the frame and $30 for the decoupage art. So worth it! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products Used:   Girl With the Pearl Earring from Etsy- Margarita Posh Chalk Deluxe Decoupage Paper.   Roman Wallpaper Adhesive Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint

After all the repairs I had to do last week on the secretary desk, I thought this week would be a breeze. Not so much! I took a video of myself painting the desk with Annie Sloan Oxford Blue paint and dry brushing with Athenian Black, Napoleonic Blue, and French linen. Unfortunately, I could not get the video to load. I also did not take pictures so there is no footage of me painting. Sorry! I did capture the rest of the process so let’s get to it! Where it started. In this picture you can see how I dry-brushed using Annie Sloan Athenian Black, French Linen and Napoleonic Blue to give it depth. To update the desk, I removed the cubbies. I felt most people wouldn’t use them and it allowed for more workspace. See what I mean about space! I wanted to brighten up the inside so I decoupaged using Blue Flight by Decoupage Queen. Working in a small space was difficult I had to realign the paper a few times. Once the paper was dry, I used a sanding brick to remove the excess giving it a clean line. The big reveal! I love it! Remember to like my blog and share it with friends if you enjoyed it!

Decoupaging was the easy part of this makeover. The hard part started when I began to add chalk paint to the decoupage, and it started to bubble up. It was not happening to the decoupage on the wood just on the glass. The good news was after the paint dried the bubbling disappeared. But the added dry time made the process much longer than expected. But the results were worth it. T he next time I attempt to add decoupage to glass, I will spray shellac first to create a barrier between the glass and the decoupage. First a recap before the reveal: This is the cabinet I started with. Next time I will spray on shellac before decoupaging. Applying decoupage. Using acrylic pants, I extended the artwork to cover to cover the entire front of cabinet. The finished piece! I loved working on this piece. It enabled me to experiment with blending colors but most of all it gave me the freedom to let go. I was working up to the last minute so there is a little bubbling near the top but once it fully dries it will disappear. If you enjoyed this blog, please like it!

It’s that time of year to get ready for summer ! I have already been working in my gardens but now it is time to tackle the patio. It needs a good clean and a pop of color. Let’s see what I did! The first part of the cleanup was the windows that look over the patio. They had collected a lot of dirt over the fall and winter months. I used vinegar and water and microfiber cloths . A friend told me about the microfiber cloths. They do an amazing job! Nothing like clean windows! Our wrought iron table and chairs also took a beating over the winter and needed repainting. Using a wire brush, my husband smoothed out any rough edges and loose paint before spraying. Then he used RUST-OLEUM flat black to spray paint them. We always use RUST-Oleum on our outdoor projects. It goes on easy and wears well. The patio set after painting. It looks brand new ! Ready to pressure wash the patio. I was smart this time and wore boots. The last time I used a pressure washer my feet got soaked. Once you get everything set up it is fairly easy to use. What a difference! We went to Wayside Garden Center in Macedon, NY, to pick out flowers for the two large urns on the patio. Originally, I was going to buy individual flowers and create my own design, but quickly changed my mind when I saw the hanging baskets. It was the same price as buying individual plants, and they were already mature, so it was a no-brainer. When I got home, I removed the pot and plopped it right into the urns on the patio. Easy-peasy! I also picked up two ferns to add to the mix . Here is the finished patio. The best thing is I only had to purchase flowers and plants. The rest I just shined up! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

I was planning on writing about my cottage garden in my blog this week, but heavy rain kept me indoors last week. Not a bother though. I just chose one of the many projects that are bouncing around in my head. In this case, an accent wall in our family room. I have done accent walls in the past only to have an uneven transition between the two colors. I was able to fix it, but it took many do overs until I got the sharpness I was looking for. To avoid having to redo the wall, I used a technique I saw on You Tube on how to create a the perfect edge. Let’s see how the technique worked: This is the wall in question. I like the color in the room, but I always felt like the couch and lamps disappeared against it. I chose Ottertail from Behr. It is a complimentary color to Doeskin also by Behr which is already on the other walls in the family room. I taped off the baseboard and crown molding. Then I abutted the tape between the two walls. This part is key to using the technique I spoke of. Once the tape was on, I applied the paint color that is already on the wall (Doeskin) to the edge of the tape to create a seal. I was skeptical but had nothing to lose at this point, so I started painting. As I was painting, I saw the couch and lamps started to pop against the color. Done! All that’s left is to pull off the tape (fingers crossed). I would say painting over the tape was a successful technique! No do overs needed! I never would have thought an accent wall would make such a difference. It not only draws your eye in it also makes the room look bigger. The couch and lamps definitely don’t disappear into the wall now. Love the change! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

For over a decade, I've been refinishing furniture and sharing my projects on "ImpulsivelyCreative.com". Limited by space, I've worked on small projects in my office and dining room, or outdoors weather permitting. Now, my husband and I are converting the garage into a year-round workspace to accommodate my growing workload and desire for a dedicated office, freeing up the dining room. The first thing we had to do was rent a POD to store everything that was in the garage. I thought it was too big, but it was barely big enough for what we needed. We will definitely be reorganizing and purging before everything goes back in the garage. I forgot to get a picture of the empty space, so I took a quick picture before the framers got started . The electrician surprised us with two options: breaking through the drywall ceiling or burying the wires in the ground in front of the house. We chose the latter, which proved to be a better alternative to than opening up the ceiling. We are electrified! Then the inspector came and required insulation to be buried outside of the exterior walls to help keep the heating/cooling from leaking out of the concrete slab floor. This meant cutting the driveway across the front of the garage and digging up our plants on the outside wall. This time the plants had to be removed. I left my Hydrangea bush but tucked it into a box for protection. Insulation is done on walls and ceiling. After it is all inspected and approved, then comes the drywall! Look for Part Two coming soon! I hope... If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

I never thought I would be a “real” gardener. I thought I would have bushes, pots on the front stoop, and maybe some flowers for curb appeal. But here I am with three good-sized gardens (at least that’s what I would call them): one is 22′ x 20′, another is 25′ x 8′, and the third is 23′ x 7′. I have to admit I am enjoying myself. It is hard work, but I like digging in the dirt, breaking a sweat, and feeling tired in a good way at the end of the day. As a plant novice, I'm learning to care for them properly by considering factors like height, watering, sunlight, feeding, and maintenance. To keep track of everything, I'm creating a plant map and journal for my gardens. The map is essential for me because I can never remember what is planted and where, so I have to wait until they start to grow to figure it out. I am hoping the journal will make me a better gardener by recording what works and what does not. It will also give me something to look back on to see my progress and prevent me from creating yet another garden when I look back at how hard I worked on the other three. Front Garden Map Cottage Garden Map Back Garden Map (AKA Mom-Siegel's Garden). I ordered this journal from Amazon. With this journal and my garden maps it should help me learn how to become a better gardener. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

Our garage conversion is finally finished. It took longer than expected but was worth the wait. Let’s see how it looks! In order to be able to work in the garage year-round. The garage was insulated, dry walled and heat and air condition were added. One thing I asked for is to have the bottoms of the trusses in the garage to be left visible. I wanted them to look like beams across the ceiling. They said not an issue and actually thought it ended up looking pretty cool. While construction was going on, I painted the breakfront from my office and two shelves I got from Good Will to get them ready for the space. I picked a beautiful shade of blue to compliment the paint color in the garage. I also painted the cabinets we already had in the garage black. It looks fantastic! To finish it off we found a worktable on Facebook Marketplace and two stools at Good Will . The finished product. Everything really works well together. Look at my beams in the ceiling! I can’t wait to do my first project here . Now that I have new physical space to work in, it is time to redo this digital space also. On December 8th, the creative process of redesigning my website will kick into high gear and “construction” will begin. The build out will take place and continue through the holidays and the month of January. I am so excited to share my new site with you in 2024. Be on the lookout for the announcement ! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like' and subscribe to receive new post as they are created.