French Inspired Altered Clipboard



Bonjour les amis de chalets (Hello cottage friends),

Can you tell I'm feeling a little French today?  The reason lies with the lovely French mademoiselle on my altered clipboard.  She's patiently waited three months for me to embellish her. 

Right after I finished the French Script Bottle I found an old clipboard for 25 cents at a thrift store.  It was in the spring, and the song April in Paris was playing in my head.  I knew this was a sign for me to do another French Script Mod Podge project. 


I downloaded French Sheet Music and Antique Paris Fashion printables from The Graphics Fairy and did my Mod Podge thing.  I painted the clip a soft green, but I didn't like it, so I repainted it in ivory and I didn't like that either.  So, in my typical I'll-wait-until-I-feel-inspired-again fashion, I set Mademoiselle Clipboard aside. 


In the meantime I had collected some odds and ends for crafting -- a little doily, a baby food jar filled with old buttons -- all found at thrift stores (I'm frugal like that) -- and I dried some pink carnations (I'm frugal like that, too). 

Inspiration hit Sunday afternoon.







I like the way Mademoiselle Clipboard turned out.  A little shabby chique using crafty things I had on hand.



This project took about an hour to complete, start to finish.  I like that.    How much time do you like to spend on a project?





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Every Room In The House Party - #8

Watermelon Propane Tank  - A clever disguise by Terry at Forever Decorating



Hello Cottage Friends,

Welcome to the August edition of Every Room In The House, the place where we party all month long in a theme room.  

Have you been enjoying the many pleasures summer offers us?  I appreciate the opportunity to slow down and spend more time outdoors, and  I enjoy the fresh vegetables and fruit of the season so plentiful in our area. Watermelon is a definite favorite, and how about Terry's sweet Watermelon Propane Tank in the header photo? Not for eating, but it certainly is a cute and clever disguise.

Today begins a new Every Room In The House party.  August's theme room is The Laundry. This is a chance to show us where you do your laundry, share laundering tips and organization ideas, or  inspiration photos of what you'd like your laundry room to be. After all, inspiration is what this party is all about.

Before we get August's party started let's take a look at the outdoor spaces that were shared last month.  

And, please, if you're going to pin. . .please pin from the blogger's original post site and not from here.  Thanks!


The top three most viewed posts

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Jann at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson has a knack for creating fun and inviting spaces.  Her outdoor living room from Making Room (s) part two. . .the Living/Dining Room is no exception.  I love Jann's use of color and whimsical vintage accessories in this delightful space.




I like sun porches, don't you?  Julie at Renaissance Mermaid gave us a tour of hers in Sun Porch Serenity.  This sun porch is filled with inspiration.  From the new paint color on the floor to the carefully chosen accessories, Julie shows us how to, indeed, create a serene living space that relates to the outdoors.  Oh, and don't miss the fabulous dresser that graces her sun porch.




One look at this mah-vel-us porch and the surrounding garden in Garden Sanctuary and New Lounge Chair Slipcover and I was ready to pack a bag and head for Kris's Junk Chic Cottage.  Her romantic porch and gorgeous garden is a feast for the eyes.  Really. 




More Outdoor Inspiration 




I have a thing for garden art and architecture.  It does so much to personalize and give character to outdoor spaces.   After Terry at Forever Decorating received some old windows from a builder friend she designed this cupola for her garden.  You can see how she made this charming garden feature at The Making of My Garden Cupola.




You can see more of Terry's lovely garden in Backyard Gardens 2013.


 
Stacey at Poofing the Pillows shared her outdoor living space in On Our Patio.  Reading her description of sitting with her husband on their lovely patio with a glass of iced tea,  "surveying" the surroundings and counting their blessings sounds like the perfect way to relax.


Old louvered bi-fold doors repurposed into a garden screen

And the inspiration just keeps coming with Old Louvered Doors Repurposed.  Marie at Interior Frugalista scored some free bi-fold doors from her neighbor and with the help of Mr. Fruglista built this very attractive fence.  Aren't the birdhouse finials neat?  This is so creative.


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Jann's cute sink planter with the "dirty dishes" gives a whole new meaning to kitchen garden, doesn't it?  See more of Jann's quaint outdoor kitchen, including a vintage stove and herb garden, in her post Creating Rooms in the Garden part three . . .The Kitchen.


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Jann created an outdoor parlor, too.  I can only imagine how much fun her grandchildren have when they come to visit.  That screen door is calling my name.  Now how can I get it out of there without Jann noticing?




The Queen of DIY Anne at Design Dreams by Anne showed us her blooms and potting bench, signs and gates, and even her pretty kitty at In the Spring Garden.  Wait until you see how she used an old door for her garden gate. 





Laurel at The North End Loft put her photography skills to work in A Peek Into My Summer Garden.  The photos of her lovely garden are breathtaking.  Obviously her gardening skills are just as fine tuned as her photography.




Kim's Summer Cottage Yard Tour at Exquisitely Unremarkable is a must see.  From the sparkling pool to the cool, green yard and cheery flowers, this outdoor space is a summer delight.  Kim's husband installed a pond and made a frog fountain out of an old cement ornament his grandmother had in her yard.  So sweet.




Since I don't have an outdoor space yet, I took everyone on a tour of 20 Cottage Gardens that Inspire.  

And that wraps up July's Every Room In The House party.  I want to say how blessed I am to have you share your lovely spaces here at my little get together.  You're all amazing, and without you I'd just be a wallflower at this party, sitting alone on the sidelines. So, thank you!

If you were featured, please grab this button.

A Joyful Cottage

To all who visit and leave comments, thank you very much.  It makes me happy to read them.

Ready to start a new party in The Laundry Room?


Every Room In The House is a monthly link-up party with a theme room for each month.  This month we're partying in


The Laundry Room


Show us your laundry room or share your laundering tips, organization solutions, or photos of your dream laundry room.  Whatever you have that fits the laundry category, we want to see it.



Please only add links that relate to this month's theme Laundry Room.

The party will be open all month.  Bring a friend!
Please remember to put a link in your post back to A Joyful Cottage.  That's necessary to be featured.

Sharing at these lovely parties:
Monthly Sunday's Best Part.ay.  1st Sunday of Every Month, 9:00 a.m.!