My Version of a Photo Ladder

Back in the spring… my gracious neighbor gave me these

nice tree branches.

Well… they sat on the back porch for awhile as I contemplated what to use them for.

So back in the summer… when it was like 100 degrees I finally decided to build this.

 

Basically, my hubs cut the pieces I needed and I nailed it together.

IT IS PURELY A DECORATIVE PIECE.

so…

WARNING:

No climbing on this ladder!

After I got it assembled… I didn’t know what to do with it.  I really didn’t have a place or a plan for it yet.

So it sat out on the back porch with me staring at it for months.

And then finally it came to me… a photo ladder and a possible place in the dining room.

So I went out and bought some ingredients I needed…

and then got to cookin’.

All I did next was (after measuring) predrilled a small hole in the branches and photo frames and then screwed in screw eyes.

I had originally planned to use S hooks to link the frame to the steps but because my steps had different heights… it didn’t work out.

So I used hemp string I bought at Walmart a few weeks back.  I actually like it better than the S hooks.

Next,  I painted my photo frames white and then picked out some black and white photos of our wedding and put them in.

I had some berries left over from my White Cradle Centerpiece (Click here)

and just stuck them on.

But wait… I’m not through.

I want your opinion!

My hubby and I cut some pieces of wood from some branches outside.  I had planned to glue them on the photo frame to make it look more rustic.  I used a white wash over them.

Here are some just taped on…

Not sure which way to go??

SO…

what do you think?

With

or

without

the stumps of wood?

Thanks For Stoppin’ By!

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Apples and Berries + Doll Cradle = Table Centerpiece

For those who read my blog, you know I have been slowly working on my dining room.

Changing things up a bit… as I like to do.

Well, one thing I wanted to create was a colorful centerpiece for the table…

as I hinted in my color challenge post.

I found this old doll cradle at Goodwill for $3.00.

I’m not sure if it is antique or not… but…

I decided to paint it white and give it a distressed look with walnut stain.

I then watered the white paint down and brushed it over the stain… my version of white wash.

Next…

it was time to gather the ingredients.

I already had a candle… I just needed a few extras.

So off to Walmart and Hobby Lobby I went.

Bag of fake apples: $10

Box of small apples: $5

Both at Walmart

(They look so real!)

Berries/floral:  @ $.50 a piece (Hobby Lobby sale)

Fabric (which is actually a pillowcase) found at Goodwill… the closest I could get to ticking fabric.

I decided not to use the cinnamon sticks in the photo.

And the branches… well they were free of course… compliments of my backyard.

When the cradle was dry… with the help of my blow dryer…  I stuffed it with packing paper and put an egg carton in the center.

Basically, I needed a flat base to sit my candle on.

But the carton was too long so I cut the egg carton in half and centered it in the middle…

on top of another full carton.

I put my pillowcase over the the whole thing and tucked it in around the edges.

Next…

I just added all the other ingredients and voila…

my new centerpiece.

Now you may be wondering about the rocking? 

I took care of that… wouldn’t want a fire happening here!

I put a piece of cut brown felt under the legs… works like a charm.

 

It adds a nice splash of color in this room.

This centerpiece is so versatile, too…

you can leave the apples but use different liners and add other “ingredients” to make a new look…

especially for different seasons…

which is what I love!

I think it has a modern yet primitive feel to it.

I love my new white cradle centerpiece!

Now… it’s off to work on the kitchen table centerpiece!

Thanks For Stopping By!

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