I HAVE actually been keeping up with DOING the weekly challenge, I just haven't been quite as good about blogging about them.

I grabbed a 3-ring-binder I had already and dressed it up with some white vinyl I cut with my trusty Cricut :)  Inside holds a ton of information and some forms that I'm trying out to see which ones best fit our needs :)

We actually have 3 spaces to our launch pad, all within about 2 steps of each other.

The first is this cabinet that I found at a garage sale last summer.  Inside the doors is a huge basket that holds all of our scarves, gloves, hats, baseball gloves, etc.  I'm still looking for the perfect baskets for the shelf underneath.

Second is the antique 5 paneled door that I hung sideways and attached 5 vintage door knobs and plates to.  Each family member has their own knob to hang their coat on, and there's a bench underneath to sit and take off snow pants, boots, etc.

And lastly is the paper station.  This crib spring holds work schedules, important school notes, lunch menus, etc., and magazines and misc papers go in the basket to be sorted.  This bench is also where I set my purse - it's out of the way but still accessible.

I'm still working on Week #3 (this week) so stay tuned!

I just wanted to do a quick share on this.  

I took an old canvas print (cheap, like from the dollar store) that I'd taken down when redecorating my dining room (glad I saved it!  There I go sounding like my mom again!) and painted it with a base coat of Dover White (my favorite spray-on white if you haven't guessed yet).  Then off to the Sure Cuts A Lot software I went, and made an "eye chart" with words from the hymn...........His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me...............

Anywho, I whipped those letters out on some brown vinyl with my Cricut and applied it to the canvas.  I then adhered the canvas to the window with the help of some Gorilla Glue.  Then  I put on the brown and white polka dot ribbon for a little extra :)  I'm thinking about making some fabric flowers for the bottom right corner.  We'll see.

I thought it was both a good play on words (you know, His eye, watches me, eye chart.........nevermind, I thought about this way too much) as well as a good reminder.  I enjoy seeing it as it rests in front of the firebox (it's a non-working fireplace)..........much better than seeing a black hole :)

Luke 12:6 says:

I admit that after all of the Christmas was down from the fireplace, I was feeling lost as to what to do next.  It's too early to put up springy stuff...........but Christmas was over and done.  So I decided to go with a fairly "stark" winter look.

I left up my "window turned kinda-sorta mirror" that I had up during Christmas (one of my many old windows that I painted on the back with brushed nickel spray paint).  

In front of it I took a frame I had on hand that I spray painted dover white and staple-gunned sticks to on the back (you can see that there are several that poke out the front too - I think it gives it a little whimsy).

The wreath is actually made of an embroidery hoop and fold-over lunch baggies (I know right?  There's a tut at Family Fun).  I had it on the front door during Christmas and decided it went really well with the wintry mix I was going for!

Last but not least is a set of 4 canvases I made to represent the 4 seasons.  I just picked up 8x10 canvases in the craft dept. at Walmart (they come in packs of 2) and used a graphic I found online and my nifty cricut with black vinyl.  Eventually I want to make an arrangement on the wall with them and put the verse from Ecclesiastes on how everything has a season.  But for now I like them resting against the other layers on the mantel :)

I have ZERO inspiration yet on what I'll do for spring..........good thing I've got a little bit!

Donna @ Funky Junk Interiors and Marian (Miss Mustard Seed) @ Mustard Seed Creations are hosting a "Copy Me" Challenge & Linky Party in honor them each hitting 4,000 followers!  Just mimic their style, post it up, and link to their celebration/party post!

First up for me, Funky Junk............since I crave many of the same things as Donna (rust, wood, junk ;) ) this was easy peasy!  When my end table in the living room busted awhile back, I knew exactly what I would do - and I instantly thought of Miss FJI! 

I bought 7 or 8 wooden crates at a sale last fall and they've been sitting in the garage waiting for me to get inspired ;)  I grabbed the two heftiest ones, flipped them upside down and WAHLAH!

The crate on the bottom was a milk crate, from Lucerne, with beautiful metal edges.

The top is an old (very worn) Pepsi crate.  Look at all of that wear and tear and use, gorgeous!

Up top rests a lamp, a galvanized something-or-other (?), and a thrift store frame with a V-day printable - just a touch of the holiday :)

Inside the galvanized something-or-other rests 2 old milk jars and 2 old canning jars (complete with zinc lids).  In this shot you can see more of the chippy, well loved paint of the old screen door that rests behind (it has one of those old metal "turn me" door bells and it works!  Great until the 4 year old rediscovers it!).  I left the screen in the door and hung a grapevine wreath from the chain at the top.

Let's drool take another look at the awesome texture and age in this vignette...........

Does that not just SCREAM FJI???  

Yup, I thought so too :)

Now to work on Miss Mustard Seed...........stay tuned!

I'm linking this post up to Funky Junk's Copy Me Linky Partay!