TV Tray turned Checker Board Game

When I first came across this TV Tray I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with it, but then I came across a wood checker board. It fit so perfectly inside of the tray that I decided to make a fold up game table. I love playing games and at our house we seem to always run into storage issues, so I thought this folding TV Tray would work great for any household. I also decided to come up with a way to keep everything stored together, so I added magnet strips on either side of the game board and made checker pieces out of bottle caps, so when not being used they can be sit on the magnet strips. This game table measures 21"wide x 15"deep x 25" tall and I am selling it for $79. Below are some before and after photos...

Sorry, I don't know why it is downloading sideways, but here I painted and distressed the tray and added the magnet strips...

I distressed some paper and used Mod Podge to glue it to the tray and it hides the magnet strip pretty well.

I painted and distressed the checker board, layered it with Mod Podge for durability, and glued it to the tray. I also painted bottle caps, added a paper insert, and coated them with Mod Podge for durability.

Here is what it looks like finished and folded up!

A few fun seasonal items

Are you looking for a few last minute Christmas gifts? Here are a few fun seasonal items that I have for sale. Let me know if you are interested in any of them or if you have any questions. Most of these items are currently at Studio B and are gift ready. I will be at the Studio on Thursday, Dec. 22nd from 4:30pm-7pm if you would like to stop by. If you need anything before then, email me at judesigns@hotmail.com and I can arrange a time to meet you.

I am also currently working on a website that will list all of the items I have for sale and will have a gallery of items I have made over the past year. Here is the link to the website: Dippity Dot Creations.

Christmas Decor 2011

Christmas is almost here and things are hustling and bustling. I love to decorate for the Christmas season, so I thought I would post a few photos of how I used my Christmas decorations this year. My husband has put a kibosh on me buying any new decorations because he doesn't think we have any more room to store them, so as I mentioned last year I challenge myself to use the decorations I currently have and come up with new ways to use them to decorate. It usually takes me a day or two to complete the process, but I am usually tickled at the outcome. And by the way, as long as I don't get anything big, I can usually sneak in a few new decorations. ;)

I am always on the look out for neat centerpiece ideas that aren't going to cost a lot. How many of you are currently using Pinterest.com? I have immensely enjoyed looking through hundreds and hundreds of great ideas that are floating around on the internet through Pinterest and that is pretty much where the idea for this centerpiece came from. I really like the look of stacked glass plates, cake stands and bowls and adding colorful bulbs, greenery, and sprays. So that is what I did here. The wood deer I found on sale after Christmas last year for 80% off, so I snatched it up and it is small enough to fit in the Christmas tubs for storage so it won't upset my hubby. :)

Last year I posted a bulb wreath I made for under $30 and I loved it so much above the fireplace that I put it there again this year. On the mantel this year I added some glass vases and jars. On one of the vases I glass etched it with an ornament design and filled them with beads and bulbs. Two of them are sitting on a couple of white ceramic candle holders I found at a local thrift store. I also added some greenery, sprays, and beads to add color to the length of the mantle.

Here is a photo of the mantle, tree, and spot above our back door we like to decorate with a nativity set and lights.

Our two parakeets were running around while I was taking pictures, so I thought I would snap a shot of them kissing under the Christmas tree.

Here are some more decor snapshots, enjoy!

My son loves using the countdown calendar I made a few years back to keep track of how many days until Christmas and this year I displayed my Noel plate I made last year beside the fridge.

Here is the last photo and it is of the centerpiece I have on our kitchen table. I absolutely love the saying hanging on the tree..."The magic of Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence." Have a wonderful Christmas season!