On the 9th Day of Christmas...

*i love tilt shift photography it is so fun to play with*

On the 9th Day of Christmas... Santa's elves are just about done making Jayna's present. We have been trying to squeeze in time to work on it in here and there in-between shopping, making neighbor gifts, mailing gifts out, going to a live nativity, visiting friends, and trying to catch the Christmas mouse that decided to join our family this week. But tonight all we have to do is cut the bead-board and attach it to the back of each kitchen piece. Friends and family keep asking for a sneak-peek though so here are some pictures to hold you over until I can take pictures of the finished kitchen tonight. 

Straight From the Factory

Don't you just love this nightstand I bought for Jayna's big girl room I am working on? The color is great and the finish is factory perfect. You know you can make and refinish furniture, but the finish and quality of already made store bought furniture is way superior.

NOT!!!

That is just a $10 yard sale find that I painted.

This post is going to rock your painting world...

Upholstery Reveal!

BEFORE

I got my living-room chairs back awhile ago, but have been trying to wait and show you the whole room makeover, but now that some projects are on hold and the Halloween decorations are up, I decided I can not wait any longer and have to at least share my chairs with you.

Two Down - 5 million to go!!

It is no secret that I have a major chair problem. In-fact the husband has currently banned me from any purchases that involve a raised surface used to sit on. When I see a cute old chair sitting at a thrift store or yard sale with its sad tattered upholstery and worn chipped paint I can not help but rescue it and bring it home to have a warm place to live once again. I am like a cat lady, but with chairs. My whole garage and basement is just full of the little suckers. I keep trying to explain to the Husband that chairs to me represent entertaining and filling my home with places for family and friends to gather and enjoy one another. So far he is not getting it. I have saved us a ton on chairs though.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I was looking back through past garden posts and realized I have failed to post about buying and planting everything in my garden. We have had some weird weather here in Utah this spring. In-fact a week or so after planting everything the weather hit freezing and it snowed, but I am happy to report that it looks like all my tomato plants have survived.

And the Winner is... / May Giveaway

SARA

Congratulations Sara! Please contact me so that we can get started on getting you your cansolidator.

For everyone else here is your consolation prize!

Annie Get Your Gun!: Gun Cabinet Makeover

I finally finished the gun cabinet! It was not that it was a hard task I just kept piling projects on top of projects and this one ended up at the bottom some how. I loved how it turned out and sincerely thank the old Grandpa or teen wood-shop student for making it for me. Remember how I bought this for only $35.00 at DI awhile back? You have to love having a vision for old things.

Pantry Makeover & Cansolidator Giveaway!

Cansolidator Giveaway!
Giveaway is now Closed

The winner of this Giveaway will receive a Shelf Reliance Cansolidator of their choice.

Featuring SmarTrac technology, the Cansolidators are a front-loading system that automatically rotate up to 60 cans. The adjustable, expandable, stackable system takes the hassle out of can rotation and allows you to organize cans the way YOU want. The Cansolidators are easy to assemble and guarantee a more organized pantry in minutes. Sturdy, compact, and reliable, the Cansolidators are the perfect stand-alone solution for any pantry.

To enter this Giveaway and see my pantry makeover and experience with Shelf Reliances Cansolidator System click the Read more button below.

Bake Sale: Sold Out!

The Bake Sale was a big success! I sold out of everything we had by three and had to hide a cupcake for myself. I couldn't believe that I had made the perfect amount of everything. Although a lot of you wished I would have made more cookie mix jars (maybe next year). We raised a little over $300 which I thought was great for a one women small neighborhood Bake Sale! Thanks Everyone!!!

Check Out My Newest Sponsors

If you haven't noticed I have three newer sponsors on my side bar. I am so excited to have them onboard, and am even more excited that they are all local and run their businesses out of Utah. Please check them out.

Put a Wrap on it is a cute little business run by Brenda McQueary that makes custom candy wrappers. Put a Wrap on it is ready to add fun to your candy with designer looks, by turning ordinary candy bars into memorable and personal gifts or favors in a few simple steps. I had her send me some custom wraps for the Bake Sale that is this Saturday and boy was I impressed.

"All is Safely Gathered In": Family Home Storage

I am so excited to announce that the Bird and the Berry will be partnering up with a local Utah company Shelf Reliance. We are still working out all the details, but are both excited. I can tell you that there will be awesome giveaways and a chance for everyone to save on their products in the future.

SHELF RELIANCE is a company that specializes in food storage, storage rotation, and emergency preparedness products. If you are Mormon or live in Utah those words are old hat, if you are not check this out to learn more about how you and your family can become self reliant. It is less about religion and more about being prepared.

With Shelf Reliance that task may have just gotten a lot easier for all of us. After months of planning, testing, and experimenting, Shelf Reliance has come up with the perfect answer. I introduce to you …

Kids Picnic Bench: Finished and Painted

I finally finished painting Jaynas picnic bench. My husband thought I was crazy to do two coats of paint, antiquing, glazing, staining, and two coats of top coat on an outdoor kids picnic bench, but I love how it turned out.

I am hoping this will be one of those items that Jayna will want to pass down to her kids someday. I built it well enough and treated it well enough that it could be. That is if I can part with it and the memories it will hold by then of her being a little girl playing in my backyard.


For Painting Technique How To Click the Read More Button Below...

April Giveaway: Citristrip

Our first Giveaway starts NOW!

Brought to you by...

The winner of this Giveaway will receive a half gallon bottle of Citristrip Stripping Gel.

Which is a powerful, industrial-strength remover. It is easy to use because it stays wet and active for up to 24 hours, allowing stripping of multiple layers in one step. It contains no methylene chloride, is non-caustic and is safe for indoor use. This special orange stripper has a pleasant citrus scent and is also biodegradable. I have used it for many of my projects and have talked about it on the blog before. I am so excited for one lucky reader to be able to try it out! Citristrip products are available for purchase at both The Home Depot and Lowe's and can be purchased online at The Home Depot.

This Giveaway will end on April 17th at midnight mountain time.

Open to United States residence only.

How to Enter Giveaway:

1. Become a follower of the Bird and the Berry to obtain one entry for this Giveaway. If you are already a follower of this blog you will gain an entry as-well.

2. Visit the Citristrip website to learn more about their products and leave a comment on this post to obtain a second entry to this Giveaway.

The winner of this Giveaway will be announced on Monday April 19th.

Good luck!

Our First Giveaway!

I am so excited to be announcing that the Bird and the Berry will be having its first giveaway next month! Brought to you by my sponsor

I will be giving away a half gallon bottle of citristrip gel.

Which is a powerful, industrial-strength remover. It is easy to use because it stays wet and active for up to 24 hours, allowing stripping of multiple layers in one step. It contains no methylene chloride, is non-caustic and is safe for indoor use. This special orange stripper has a pleasant citrus scent and is also biodegradable. I have used it for many of my projects and have talked about it on the blog before. I am so excited for one lucky reader to be able to try it out! Citristrip products are available for purchase at both The Home Depot and Lowe's and can be purchased online at The Home Depot.

The giveaway will start on April 12th and end on April 17th at midnight. You can secure one entry for this giveaway RIGHT NOW by becoming a follower of this blog (button located in the side bar).

More information on rules and how to gain other entries for this giveaway will be provided in the official contest post on April 12th.

Knock Off Wood

If you have not heard of the Blog Knock Off Wood you need to get with it. In my opinion it is the biggest thing to hit the DIY Blogging world in a long time.

Ana of Knock Off Wood an Alaskan mommy and wife to a carpenter handy-man took things into her own hands one day when her husband wasn't getting around to fixing some porch steps, and just fixed them herself. Ana has been doing woodworking ever since and now her passion for knocking off high end furniture lines (hmm hmm Pottery Barn hmm hmm) has spilled over into the blog world and is inspiring everyone. Ana has full how to plans for beds, dressers, dining-room tables, office systems and more available on her blog, for get this... FREE!

My list of things to build off her site is a mile long. Starting with all the furniture for my soon to be craft-room of my dreams. However I did see this cute little kids picnic bench on her site and had to build it for Jayna.

It was a great starter project to get my feet wet, and went fairly well. I only needed the Husbands help to cute four pieces, and am sure that what I learned while doing this project will just make me better on the next. It is all about not underestimating yourself or your abilities, and that could be the single reason why Ana's blog is so popular.

I have already ordered my Milk Paint and Exterior Top-Coat in Buttermilk Yellow for the picnic bench, and with the help of Jayna have already distressed it a little. I didn't know a two year old could do such damage banging an old hinge on wood. Oh-well.

I encourage you to check out her blog, but only if you are ready to triple your to do list.

Check Out My Sponsors!

I am so excited to have two great sponsors for my blog!

I have been talking and talking about General Finishes and am now so excited to be-able to feature more of their products on my blog in the future. I have heard and seen so much about their milk paints and can not wait to get my hands on some, and see how great it is first hand.

Park City Reservations is a wonderful vacation home rental site that you just have to use if you are coming my way. They have wonderful reservationists that can take care of all your vacationing needs here in Utah, or you can take care of everything yourself on-line.

Does it strike anyone else as funny that both of my sponsors have birds in their logos? I didn't plan it that way, but I do have to say that I love it.

A big THANK YOU to my sponsors. I look forward to our ongoing partnership.