My Top Ten of 2010

I thought I'd get into the end-of-the-year action, by showing you my  
Top Ten Projects of 2010. I  started my blog in August, so I have only a few months to pull from. Even still, it was hard for me to narrow things down.
Here are my favorite things I made this year:

Furniture Redos:

1. $25 Buffet Makeover

I love how it turned out and I guess others did too. This was my most popular post of the year. I still need to line the cupboards and I just found the perfect wrapping paper to do that. I'll have a post about it in the new year.

2. Embossed Dresser

 This is a bold foray into color. I have yet to find a way to tie it all in to my room, but that's on my list for 2011. I also have the perfect paper for lining the drawers. Also upcoming in 2011 is how to do the embossing on wood. I have 3 separate techniques to show you.

Home Decor Items

3. Metal Bling Basket

This was a wild thought I had to take a stab at basket weaving, and hey, why not start out with a super easy medium like, say, pipe strapping?! I'm kind of a dork that way. But it worked and we've been using it to hold various electronic bits and pieces ever since.

4. Brace & Bit Coat Rack

 

The mirror shelf, the entry way table (small amount of blue tile you see in the photo above), the topiary - I didn't do a post on this one. Do you really need to see me shoving plastic boxwood pieces into styrofoam? and the candle globe were also projects of mine. After months of use on the coat rack, I'm going to need to find a different support for the braces. The pipe strapping is not tight enough and the weight of the coats is starting to stress the strapping, but I love both the form and the function of this coat rack.

5. Hobnail Lamps and Beaded Lamp Shades

 If you read the lamp shade post, you will know that an extreme amount of patience is required for this project. To keep it real, I will admit that I have yet to make a second lamp shade. I'm still traumatized by the first one. It's far too precise a project for me to pull off a second time. I'm keeping my eye open for some new frames (with side supports) to use. I also had a brain wave for a new lamp shade for these lamps that is very froufy and girly. I want to try it. I'm sure those will be 2011 projects.

Seasonal Projects

6. Pumpkins, Pumpkins and More Pumpkins

Faux Mercury Glass Pumpkin

This little guy drives hits to my site. I've been debating giving my piano a similar treatment.

 

Liberace Pumpkin
It remains my absolute favorite stolen acquired pumpkin. In fact, it's still holding on strong. I kept it out through Christmas because it's such a cute little pumpkin that I didn't care if it wasn't fall any more. I figure as long as the pumpkin doesn't rot, he has a place on my buffet.
Long live Liberace!

Copper Pipe Strapping Pumpkin

I gave this one away and I'm certain I'll make another one next year. I love the industrial look to it. This is another pumpkin that will last the season. Denise at Junk Dog Design, who won the pumpkin, told me it has a permanent spot in her home. She's not limiting this guy to the fall.


7. Wreaths

Burlap and Bling Wreath
I've never been much of a wreath person, but all the beautiful wreaths in Blogland had me itching to try my hand at one. Since I have to world's drabbest front porch, the wreath adds a little magic there.

Christmas Cardinal Wreath

After I pulled down the fall wreath, I knew I needed one for winter. I saw one in the blogsphere that I liked (bad blogger - forgot to bookmark the inspiration piece). This is my interpretation of it. Even though the ribbon says "Ho Ho Ho" and all my Christmas stuff is packed away, this wreath is going to stay on my door for the winter.

Fru-Gal Advice

8. How to Shop Craigslist

This was my third most popular post. I love shopping Craigslist and I think it's a great resource for items for the home, or really just about anything you want to buy.

9. How To Fix Veneer

My Embossed Dresser started out very warped and damaged. I showed you how to fix damaged veneer. In the end, I made it look like this:

It makes me happy every day to see the shimmery, pretty dresser I now own.

10. How to Repair Broken Porcelain

I'm super happy with this fix. It was pretty easy to do, although the gluing part must have taken time (not my doing). This redo is better than the original!

Hmmm.....that's more than 10 favorites. I have a lot of favorites, okay? I've been a busy girl this year and I have lots of great plans for 2011. I just finished another embossing on wood technique that I'm excited to share with you, and I have a couple of reupholstering jobs up my sleeves, and...well, I think another post is in order for my 2011 plans.

Thank you so much for joining me on these adventures of mine. I love your encouragement and support. It makes me happy to share what I've learned to help others in their own DIY journey.

Happy New Year!

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