While looking at Pinterest for ideas on ways to celebrate losing a tooth, I kept running across the idea of 'Tooth Fairy doors'.  I gave Macy the options of us making a pillow (with pocket) or a pouch of some sort to hang from her bed or a fairy door.  I barely got the word "fairy" out of my mouth and she was sold! 

Knowing that the day was quickly approaching, I hurried to Hobby Lobby for the basic supplies.  The rest I had at home.  I purposely used colors that were gender-neutral so that Evan can use it in the future as well.  It turned out that I stayed up late the night before she lost it, hot-gluing and painting like crazy.  Pizza at lunch the next day did the trick.

That night we put the Tooth Fairy door on Macy's nightstand.  She placed her tooth on a small Barbie pillow near the door...ready and waiting....with a note asking if she could keep the tooth.

In the morning we were shocked to see LOADS of star-shaped glitter (which trailed through the hallway and into Macy's bedroom), two gold coins and a Hello Kitty tooth brush.  Oh!- and a note!!!  The Tooth Fairy congratulated Macy on losing her first tooth and encouraged her to keep brushing every morning and night.

Upon finding all of this, Macy yelled for me so loud that she made me jump!

Priceless.

Here's the scoop:

Use a 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby to purchase a dollhouse door.  It comes with the frame/molding and hinged door.  Adhere it to a wood plaque (also from H.L.) with wood glue.  Paint away.  I added felt clouds with some hot glue.  The doorknobs are painted thumb tacks.  Using some paper clay I had here at the house, I sculpted a tooth and, once dry, I painted it and added glittered card stock wings.  The door is decorated on all sides.

Make it special:

On the bottom of the wood plaque (which I left unpainted), I used permanent marker to note the date and 'Macy's first lost tooth'.  With each tooth that is lost in the future, I will note 'Macy' or 'Evan' and the date they lost their tooth.  Hopefully this tooth fairy door will become a wonderful keepsake that brings back magical memories.

Although I LOVED the polka dotted valance, giant hand painted dancing poodle mural (complete with matching polka dotted skirt) and hanging A-Z letters (which I collected from various craft stores and vintage shops), it was time to celebrate Macy starting school with some fresh new bedroom decor.

It took a funky princess fabric to really get the ball rolling.  Rather than sew the window valance, I tried something new for me... Stitch Witchery's Fusible Bonding Web.  I burned the dust off of my iron, took my time, used the web and it turned out like a dream.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The A-Z letters were taken down and, for the record, my husband didn't give me one ounce of grief over the umpteen million holes in the wall that had to be filled in.......and then I bought a few more letters and spelled out "ONCE UPON A TIME" on that same wall.  -With no comment from my husband.  :)

We all said goodbye to the poodle and painted the entire wall a charcoal grey....which I don't have an official paint name for because it was a mix of leftover entry way paint and master bedroom paint.  The paint looked amazing, but like a blank canvas to me.  So, with a trip to Gordman's and supplies I had around the house I decided that the only solution was......GLITTER!!!!

I know that I should have purchased/used primer prior to painting the metal stars, but I was just too excited and decided that I was going to give it a shot.  I painted one star a pink, one a limey green and the largest star a metallic gold.  It took a few coats and the star cut-outs were a bit of a pain (because the paint dripped to the backside), but all-in-all it went well.

Using a foam brush and Elmer's glue (thank you Walmart for your school sale), I brushed on glue on a section or two of the star at a time.  Over a piece of large paper I shook the glitter onto the glued areas and carefully patted it with my hand.  Of course, I funneled the leftover glitter back into the jar and still can't believe how little I used.  I had been worried about just how much my little jars of leftover glitter would cover.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the paint and glitter adhered to the metal stars.  I'm still debating on whether I should spray them with a matte spray to help the glitter stay put, but we'll see how they hold up.  I was SOOOO excited to get them up on the wall!

Oh the photos just don't do them justice.  They are divine.  My mind is whirling with the possibilities!  Seriously.....I have been bitten by the glitter bug BAD.  I can't wait to visit some thrift and vintage shops to see what things can be coated in glitter and given a new life.  I envision a huge 3' owl statue...wouldn't that be awesome?!...coated in black glitter for Halloween!  I wonder if I could do a LARGE star like these, only with alternating red and green sections for Christmas?.....my front door would look FAB-U-LOUS!!!  Ideas?  

Although I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get into the studio each day and create, it just does not happen.  I'm trying hard to 'go with it' and make the time count when I am able to paint.  I remind myself that 'each step is in the right direction'.  So, even if I'm able to just base coat a handful of items in one day or varnish a few pieces another day, at least I'm moving forward toward work goals.

I've changed a few major things about my work habits this season.  I try not to work in the evenings.  It's not good.  I'm definitely more creative in the mornings and after all these years, I'm tired of bucking that.  In addition, after going to physical therapy last fall, I decided to not work on the floor anymore.  Even with many tables set up, I would find myself placing my large wood painting on the floor to paint.  My shoulder decided to scream at me.  So, I've tried to listen. 

With my anxiety building (about getting enough artwork created for fall) I keep trying to breathe and tell myself that all will work out.  I am happy that I have that excitement for creating and that the ideas are flowing.  Time in the studio will come.

I am gearing up for fall boutiques!

I've been picking up some fun things to paint on here and there, but decided to make a stop at Lowe's/Home Depot the other day to finally dive into getting some wood cut for large paintings.  I LOVE that they will make cuts for free.  Of course, you can't get too crazy or they start charging, but it is such a relief to have them cut huge sheets of wood down to 'painting size' right there at the store. 

Of course, our trip was followed by me pulling off to the side of the road on the way home because the wood was trying to jump out of the back of the truck, but that's another story. 

After getting everything unloaded and into the garage I spent a good chunk of a day sanding like a crazy woman.  Afterward my hand was a bit numb (no kidding) and my ears did that weird 'I've just been to a rock concert' thing, but I was SO excited to have the wood ready for paint! 

In the next few days I want to get things base coated.  I'm going to try something new...rolling on the base coat with a house paint.  Once the base coat is on I usually get a surge of creative energy and have a hard time sleeping until my thoughts are sketched/painted.  I keep reminding myself that fall shows and deadlines are right around the corner, so rather than make myself go bonkers I'm trying to get a jump on things now.  Wish me luck and stay tuned....I'll probably be posting images of pumpkins in August and snowmen in September.  :)