Eightymillion

A DIY craft and photography blog. Dogs included.

My Life With Dogs: Easter Egg Hunt (2014)

The weather was gorgeous today so we decided to have an egg hunt for the boys.  They loved it!  And of course I had the camera out. Enjoy the video and pictures.  Happy Easter!
P.S. The basket was mine from when I was little.  So yes, it’s vintage!

Things That I Found in My Parent’s Basement: 13 Pieces of My Past

Yesterday I spent a few hours in my parent’s basement organizing everything.  One pile full of Vintage treasures that need to come down to the shop, Christmas decorations, and a pile of my brother and sister’s school awards and yearbooks.  I was making good time until I came across several of my childhood toys, dolls, and music related items.  So, of course the first thing I thought of would be to create a post with everything I found.  It wasn’t until I got home that I noticed that I had thirteen images total.  Once again my lucky number finds me first.
In regards to the super awesome silk screened KISS wall hanging pictured above, it belongs to my brother.  I’m prepared to fight for this because I would love to have it.  I will update you on how this turns out.  Please pray for me!
Remember Musicland?  That’s the place that I gave up about half of my paycheck to every two weeks buying all the new releases on cassette tapes.  I have a old Panasonic stereo system that I scored at a garage sale last year.  Mostly for playing my vinyl and cassettes.  I couldn’t help but to chuckle when I came across this Vintage Billy Idol.  It still plays.  
Yes,  I was a NKOTB fan.  No, Donnie wasn’t my favorite.  He just happened to be at the bottom of a box.  I think all of my NKOTB memorabilia was handed down to one of my cousins.  That’s where the other half of my paycheck went to.  Buttons, sheets, posters, etc.
Michael Jackson Beat It Doll.  No glove or microphone, but it’s still cool.
An unopened box of valentines.  Notice on the box where it says two teacher cards included.  Reminds me of how we came home from school with a list of everyone’s name in our class for a Valentine’s exchange.  Remember sliding the suckers in with the cards?  I wonder if the younger grades still participate in this activity.
One of my favorite television shows was Alf.  This hand puppet was from Burger King.  You can see the tag to the left of the image.
It’s funny when you find some articles of clothing that are actually back in style.
Marie Schulting was my Dad’s Mom.  I recognize some of these scarfs from seeing photographs of her.  
A handmade poodle skirt that I wore to a school dance.  The doll has one to match.  Notice her hairstyle is very “Madonna like”.
If you grew up in the 80s then you had a cabbage patch doll.
Barbie dolls and the handmade bedding.
Barbie doll accessories.  My Mom was a Tupperware dealer.  So we had everything from the company station wagon to the keychain mixing bowls (pictured above).
Musical vanity sets.  It still played when I opened it.
This made for a fun Saturday afternoon.  There are still some items that I’m looking for.  Like my photos from a High School trip to Chicago.  And those that I took when Slaughter was here in town.
I hope to someday locate both of them.
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY Inspiration: Budget Friendly Room Makeovers: Part One

I received two pieces of vintage furniture from my parents this year for my birthday.  I’ve admired the red bench that my mom has in her entryway for quite some time.  Now I have my own.
**Special Note:  Whenever I take my camera out to capture images of my dogs they take off running.  Unless treats are involved.  When I prepare to photograph something else, they want to be included.  Funny creatures they are.    
I have this little room in the back of the house that I use to store all the dressers, shoes, laundry, etc.  The bench will be placed under the window.  I’ll be making some curtains and pillows.  I have a cute idea for the window that doesn’t like to stay up.  Notice the gorgeous pink cups that I use to hold them up?  My house is a rental and I don’t like to ask the landlord for anything unless I really need it.  Therefore, making minor adjustments to fixtures is fine with me.  Brings out the creativity.  
SOFA TABLE!  I was searching everywhere for one of these.  I refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for those offered in big box stores.  My parents found this one at a garage sale.  It’ll probably stay this color, but not sure.
**Notice Hardy running to get in this picture?  Disco beat him to it.
The sofa table will go in front of my picture window.  I have to keep something here to prevent the dogs from jumping at the window when anything passes.  Leaves, squirrels, the mailman they all go bat shit crazy.  The exercise bike and tv tray look so tacky, so this will be a major improvement.  A table runner will also be made.
I’ll be back with part two after the makeovers are complete.  Keeping my costs as low as possible (of course).  Most likely the update will be published in the Spring of 2013.  Love that word, Spring.  I’m not adjusting well with the cold.  The back porch windows are sealed up with plastic.  The pillows, curtains, and table runners will make a nice project this Winter.  
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY Outdoor Recycling Inspiration: Think Spring, Part One

Has cabin fever set in?  It has here and I can’t wait for Spring.  Mother Nature has been dishing out some funny weather, so I decided to look back on projects that I did in my yard last year.

I try to recycle everything in some way.  The vintage doors were given to me from my mom.  They were already hinged together with the flower box attached.  The only thing they needed was some color.  So, I found a quaint little corner in my yard and added some flowers.  The silver teapot was a $5. Ikea find.  Love that store!  The greenery is from Hobby Lobby.  

My favorite part of the door is this pair of crocks I found at the thrift store for $1.00.  Instant flower pots.

A local downtown business had a pile of bricks in their alley.  One day I decided to call the owner (whom I knew) and ask if she had plans for them.  Sounds crazy, right?  Well, they are now mine. Score!  Again, another instant flower pot.  I lined them along the sidewalk by my back door. They fit the length of the walk way perfectly.  I “thought” they would serve as a distraction to the dogs and prevent them from jumping off the edge. Perhaps encouraging them to use the steps.  No, didn’t work. They jump even higher now over them.

And then there’s the garden.  The best part of spring.  This was the third season for planting and as my three beloved dogs got taller the need for a taller fence grew as well.  My neighbor had multiple pieces of a dog kennel leaning up against her house.  I asked her if she would be willing to sell some of it.  She told me that it was free if I could make it disappear.  Another great find!  But I couldn’t take it for nothing.  A case of cold beverages put a smile on her face.

So, my boyfriend and I found the pieces we would need to complete our project.  We relocated our exiting garden by expanding it to the corner of the yard.  Therefore, we only needed panels to cover two sides. And we were lucky enough to find a piece with a gate. It helps with the maintenance.

A new season brings new projects.  There will be a part two to this post.  I have additional recycling projects I’ll share as soon as the snow melts and the ground softens.  And yes it involves me asking people for their junk.

Do you have any outdoor projects to share?  Feel free to share links for your projects in the comment section below.