WhisperWood Cottage

THE TALENT SCOUTING PARTY: "All Things Kitchen" Winner of a Feature in Cottages & Bungalows Mag

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Congrats to Susan of Maple & Magnolia! You are the winner of the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party, which means your project will be featured in Cottages & Bungalows magazine! We absolutely love your gym locker storage solution for your ironstone and linens!

Susan, please display your winner button proudly! You earned it! Shoot me an email to get the feature process rolling!

Thanks to everyone who linked up! You were inspiring beyond words! Check out all the finalists...

...and all the projects linked up to the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party.

Keep these dates in mind for upcoming Talent Scouting Parties and more chances to win your own magazine feature:

July...Fall and Halloween

Specific dates to be announced. Old and new projects welcome!

Get event details under the Get Scouted! tab.

"All Things Kitchen" Finalists: Top Contenders for a Feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:48:00 +0000

It's that time! Time to announce the top contenders for the magazine feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine! From all the fantabulous projects linked up to "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party, the field was narrowed to the projects below based up on the following criteria:

Innovation
Usefulness
Adaptability to any cottage style
Budget friendliness
Quality of the project/craftsmanship
Quality of the photos
Entrant follows all party rules

The winner of the magazine feature will be announced Monday, May 14, right here on the WhisperWood Cottage blog. Check out these contenders! One of these talented ladies will be featured in an upcoming issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine! Pin your favorites and stop by their blogs to tell them how awesome they are!

Listed in order by their numbers in the "All Things Kitchen" linky party, here are the top contenders:

#23 Thistlewood Farms

#36 Mod Vintage Life

#46 Pretty Handy Girl

#58 The Quaint Cottage

#64 Homeroad

#71 The Virginia House

#77 Adventures in Creating

#87 Funky Junk Interiors

#89 Five Days...5 Ways

#121 Curb Alert

#155 French Country Cottage

#156 Beyond the Picket Fence

TOP CONTENDERS, GRAB A BUTTON!

Thanks to everyone who linked up! The winner will be announced Monday, May 14.

Yes, there will be more chances for you to win your own magazine feature. Take note of this upcoming Talent Scouting Party:

July...Fall and Halloween

Specific dates to be announced. Old and new projects welcome!

Industrial Shelf Solution for Guest Bath Storage

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:16:00 +0000

Remember the project I teased you with waaaaay back in January? Yes, January. Eeesh. Well, we finally got around to getting things finished!

We started with this metal flanges, rods, and tips (left), coated them with primer (center), and then coated them with a layer of oil-rubbed bronze spray paint (right).

The intention was to add more shelf storage to this wall in the tiny guest bath. The photo above shows you what we had before. It was nice, but there was not enough room to hold all the necessities that a guest bath needs.

When we took down the shelf that was there, we ended up having to patch some holes! :) Then we mounted the painted brackets to the wall, attached two self-adhesive rubber dots (like these) to each bracket, and topped them with glass pieces cut to size.

Then I added a few accessories...

The round glass and metal item above is a vintage soap dispenser. The round piece at the bottom would mount to the wall. Then the person would swivel the glass ball downward, so that soap would come out of the metal tip.

The vintage scale on the left is German. I found it on my recent junk adventure in Pequot Lakes, MN. It is the perfect size for holding wash cloths.

An antique tobacco jar hold cotton balls. Next to it, a potted plant nested in my red jute webbing flowerpot slipcover.

BEFORE AFTER

So, how's that for a 4-month project?

10 Unique Kitchen Island Ideas: Features from The Talent Scouting Party

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Here is the fifth set of features for the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party! If you missed the first four, check them out at:

Today is all about islands...not tropical islands...kitchen islands! Enjoy the inspiration from these talented bloggers...

IKEA cart remake at Homeroad

Pallet kitchen island at Beyond the Picket Fence

Adding carrera marble at From Captain's Daughter to Army Mom

Pallet & barn wood island at Quilted Pieces of the Past

Back-to-back vintage teacher's desks at The DIY Showoff

Repurposed kitchen island at Blue Chateau Interiors

Clever rolling pin towel rack on the butcher block island at The Texas Woman

Vintage wine barrel topped with marble at MT Tails

DIY metal topped island PART 1 and PART 2 at Sharon's Wannabe Cottage

Birdcage pot rack above the island at The Little Brown House

TALENTED BLOGGERS,
GRAB A BUTTON!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN

KITCHEN PROJECTS TO SHOW OFF?

Only 1 day left to link up!

The Talent Scouting Party @WhisperWood Cottage is scouting for talented bloggers who would like to be published in Cottages & Bungalows magazine! Current Scouting Event: All Things Kitchen! "All Things Kitchen" means whole kitchens, kitchen makeovers, kitchen islands, kitchen furniture, kitchen decor, kitchen DIY, kitchen organization, kitchen solutions, or any kitchen project (EXCEPT recipes or food-related projects). Projects can be newly or previously completed. If you linked up a kitchen project to the last Talent Scouting Party, you can link it up again as long as it fits with the kitchen theme.

Only 1 day left! Linky open through April 30!

Click here to check out the projects and/or link up your own for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

More features coming up, so please stay tuned here at the blog! If you want, you can also follow along on the WhisperWood Cottage Facebook page.

WhisperWood Cottage Winner Featured in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Do you remember when Roeshel at The DIY Showoff was announced the winner of the 1st Project of the Year Party at WhisperWood Cottage in January/February? As part of the grand prize package, Roeshel won a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine! Well, the new issue of Cottages & Bungalows just arrived in my mailbox...and here is Roeshel's project in her very own 2-page spread...

Congratulations, Roeshel! It's exciting to see your name and ingenuity in print! Keep posted for the next issue of Cottages & Bungalows, which will be featuring two more WhisperWood Cottage winners of The Talent Scouting Party and their winning flea market transformations.

WANT TO WIN YOUR OWN FEATURE

IN COTTAGES & BUNGALOWS MAGAZINE?

2 days left to link up your kitchen projects!

Only 2 days left! Linky open through April 30!

Click here to check out the projects and/or link up your own for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

More features coming up, so please stay tuned here at the blog! If you want, you can also follow along on the WhisperWood Cottage Facebook page.

20 White Cottage Kitchens: Features from The Talent Scouting Party

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:45:00 +0000

Here is the fourth set of features for the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party! If you missed the first three, check them out at:

This set of features focuses on something that is quite popular among the cottage-loving crowd: white kitchens! Bright white, off white, and classic white...

The Vintage Farmhouse

TALENTED BLOGGERS,
GRAB A BUTTON!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN

KITCHEN PROJECTS TO SHOW OFF?

Only 4 days left to link up!

Only 4 days left! Linky open through April 30!

Click here to check out the projects and/or link up your own for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

More features coming up, so please stay tuned here at the blog! If you want, you can also follow along on the WhisperWood Cottage Facebook page.

15 Creative Window Treatments: Features from The Talent Scouting Party

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:09:00 +0000

Here is the third set of features for the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party! The first set showcased 10 Kitchen Details to Obsess Over. The second included 10 Salvaged, Pallet & DIY Wood Projects. This set is all about creative window treatments. We're talking burlap, no sew, tutorials, awnings, shutters, and even tea cups! Enjoy the inspiration!

$7 burlap coffee bean sack window treatment at Funky Junk Interiors

Striped awning at Recaptured Charm

Sunny yellow pattern and polka dots at It's Overflowing

Washi Tape window treatment at The 36th Avenue

Linen and shutters at Thistlewood Farm

Patterned faux Roman shade at Classy Clutter

Simple jars on the window sill at Finding Home

Colorful kitchen awning tutorial at Five Days 5 Ways

Suspended tea cups at Debbiedoo's

Hand-painted inspirational valance at Small Moments

DIY Roman shades at The Leaning Cottage

No sew curtains at Inspire Me Heather

Tin tile and iron bracket shelf at Maison Decor

Feminine burlap drapes & $1 Restore valance at Classy Clutter

Vintage yardstick, ironstone, and burlap window treatment at JunkFest

TALENTED BLOGGERS,
GRAB A BUTTON!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN

KITCHEN PROJECTS TO SHOW OFF?

Only 6 days left to link up!

Only 6 days left! Linky open through April 30!

Click here to check out the projects and/or link up your own for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

More features coming up, so please stay tuned here at the blog! If you want, you can also follow along on the WhisperWood Cottage Facebook page.

Get Caught Up on My Occasional Sale Adventures!

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:01:00 +0000

Junkologie Adventures Update:

Check out my recent adventures in Buffalo, MN!

Click the link below each image see more photos from each store!

MORE BUFFALO OCCASIONAL SALE ADVENTURES COMING UP!

Stay tuned on my Junkologie blog or on the Junkologie Facebook page.

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Link up your kitchen projects through April 30.

Winner wins a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Take me there!!

10 Salvaged, Pallet & DIY Wood Projects: Features from The Talent Scouting Party

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Here is the second set of features for the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party! The first set was all about 10 Kitchen Details to Obsess Over. This set is all about amazing kitchen projects made with wood. Most are made with salvaged wood from barns, chicken coops, pallets, and doors. Three thumbs up for these wonderful bloggers!

Salvaged barn wood vent hood at The Texas Woman

Pallet scraps turned kitchen organizer at Beyond the Picket Fence

Wine barrel island at MT Tails

Pallet wood backsplash at Circa Dee

Salvaged wood from 100-year-old chicken coop becomes butcher block counter top at Keeping It Cozy

Unused space becomes cookbook storage/display at Sugar & Spice in the Land of Balls & Sticks

DIY wood countertops in the pantry at The Quaint Cottage

Paneled door pantry at Lisa's Creative Designs

Salvaged doors for the pantry and kitchen closet at JunkFest

Pallet & salvaged wood ideas at The Space Between

TALENTED BLOGGERS, GRAB A BUTTON!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN

KITCHEN PROJECTS TO SHOW OFF?

Linky open through April 30!

Click here to check out the projects and/or link up your own for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

More features coming up, so please stay tuned here at the blog! If you want, you can also follow along on the WhisperWood Cottage Facebook page.

10 Kitchen Details to Obsess Over: Features from The Talent Scouting Party

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:58:00 +0000

Here is the very first set of features for the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party! These features are all about details over which I am obsessing! I want to find, make, or use every one of these projects/details...

Insanely cool gym locker storage unit at Maple & Magnolia

Wire basket tutorial for above the fridge storage at That's My Letter

Ironstone pitcher window treatment at JunkFest

Fabric backed open cabinets at Pretty Handy Girl

Industrial pendant light tutorial at Virginia House

Demijohn pendant lights at Eclectically Vintage

Unexpected ornate mirror in an all-white kitchen at Vintage Farmhouse

Tea pot collection display at The 2 Seasons

Sheet metal island counter with vintage red and green accents at Sharon's Wannabe Cottage

"Midnight Beach" themed kitchen at Burlap & Denim

See what I mean? These are clever, talented, and inspiring bloggers!! More features coming up, so please stay tuned here at the blog! If you want, you can also follow along on the WhisperWood Cottage Facebook page.

TALENTED LADIES, GRAB A BUTTON!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN

KITCHEN PROJECTS TO SHOW OFF?

Linky open through April 30!

Click here to check out the projects and/or link up your own for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Medical Tray Magnetic Message Center in the Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:27:00 +0000

Hello, there! Thank you to everyone who has linked up to the "All Things Kitchen" Talent Scouting Party so far!! Holy amazing projects! I'm drooling over all the white kitchens, carrera marble and wood countertops, industrial touches, and unexpected details. Get your kitchen projects linked up for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine! I'll be featuring a few kitchen projects here on the blog later this week! :)

Inspired by all the projects, I started going back through old blog posts to see what other kitchen-related projects I've done. I found this one that I did back in August of 2010 for The DIY Club. Have any of you been around here long enough to remember this one?

I had four vintage medical trays, which were calling out for a repurpose. I added a DiscHanger to the back of each.

I also whipped up a few of these domino magnets...full tutorial here and used them in conjunction with these vintage number flashcards I used to have.

A few extra details and voila...a vintage medical tray magnetic message center...

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN

KITCHEN PROJECTS TO SHOW OFF?

Linky open through April 30!

Click here to check out the projects and/or link up your own for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Junk, Flea Market, and Thrift Store Adventures at Junkologie.com

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:53:00 +0000

Did you know I have a second blog? Check out my junk adventures over at Junkologie.com!

Here's an example of what you'll find...

My most recent post:

Junkologie Adventures: Second Hand Rose in Buffalo, MN

***************************************************************

Remember to link up your kitchen projects through April 30.

Winner wins a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Take me there!!

THE TALENT SCOUTING PARTY: Open Call for "All Things Kitchen" (Linky now closed.)

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:56:00 +0000

"All Things Kitchen"

Winning project will be featured in the September issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Link up April 9-30. Top contenders announced May 7. Winner posted May 14.

"All Things Kitchen" means whole kitchens, kitchen makeovers, kitchen islands, kitchen furniture, kitchen decor, kitchen DIY, kitchen organization, kitchen solutions, or any kitchen project (EXCEPT recipes or food-related projects). Projects can be newly or previously completed. If you linked up a kitchen project to the last Talent Scouting Party, you can link it up again as long as it fits with the kitchen theme.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Innovation
Usefulness
Adaptability to any cottage style
Budget friendliness
Quality of the project/craftsmanship
Quality of the photos (great tips at Donna's workshop series on point & shoot cameras)
Entrant follows all party rules

RULES & POLICIES

Key rules for participation:

Submitted entries must be relevant to the theme. You may link up as many relevant projects as you like.
Projects must be your own work.
You must include the linked party button in ALL linked project posts. Including the linked party button in your sidebar is also appreciated.
Appreciated: Please be a follower (via Linky Followers and/or Google Friend Connect) of WhisperWood Cottage.

Event Policies:

Posts must meet the rules above and be approved before appearing on the linky. Projects that do not follow the rules will not be approved for the linky party and will not be eligible for inclusion in the top contenders or as the winner of the magazine feature. If your project is not visible within 48 hours of linking, check rules 1-3 above. Make any corrections and send us an email letting us know that you did so.
By linking up, you give WhisperWood Cottage permission to feature your project photos here on the blog.
If you are the winner, you agree to provide Cottages & Bungalows Magazine with quality photos of your project in a timely manner for publication. Minimum size: 8"x10". Minimum dpi: 300.
Party organizers reserve the right to modify the rules at any time without prior notification.

BUTTON REQUIRED IN EACH LINKED POST

Here is the button you should include in EACH of your linked posts.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES BY LINKING UP BELOW
Note: Thumbnails will not show right away. Posts must meet the rules above and be approved before appearing on the linky. Please see rules and policies above.

Reminiscing: The Kitchen Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:23:00 +0000

In the spirit of the upcoming "All Things Kitchen" talent scouting event for Cottages & Bungalows Magazine, I thought I'd adapt previous posts that captured the kitchen update a few years ago at WhisperWood Cottage.

When we moved into this home, the kitchen was one of the first things that needed immediate attention. The leaky faucet spewed water at its base whether it was running or not. We had to keep a towel wrapped around the faucet at all times. The countertops were old and grimy. Their forest green color, combined with the dark wood cabinets and pine clad ceiling, made the room too dark and drab. We wondered whether the installers were drunk during construction because the counters were soooo unlevel. Here are some before/during shots...

the before/during photos:

During the cabinet painting process.

My mother-in-law helping! She rocks at anything DIY!

I could NOT wait to get the kitchen makeover started! Once it started, I wondered if it would ever end!! The painting of the cabinets seemed endless! Three coats total...1 primer coat and 2 paint coats for each cabinet and cabinet door. After comparing the before photos in STAGE 1 with the photos below, the painting was definitely worth it!

the after photos:

Like those industrial stools? Found them all at Junk Bonanza...the four of them within five minutes of each other from two different vendors. It was meant to be!! They replaced some pine and woven stools that had come with the house. When I found these industrial lovelies with their rustic blue/green patina, well...need I say more?

The big letter "I" over there on the wall was from an occasional sale in Buffalo, MN. The white metal shoe stand (holding the plant) was from Texas Antique Weekend, and the brass bell was a steal of a find at a local antique store just days after we first moved in.

Hey, look, is that an actual cookbook out on the counter? Calm down! It is for display purposes only. DISCLAIMER: No cookbooks were harmed in the making of this post.

If you look over the sofa above, you can get a sneak peek at the fireplace reno that was happening at the time and is now completed.

You'll notice I don't keep a lot of stuff out on the counters. The simpler the better in my book. Even the toaster has a home when it's not being used. I picked up the vintage canisters for a song. They are perfect for holding RJNJ's coffee, coffee filters, and sugar for his morning pick-me-up.

Several years ago, I had one snarky commenter tell me that my kitchen doesn't look lived in. Well, she/he might be right. It doesn't always look this clean, but it makes me smile when it is. And why would I show photos of a dirty kitchen when I'm showcasing a makeover? I'm pretty sure that y'all know what dirty dishes and crumb-filled counters look like, so there's no need to feature them here! :) FYI, snarky comments will be deleted, because we keep things positive around here!

The apron above? Laugh it up, sister! I'm laughing with you, because you know I don't wear aprons...mostly due to the obvious fact that I don't really cook. If you notice the fabric, it has the cutest little coffee cups, too...and I don't drink coffee. Then why oh why (the world collectively asks) do I own this coffee-themed apron? It all happened one fine day, while I was innocently surfing the web and came across Dianne's apron post. The colors, the stripes and patterns, the shape of the garment, and the quality of the sewing...I just loved it! Maybe some day, when I am channeling my inner June Cleaver and want to give the world a chuckle, I might put it to use. (Just don't hold your breath.)

I also have a penchant for special brass and copper items. {sigh} 'Nuff said, right?

At some point, we switched out the builder's grade light for this star shaped pendant.

Y'all know I have a penchant for vintage signs and typography, too, right? This depression era sign was added above the sink for a little vintage whimsy.

I've realized that when it comes to making over your home, it doesn't have to be about spending a lot of money. It's about adding your touches (as simple as they might be) to each room. A coat of paint, a vintage piece, or simple organization that makes the room function for you. It's about creating a space that whispers, "Welcome home" every time you enter.

P.S. See how the kitchen was transformed for the holiday season!

P.P.S. WHERE'S TANNER: It's your day to play "Where's Tanner?" (you know, like "Where's Waldo?). Did you see him in one of the photos above? I didn't see him until now...the little sneaker! If you didn't see him, go back to find out "Where's Tanner?"

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN

KITCHEN PROJECTS TO SHOW OFF?

The Talent Scouting Party @WhisperWood Cottage is scouting for talented bloggers who would like to be published in Cottages & Bungalows magazine! Next Scouting Event: All Things Kitchen! "All Things Kitchen" means whole kitchens, kitchen makeovers, kitchen islands, kitchen furniture, kitchen decor, kitchen DIY, kitchen organization, kitchen solutions, or any kitchen project (EXCEPT recipes or food-related projects). Projects can be newly or previously completed. If you linked up a kitchen project to the last Talent Scouting Party, you can link it up again as long as it fits with the kitchen theme.

Linky opens on Monday, April 9!

Master Bedroom Makeover Tour

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:48:00 +0000

Welcome to the full tour of the master bedroom makeover at WhisperWood Cottage. We originally completed the makeover in fall 2010. Since then, we've added, changed, and updated a few things here and there. It is still my favorite room in the house.

Inspired by Donna's Saturday Nite Special Party featuring room makeovers, I thought I'd pull all the photos together in one place. I apologize for the so-so images...I've learned a lot about photography since the majority of these photos were taken. Most importantly, I've learned how to actually use my camera properly! It's amazing what I can learn when I read the instruction manual! :)

THE ENTRANCE
The new flooring and wall treatments make all the difference for creating the warm, yet bright and airy, feeling in this room! Tricia@Life At The Zoo got it right went she commented, "The more you break the room down, the more I realize that what I really love about it is the perfect balance of light and dark." Thank you, Tricia! I think that is what I love about it, too!

WALL 1
Here, we added a closet clad in horizontal planks and featuring a set of antique store-front doors. Now hubby has his own closet and we were able to get rid of an armoire, a cabinet, and a dresser that were holding his clothes beforehand.

WALL 2
We already owned all the furniture in this room except for the canopy bed. Everything else was found over the years at garage sales, estate sales, antique stores, flea markets, discount stores, and even ebay. The white bedding is a combination of TJMaxx finds and Pottery Barn clearance items.

WALL 3
My closet was clad in horizontal wood planks. The door treatment consists of a door rescued from a university renovation and a salvaged flat track and trolley from an 1800s barn that was being torn down.

WALL 4
A second school door and track/trolley set is now being used as the door to the master bath.

THANK YOU!
So, that's the tour of the WhisperWood Cottage master bedroom makeover! Thanks for visiting!

GET SCOUTED!: "All Things Kitchen"

From April 9-30, link up your kitchen-related projects for a chance to be featured in the September issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine! Click here for details. Click here for past winners, buttons, and FAQ.

Linked up at:

Dates Announced for the 2nd Talent Scouting Party: "All Things Kitchen" Opens April 9

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:36:00 +0000

Announcing the 2nd Talent Scouting Party Theme:

"All Things Kitchen"

The Talent Scouting Party @WhisperWood Cottage will be scouting for talented bloggers who would like to be published in Cottages & Bungalows magazine! I know how talented you are! I see it week after week as I make the rounds on the blogs. I want to help you get published!

Periodic party themes for upcoming issues of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine will be announced here at WhisperWood Cottage. Bloggers can link up projects that relate to that theme during the availability period. After the availability period ends, a list of top contenders for the magazine feature will be announced. From the top contenders, a final project will be selected as the winner of an upcoming feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine.

So, what theme is up next?...

All Things Kitchen! "All Things Kitchen" means whole kitchens, kitchen makeovers, kitchen islands, kitchen furniture, kitchen decor, kitchen DIY, kitchen organization, kitchen solutions, or any kitchen project (EXCEPT recipes or food-related projects). Projects can be newly or previously completed. If you linked up a kitchen project to the last Talent Scouting Party, you can link it up again as long as it fits with the kitchen theme.

Availability dates to get your talent noticed: Please get your kitchen projects ready to link up beginning on Monday, April 9. You'll have three weeks to finish up any projects and get those linked up, too! The availability party will end on Monday, April 30. Top contenders will be announced on Monday, May 7, and the winner of the magazine feature will be posted on Monday, May 14. The winning project will be featured in the September 2012 issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine.

Judges will pick the contenders and the winner based on these qualities...

Innovation
Usefulness
Adaptability to any cottage style
Budget friendliness
Quality of the project/craftsmanship
Quality of the photos (great tips at Donna's workshop series on point & shoot cameras)
Entrant follows all party rules

There are a few rules that participants will need to follow. You can review them now by going to the "GET SCOUTED!" page up under the blog header.

Show that you want to be scouted! Get a head start on the event by grabbing the button below for your sidebar...

Are you as excited as I am? I hope so!!

Linky opens on Monday, April 9!

Stay tuned to all the happenings:

Like WhisperWood Cottage on Facebook.

Like Cottages & Bungalows on Facebook.

Follow WhisperWood Cottage on Pinterest.

Why I Love The DIY Club

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:34:00 +0000

Hello, bloggy buds! If you've been around here for a while, you probably know that I am one of the four Official DIY Gals at The DIY Club. The DIY Club is celebrating it's two year anniversary in April, and I can't tell you how much fun and work it's been behind the scenes to orchestrate the fabulousness of The DIY Club with Cheri, Holly, and Roeshel.

Cheri, Roeshel, and Holly have become my DIY besties. They have been a blog family to me...honest, caring, and dependable. I have loved working with them, and I will miss being here with them as they continue The DIY Club journey. Yes, it is true. They are going to carry on without me. With love and respect, I say a tearful good-bye to them as fellow DIY Gals, though I am glad to say that we will always be friends. I know that you love them and appreciate their talents as much as I do. They are truly amazing women! Check out the kinds of things we have done over the past two years together and that they will continue to do with a grandeur that only The DIY Club can pull off...

What's also amazing about The DIY Club is the constant stream of inspirational projects using the products of our fabulous sponsors. The Official DIY Gals and the Resident Bloggers are talented ladies who love creating, creating, and creating some more. I started putting all my projects together one day, and I discovered I had posted 78 projects over a 24 month period at The DIY Club! Check 'em out:

AMY'S DIY CLUB PROJECTS, 2010-2012:

The events and projects above are like a journal of my time at The DIY Club. Each of them brings back memories of what was happening at the time, the camaraderie shared between the DIY Gals, the work (and lots of it!) that went into making things happen, and the commitment that we all share to doing creative things and doing them well.

As I say a tearful good-bye to The DIY Club as an Official DIY Gal, they will always have a special place in my heart, and I will always have a sense of ownership and caring about what happens there. I will continue to support them and their amazing events. Big hugs to all you DIY Club Members and the inspiration you bring to the DIY Project Party every month. Big hugs to the amazing sponsors who provide endless inspiration through your product lines. Big hugs to Roeshel, Holly, and Cheri, and the resident bloggers, who have become a blog family to me.

With love and respect,

Amy

Flea Market Workspace Solution for Small, High-Traffic Area

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:49:00 +0000

Have you ever thought about how to take advantage of those high-traffice areas, like hallways, that don't get used much other than getting from one room to another?

This is one of those spaces in our home. It is too narrow for a permanent piece of furniture, so it has just remained unused for the most part.

Well, here is an idea I decided to try out...based upon a flea market find from a while back. Actually, it is an occasional sale purchase.

See that galvanized metal box? I was told that it had something to do with dairy farms and receipts for the milk. It opens up like this...

...and you can store all kinds of things! Here are a few ideas:

note: postcards shown are from Amy at four corners design

4 IDEAS FOR REPURPOSING

A VINTAGE DAIRY RECEIPT BOX

STATIONERY STATION: Keep your stationery, greeting cards, postcards, pens, and postage in one area. Use it as a letter writing station.
BILL CENTER: Need to keep those bills organized? Store bills, the checkbook, pens, and a calculator. Use it as a bill paying center.
INSPIRATION BOARD: How about organizing all those magazine pages, room sketches, and other forms of inspiration in an uncluttered way? Sketch out your next inspired room or project.
KID'S PORTABLE ART DESK: Keep paper, scissors, etc. all in one place. Kids can create while it's hanging on the wall. OR grab it off the wall and take it portable!

Add a piece of artwork above.

Move in a stool from around the corner and, voila!, a usable workspace!

When not in use, it simply folds up and becomes part of the decor.

Do you have any other ideas for how this junk find could be used?

Tutorial for Efficiently Turning Old T-shirts into Rags

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:08:00 +0000

I pulled out the rotary cutter yesterday. Why? I was feeling kind. Not that feeling kind is a rarity for me, but volunteering to do "domestic" tasks is definitely a rarity! :) Like a good blogger, I had my camera at the ready to capture my excitement over this mundane task.

Ron had a stack of t-shirts that he was planning to turn into garage rags. He has always handled this task himself, but I thought I'd surprise him by doing it for him! So, of course, my plan was to figure out the most efficient way to take care of the task. After all, just because I'm volunteering to do it doesn't mean the task has to last longer than necessary! I've seen my mom use her rotary cutter for cutting quilt squares, so I thought I'd see how it worked for this process. After a trial and error process, here's the most efficient way I came up with.

SHORT-SLEEVED T-SHIRTS...

Fold the t-shirt in half (sleeve to sleeve) and make sure the outside edges are lined up evenly.

Line up the straight edge ruler parallel to the outside edges of the t-shirt and across the sleeve.

Leave about 1/4 inch of fabric between the edge of the straight edge and edge of the t-shirt.

Use the rotary cutter to cut from the middle of the t-shirt up through the sleeve.

Move the straight edge ruler down and cut the rest of the t-shirt to the bottom.

Rotate the t-shirt (still folded) 90 degrees.

Place the straight edge ruler about 1/4 inch below the collar,

keeping it 90 degrees to where the sleeve used to be.

Use the rotary cutter to cut away.

That will leave you with two squares of fabric.

The larger the t-shirt, the larger the squares will be.

LONG-SLEEVED T-SHIRTS...

For the main part of the shirt, follow the same instruction above for short-sleeved t-shirts. Then follow the instruction below for the long sleeves.

Stack one sleeve on top of the other and place them on the cutting mat as shown.

Align the straight edge ruler about 1/4 inch from the cuff seam.

Use the rotary cutter to cut the cuffs away.

Keeping the sleeves stacked, place the seemed edges of the sleeves to the right (if right-handed).

Align the straight edge ruler about 1/4 inch away from the seamed edges.

Trim with the rotary cutter.

That will give you good sized, but somewhat oddly shaped, rags.

THE OUTCOME...

From 11 shirts, I now have a total of 30 rags...22 large rags (made from the center parts of the shirts) and 8 smaller rags (made from the sleeves of 4 long-sleeve shirts). The scrap pile is on the right. The rags are now stacked in the garage awaiting the mopping up of oil, the cleaning up of paint, and/or the wiping down of anything grungy, dusty, or dirty. I hope Ron appreciates my small surprise. Small things can mean so much! :)

Do y'all make rags from old t-shirts? What's your system?

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Here's what's coming up in the next post:

Any ideas?

THE TALENT SCOUTING PARTY: Two Winners of a Cottages & Bungalows Mag Feature

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Are you ready to find out who won the feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine with their Flea Market Transformation projects? All entries in The Talent Scouting Party were amazing and the final top contenders were inspiring. You'll also want to check out the 12 Furniture Makeovers to Make You {Swoon}! and the 22 Sublime Junk-inspired Flea Market Transformations. Thanks to everyone who entered!

There were two projects who tied for 1st place. So, guess what! They both win a feature!

That's right, there are two winners!

Who are they? Congratulations to...

#137 Salvaged coffee door table at This (Sorta) Old Life

#169 Pallet wood outdoor sofa at Funky Junk Interiors

Rita & Donna, please display your winner button proudly! You earned it! Shoot me an email to get the feature process rolling!

Thanks to everyone who linked up! You were inspiring beyond words! Keep these dates in mind for upcoming Talent Scouting Parties and more chances to win your own magazine feature:

April/May...Kitchens

July...Fall and Halloween

Specific dates to be announced. Old and new projects welcome!

Get event details under the Get Scouted! tab.

Flea Market Transformation Finalists: Top Contenders for a Magazine Feature in Cottages & Bungalows Mag

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Are you ready for the run-down of top contenders for the magazine feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine? From all the fantabulous projects linked up to The Talent Scouting Party for Flea Market Transformations, the field was narrowed to the projects below based up on the following criteria:

Innovation
Usefulness
Adaptability to any cottage style
Budget friendliness
Quality of the project/craftsmanship
Quality of the photos
Entrant follows all party rules

The winner of the magazine feature will be announced tomorrow night...March 21. In the meantime, check out these contenders! One of these talented ladies will be featured in the July issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine! Pin your favorites and stop by their blogs to tell them how awesome they are!

#35 Flea market ladder vignette at Life as a Thrifter

#40 Red & white chair at Leone Design

#68 Family room mantel at It's Overflowing

#77 Vintage crate and wire basket shelves at A Sort of Fairytale

#91 Slipcovered daybed at Somewhat Quirky

#116 Catchall shutter organizer at Life as a Thrifter

#137 Salvaged coffee door table at This (Sorta) Old Life

#169 Pallet wood outdoor sofa at Funky Junk Interiors

#191 Salvaged chair photo display at Mamie Jane's

#18 Dresser makeover at Turnstyle Vogue

#183 Barn board headboard at Buckets of Burlap

#19 Thrifted canvas silhouettes at The Space Between

#135 Sleeping porch at Maple & Magnolia

#154 Bed frame vases at Four Corners Design

#185 Trumeau mirror at Gail's Decorative Touch

#150 Numbered cottage dresser makeover at Cozy. Cottage. Cute.

#3 Yardstick staircase at The Painted Home

TOP CONTENDERS, GRAB A BUTTON!

Thanks to everyone who linked up! The winner will be announced tomorrow. Yes, there will be more chances for you to win your own feature. Keep these dates in mind for upcoming Talent Scouting Parties:

April/May...Kitchens

July...Fall and Halloween

Specific dates to be announced. Old and new projects welcome!

22 Sublime Junk-Inspired Flea Market Transformations: Features from The Talent Scouting Party

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Oh, my goodness! I could feature bloggers all day long! You girls are amazing! I really want to feature all of you that linked up your flea market transformations to The Talent Scouting Party, but I finally had to make myself stop! These feature posts take a long time!

These projects are all about junk-inspired flea market transformations. Are you familiar with junking? It involves repurposing and refurbishing items that others would probably throw away. It's about seeing beauty and potential in the mundane and transforming the mundane into the sublime! For inspiration, see below...

Upholstery spring vase at four corners design

Vintage strawberry dish towel recreated as handbag at A Sort of Fairytale

Yolk separator flowers at Chipping with Charm

Pallet wood outdoor sofa at Funky Junk Interiors

Salvaged door coffee table at This (sorta) Old Life

Vintage jello molds as office organization at Homeroad

Colorful vintage shutter as organizer at Life as a Thrifter

Ugly chandelier turned beautiful lanterns at The Uncluttered Lifestyle

Painted wooden crate stairs at Funky Junk Interiors

Vintage folding rulers as holiday art at My Salvaged Treasures

Chicken feeder as floral display at My Salvaged Treasures

Refurbished crate as magazine storage at Knot All That I Seam

Old crate + casters = coffee table at The Cellar Door Stories

Crib mattress as inspiration board at Shabby Love

Clever craft room storage at Catered Crop

Red wagon shelf at The Painted Home

Vintage industrial touches in the laundry room at Life as a Thrifter

Vintage touches in the new nursery at Keeping It Cozy

Cast iron spigot turned faucet in the "ladies room" at Knick of Time

Industrial frame turned farmhouse chic laundry hamper at A Gathering Place

Old wood crate gets major makeover at West Furniture Revival

Junk-inspired light fixture makeover at Chipping with Charm

Thanks for linking up, you talented bloggers, you!

TALENTED LADIES, GRAB A BUTTON!

ONLY 1 DAY LEFT TO LINK UP!

Would you like a chance to get your talent published in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine? Get more details here. As of this post, approximately 180 projects have been linked up. One of these amazing projects WILL be selected and featured in the July 2012 issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine. Roeshel at The DIY Showoff won a magazine feature last month. You can win one, too! Link up no later than 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 18.

12 Furniture Makeovers to Make You {Swoon}!: Features from The Talent Scouting Party

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:37:00 +0000

I've been chomping at the bit to do some features of projects linked up to The Talent Scouting Party's open call for Flea Market Transformations here at WhisperWood Cottage. If you haven't checked out the talent, you should! You should also get your talented self linked up! We're looking for a project to feature in a summer issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Here are 12 furniture projects that make me go "hmmm...," "oooooh!," "wow!," and {swoon!}. Love 'em up with me...

Dresser transformation at Turnstyle Vogue

Curbside table turned colorful kitchen cart at It's Overflowing

Dresser turned changing table at Renewed Upon a Dream

Nautical whitewash at The Space Between

Dresser turned media cabinet at Elizabeth & Co.

Canadian flag dresser at Kirb Appeal

Dresser redo at Leone Design

Book shelf turned mudroom storage at The Cellar Door Stories

Chalk paint makeover at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Numbered dresser makeover at Cozy. Cottage. Cute.

Racing stripes give new life to an old school desk at Renewed Upon a Dream

Bold color makeover at A Wee Meenit

Thanks for linking up, you talented bloggers, you!

TALENTED LADIES, GRAB A BUTTON!

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO LINK UP!

Would you like a chance to get your talent published in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine? Get more details here. As of this post, approximately 160 projects have been linked up. One of these amazing projects WILL be selected and featured in the July 2012 issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine. Roeshel at The DIY Showoff won a magazine feature last month. You can win one, too!

I'm a Hat Person

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:19:00 +0000

You've seen all the reincarnations of this vintage medical cabinet as well as the many looks of this nook in the master bedroom. Recently, the vintage medical cabinet was nestled in the nook and repurposed as a jewelry organizer/vanity area (photo below on left). Even more recently, the cabinet was repurposed again...as hat storage/display (photo below on right).

I actually love hats!

I am much more a hat person than a jewelry person. I used to have my hats displayed on a salvaged mantel turned hat rack in my bedroom closet, but that was changed when I reorganized the closet area. Since then, my hats have been in drawers, in baskets, and on shelves. I was wearing them less because they were not easily accessible.

So, here they are trying out a new home in the vintage medical cabinet. I love seeing them all lined up.

Are you a hat person? If not, what's your thing? Shoes, bags, jewelry? Do tell!

Linked up at:

***********************************************************

Do you have any flea market transformations?

Get them linked up for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Click below...

"Flea Market Transformations:"

Winning project will be featured in an upcoming issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Link up March 4-18. Top contenders announced March 20. Winner announced March 21.

*Transformations may be of vintage or antique finds from flea markets, auctions, garage sales, thrift stores, occasional sales, Grandma's attic, the neighbor's basement, a roadside, a dumpster, etc.

Crafty, Colorful Recipe Cards in a Canvas Envelope

noreply@blogger.com (WhisperWood Cottage) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:46:00 +0000

Is anyone else enjoying this amazingly warm winter weather? It's about 67 degrees here...about 30 degrees more than the average high for this time of year. The snow is melting fiercely, and I am feeling springy!

Inspired by some craft papers from Canvas Corp, I decided to make up some colorful recipe cards!

Recipe area on the front, assorted patterns and colors on the back.

Insert into a canvas envelope.

A simple gift idea.

Or a great way to sort recipes in your own Home Sweet Home kitchen.

Get the full featured tutorial at The DIY Club! :)

***********************************************************

Do you have any flea market transformations?

Get them linked up for a chance to win a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Click below...

"Flea Market Transformations:"

Winning project will be featured in an upcoming issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Link up March 4-18. Top contenders announced March 20. Winner announced March 21.

*Transformations may be of vintage or antique finds from flea markets, auctions, garage sales, thrift stores, occasional sales, Grandma's attic, the neighbor's basement, a roadside, a dumpster, etc.