KEY/MAIL HOLDER REDO

I was walking by my door that goes into the garage the other day and noticed my mail and key holder. I've had this for years and decided it needed a make over.  I went to Walmart and got some supplies that I needed i.e. Mod Podge and some FolkArt Cardinal Red paint and some other items for another project I hope to do this next weekend.  The first thing I did was put some stripper on it to try and get some of the finish off.  This helped some but not much so I then got out my sander and went over it several times trying to remove what I could of the finish.  At this point I should have thought to use a primer on it before I started the painting, but no I didn't think of it until two coats had already been put on.  I kept adding coats of paint until the it was so covered none of the wording or pictures shown through.

 

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Please excuse the lousy photography.  I do not have a very good camera, but I thank God for what I do have until the time I can get another one.  This picture is after all coats have been put on.  Not bad but it needed something else.  I have brown glaze I thought would look good on top of the red.  I put a light coat on and this is how it came out.

Doesn't seem to be much difference but the red is not quite so glaring.  I added my items I was going to put on the front.  A key and a stamp which I found on The Graphic Fairy.

Here's another look at the stamp.

I got the "mailing service" out of my phone directory.  I thought it looked really good at the top of the stamp.

                            The "keys" also came from the phone directory.

I thought it looked rather bare in the middle so I searched and found this.

Again from the phone directory.  As you can tell I can rarely ever cut anything straight, but again that's o.k. with me.  Here's how it looked after adding the "Adventure Travel."

Much better.  I spray painted the hooks with Krylon Satin Champagne Nouveau spray paint.  Here is the completed key/mail holder.

The only glaring problem with the whole thing is the Mod Podge I was unable to get off when I set the key onto the wood.  You can notice it in the picture because of the shiny part it left.  I tried getting it off put it wouldn't budge.I might try and paint it so it will remove the shiny part.  It's not all that noticeable except when you look at it a certain way and the camera really picked it up.

One project down and a bunch more to go.

Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Memorial day.

CONTINUING GRATITUDE

76.  More rain!!!  God has given us more rain which is great.
77.  A part-time job that I can do at home to help make extra
money which will last for eight months.
78.  A raise on this paycheck!  YEA!!!
79.  Getting my garage cleaned out. Hurray!
80.  Money to get a new hot water heater (it's leaking) and get my a/c fixed (it's not working)!! THANK YOU JESUS!!  He truly is good to me!

 81.  For my awesome family whom I love dearly!
 82.  The beautiful sunrise only God can make!

83.  Spending time with Mom, my sister, her husband and daughter
Saturday when we took Mom out to lunch for Mother's Day.
84.  For a quick healing on Sunday when I woke up sick and could
not go to church. 
85.  Listening to Kenneth Copeland's 6 CD's on "Developing Friendship With God" and wanting to hear them again because they were SOOOO
good!!

7 CUP SALAD A Refreshing Summer Evening Meal

Several years ago I came across an awesome recipe in Family Circle magazine.  Just as the title of my blog states it's called "7 Cup Salad".  It's a great salad to make during the summer.  It's quick, easy and delicious! I made some Tuesday night.  If I had realized I was going to blog about this great recipe I would have taken pictures while in the process of making it, but alas I didn't, so you get a picture off the Internet of the finished product.

Makes: 6 servings

Prep: 15 minutes Chill: 2 hours

Ingredients

• 1 cup  cubed cooked potatoes, (about one 8-ounce potato, peeled, cut into small cubes and cooked)     Or an 8 oz sweet potato
• 1 cup  cubed cooked smoked ham     I used canned chicken 
• 1 cup  diced hard-cooked egg (about 3 large eggs)
• 1 cup  cubed apple (about 1 medium-size apple)    I used a Red Delicious
• 1 cup  cubed peeled cucumber (about 1 large cucumber)
• 1 cup  diced onion (1 medium-size onion)    I used red onion to add color
• 1 cup  mayonnaise-type salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip)    I used 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.  Next time I'm using all yogurt!
• 1/4 teaspoon  salt
• 1/4 teaspoon  black pepper
• Parsley for garnish, optional.
• I add 1 pkg of dry ranch dressing to the mix 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together the potatoes, ham, egg, apple, cucumber, onion, salad dressing, salt and pepper.

2. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

I believe you will find it cool and refreshing as a summer evening meal.  Now as for a man enjoying this I don't really know since I am single.  You married ladies give it try and let me know what your hubby thinks about it.

                                     Have a blessed week!