The Pink Hammer Blog

March 14, 2013
by Kelly Whitman 6 Comments

Before & after: Dresser transformation

About 2 years ago, I was at local thrift store, for no reason in particular, but to see if I could find any ‘treasures’ when a little white dresser with the most beautiful curves caught my eye.

There she sat on the thrift store floor, sad, lonely and begging for someone to bring her back to life. I knew- that someone was going to be me. I was in love. I immediately bought the dresser and proudly hauled her home in the back of my Jeep.

Right away I replaced the knobs. 2 years have passed, and I finally decided now was the time to give this ol’ dresser a new life!

Before:

Here are the changes I made aka the during & after:
*New oil rubbed bronze knobs (From Menards)

*Lined drawers with beautiful patterned shelf liner paper (From TJ Maxx)

*Fresh, new & beautiful paint , called ‘Sunstraw’ (From Menards)

The final transformation:

I am so proud of this particular piece. I was going to distress the edges, but at the last minute decided not to , I like the clean curved lines to stand out on their own without distressing marks taking away from the simple beauty of this awesome dresser.

This will be my very first ‘The Pink Hammer’ project on display anywhere -other than my own home- and I am so excited to drop it off at The Living Room Coffee House on Cameron Street in Eau Claire, Wisconsin tomorrrow! It will be on display as a show piece for The Pink Hammer blog, and also for sale! Yes, that’s right- you can grab yourself a delicious coffee and a treat at The Living Room and also buy a beautiful one of a kind dresser!!! (The very first The Pink Hammer blog project for sale locally!!!!) THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD. See more like this for sale at The Living Room, or contact Kelly for a custom project.

I will also soon have photography on display and other unique The Pink Hammer projects for sale at The Living Room Coffee House- stay tuned and stop in there often to see what I put on display next!

Thanks for reading,
~Kelly

March 8, 2013
by Kelly Whitman Leave a comment

12 days until Spring! | Spring Countdown

The countdown is on! Are you ready for Spring?!

I am so ready to do yard work! To dig my hands into the soil, to walk barefoot in the grass, and sit in the field and let the sun rays shine down on me! How about you!? What are your favorite things about Spring?!

~Kelly

(Photo by Endless Acres Photography, this print is available for purchase here; http://www.endlessphotoadventures.com )

February 5, 2013
by Kelly Whitman Leave a comment

Framed Notes |Tip Tuesday DIY

When decorating my home, I always try to think outside of the box with how I display items. Whether it be reusing an old ladder as a shelf, a rake as a wine glass holder, or like todays Tip Tuesday project; a frame to display a note from a loved one.

I think it is so important to let the memories of our loved ones who have passed before us, to live on. I was cleaning out my file box today and came across a stack of letters from my beautiful Grandma Shirley who passed away November 18, 2009. The letter was written on an rsvp card to our wedding which she wasn’t able to attend due to her sickness. The note made me cry and I feel like she really is part of my story- and wanted to display the letter in my office.

First, I found a frame that would show off all of the letter, without cutting any of her writing off.

Next I made my own matte by simply measuring the glass and cutting out a piece of blue constriction paper, taping the letter to the paper, and inserted her letter into the frame.

Then found a place to display her letter where I would be reminded of her daily.

What letter will you frame?!

Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

January 29, 2013
by Kelly Whitman 1 Comment

Glass jar veggie storage | Tip Tuesday

Ever since starting this blog almost 1 year ago, I have had a slight (okay okay, major) obsession with canning jars. Their uses are seriously endless.

After moving into our new house, I somehow misplaced our plastic tupperware set and while digging around I saw my large supply of canning jars. I placed them in the cupboard where I would normally store my plastic food storage containers- and I haven’t gone back to plastic containers since.

They have kept my vegetables like spinach and carrots stay fresh for a longer period of time vs them just staying in their pre-packaged bags or in tupperware.

I also love using them for onions, not only do they stay fresh longer, but it seals that strong onion smell inside of the jar and makes that smell of onion when you open your fridge a faded memory.

They are also not so bad to look at either when you open the fridge, so pleasing to the eye.

What do you like to store in glass containers?

Thanks for reading ,

Kelly

January 22, 2013
by Kelly Whitman 2 Comments

Entertaintment room dresser | Tip Tuesday

For todays Tip Tuesday, I have a smart and chic way for you to add some charm and organization into your entertainment/tv room.

Take that bedroom dresser out of the bedroom and re-purpose it for a new use!

Simply take an old dresser from another room, or pick one up at your local thrift store (the one pictured below I bought for $10) …

…Dress it up with some cute new knobs (usually around $3.oo/knob).

Fill the drawers with your movies in one drawer, and kids movies in another drawer.

Top the dresser with a few of your favorite things.

This keeps the clutter from spilling off open entertainment centers or shelves, and adds a beautiful look to your most used living space in your home.

Will you try this?! Maybe you won’t use it for movies in the tv room, but you can find plenty of other uses, like in the porch for gloves and hats and misc gardening items. However you re-purpose your dresser, have fun with it!

Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

{Photography displayed in the above photos by Endless Acres Photography }

January 21, 2013
by Kelly Whitman Leave a comment

Polar Express Hot Cocoa | Recipe

Polar Express Hot Cocoa

“ Here we only got one rule, Never, ever let it cool! Keep it cooking in the pot ! Soon we got hot chocolate!” -Conductor from The Polar Express

Ingredients:

*6 cups of milk

*1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)

*1.5 cups of heavy cream

*1 tsp Vanilla extract

*2 cups of bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1.) In a large pot over low heat, combine all ingredients (milk, sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, vanilla and chocolate chips)

2.) Stir regularly for about 40 minutes until chocolate is fully melted and mixed well with the other ingredients.

3.) Top with marshmallows and serve-hot!

4.) If desired, read the book The Polar Express while you’re waiting for the hot cocoa to finish cooking. Next, serve up your hot cocoa with a viewing of the movie, The Polar Express.

This is such a yummy recipe and it pairs perfectly with a cold winters day. Pour hot cocoa into a carafe and go on a little outdoor winter adventure.

What would a Polar Express themed treat day be without the star of the movie-the bell, for the kids to ring while they drink their cocoa!?

I hope everyone is staying warm out there in Wisconsin (or wherever you are reading this from). Start up that stove and make yourself a warm chocolately cup of cocoa!

Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

{Thanks to the Honey & Fitz blog for sharing this great recipe }

January 17, 2013
by Kelly Whitman Leave a comment

Mason + Jelly jar soap dispensers | DIY

I love mason jars! Especially the blue antique ones. They look so beautiful when used as home decor and there are many ways to use them in your own home. Last Summer we moved into a new house that sits on 18 beautiful acres, most of it a steep hill, which is full of ‘junk’ from owners of years ago. While my parents were here late in the Fall, my mom and I set out on a junk hillside adventure to see what we could find. We had found a rusty metal bucket and as my mom was trying to dig the handle out with a stick, she hit something buried completely under the dirt, we kept digging gently, so we didn’t break whatever it was. Sure enough, it was a whole antique blue mason jar! What are the odds that it was still whole?! Pretty slim! Every other mason jar found on the property was broken to bits and pieces.

Today I had the inspiration to create something out of that old jar and put it back in the home it most likely came out of, years ago.

Mason + Jelly Jar Soap Dispensers

by Kelly Whitman of The Pink Hammer blog

Supplies:

-1 blue mason jar and metal lid

(I used a new metal lid off of a store bought jar, and it fit right on the old blue jar )

-1 jelly jar

-2 soap dispenser tops

-Hammer + Nail

(Or Drill + Drill bit … our drill somehow disappeared, so I found my own way to do it without a drill. Plus I think it’s time I buy my own drill so I know where it’s at, at all times )

-Needle nose pliers

-Hand Soap

-Scissors

-Paint/paintbrush (if desired)

Mason & jelly jar soap dispensers www.thepinkhammerblog.com

Instructions:

1.) Using your hammer and nail, pound a hole in the center of the metal lid. Continue to do this about 4-5 times close together.

2.) Using your needle nose pliers, peel or push the metal under to create a large hole. Make sure your hole is big enough to fit your entire soap pump , just like it sits in a regular container. BUT do not make it too big, or it will not sit correctly. It is best to make it just a tiny bit too small and force the pump into the hole to create a tight hold.

(If you are lucky enough to know where your drill is, that would be much easier. Just find the correct drill bit – one a little smaller than your soap pump-and go!)

3.) Place the soap pump into the hole you just created in the metal lid.

4.) Cut soap tube at an angle so it fits nicely into the jar.

5.) Fill jar with soap.

6.) Attach lid & lid ring tightly.

7.) Paint lid/lid ring to match soap pump (if desired)

7.) Wash your hands to make sure it works good!

These mason jar and jelly jar soap dispensers add a nice element to your bathroom or kitchen. They would also make fun gifts for friends or family. I am happy I found a new home for my old blue mason jar, that less than 1 year ago was buried under ground.