How to Stop a Cat From Printing

We have a couple of cats who love to hang out in the office with us. 

Pepsy & Pickle

Pickle's usually curled up on Larry's papers on his desk. It makes for a fun time trying to balance the books when the cat's using the invoices as a mattress! Pepsy loves to lie on the printer. The problem with that, when he walks on it he steps on the buttons and starts copying or printing...usually whatever Larry left in the copier. 

My desk with the old computer and printer. We shared the printer, it's behind the monitor so Larry can reach it from his desk. 

Last fall, I finally had enough and decided to build something so the cat would stay off it. I found some old wood and asked Larry to cut it down to size for me. (Yes, I measured three times...more on that to come) He's okay with me using most of his tools, but these saws he'd rather use himself. 

 Cutting the blocks for 'feet'.

 This is the saw used to cut the boards. My husband builds pallets for customers, hence the equipment that comes in very handy around the place.

The blocks & boards cut to size.

I get to use the sander & drill! Woohoo!! ;)

Assembling the cover

Top tier added. I figured if I'm doing this, I might as well have a spot for the ream of printer paper.

I painted it with ASCP in Old White and dry brushed with Paris Grey.

I used a stencil to add some birds and petals. 

Then I waxed, distressed and waxed some more. I was thrilled with it! 
But...it didn't fit...

When I measured for the length of the printer, I forgot to take into account the legs being screwed into the bottom of the board and it was far too tight a fit. So much for all my measuring! Frustrated and angry at myself, my husband came to the rescue.

He changed the legs to the outside of the boards and I fixed up the holes and paint. 

And it's done and works great! 

The cat doesn't copy or print anymore and he has a higher perch to watch us from. 

And now that I have a new laptop, I bought myself a Canon inkjet printer, copier & scanner on Boxing Day for only $34.99!! The HP printer and cover is moved to Larry's filing cabinet.

The new one is on mine (tall enough the cats don't go up there).

My desk is finally de-cluttered!

 I've been wanting an inkjet since the one we have is a desk-jet and while it's ok, the inkjet will do a better job with transfers (at least that's what all the tutorials say!)
Time to get to work!

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My Turn (for us) - Freedom Fridays

Merry Christmas!

I decorated the mantle for Christmas this year for the very first time. Usually I just hang the stockings on it, the fireplace is in the office so no one but Larry & I see it. A few weeks ago I put this together and we both love it! 

 I painted and glittered our monogram. I made another set of log candle holders, this time out of a birch log. 

Lots of mixed greens (cedar, pine, seeded eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, gold painted hydrangea, and spruce) with mini lights intertwined. The tea lights are battery operated for safety and they blink to look like real candles.  A cardinal peeks out from behind the pine, I have to have cardinals in my Christmas decor. 

 Another cardinal sits on top of a birch bark bird house.

 Birch bark pots hold a poinsettia, amaryllis and anthurium in front of the fireplace.

A rusty bowl holds Christmas pot pourri. A cardinal pot holds another poinsettia.

 The amaryllis is starting to come into bloom, just in time for Christmas. 

I decorated simple stockings with our initials and jingle bells. The frame above has a piece of wood that I painted with chalkboard paint and a message for the season. I just love how it turned out! I will be decorating the mantle more often now, especially when it gets it's facelift.

We are wishing all our family and friends a Very Merry Christmas and safe holiday season! Here's hoping Santa brings you everything you wish for! 
Merry Christmas :)

Front Door Wreath

This wreath took a long time but I think it is worth it. It is hanging on our front door above the greens arrangement. Originally I was planning on hanging the sinamay wreath there (for all of 15 minutes), but it was way too big and didn't look right with the arrangement below. That arrangement was crying out for a greens wreath. And since I can't have too much greenery...

I started with an 18" wire wreath frame, florist wire, greens left over from my arrangement, ribbon, battery operated lights, and fun decor. 

I began by wiring cedar, pine and boxwood to all 3 parts of the frame.

I worked my way around the frame. It took time, but I wanted to be sure the greenery would stay put.

And continued on each section till it was full.

Then I added magnolia leaves, incense cedar, and my painted hydrangeas. I also sprayed and glittered the whole wreath.

I wired in the string of lights and added some gold bling I had left over from last year.

I made the bow, attached it and hung it on the outside of the screen door on the front porch. The picture isn't the greatest...can't figure out how to make the most of my camera. 

It is above the potted arrangement I made earlier so I wanted it to match. I think it looks great!!

And now I'm noticing that the magnolia leaves have moved...so much for staying put. They look like bunny ears with the hydrangea blooms. lol

Our other front door is decorated similar but using a sled and a wreath and a large greens arrangement. Both can be seen from the street so I wanted them to tie in together. 

Do you use fresh greenery in your decor for Christmas? Do you put it indoors so you can smell Christmas all season?

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Christmas Baby Sled and a Wreath

When getting the decorations down from the loft last month, I found our grandson's old sled. It's not like the old fashioned sleds you see, but I knew it would work. 

At the beginning of November when we first started receiving our shipments of greenery at work, I decorated one of the old sleds. It was so beautiful with the greens, bow and decor that the boss told me to price it very high 'cause she didn't really want to sell it! Sorry, I didn't think to take a picture of that one. But I knew I wanted one for my house!

Our grandson's old sled that I picked up at a garage sale for $5.00 over 5 years ago.

I wired together greenery in a swag form and placed it on the sled. I made a bow and added it, but realized I needed that ribbon for the main front door wreath. It had to match the greens arrangement I made for that door. I had purchased the ribbon from work last year and I was pretty sure we didn't have any left.

Love this bow, but needed it somewhere else.

So, I made another bow out of ribbon I got this year at work. I have a ribbon obsession. I have so many spools from the dollar store, Walmart and yards from work...I have no idea when I'll use them all! 

Don't know why it looks purple, it's actually burgundy.

And it is finished. It has been sitting at the side front door for a couple weeks. 

 The sled sitting beside the front door at the top of the driveway. 

I brought home a wreath that was going in the garbage at work because it had dried out. I spray painted it, added more greens to spruce it up, gold spray painted hydrangeas, some homemade decor, a cardinal (because I use them all the time!) and made another bow. This wreath is above the sled hanging on the outside of the screen door. 

To me cardinals spell Christmas. 

I love their bright red colouring, and always have black oil sunflower seeds in one feeder for them. 

I love my sled decoration!! And the best part, the greenery is just weaved into the slats so it will be easy to remove. I need to have the sled ready for our new grandson who arrives the end of January!! Well, ok, he can't use it this winter, but he'll sure enjoy it next year. :)

What do you put at your front door? 

I'm sharing with:

                                     

Debbiedoo's Newbie with a Twist Party                                Knick of Time Tuesday                 

The Ironstone Nest - 

Outdoor Decor Linky Party

Setting for Four It's Party Time

It's So Very Cheri It's Party Time

Cupcakes And Crinoline It's Party Time

Three Mango Seeds It's Party Time