A Penny for your Thoughts...or a Tray full!

Check out the different backings from different years ~~ love~~. 

The older one's went into the bottom corner of the penny tray. 

covered in polycrylic

May 23rd is National Lucky Penny Day, btw. Never heard of this prior to stumbling across a Pinterest post on it. Now, I already had these two projects in the works prior to finding out that there was a lucky penny day but had stalled on them. I'm notorious for littering our basement with half completed projects. So, National Lucky Penny Day became Just-Finish-the-Penny-Projects-by-this-Day day. It was a lot of gluing while watching TV, but they are done! (ish....one is short some sealant).

Penny Tray: Dine in or Lap Top Friendly

Balancing pillows on my legs while working on my lap top in bed isn't very effective. A bit too wobbly. This tray was a $2 garage sale score and the inspiration came from Domestically Speaking, click here to see her beautiful version.

I accidentally deleted some of the "during" photos, but here is what I could find. For a better idea of how I "painted" the oak see the tutorial at Domestically Speaking.

The tacky glue worked about 99% of the time, a couple pennies needed regluing...but maybe they didn't get enough glue to begin with...so maybe not the glue's fault.

Project is still being sealed with polycrylic. As you can imagine, it will take several layers to fill up the spaces between the pennies.


BUT, in the meantime, it is functional.

breakfast in bed? 

and after breakfast, no need to get out of bed to blog!

Garden Gazing Ball

I have absolutely no idea why gazing balls exist. 

What is their purpose?

Is it just because they are cute? 

Scare bugs away? 

Or attract bugs? 

Or something to look at in the dreary winter?

Whatever the reason, our garden now has one. 

Thank you Dollar Tree for the small candle votive. All the pennies, and I do mean ALL the pennies

, on this project have the exact same side facing up. Its the newer design for penny backs. After finding a handful of uniquely old ones while gluing pennies on the tray, I kinda became obsessed with that was on the back of the penny. A huge benefit of going with the newer pennies is the shine, no cleaning required.

Since this wasn't going to get sealed, I went with a tougher glue, generously applied. So far no pennies have fallen off. The painters tape helped hold sections in place while the glue set.  

 just noticed my foot photo-bombed...and you can't even see the cute pedi! sheesh

I look forward to seeing the copper age and weather over this next round of seasons. 

Copper and blue pair well. :)

On an entirely different note: the hydrangea above, in the large teapot, nearly lost a battle with a hail storm, followed by snow, followed by days and days and days and days of rain and gloom (weird weather for this time of year). 

BUT, this morning I noticed some tender new leaves bravely sprouting. 

~fingers crossed that the sun stays out and the hydrangea bounces back~

hmmmm, maybe a lucky penny nearby will help? ha ha 

Well, happy Lucky Penny Day. (Whatever that means.)

P.S. Here is that cute pedi that the camera didn't capture. I NEVER get my toes done. It was a mother's day present with my little seven year old princess (who giggled thru the salt scrub ~precious~). While the paint won't last, at least the picture, and more importantly, the memory, will. :)

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