Porch Progress

Rather than make a post for every step along the way I thought I'd show the progression of our porch so far in one post.



My hubby has been doing a fantastic job building our new front porch. Did I ever mention that he designed it as well? As he says, "Not bad for a writer, huh?"





See that gap in the roof? People like to pull over off the street and tell us that part of our roof is missing. I think they're worried that we missed a part - lol! No, that's where the skylight dormer is going to be.




Yesterday Rich built the front steps, and today (as long as the weather holds) he'll install the railings. Maybe Ronan will help out again.

Crafty Secrets Leftover Challenge & Porch Update

This week on the Crafty Secrets forum, Carla challenged us to use leftovers on our projects. Leftovers are scraps of paper, ribbons, stamped images, etc. that are leftover from other projects.

You may recognize this bird image from an earlier post. I also used paper scraps from K&Company, leftover cardstock, a little scrap of ribbon, and a diecut corner that I decided not to use on another project.

I swiped the main image with Ranger Distress Ink (Vintage Photo) and brushed the paper layers and die cut with a Krylon gold leafing pen. The vintage button is from a collection my dad and his antique dealer buddies gifted to me. Thanks, Dad!

I was very happy with how quickly this card came together. I need to use leftovers more often.



Porch Update: Rich and our neighbor made a run to the "wood store" (as the kids call it) last night and picked up all of the lumber and hardware for the first building phase of our new porch, which includes setting the support posts and building the frame, decking, railing, and balusters.

This phase should go pretty quickly because it's very similar to the process we used building our back deck last year. Plus, we with experienced and dedicated help like this; you just can't go wrong!

This is Shannon helping Rich build our deck last summer. She was five years old and obsessed with helping build. She couldn't wait for Rich to get home from work, so they could go work on this huge project together. She can work a mallet and read a tape measurer and a level.

Hey, you have to admit - the girl's got style, in addition to mad carpentry skills!

Our Biggest Craft Project of the Summer

At seven fifteen this morning, we started our biggest craft project of the summer. Calling it a craft project definitely seems less intimidating than "big, scary DIY project." We're removing our entire front porch, roof and all, and replacing it.

There's my hubby up on the front porch roof, taking off shingles. We were blessed to have his friend, Jeff, come help out for a time before heading to a meeting. (Thanks, Jeff!)

That's my hubby's new utility trailer. Funny how giddy we both are about it!

It will be so nice, though, to be able to make runs to the home improvement store without having to "make arrangements" with three or four other people to go.

Rich loves to do satisfying DIY projects like this. You know, ones you choose to do, rather than have to do because there's an emergency, and something has leaked or broken. Although we really did have to do this project, we were still able to do it in our own time.

This photo cracks me up! Do you see the foreperson overseeing the project from the second floor window? Shannon is chomping at the bit to get out there and help, but she was banned from the work site because of the danger involved -- too many falling parts and sharp dirty nails and such. She'll be able to help during the building phase. She was a huge help building the back deck last summer, but for today she had to satisfy herself with shouting orders out the window. :) Now, if you take a closer look at the downstairs window, you'll see that Shannon wasn't the only spectator to today's activities. Ronan was watching too, although he had more interest in when we were breaking for a snack than in the actual deconstruction.

Twelve hours later, there is just enough porch to get in and out of the house and up and down the front steps. Soon that will be gone, and the real fun part will begin. Don't you just love the smell of fresh-cut lumber? I do. :)