Designing on a Dime......with a little help from Build-A-Sign!

I've been joking with my family that Design On a Dime should pay me to be on their show, because that's what I feel like I'm doing with my summer.....trying to see how much re-do I can do without breaking the {modest} budget available to me! ; )

Our latest room re-do has been the downstairs bathroom.  This bathroom has always served as the "boys' bathroom" as well as the guest bathroom.  I have filled in holes, sanded, and painted this small space, ripped down a very ugly grid-like ceiling thing (that in itself was a huge improvement!), changed the color scheme from royal blue, grey and brassy gold to a very welcome and manly grey, black, white and red, and yesterday, my ♥husband♥ installed new doors!  It looks soooo much better!! =)  My daughter commented, "Mom.....this bathroom looks so classy now!  I can't believe how good you are at always making things look better".  I think perhaps it will not be just the "boys' bathroom" anymore. ; )

As I was re-hanging freshly painted shelving and new towel bars, I remembered two black-and-white sailboat pictures that I had stashed upstairs after removing them (and a few other things} from the walls of our office/Sweet Diva room to allow for more shelving for my ever-growing collection of fabric and supplies.  They were perfect for the wall  above the towel bar, but the space needed a little something more.

I started looking for just the right thing every time I was out running errands, but hadn't been able to find just what I was searching for.  I was determined to wait until I found the perfect thing that fit what my mind had envisioned.......and then, I was contacted by BuildASign. =)  I was so excited......a sign with a phrase, quote or saying was exactly what I'd been looking for, and although they are everywhere right now, I had been unable to find just the one with the right colors and words {I was determined not to have one that said "bathroom" ; ) }.

While I navigated the BuildASign site and started playing around with my options, I became even more excited!  The Street Sign was just the right size and I set to work customizing it.  After choosing a template, I chose my own text, mixing it with some of their clip-art to give it my own personal flair. =)  They have many fonts and clip-arts to choose from, or you can upload your own design from your computer.  They actually had everything I needed on their site and I was so pleased with the result!

Our bathroom had always had a nautical theme for my water/boat loving husband, and although I changed the color scheme, the black and white sailboat prints allowed me to keep a somewhat nautical feel.  In rehanging and changing around our art throughout our home, I've also had the desire to incorporate scripture and Biblical references as much as possible.....constant reminders and encouragement to help us combat the ever-increasing negativity of the world in which we live.  As I was trying to think of of a way to do that, I found clip-art of an anchor and a ship's steering wheel in the collection of graphics on the BuildASign site.   Immediately, a song that I've heard more times over the years than I can count and that our choir at church has actually sung came to mind, "The Anchor Holds" written by Lawrence Channing.  I generally have a song come to mind in many circumstances =) , and I combined the song title with a scripture that reminds us that regardless of the storms in life and the ever-changing winds that blow, our Savior is unchanging.  He is the one  constant and keeps us standing strong in the midst of whatever comes our way......



The customer service at BuildASign has to be among the best I've ever experienced.  I was juggling quite a few things on the couple of days that I worked on this, and sometimes when I'm trying to do too many things at once my normal common sense takes a leave of absence ~ I asked many silly questions while choosing which sign and which material to go with.  Each and every one was answered with patience and in detail.  After a good night's sleep, I was able to make a better decision and finalized my order.  I couldn't wait to receive the sign and see how it looked in real life!  I received a notification that I would have it by July 10, and was thrilled when it arrived not on the 10th, but the 1st!!!

After unwrapping the packaging, I took a quick picture:

I chose an aluminum sign, figuring it would hold up the best and would be fine for framing or for hanging as is. I was very pleased with my choice ~ my custom sign is very sturdy and the colors are beautifully crisp and vivid!  After holding it up where I wanted to place it in the bathroom, I decided I definitely wanted to add a little more flair to it and, taking my sign with me, I headed to ♥Hobby Lobby♥ to see what inspiration I could find. =)

I browsed through frames and then wandered over to their metal/ironwork wall art section, where I fell in love with a lovely black wall decoration that was 50% off ~ which made me love it even more! ; )  A little ribbon and a little help from my hot glue gun, and my sign was transformed into just what I wanted:

  I love that I have something custom and tailored just for us and think this could be quite addicting ~ I've already thought of other ideas for my kids' rooms!  I am thrilled with the results and so happy that I found BuildASign {or, actually....they found me}! A custom sign was provided to Sweet Diva in exchange for my completely honest review.....an easy task because I really do love it!

The Anchor Holds 

by Lawrence Chewning

I have journeyed
Through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea
By faith alone
Sight unknown
And yet His eyes were watching me

CHORUS:
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm

Ive had visions
Ive had dreams
Ive even held them in my hand
But I never knew
They would slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand

CHORUS

I have been young
But I am older now
And there has been beauty
That these eyes have seen
But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh, that's where God proved
His love to me

CHORUS (repeat)

Happy Crafty Tuesday.....what are you crafting today?

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And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3:17

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