Round 3!! Pallet Lemonade Stand...

 You can VOTE here!

Ok, round 3?! I can't believe I'm still here! I'm thrilled! There is SO much talent, I can't say that enough! Last week I made it through with my "Crib Craft Station", which has been my most viewed project since I've started blogging! This week the theme is "Spring", which I have to say, stumped me a bit. You try to out do your last project, but it took me some time to decide how. I don't think that I "out did" last week, but I am equally happy with it {and so are the kids!}. My husband suggested that I do a lemonade stand. It seemed like a great idea, but how was I going to make it special? I had been collecting pallets for a project I was planning on doing for my little one, but thought it would be great to do a lemonade stand with them instead!

I have to admit that I didn't take any pictures of the process. I was sick Tuesday and Wednesday, so I didn't get started till Wednesday Evening. I was really feeling the pressure, and I couldn't even think about taking pictures!
I'll explain what I did :-)

First let me say....IT IS NOT EASY TO TAKE PALLETS APART!!!! That was the worst part! The darker pallets were just breaking as I pulled them apart, so in a panic, I emailed a guy that I met (from getting something on CL) that had a ton on pallets. I told him what I was doing and asked if he could spare a few, and he said sure! He had some really nice ones (still didn't come apart easily) that I knew would be great. I started by taking the pallets apart, then I painted the slats using a white wash (white latex paint and water 1:1 ratio), which allowed the stain to go on smoothly (I used a walnut stain/varnish).  It would have been great to use a complete pallet and just fill in the spaces, but the kids lemonade stand would have looked more like a poolside bar! That would have been GREAT, but we don't have a pool ;-) So I cut it down to kids size. I screwed in the top, the sides that hold the sign, and the sign as well. I wanted to make sure that it was secure, so I didn't want to nail it. I also screwed in heavy boards behind the stand at the base, so it wouldn't topple over.

 The top is 4 slats held together by nailing it to 2 slat underneath with the front slat screwed on. I wanted it to look more "finished".

I made the puffs with coffee filters and a cupcake wrapper. I thought they turned out SO cute! I folded the filters in half and then in half again and hot glued them till it was a "complete" 1/2 circle. Then, just found the center and glued in the wrapper and the circle (which I printed on heavy card stock).

I used some printables that I found online, you can find them {here} 

and designed the picture for the pitcher and the straws on picnik. 

I will have to post all of the {other} printables that I made for this soon. While I was hard at work, "somehow" my  laptop screen broke. So stay tuned for those. The banner was made from drop cloth, scrapbook paper and hung with twine.

 I used yellow acrylic paint to hand paint the sign. Not, that it is hard to just paint "lemonade", but I think that we rely so much on some sort of  transfer method, that I was nervous that the spacing wouldn't be right. Thankfully it worked out. You only get one shot {when it's due 20 minutes!} I thought it was funny when my son said "Mom, you didn't paint the "e's" right! They're the wrong way!"

What's a lemonade stand without lemons??

 I got the basket from the dollar store, they have the best things!

 I don't know if I would categorize this project as "a fun one to do", but the outcome is definitely FUN!! With the right power tools this actually could be a fun project to do! I didn't have the proper tools and had to do it all with "powerless" tools. In total, this project cost me $6!! 
God only knows what I would come up with if I make it into the final week, but if you'd like to help me move on...vote here!! Happy Spring!!

sharing at these lovely parties:
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday
Bringing Beauty: Beautify it Monday
Debbie Does Creations: Toot Your Horn Tuesday
Skip to my Lou: Made by You Monday
Chatty Chics: Wild Wednesday
Destination: Craft: Destination: Cutesy Monday
Center of Attention Deficit Disorder: Center of Attention Sunday
A Simply Klassic Home: Simply Classic Sunday
Junk in their Trunk: Link it Up Wednesday
Pincushion Creations: Homemade by You
Live Laugh Rowe: Live Laugh Linky
The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday
Tatertots and Jello: Weekend Wrap Up 
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons: Crafty Friday
Days of Chalk and Chocolate: Latest and Greatest 
Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show off Your Stuff 
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday 
Little Becky Homecky: Fantabulous Friday 
Family Ever After....Once Upon a Weekend
How to Nest for Less: Just a Party with My Peeps 
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays 
Craft Test Dummies: Kid's Craft Week Round Up 
52 Mantels: Thursdays Are YOUR Days 
Craftionary: Friday Fun 
Be Different Act Normal: Show and Tell Saturday  
Cherished Handmade Treasures: Things We find Pinteresting