Monday, January 30, 2012

Happily Ever After

One of my “virtual friends” noted that I have been a little MIA lately…sorry about that! My furniture projects tend to slack off in the winter months; it’s just too cold to paint outside! And then sometimes…life happens. Last weekend I got a nasty bout of strep throat, and then, being the caring, sharing person that I am…I proceeded to pass it along to two of my boys and my husband! Then my daughter tripped going UP the stairs at her school and gave herself a nasty sprained ankle, so she is in a boot and on crutches for the next few weeks. Whew! It’s been quite a week!
But I do have a project to share!

I had a niece who was getting married in December (yes, it already happened), and I made a simple copy of a beautiful wedding sign I had seen on etsy (note: the link to the original sign has been removed at the creator's request).

Using another of my salvaged cupboard doors (you can see other cupboard door projects here, here, and here), I base-coated the door black, then used my Silhouette to cut vinyl out for the words (those are the blue letters you see).
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I brushed plain white glue on the board, and let it dry for a few minutes until it was just tacky.
(Note: you can also use a purchased crackle medium for this step, and to be honest—I think it works better. It’s not that expensive—especially if you “borrow” it from a friend! But use what you have on hand. Or what your friends have on hand.)
Then I painted a creamy white paint over the board, sticky glue, vinyl letters, and all! While the paint was still wet, I removed the vinyl.
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You can see that the edges are a little rough, but that can be cleaned up with paint later if necessary. However, since the board will also get sanded and glazed, it’s not really a big deal!
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The crackle finish takes a while to really show itself, but it’s so cool when it does!
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At my niece’s wedding reception, the sign was displayed on a large floor easel right outside the door. It was super cute!
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Linking up here:
Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Elizabeth & Co.
Domestically Speaking’s Power of Paint Stylish Once Again
Hookin’ Up with House of Hepworths No Minimalist Here’s Open House Thursday
Friday Remodelaholic 2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special The DIY Show Off
Primitive & Proper I Heart Naptime
Beyond the Picket Fence’s Under $100 Party My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect {Primp}
Mod Vintage Life My Repurposed Life
Too Much Time on My Hands It’s So Very Cheri
Common Ground Simply Klassic Sundays

Monday, January 23, 2012

The “Painted Hive” Coffee Table

Last fall I was contacted by Shelby, who was interested in having me re-do a coffee table for her. She wondered, “Had I ever seen the round table at The Painted Hive?”

Have I ever!

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Kristine’s beautiful furniture makeovers are an integral part of my Pinterest “Great Furniture” folder!

Shelby brought me this lovely coffee table which she had found on KSL.com, and asked me to refinish it ala “Painted Hive,” although slightly less distressed.

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The base was painted in a Behr Ultra paint color-matched to Sherwin-Williams “Creamy” paint. The top is stained with three coats of Minwax Antique Walnut stain, and then I hand-distressed and glazed the base to bring a little “age” to the piece.

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I love the way the white shelf looks on the bottom!

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Shelby also brought me this little pine table to get a similar makeover.

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She planned on replacing the knob herself, so her it sits—knobless…

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…but I think it will be a great complement to the “Painted Hive” coffee table!

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Linking up here:

Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Elizabeth & Co.
Domestically Speaking’s Power of Paint Stylish Once Again
Thrifty Décor Chick No Minimalist Here’s Open House Thursday
Friday Remodelaholic 2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special The DIY Show Off
Primitive & Proper I Heart Naptime
Beyond the Picket Fence’s Under $100 Party My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect {Primp}
Simply Klassic Sundays My Repurposed Life
  It’s So Very Cheri
Common Ground  

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Lighten up!

I truly love this 15-pane window that I have hanging on my kitchen wall. I usually try to change it up a few times over the course of the year, but I’ve wanted to do something a little lighter and brighter for a while now.

So after Christmas, I just left my funky twiggy garland and some red beads hanging up for a while…

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…until one day the mood STRUCK and I got out the paintbrush! I slapped two shades of white on, sanded lightly, and glazed it with some dark brown stain…

…added a little Valentine’s day sign: “Be Mine Forever”…

I love how it sounds like a command!

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…and I think I like the new look! How about you?

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Love Makes the World Go Round

I just barely got around to showing my post-Christmas buffet, but now it’s been changed up for Valentine’s Day!
The jumping-off point for me was when I found an out-of-date globe at the thrift store. I painted it with chalkboard spray paint, and wrote “Love makes the world go round” on it. I wish I was one of those people who had beautiful handwriting (especially on a chalkboard)—but alas, it is not one of my gifts!
I covered five balls with strips of maps cut out of an old atlas I found at a garage sale. They make interesting little globes, as long as you don’t expect them to be geographically accurate!
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Using my Silhouette, I cut out a bunch of hearts from the same old atlas, and sewed them together to make a banner.
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Other map hearts were sewn together in pairs, then folded to make a 3D “ornament” for my twigs leftover from the funky twiggy garland I made for Christmas.
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My other globe got to join the display, with a few more map spheres.
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I tried to go along with the ‘theme” by writing, “The best place to be is wherever YOU are” for my family. Quite frankly, I don’t think they ‘got’ it!
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So I have to ask…do you ‘get’ the theme?
Maybe it only makes sense in MY head!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Linking up here:
Visit thecsiproject.com
Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday It’s So Very Cheri
Common Ground My Repurposed Life
Hookin’ Up with House of Hepworths {Primp}
Elizabeth & Co. 2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special DIY Show Off
Primitive & Proper A Simply Klassic Home
Beyond the Picket Fence’s Under $100 Party

Saturday, January 14, 2012

January Buffet (with a new treasure!)

First of all, thank you to all of you who responded with thoughtful comments, encouragement, and advice on our home situation! I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me.

If you didn’t get a response back from me, that is because you don’t have an e-mail linked up to your account, and I would love for you to consider changing that situation!

We actually had an offer on our home today…for a mere $20,000 less than our asking price! We politely said, “No, thank you.” We’re motivated, but not desperate!

On to more fun things…

Do you remember my Christmas buffet?

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Well, the stockings came down, and the hurricane lamps moved to other places. I pulled all of my poinsettias together, including the ones from the suitcase wall, and made a new arrangement:

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It was simple and pretty, and highlighted my beautiful flowers…

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…but it still seemed to be missing something.

Lucky for me, a brief stop at a new antique store revealed that perfect “something” to me!

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Do you like my new sled?? I adore it!

My boys are disappointed that it is to be decorative rather than functional!

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And guess what else?? Even my husband likes this one!

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Linking up to Brambleberry Cottage.