Lamp Transformation

OMG!... it feels like forever since I've had a spare minute to get on here and post a project.  I've been working like crazy and trying to get things finished up for when I host Bonko at my house next Friday.  Plus squeezing in play time with Carter since we're both missing each other with our new schedule.  Props to all the working mom bloggers out there.  It's tough!

Anyway, onto the transformation.  A while back, I found this really cute lamp at the thrift store.  It was a bit more than I wanted to pay for... priced at $5. 

But I decided I didn't really want to use it as it's intended purpose.  It didn't have a lamp shade anyway.  And it would be worth the money if I could repurpose it into something else. 

I really love wood candle sticks.... and some of them can get pretty pricey.  So my intention was to turn it into something similar.  My inspiration came from some of these... and let me tell ya, they were priced way more than $5 each.  So considering how this project turns out, I scored a good deal!

So my next challenge was to find the top portion.  I was lucky enough to find a small dish that matched the motif of the lamp base to perfection.  It was 75 cents at my thrift store.

I disassembled and removed the cord and then had my husband cut off the post at the top of the lamp.... just above the scalloped edges. I had to use a heavy duty file to smooth off the metal and create a flat edge to set the dish on level.  Once I got it to sit on top evenly I used some Goat Tuff glue to adhere it on.


Once that dried, I sprayed on 2 coats of Valspar primer. 


Ok so this next step was a big oops, that actually turned out pretty cool.  So you all know how cheap I am... and that I'll use whatever supplies are out in the garage before I'll go buy something new.  I decided to use some old brown spray paint as the base color... but when I went to spray it, big blobs of paint came out instead of a nice even steady stream.  So in a panic I started wiping it off.  Only thing is, it left this totally cool distressed look to it.  So what other choice did I have than to just go with it?

I love the way it turned out... and for only $5.75?  Come on!  My only hope is that all of my "oops" projects turn out just as good!


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It's Done!....

Well almost!  I have been working hard on the hutch for my kitchen.  If you've seen a few of my recent posts you know that I bought this second hand piece for $25.

I started by giving it a light sand, a good cleaning and then a coat of primer.  Once that dried I used some extra paint that was leftover from my kitchen remodel.  I used a dark green that was actually a mishap color.  You know when you get a great color and then it's either a bit too dark, or too light, or just isn't right?  Well mine was too dark and so I took it back to Home Depot and had them play around with it a couple times until I liked it.  So I don't know what color it is exactly.  But for the inside I used a light creamy color called Hazelnut Cream by Behr.  Anyway, this is how it looked after about 3 coats of paint.

I originally wanted to use our power sprayer to paint this.  But the weather has not been cooperating to allow for a good enough day to take it outside.  So I had to paint this by hand... it was a biotch!  (Notice the inside of the cabinet isn't painted!)



After the paint dried I used Minwax Dark Walnut stain and applied liberally all over (working in sections) and then wiping off with an old t-shirt. 

After I wiped it off I went back over it with a dry brush and worked the remaining stain into the wood.  Finally after it was totally done drying (about 2 days!) I sprayed on 3 coats of satin poly.  And the final result........



I decided on no distressing.  I just thought it would look better without it.



But I do like the 2 tone with the paneling on the back.

The people I bought it from used it as a tv armoire... so that's why there's a hole right there.  But I'll just set something right over the top of it and you'll never know! hahaha!  I plan on using the bottom as storage for cookbooks, newspapers, coupons, and anything else that needs to be behind closed doors!





Now I still need to decorate it.  I have a few things in my stash that I'll use here ... and also a few more project accessories I need to work on.  So I will post that a bit later in the week. 

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Backyard Makeover ~ Part 1

Now that I have my husband home full time, we can finally get some Honey-Do's checked off the list.  A major project we've been wanting to work on is our back yard.  We've lived in our home for almost 8 years now and haven't done much to renovate that part of the property.  It's enough to just keep it maintained!  So hopefully this year we will be able to get some of it done.

In a recent post I showed you a small part of the yard with all of the garden beds.  What I didn't show you was the FUGLY part. 

This is the very center of the back yard which has never been finished off.  My husband used it as an archery shooting range.  That's gotta go!  Off to the right is the chicken coop.  Although I do love the chickens (and so does Carter), that's gotta go! 

A new subdivision was built in back of us shortly after we moved in and they put up this lovely faux rock fencing.... we originally had a chain link fence up and now it just looks dumb having both up.  So we took that down and got rid of it.  Check! 

In back of the archery target is this gorgeous dirt hill... that's gotta go!  I have no idea why it's been this way for so long!



In back of the dirt hill is this AWESOME fire pit!

Before we can get rid of the dirt hill we needed to work on a place to put it.  There's this large garden bed in the very back that was never totally finished off.   

So we took a bunch of rocks from in front of the chicken coop...................



And now we're making this little rock wall out of them.............

And a cute little pathway..............

Once this is done then we can start hauling dirt from the dirt hill to fill in some of the beds.... then we'll start designing the center area.  I'm thinking a little playground for Carter would be ideal.... and then maybe a new and improved fire pit!  I know the two don't go hand in hand... but we'll figure something out.  Hahaha!

Anyway, that's one of the big projects we've been working on.  It's a ton of work doing it all ourselves.  But a little each day is adding up.  More on this to come! 

And I'm also working on my front porch which is almost done and I'll be showing that off in a couple days. 

Have a great weekend and a Happy Easter!

Outdoor Rustic Star

Hey!  Hope everyone had a good weekend.  It snowed here on Sunday and has been cold and gloomy.  Two days prior to that temps were in the 70's.  That's Utah weather for you!  Just when you think spring has sprung, winter rears it's ugly head!

Anyway, sorry I've been a little MIA lately.  I've had some major stuff going on (more on that later) and have been busy prepping for some big projects involving a ton of yard work.  And with that, my time has been totally consumed.  But in between everything I've found a little time to do a little crafting! 

A few weeks back I found this star at the thrift store for $1.50.  I have the perfect place for it on my front porch (if the weather ever shapes up!) but it just needed a little paint makeover.

I started with a basic black paint and gave it two good coats.

After that, I got a little overanxious to get it done... and just starting adding my own mix of colors and glazes until it looked "right".  I really had no rhyme or reason to my madness... in fact I don't even remember the order of colors or which one I mixed with what.  That's the beauty of paint... you can customize your own look and play around with the desired effect.  

I used a combination of browns, black and yellow applying each one individually and letting dry... then adding a little more of something here and there.  Here's the closeup (sorry, the pics from far away are hard to see the detail).

I'm not sure if this is it's final resting place on the porch... I still need to get all my other stuff out and play around with it.  I also need to do something with the whiskey barrel ~ maybe some stain or paint?  I'll see how I feel once it's warm enough to get out there!

I can't wait to put it all together!  If you want the names of colors that I used just shoot me a message and I can respond.  I basically used what I already had.  Just by mixing different colors until you create a new one that works for your project is the perfect way to use what you have. 

I'll have another cute little paint makeover on Thursday so check back to see that!

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Old World Candlesticks

First of all, let me apologize in advance for the HORRIBLE pictures.  My (almost 3 year old) curious son got a hold of our digital camera to partake in some wildlife photography of some cheerful birds out on the front lawn.  Well he got a little overzealous and dropped it right on the lens.  Needless to say it took a $*!% and now I'm in need of a new one.  My husband (the handyman) did the best he could to try and fix it, not knowing a thing about camera lens repair.  So now in order to use it, I have to manually pull the lens out every time I turn it on.... and it sure doesn't want to focus in on anything.  Anyway, I'll work on getting a new one.... GRRRRRR!  But for now here's a little project I just finished up.

If you saw my Thrifty Finds post from a few days ago, you saw these little $4 beauties just waiting for some painting love.

If you've seen any of my previous glazing techniques, you know I'm all about layering.  It's pretty simple really... I started with a base coat of pure white.  Actually I sprayed some white primer on and left it as is.  I didn't have any white spray paint, and I'm too cheap (and lazy) to go and get some. 

Anyway, once the primer was dry, I applied some Valspar color glaze in Raw Umber using a brush and just working it into the crevices.  I let dry overnight. 

Next I used some plain black paint and took my sons water color paint brush and applied small amounts in the cracks and crevices working in sections.  Before each section dried, I took a dry brush and dabbed, dabbed, dabbed the paint around.  (Notice there are no pictures of this process!)..... (hmmmm, wonder why?)  Anyway, then I just wiped off a few areas to allow some of the white to show through.

Here you go.... Old World Candlesticks!

I still need to spray some satin poly sealer on them to give a protective coat.  But that will have to wait til the weather cooperates and the wind stops blowing.  (That's another saga!) :)

Again, I'm sorry about the blurry pics.  If anyone has a suggestion on what brand/type of camera to purchase, I'd greatly appreciate it.  I'm not too savvy on the technical stuff.  Just as long as it works good and is toddler proof.  Okay that might be too much to ask for.  I'll just be more careful of putting it up and out of arms reach!

And as always, I was born to party.  Click here to link back to all the FANTASTIC parties I join each week.  

Chest Redo

I am many things in this world... but a furniture re-finisher is not one of the things I'm best at.  I've made a few meager attempts at it, but it takes practice.  Thank goodness for thrift store furniture! 

I've been working on a piece I've had stashed away in the basement for quite a while.  When I first got it (MANY moons ago) it was just a plain old brown ugly thing I got from the thrift store.  I don't recall how much it was, but back then things were priced pretty well.  That was way before thrifting became so popular and prices starting skyrocketing!  (But that's a whole other topic!)

I am excellent at painting walls... so why not this?  I thought I'd try my hand at it.  At the time (again, MANY moons ago), crackle finish was all the rage.  I didn't want to put it all over my walls, so this was the perfect opportunity to try it out.  Who knows what I was thinking because this is how it turned out.

I KNOW!  Hideous right?  Okay, so do-over time! 

Anyway, it really is a good solid piece of furniture and just the right size to store all of our extra winter blankets.  I wanted to try something a little different and I've seen a few ideas in the blogoshpere that looked interesting.  I had never stained wood over paint, but apparently it can be done. 

So I started with some old paint I had in the garage... I was surprised it could still be mixed up.  But I'm cheap and didn't want to go buy anything special for it.  So it would have to do.  It's just a creamy whitish tan color.  Two coats of that and left to dry.

Next I used Minwax stain in Ebony.  I wanted something different.  Once I got it on there and started to wipe it off, it just looked too gray for my taste.  So I experimented and put some Dark Walnut stain over the top of that.  Ooooh... that looks cool!

I basically had to play around with it and work it onto the surface to get the look I wanted.  So I applied it on with a brush and then wiped it off with an old t-shirt.  Then took a dry brush and worked it in some more.  

When it was FINALLY dry... like after 2 days!... I applied a thin coat of satin poly and added some cute knobs from Hobby Lobby.  Here's how my second attempt turned out.

I love how some of the previous crackle still shows through! 

I think it looks MUCH better!  But I've contemplated adding just a little something else on the top.  Maybe a monogram?  Or a stencil of some sort?  What do you think?  Any suggestions would be awesome!

And as always, I was born to party!  Click here to link back to one of the many great link-up parties I join each week.  

  

DIY Decorative Books

Hello!  Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  Spring is definitely in the air!  I've been taking advantage of the nice days to get out and do some yard work.  Our property is a little over a half acre so it's a lot to take care of and it pays to get a head start. 

In between cleaning up yard debris and trying to continue my new year's resolution of exercising, I've been working on a few projects.  A few small ones and one big one.  I have a blanket chest that I started last week and it's coming along quite nicely.  I probably won't have that done for a few more days though.  So for the meantime, here's just a little crafty project to get you by.

I've been seeing decorative books EVERYWHERE!  I really like the idea of using them on side tables or on shelves.  I've seen some in catalogs that cost an arm and a leg.... and why?  Who knows!  But I decided to just make my own.

So off to the dollar store where they actually sell hard back books.  Not that I would ever actually read any of them. LOL!  But for only $1 each it's a good way to go for DIY decorative books.

I made sure to get the cutest ones they had that would coordinate with some other accessories I was going to set them next to. 

I sifted through my scrap booking supplies and picked out some cute paper and embellishments.  I measured the paper over the ends of the books and cut them to size.  Then I used some mod podge to glue it on and put two coats over the top to seal it.  (I think mod podge is my new best friend!) haha!

Next I knew I wanted some kind of decorative element on the top of one of them.  I had this cute floral patterned paper that I wanted to mimic... but I'm definitely not an artist.  So I experimented and found the perfect way to do it. 

I taped the paper to the book and traced out the pattern with a pencil, making sure to press down really hard to create an indentation on the cover.  Once I peeled up the paper, the floral  pattern was indented on there.  Sweet!



You can see the top portion where I had already traced.



Then I just painted it and added a few little embellishments.  And voila!  Total cost of this project was $2!

I put them on this little side table/nightstand that I distressed (click here to see that). 

Cheap and easy just the way I like it! LOL :)

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