Key Holder

Seriously, I ALWAYS lose my keys. I am forever looking for them, asking everyone in the house where are they, and stressing out because I can't find them.  If I would simply put them in my pocketbook, on my dresser, or even on the kitchen counter... But nope, I find them everywhere, under the couch, in the bath room, left in the door (yes, on multiple occasions), in my son's room, in the basement, and I have even found them in the spice drawer!!!

I have decided since I am turning the BIG 4-0 this year it is time to get my key disorganization under control, and that is how this little project got started.

This took about an hour and that's because the paint had to dry. 

You will need:

Fabric (you could also use scrapbook paper)
Picture Frame
Hooks
Your Initial
Spray Paint

I found this adorable print last month at Phoenix Fabrics. They are a fabric warehouse open once a month to the public. I go almost every month! I think I paid $4 for about 2.5 yards. I have plenty left over for my pillows.

My initial and the frame came from the Goodwill about a year ago, I paid $1 each for them. I spray painted them with this wonderful product from Valspar. The color is called Exotic Sea in a gloss finish. I bought this a year ago at Lowe's I think it was around $5.











I laid the glass out and cut about 1/4 of an inch around it.

Placed the glass back into the now painted frame, put fabric on top of that, and then the back of the frame.

I hot glued my initial and centered to the picture frame and then added 4 hooks at the bottom.













I think it turned out really well! And since I had everything this technically was a FREEBIE :)

See the aforementioned keys!!! They are actually where they should be, LOL!

I would love to know your thoughts!!!

Have a wonderful day,

Mel:D

Halloween Wreath for Grandma Fread :)

I know I have been MIA from my site, but it is not without warrant. I do currently have several unfinished projects going on ;}  My Hubby's family will be coming for Thanksgiving this year (they live in Missouri and Kansas) which means big projects around the house!  Poor, poor Hubs!

Now that you know that useless bit of information... I got a text from my Aunt asking me to make a Halloween wreath for my grandparents they're 91!!! 

You know most of my projects I do on the cheap, but it's my g'parents and I want to do it up right! I get my handy dandy smart phone, hit up Michael's and Hobby Lobby with my in store coupons, and still come out pretty good.

I hit there Halloween decor and starting picking up stuff at random with no real thought about how it would end up.

I did make sure I had the black, purple, orange and green deco mesh, black ribbon and a circle foam.

I covered the circle foam in the black ribbon, took the deco mesh (I use floral pins and hot glue to hold in place) and worked my way round the circle. Once this was completed it's just a matter of putting everything in place.

I took my larger items the WELCOME sign, owl, witches hat, BOO!, large spider, large pumpkin and the squiggles (for lack of a better word) and placed them around. I always go back and forth, moving, adjusting, and arranging everything. I also like to let it hang up on the door so I can see how it will lay.

 

 

 

Once I have the bigger items like I want them, I hot glue and pin them in place. After this I place the small green and black spiders around, green, purple, and black glass balls, small squiggles, etc.

This project at most took an hour, more like 35-45 minutes.

Let me know your thought!! I would love to see your projects too.

Happy Halloween!
Mel :D

Recycle or Upcycle Old Cabinet with Hutch

I love painted furniture. I mean love, love, love... See my Mac and Cheese upcycled TV Console. I spent more money on this hutch than necessary. I bought it off a friend and didn't negotiate on price :(

 

This piece is actually uglier in person it's more orange (boo Clemson).

 

 

The after looks sooooo much better, don't you think?!

 

 

Tip: I find it best to not be in a hurry when painting furniture, you want as smooth as possible finish and hurrying thru just doesn't work. Let the paint dry completely between finishes.

 

Supplies:

1. Foam Brushes
2. Foam Rollers
3. Paint Liner
4. Screw Driver
5. Paint: I used Lowe's Vanilla Steam semi-gloss exterior (OK, I know it looks white in the above photo, but it's far from it. Vanilla Steam is the perfect neutral)
6. Stencil of your choice
7. Primer: I like to use Zinsser, it's a no sand - sticks to anything primer.
8. Drop Cloth
9. 2 2x4's or 4 brick (something to keep the hutch off the floor while painting.)

 

 

Tip: Make sure to set the area up before you start your project. (I'm a little OCD)

 

 

First,  I set up my work area

 

Then, put down the 2x4

 

 

Next, I removed the drawers, hardware and doors (above photo is before the removal)

 

 

Now that the area has been setup I do the prep work.

 

First, Cleaning the hutch

 

I use this wonder product from Lowe's to clean , it keeps from having to sand, it's called TSP.

 

Get ready for the dirt and grime to be removed, have plenty of warm water handy to wash out the dirty cloth. It is very important to let the wood dry out completely before you begin the next step, priming the wood. 

 

Now,

 

Prime: I cannot stress enough to take your time. Make sure your primer stays fresh and your foam roller clean. (I've mentioned before I'm a little OCD). This will actually go a lot quicker than you think. I used 2 coats of primer. The first coat goes slower than the second.

 

 

The foam roller worked well for most of the painting, but you will need your FOAM brush to get the corners, lip etc.

 

First Coat Primer Bottom Cabinet



 

Second Coat Primer Top Cabinet

 

Now that the pieces are primed and have dried thoroughly you are ready to paint.

 

I know I took photos of this process, but the only one I can find is this one below of the 2nd coat of Vanilla Steam.

 

 

The hardware,

 

I used the original hinges, drawer pulls and bottom cabinet knobs.

 

HOWEVER, I did change the look of the the hinges

 

I have spray paint on hand (I have lots of paint on hand) Hammered Bronze

 

 

I changed the knobs on the hutch to glass. These babies were on clearance at Lowe's for .75 cents! I picked up all they had left about a year ago hoping for a project:)

 

 

 

I did forget to take photos of the stencil process...

 

The bottom of this hutch has 2 raised panels, I found this cute bird on clearance 4 or 5 months ago. Of course I picked up hoping for a future use.  I guess I found it!

 

 

I centered the stencil on the raised panel and painted away. (FYI, this is the first time I've every used a stencil)

 

and VOILA!!!

 

I filled with only a few thing, pieces of my Great Grandmother's China



A photo of my Grandma (I think I look like her)

 

Her picnic basket on top

 

 

 

 



I would love to see your projects!

mel:D



 

 

 

 

Decorating with Mac and Cheese....

Yes, I did decorate with Mac and Cheese! How you ask. First, I boiled the Mac... Just kidding!  It's a great paint color from Lowe's!

I have this horrid and I mean horrid TV console... see photo below

When I bought the "TV console" aka bookshelf its purpose was not for the TV...  Side note, I have an obsession with furniture. It's terrible, and my husband cringes every time I roll up to the house with another piece...

I found this piece (a freebie!)

I figure 1940's-50's era. Solid wood

It sat in my craft room for 2 weeks before I decided what to do with it. And other 2 weeks before I settled on a color... enter Mac and Cheese!

It's the perfect width for the TV upstairs, and has drawers do I don't have to see the video games and controllers.

I'm missing photos... I worked on this project for about 2 months, not because it was difficult, work has kept me very busy, and baseball season started for my boy. Less crafting/creating for me...

After searching online thru Pinterest about painted furniture I went to Lowes and bought the supplies.

 A MUST HAVE FOR PAINTING FURNITURE PROJECTS! 

·         FOAM ROLLERS

·         FOAM BRUSHES FOR THE HARD TO REACH AREAS

·         PRIMER: ZINSSER STAIN BLOCKER AND SEALER (HAD GREAT REVIEWS VIA PINTEREST)

·         PAINT: NOW THIS IS WHERE I DIFFER WITH WHAT I FOUND ONLINE...

·         WOOD FOR SHELVING

·         DECORATIVE MOLDING

·         LEVEL

·         HANDY DANDY ELECTIC DRILL

·         CLAMPS

·         PENCIL

·         TAPE MEASURE

·         SAW

·         CAULK

Everyone said use a low gloss or flat paint to get the Pottery Barn look. I tried that and it didn't hold up on another project. So, I went to Lowe's and asked the paint lady (I should know her name by now.) Although the piece isn't going to be used like a table with lots of wear I do have a 7 year old who can look at something and it breaks... (It's a little freaky! LOL)

Her advice, semi-gloss exterior enamel, and so I followed her advice. With paint and supplies in hand I got started.

First, I took out the drawers and washed the desk with a degreaser.  Lots of nasty spider webs {YIKES}

 Then I primed x 3. It didn't need to be primed 3 times I just tend to over kill!

  



With the handy dandy smooth foam roller I pulled out the paint, Mac and Cheese and began painting.

 

Ok, so this looks sunshine yellow… the camera couldn’t pick up the Mac and Cheese orangie/yellow in the craft room.

I added a couple of shelves to the middle section to hold the cable receiver and the game console. Here’s a great shot of the color!

(Make sure you measure the front and the back of the deck for the shelves, I didn’t and the back was a little smaller than the front)

 

Caulk the seams

Added the decorative trim

The finished product!!!! So, much better J

                          

There are a couple of things I would change… a backing I don’t like seeing the wires and paint the interior of the drawers… I will do this after my mother in law goes back to Kansas, no time right now.

Have a terrific Memorial Day!  Would love to know what you think!

Painted Table for the Craft Room

I've slowing been working on my craft room... Very Slowly (see previous post here) I've had this dark espresso table for about 10  years. Side note: I am soooooooooo very tired of brown and black! Anyhoo, this table has been in our basement since we moved here almost 3 years ago. Another side note: we use our basement as much as we use the upstairs, lots and lots of natural light!

Moving right along the table, see photo below, I can't stand the color. I've wanted to paint if for years, but scared to do it. 

I pulled up my big girl panties and while the hubby was out of town I got out the paint. I had paint on hand and didn't buy anything, but clear polyurethane.

Supply list: FOAM ROLLER IS A MUST MAKES FOR A NICE SMOOTH SURFACE.

FOAM BRUSH

PRIMER

PAINT

CLEAR COAT POLYURETHANE

220 GRIT SAND PAPER

First I washed the table down with STP. It's this great product you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot. It kept me from having to sand the table :) An absolute MUST HAVE!

I'm a little OCD so I primed the table 3 times with and enamel based primer.

I let the primer dry according to the directions on the can. The second day I got out a can of paint I bought 3 years ago (I had never used) a foam roller and painted the legs. Its a pretty light green/blue color.

(TAKE YOUR TIME DON'T HURRY THE PROCESS! YOU'LL GET THE BEST RESULTS)

For the table top I used a color called Steamed Vanilla from Lowe's. This particular paint was left over from a different project and has a satin finish. I painted 3 coats, (this is going to be my crafting table and knew it would be abused!) I let it set for another day and then did the first coat of polyurethane. I let that set for a day, sanded with 220 grit sandpaper and then added another coat of polyurethane. 

Now,  isn't that better!

 I wish you could see the colors better, it's so light and airy :)  And can I just say GOOD BY BROWN!!!!

DYI Wall Art

I saw this on Pinterest and followed it back to I Am Mama ~ Hear Me Roar. Cheri has many great things on her site so be sure to check her out!

As soon as I read the quote I knew it was for me and my boy.  I had to have it and would spend hours if necessary recreating!  As I was reading thru I Am Mama, Hear Me Roar my life became a little easier! Cheri created a file and sells it for $3.50!  You can buy it here. I am really good on a computer and knew I could make it, but for $3.50 it was worth me not having too!!!

The piece is large 2x3 and very easy to do.



Supply List:

• Canvas Frame
• DYI Modge Podge
• Foam Brush
• Engineer Print from Staples

Start by purchasing the above mentioned file. It will make your like easier. The file will be emailed to you. Download to a jumpdrive, Cloud or to your PC. You can load the file online directly to Staples or take it to them to print. I took it to them.  You need to print the Engineer Blue Print it is only $2.99.

I upcycled a piece of "art" on my wall. I use the term art very lightly. I bought the piece because of it's size, it was only $2.50, and the green matched the green on my wall.... 

see the photo below!

yes, this was actually on my wall!!!

I didn't take a lot of photos of the process it's pretty basic.  I painted the edges of the canvas black. I then applied my DYI Modge Pogde to the canvas, and gently laid the quote on top. The paper is thin be careful it will tear. After I had the quote where I wanted it I used the foam brush and applied my DYI Modge Pogde on top of the quote. I rubbed it hard in different places to take away some of the black and around the edged to give it a worn look.  I think it turned out pretty great and I love seeing it hang in my living room! 

Next time I would:

The print comes back with a white border I would use a Shaprie and get rid of the border. Get my hubby to help, a second pair of hand would have come in handy while trying to lay it out.