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!

Good-By Terra Cotta,Hello Color!

This is a quick and very easy way to update your terra cotta pots.  I found the small pots at Dollar General a couple of years ago at 90% off!!! I paid .50 cents each of these pots. End of summer clearance!!! I had 4 cans of spray paint on hand purple, sage, yellow and white.

take off the stickers and wipe down the pots with a damp rag. Let them dry and the spay paint.

 

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!!!!

Family Tree Frame

I can't believe it's been a month since my last project!! Poor me :( My crafty creating has been put on hold as baseball has taken over our lives!!! 

This is a very quick and simple project.

Family Tree Frame

 This is my before attempt at a family tree for my Bubba Gump (I started this project in June 2004!)

This pre-made, pre-packaged, and broken photo collage, has sat in a closet since July 2004.

Today I pulled the pre-made, pre-packaged, broken photo collage out of the closet about the throw it away. I was looking at it and thought. Hmmmmm.... PINTEREST!!!!!!!

I threw the broken glass away and removed the photos.

I painted the black frame Morning Mist from Lowe's-Valspar brand. I've had this paint on hand for almost 3 years and never used it until today!!! Took some twine I had and got out the hot glue gun.

You only need the hot glue in the beginning and the end!

Take the twine and wrap around the frame. Hang the frame and use clothes pins to secure the photos.

FYI: We have 6 cousins and 2 Aunts to add!!!!

Not so Round Door Wreath

It's Hip to be Square!

I have been MIA for about 2 weeks... For the two followers I have; I apologize, to my BFF Lisa and my Mama!  Real Estate has been keeping me busy (woot-woot) and I have not had the time to attempt any craft projects....


So, today I got busy in my craft room. I'm obsessed with door wreaths if you follow me on Pinterest you'll see a little of my obsession!

Supply List:
Picture Frame
Flowers
Hot Glue
Initial

I got the frame from an estate sale for $2, I picked up the flowers and initial D at Michaels. I downloaded a 20% off the ENTIRE purchase coupon from my smart phone :) I'm about $12 into this project.

I didn't take photos along the way just the finished project :) whadda ya think????

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.

Faux Roman Shades

In case you don't know I can't sew.... I'm terrible at it, so this project required NO needle and thread!!! 

Before

After

The in between!

Let me reiterate I do not sew and it's not because I don't want too. I would love to quilt, sew curtains and drapes, but that gene skipped a generation. I even have a sewing machine collecting dust!!

So, I figured my away around it for this project and it involved glue!

Supply List:

• Tape measure
• Hot glue gun
• Tacky glue
• Iron
• Pencil
• Fabric
• 3 tension rods

Let me say, this is the first time I attempted this and it will NOT be the last! I'm just ubber excited it turned out as well as it did!

Let's get started!

Measure your window you don't want to go smaller than that. My window happens to be 31x36, cut your fabric bigger than the window. I cut mine 33x48 no particular reason it just worked out that way.

Plug in the iron and fold the sides over.

Helpful tip: If your fabric has a pattern or top and bottom, make sure you cut it the correct way.  I actually wrote the word bottom on the fabric in pencil :)

On the left and right side I folded over 1" and then ironed it down

On the top I folded over 2" and the bottom 2" so my curtain ended up being 31x44. It looked like this.



Take your Tacky Glue and glue the sides and bottom. You don't need a ton of glue and depending on the fabric it might bleed thru, so be careful.

For the top where the rod is going to be I used hot glue. I figure this is going to be a little stronger than Tacky Glue.

After this I ran the tension rod thru the top and took it to the window. Place your next tension rod over the fabric and then bring it up and over. Repeat with the 3rd tension rod.

I would love to know what you think or if you tried and what tips you could offer me!  I have 2 windows in my basement to do next!