National Painting Week How to Paint and Glitter a Chair

Happy National Painting Week!

Keeping the Painting inspiration going today with my clipboard from HomeTalk.com entitled: Paint Inspiration, 18 Painting projects that are sure to get you painting see it HERE.


This lady does amazing stuff with paint. In this video she uses chalk paint, mod podge and glitter to restyle a chair.

What do you think? Are you doing any painting projects this week?

Happy Painting!

Her Home: Living Room Remodel

This is taking me much longer than I thought so for the next 2 months, I will be writing a series on how my Sister, Heather and I managed to turn an abandoned 1910 Victorian into the beautiful home of her dreams. See how we created a designer home on a single Mom budget with items purchased from big box hardware stores, antique shops and flea market finds.

Her Home: Living Room Remodel

The fireplace is usually a selling point in a home, right? This one? Not so much, with it's huge cast iron fireplace insert, complete with bright orange tile inserts on the sides. It stuck out so far that the previous owner had to add that second layer of brick to the hearth, making it stick out into the room about 3 feet. The mustard yellow bricks are the same color as the dining room trim.

This wall was painted mint green to go with the indoor/outdoor carpet... we assume.

First night, no heat, no overhead lighting, middle of February with 3 feet of snow on the ground, Heather, Reece and I decided to tear out the carpet. We were hoping for a paint-able or refinish-able hardwood but found that the entire first floor of the house consisted of this MDF sub-floor.

No problem! The new blackened maple flooring is making such a huge impact. The living room was painted the same "Grey Beard" as the dining room, with the exception of the fireplace wall which was painted a darker silver called "High Oh Silver".

Soph brought a ton of cars with her to try out on the floor. She says it's pretty awesome. We think it looks pretty awesome too.

Heather purchased this lamp from Pier One Imports and had the electricians direct wire it. It's huge drum shade works perfectly with the 12 foot ceiling height. Notice the reflection of that mustard yellow brick fireplace in the light fixture's diffuser? Yeah, that had to go...

Heather painted it the same color as all of the wood trim, "Snowy White".  It really is starting to look like a brand new home. Notice the kids took out that extra foot of brick on the hearth? And the Heating and Cooling guy took the insert out and hauled it away, no charge. Now to finish painting and then load in furniture.

We are so excited about how it's taking shape.

31 Days of Paint #23 Painted Furniture: Corner Cabinet

Thank you for coming back to my 31 Days of Paint Series. If you would like to see it from the entire series just click HERE.

This summer I gave this little corner cabinet a bit of a face lift. I have had it for at least a decade and it has seen better days. When I took it out of my teenager’s bathroom, Joe thought I should take it out to the curb. But I knew I could bring it back to life.





After some quick fixes on the door and a good sanding, I spray painted it with Rust-Oleum’s  Blossom White Satin Ultra Cover. (Great coverage but shake well.)



Taking inspiration from my new Hobby Lobby door pulls, I decided to add black to the back of the shelves.

I hand painted this with flat black latex paint and a small bristle brush. I taped the bottom part to protect the shelves and free handed the top. Keeping a wet rag handy to wipe up any paint drips, makes this a really easy job.

I like how the black makes my little milk glass collection pop. After all these years of painting, I am still amazed what a coat (or 2) of paint will do to revive an object. I am glad I didn’t kick it to the curb.

Happy Painting!

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31 Days of Paint #18 Paint Dipped Spoons

Thank you for coming back to my 31 Days of Paint Series. If you would like to see it from the entire series just click HERE.  This week I have been sharing quick and easy kitchen painting projects. I have been seeing these paint dipped spoons on Pinterest for a while and thought I’d give it a shot. I didn’t actually dip the spoons in paint. As you will see….  

 

I purchased these bamboo spoons at Walmart for about $6.

 

I taped off the area where I wanted to paint, making sure the lines were really straight. I didn’t measure just “guess-ta-mated”. Which is how I do pretty much everything. Joe does my measuring for me when it’s absolutely necessary. I’m a painter and writer. I don’t do math.

 

I painted the bottom end of the spoons with craft paint and let them dry like this. {Side note: I put this spoon in the tape roll to dry, then couldn’t find the darn tape to tape up the next spoon… yes, I am tired. This 31 days thing is hard to do.}

 

Here’s how they look all finished. I applied 2 coats of wipe on polyurethane over the paint end of the spoon to preserve the look. I get messy in the kitchen and want these to last.

 

This was a really easy inexpensive paint project. I hope you will give it a try.

 

Happy Painting!

 

31 Days of Paint #16 Painted & Stenciled Knife Block

   Thank you for coming back to my 31 Days of Paint Series. If you would like to see it from the beginning just click HERE.

This week I am working on quick painting projects for my kitchen. Today’s project was painting my knife block. We got these knives as a gift about a year ago. They are a pretty good set of knives and they came with this huge knife block. I am not a fan of having tons of stuff on my kitchen counters but this works for us. While this knife block is sturdy and practical it really isn’t a thing of beauty. So I painted, stenciled and distressed it.

 

 

Really not a fan of the huge “SIX STAR +” writing on the front.
 

 

 

 

I sanded the entire block, words and all, with 100 grit sand paper by hand. Just to scuff up the finish enough for the paint to stick and get rid to that type.

 

 

I painted it with a bristle brush and Craft Smart brand acrylic craft paint. It took 2 coats of paint to cover it. I let it dry thoroughly between coats. This paint dries fast; in less than 20 minutes, you are ready for the next coat of paint.
 

 

 

 

After the paint dried I got out my Martha Stewart stencils and picked a pattern that I liked. I sprayed the back of the stencil with Elmer’s spray adhesive and taped it in place as well. I used a stencil brush, white craft paint and the pouncing method.
 

 

 

 

When the stencil dried completely I sanded the entire piece with 100 grit sand paper again. Sanding it down to bare wood in some areas, like the corners. This is what it looked like before I wiped it down with a damp cloth to get the dust off.

 

 

I did a little stencil on the back too. After sanding it, I applied 2 coats of Minwax Paste Finish Wax to protect the finish and also protect the knives from the paint.

 

 

This was a very quick and easy paint project that can be done in just a few hours. It gives my kitchen a pop of color that I love.
 

 

Happy Painting!

31 Days of Paint #4 Painted Changing Table

 

Thank you for coming back to my 31 Days of Paint Series. If you would like to see it from the entire series from the beginning just click HERE.

 

I thought that in the beginning of my 31 Days of Paint Series, I would share a few painted furniture pieces with you and then I will move on to techniques and tutorials for the rest of the month.

 

Joe and I picked up this changing table at a thrift shop for $15. Joe checked it for sturdiness and it passed his inspection. (It had me at the spinals, honestly.) When we got it home, he tightened all the screws and made sure it was all safe and secure. He even added a support piece under the top shelf to make sure this will support the weight of our first Grandbaby. (Such a proud Papa, he is!)

 

 

After sanding the entire thing, Samantha and I went to work spray painting it the same Krylon green we used on the Green Dresser. {TIP: You see that little black handle there on the second self, above? If you are going to be doing a lot of spray painting, you will want one of these. It saves your fingers sooooo much pain! They are about $3 and available anywhere spray paint is sold.}

 

 

The quilt was our inspiration for the green. It was made for Samantha by her Aunt Kathy when she was a newborn. It really works for Cylas’ animal theme. And Samantha’s love of BRIGHT colors.

 

 

We purchased the changing table pad at Target and it came with a safety belt that we attached under the top shelf through the holes provided. Safety first!

 

I don’t recommend painting a crib or any piece of furniture that baby would likely chew on, unless you use a paint specifically for such applications. But for some serious pops of color; dressers, side tables and shelves are great items to paint and add to any nursery.

 

If you are looking for more paint inspiration I created a board on Pinterest check it out HERE. 

 

 

Antiquing on the Farm

 

Last weekend, I went to the most amazing Antique sale. It's called the Funky Junk Antiques Show in Sandpoint, Idaho. It was about a 2 hour drive from my home town, due north. My sister, Heather and I took my parents and 2 of our kids and set out on an adventure. We got lost a little in town, wanting to stop at all the shops. But we followed the pink signs and headed up a dirt road to this gigantic barn.

 

When we got there, we parked in a pasture with tons of others shoppers and this is what we found.

 

There were vendors set up outside the barn, near the grain silo.

 

Two vintage campers (one on either end) one filled with handmade jewelry, the other full of vintage clothes, shoes and purses.

 

It was such a beautiful, sunny day for this event.

 

 

All of the horse stalls were emptied of their occupants and filled with vendors.

 

 

You should have seen the size of this chicken.  Sophie wanted me to buy it for our yard. Luckily for me, it wouldn't fit in the van. Notice the adorable man with the guitar in the background? He serenaded us all day.

 

The Funky Junk Antique girls, Holly and Jennifer put on this festival every year and I plan to attend every year. It was that good.  I saved the best part for last: Inside the Barn!

 

This structure is so huge, I cannot even begin to explain it. It was filled with fabulous things.

 

I loved this bicycle display.

 

I have a thing for bicycles, apparently. But it was these wire baskets that really caught my eye.

 

The letter E in the bird house fascinated Sophie. The way each vendor displayed their wares was just plain fun.

 

The table set with mismatched chairs, the letters on the wall are made from book pages.

 

Hours later, he's still singing, as we sat on hay bails and enjoyed coffee, fresh blueberry lemonade and corn on the cob.

 

The view was stunning.

 

Thank you Jennifer and Holly for such a great, memorable day! I bought the cutest stuff! But I will save that for another day.