Summertime wreath!

Ok, so last week I showed you my front door make-over. I'm really liking it! I am enjoying its simplicity, especially since it didn't break the bank and it adds something fun before you even enter my home. A preview, so to speak....

Today I'm going to show you how to make a pretty Summertime wreath. Woot! Bring on some color! I saw this wreath on Pinterest and it hung on a navy door. I said to myself, "I MUST HAVE THAT!" and so began the make-over. The wreath itself was honestly one of the easiest to put together(no really!) and with very minimal effort. Just the supplies, hot glue, some floral wire, and about an hour of my time. I wish I could say it was under $20 but it was closer to about $25-$30. Still not bad! And its so easy, even those who consider them selves "craftless" can do it!

So here it is...My pretty summertime wreath (on my new blue door)!

Here's the How To:

Supplies:

1) A grapevine or twig/branch type wreath. ($6.99 full price at Hobby Lobby)

2) A green small leaf type garland. (Hobby Lobby on sale 50% off, so it was about $8)

3) A flower spray type garland. (Hobby Lobby on sale 50% off, so $8 as well)

4) Wood letter of your last name or a monogram. Whatever you want to hang in the middle.(Hobby Lobby at about $3)

5) Hot glue gun and glue sticks.

6) Floral wire.

7) Your choice of ribbon. I used burlap ribbon.

8) Small piece of twine.

9) Your choice of paint for your wood letter.

To Make:

1) Paint or even modge podge your wooden letter and let dry. Set aside for later.

2) Using floral wire, secure the green garland to the wood branches of the wreath. Its going to hang somewhere so make sure its on there nice and tight!

3) On top of the green garland, add the floral garland using the floral wire as well. Secure this in several places over and under the other garland. Nice and tight! 

4) Use hot glue gun to add additional security where you think it needs it.

5) Make a bow from your ribbon and chose where you want to fasten it. I used both floral wire and hot glue.

6) Underneath your bow, hang your letter using the twine. Secure the twine to the actual branch part of the wreath for security. 

7) Hang on your front door!

That's it! No wrapping, pinning, flower making, or hot gluing your fingers together. Ha! So easy!

Here is the Pin of inspiration:

http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2014/03/simply-spring-a-diy-wreath/

Her blog is SUPER cute and she has the original tutorial on her site with more photos as well. Hop on over and have a look!

Next week I am showing you how to paint a front door properly. Stay tuned!

As always, Happy Pinning!

~Amanda

Front Porch Makeover!!!

Spring is here FINALLY! Slowly but surely my projects are starting to get finished up. (Holla!) Spring in WA means a few days of sun followed by a week of rain, so I struggle to get things done as fast as I can. I have some fun posts coming up, but this one is going to be one of my favorites this year I think. 

I have a nice wide porch area leading to my front door which has been sitting pathetic for months. Duck tape from Halloween and a dead poinsettia to name a few items gracing my doorstep. It was not very welcoming and quite frankly, boring. Here it is in all its boring glory...

So I decided one of my first spring projects would be to add some colorful curb appeal. I also have one small confession. I am a plant killer. I just cannot grow anything to save my life, so this little make-over had to involve, fake, yes fake, plants. hehe. The perk? I don't have to water and it still looks green. Ha!

So I made a wreath (next post!), painted the front door, bought a rug and plant, and used my daughters rain-boots she wore all of once. Ta Da! A welcoming and colorful doorstep. Much better don't you think?

Here's what I did:

1st) I went to Lowe's and bought one of their $3 sample jars. The color I chose was called Indigo Cloth by Valspar. This one jar painted my whole front door. Can I get a woot? I chose it in semigloss. I wanted to paint over all the dings and nicks. It wasn't perfect, but it is SO much nicer! A different post will be on how to paint your front door, so stay tuned!

2nd) I had a medium/large pot that was an off white color just sitting in my garage so I spray painted it yellow and bought a silk plant to go in it.  I purchased the plant at Michael's for 40% off. Was originally $35 and I got it for $22.

3rd) I used my daughters cute rain-boots and bought silk lavender plants that are fairly realistic if you ask me, and stuck one in each boot. I got those at Michael's as well for 50% off. They cost me about $4 total. Did I mention I don't have to water them? hehe.

4th) I hunted for an outdoor rug, but one that covered a large area, not just the patch by the door. I found the navy and white chevron rug(you know how I feel about chevron!) at Target in the garden section. It was my most expensive item at $29! I love it.

5th) I made a new spring wreath to adorn my new blue door. I went to Hobby Lobby and made the wreath for about $30. A  bit more expensive than my previous wreaths, but its pretty fun! I will be posting the wreath tutorial next! 

This isn't a fancy make-over by any means, but it was affordable, easy, and turned out cute! In the next few posts I will share my how to's and the Pinterest inspirations that helped transform my boring porch. Stay tuned!

And as always, Happy Pinning!

Yes, another Burlap Wreath! And again, under $20!

What can I say? I'm on a roll! I have been merrily making burlap wreaths for about a week now. I am covered in burlap lint and have several glue gun burns, but I am excited to send out my wreaths and to grace my front door with this one! Burlap Wreath #2!

It's not quite Fall yet, but I feel the cool air and shorter days beginning to grace us. So for a simple and shabby look at my front door, I experimented with combining the idea of the burlap bubble wreath and the burlap rose wreath.

My Pins of Inspiration!

http://www.babblingsandmore.com/2011/09/burlap-wreath-giveaway.html

http://somekindoflovelyride.com/2012/05/05/super-easy-burlap-wreath/

Both blogs have some seriously cute ideas! Visit their sites for more!

Supplies:

1) a wire wreath ($2.99 at Hobby Lobby)

2) Burlap ribbon about 4 inches wide. ($4.99 a roll at Hobby Lobby and I used 2 and 1/2. I also got them 50% off)

3) Glue gun and plenty of glue sticks

4) scissors

5) burlap in different colors such as orange, brown, and cream.( I had left over from my previous wreath and burlap is about $3 a yard and you'd need less than half a yard. I also got the orange burlap from Hobby Lobby but in the ribbon form.)

6) Pearl pins(walmart for 2.77, but I had plenty left from previous wreath)

7) Floral wire

How to bubble:

1) Unroll one of the burlap ribbons and on one end, weave some floral wire in between the fibers. Secure this end to the wire wreath. I started on the outside.

2) Now pull the ribbon over and under, back and forth, between the wires. Push up to keep it tight.

3) Just keep going until you r ribbon ends and then secure this end with more floral wire. 

4) repeat 1 thru 3 until the entire wire wreath is covered in burlap bubbles.

You can visit   http://somekindoflovelyride.com/2012/05/05/super-easy-burlap-wreath/    for more specific photos and directions. 

For the flowers:

1) Visit this tutorial: http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/burlap-roses-tutorial . She explains it better than I ever could!

2) Hot glue flowers to wreath and pin the middle with the pearl pins.

For the Bow:

1) Take a piece of the orange burlap and fold ends under, meeting in the middle.

2) Take some twine and wrap int around the center. Hot glue gun in place.

3) Cutting two more orange pieces, hot glue gun underneath and cut the "V" ends.

4) Hot glue the bow to the wreath or secure with floral wire.

Ta Da!

This wreath took me an hour total. about 30 minutes to do the bubble part, and another 30 for the roses and bow. Super easy!

                                                       

Now onto my last wreath! Happy Pinning!

                               

DIY Burlap Wreath! For Under $20!

I LOVE Burlap! Almost as much as I love Chevron prints, and that's saying something. Combine the two? Heaven on Earth!!! Ha! What can I say? Its really too much fun! Burlap can be so diverse, and when dressed up, made to be country or shabby chic. Add some lace or pearls and ta da! BUT it comes with a warning...ITS A MESS! Ha! A lesson I quickly learned. This however, does not detract from my love of it, or from the list of craft ideas I want to try!

My first attempt with burlap was this wreath and I absolutely love how it turned out! Even more so, I LOVE the price tag! Less than $20 to make myself instead of spending upwards of $40 on Etsy or in a craft store. It also did not take that much time or effort. Maybe two hours and a few glue gun burns.(Glue guns aren't my friends. ha!) I could not wait to hang it up! It rests proudly on my living room wall! Here's the How To....

Supplies:
1) Your choice of wire edged burlap, 1) patterned and one not.(I got my Chevron print and regular at Hobby Lobby at 40% off. Was $6 for 15ft. Generally sold in the ribbon section.)
2) Brown and cream regular burlap sold by the yard.You will only need half a yard of each at the most.(Walmart sells it for $2.98 a yard and Hobby Lobby for just over $3. So for half a yard of each $3 total!)
3) Your choice of twine. (I had some left over form a different craft.)
4) Pearl pins. (2.77 at Walmart)
5) Straw form wreath. (I got mine from Hobby Lobby for $3.99. You could also use foam or anything like it. The cheaper the better!)
6) Hot glue gun and plenty of glue sticks!
7) Scissors

How To:
1) Plug in hot glue gun and heat up.
2) Cut your cream and brown burlap by the yard into strips of varying lengths and widths.
3) With your wire edged patterned burlap, hot glue gun one end to the wreath. Then start tightly wrapping it around the straw wreath form. (A small side note, I left the plastic wrap it came with on. The straw is poky!)
4) When you have covered the full wreath, hot glue the other end down. Securing it in place.
5) Make your burlap flowers in different sizes and colors. Here is a great tutorial that explains it better than me! http://www.katiesrosecottageblog.com/2012/01/burlap-rose-tutorial.html
6) Pin the flowers in the middle with the Pearl pins and secure in your desired pattern onto the wreath.
7) For a little added dimension, add some twine flowers as well. I just looped the twine to look like a daisy and hot glued the middle.
8) To make the bow, use the plain wire edged burlap and wrap twine in its middle. I recommend the wire edged because it holds its form, but the regular burlap would work too.
9) I used a small strip of the same burlap to hang it with. I hot glued the bow to this piece.
10) Hang on your door or in your house!

Me and a friend of mine had a wreath making day and I am working on finishing the other. Will post some photos of that one soon!

My pins of inspirations! I kinda combined the two!

http://pinterest.com/pin/56787645274625920/

http://pinterest.com/pin/26740191510853546/

My Chevron burlap wreath was inexpensive and fun to do! I recommend it to all! On a scale of easy being 1 and difficult 10, its a 2!

Happy Pinning!

From Boring to FABULOUS!

Phew! I just finished a time consuming project! We moved about 4 months ago and I am still working on making this house our home. It's all in the details right? There was a large blank wall behind our love seat and it was just begging for something interesting! I had revamped an old dresser(older post) to hold our DVDs and it sat along that wall, but it was very blank with just a boring mirror and some frames. Was no show stopper! I craved something eye catching and fun. I had those family photos from the spring and hatched a plan for a family wall. I perused Pinterest and found some fabulous ideas! Here is the result!

I bought the rod from Rodworks online. Its a rod that is actually made for hanging photos which is handy! I had thought about just going to Walmart or Target for a window rod, but they hang out from the wall several inches. This rod saved me that hassle and only cost me $24. I went to Michael's while they were having a frame sale and got the 11x14 frames 50% off.  I added nick knacks I had on hand and some I bought on clearance at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and World Market. I shop sales and clearance to keep it in budget and you don't lose any value. I'm getting better at it! Then I ordered the Vinyl sign thru Etsy for $19.99. This process took me a few weeks since I was just slowly accruing pieces and ideas. We also painted the wall a cream color. I think it turned out pretty darn cute! Total cost was about $75-$100 for everything. Not bad! It accents the entire living room that it faces into, and I am very happy with how it turned out. Another project down!

Here are my Pins of inspiration!

 http://countrygirlhome.blogspot.ca/2011/10/my-new-hand-crafted-sofa-table.html

http://pinterest.com/pin/22869910577493787/

Both these are so cute and trendy! Visit their sites to see how they did theirs!

Happy Pinning!

Make it nice again!

One of my hobbies is giving furniture a face lift, and my Mom's husband gives me pieces every now and then thinking I can use them. This time he gave me an old desk. To say the least, NOT attractive, and I really have no place for it. BUT I saw that a coat of paint and little make-over could give it life again and maybe a new home. :)  So here it is, my ugly little desk turned cute!

Before:

After:

A little paint and some TLC can go along way even with the ugliest of items!

In this case it was VERY easy.

Supplies:

1) Paint(I used 3 colors....the green, white, and beige)

2) Paint brush or roller

3) Painters tape

4) Top coat

How to:

1) In a well ventilated area, pain the base of the desk or item.

2) You may need more than one coat so step 2 is to do more coats until all even.

3) While the base is drying, paint the top all white.

4) Again another coat or two if needed.

5) When all is dry, tape or stencil on your design.

6) Paint the stencil area with enough paint to coat well.

7) Let all dry.

8) Pull off the tape or stencil.

9) Touch up any edges or smudges.

10) Top coat!

You're done!  This took me only a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. I DIDN'T sand and DIDN'T use a primer. I used good old wall paint I had left over from Walmart in semi-gloss. I used 3 coats and it was good to go. It was really no sweat and it turned out dang cute!

Any boring item can be given new life with a coat of paint or some new fabric. I challenge you to try it! And I warn, its addictive to see your items transform!

-Happy Pinning!

DIY Mammas!

About 2 years ago, I re-stained two sets of bathroom cabinets. I just guessed at what I was doing. I hadn't found Pinterest yet, dang it! I wish I had seen this post!  www.DIYMamas.blogspot.com

BEFORE:

AFTER:

(Photos are property of DIY Mamas!)

Doesn't that make such a huge difference? LOVE it!  Visit www.DIYmamas.blogspot.com for the How-To!

I'd like to introduce you to DIY Mamas blog! Some seriously fun stuff to see and try and I had the pleasure of an interview!

DIY Mamas:

1) Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I am happily married with 4 sweet kids.  Two girls, two boys (ages 2-8).  I love being a mom.  (Although it is the hardest, and most rewarding, job I've ever had.)  My favorite movies are Oscar and The Importance of Being Earnest.  My favorite game is Clue.  I like to rock climb and fence.  (As in fight with swords.)  I am a Real Estate Agent.  I want to learn to blow glass.  I love to travel and I find peace in seeing new things, no matter how simplistic.  I want to learn photography (but cannot afford a camera).  I'm very entrepreneurial.  

2) Tell us something funny or embarrassing about yourself! :)

I AM Harry Potter.  Seriously.  I really think I am.  Lol.  I dream that I fight Voldemort all the time and wake up in a sweat with all my muscles exhausted.  I fly on my broom, fling spells, hide behind gravestones and defeat evil.  I started reading Harry Potter when the first one just came out and I was Harry's age.  I would get the next one as soon as it came out!  I would read them over and over.  I literally grew up with Harry.  As he aged, I aged.  By the time the last book came out I was married with two kids, but I still just knew I was Harry.  It was thrilling and devastating to close the last book.  I laughed, cried and loved those people.  Besides for the scriptures, I don't think there is a better set of books on earth.  I. Am. Harry Potter.

3) Tell us a bit about your blog DIY Mamas.

I enjoy crafting, improving my home, and doing projects.  BUT we don't have a lot of 'extra' income so everything I do has to be on a tight budget.  Because of that, I DIY almost everything.  I don't think that DIYing anything should have to look second rate.  I always try to make what I do look just like a professional came and did it.  I post things that have made a difference in my life.  I posted about keeping up with Pinterest parties that a lot of moms really appreciated.  I like to uplift others and share what helped me.  I hope that I can make a positive difference in the world.  No matter how small.

4) What gave you the idea to start the blog?

I have a private blog with my family on it.  (It was getting creepers so I had to make it private.)  :-(  But I wanted to share my projects publicly.  So I need a different outlet for that.  I started DIY Mamas with my sister (she is also very crafty and can even craft with nearly NO income) so we could have a place to show off our cute stuff or hard work without the creepers being able to see my kiddos.  So that is what we did.  I ended up being the only one who really posts, but she will post occasionally.  

5) What is your favorite project so far?

My favorite project was the staining project.  It was easy and produced BIG results!  My cabinet is stunning!  I have done other staining projects since then.  My latest one will be going live this week.  I have to say that the one that is coming on Wednesday might be my new favorite project!!  ;-)  I am going to give you a sneak peek!!  (See my pictures below.)

My other favorite thing on my blog is my DIY Dishwasher Detergent.  It saved my dishes and my dishwasher!  I am SO grateful that I gave it a try!!  

6) What was your least favorite or hardest project?

My least favorite (to do) and the hardest is the same one.  My girls' room.  We ripped down the wall, insulated, it put it back up, did built in drawers and shelves and did a paint job that our painter friend said would have cost us at least $400 just for that room!   The problem is that I was pregnant and we had some personal things going on so it was a VERY SLOW project.  It took months.  And we spent a lot more money than we were planning on spending.  But going through it, I have good advice to do a room like that so that doesn't happen to you.  I actually have not even finished blogging that room because of how much work it was.  I will get there!  Stay tuned if you want to see it!

7) Any advice for your readers?

Please read the whole post.  I don't say that because I want you to cling to my every word.  I have had SO many questions, specifically on my staining tutorial that were things that I had already addressed and answered in my post.  If you plan on doing something a dramatic as staining something please read all of the instructions before proceeding.

8) Any additional input?

The other thing I would like to say is, Ladies, you CAN do it!!!!  I believe in you.  It doesn't matter if you have never touched a power tool or gotten your hands dirty.  If you want to learn something you CAN.  I have had people laugh at me at Home Depot and beg me to hire someone to do the job.  I was offended.  Yes, I was 7 months pregnant but that didn't mean that I was unable to do the job.  (Please consult your doctor.  I knew I was able with my Dr.'s permission.)  If you want to learn how to do something look it up.  Get some advice and then go for it!  You can do it, Mama!!

-Danielle

Thank you Danielle!

Here are a few more fun photos/projects from her blog:

And lastly, her promised sneak peak! This is so cool! Wish I had a small bathroom to do this to!

Hope you enjoyed DIY Mamas! Visit her blog for more fun tutorials! Its a must see!

Happy Pinning!

DIY ANTHROPOLOGIE CURTAINS!!!

Am I the only one who loves Anthropologie stuff? Especially, DIY knock offs?!  Anthropolgie has some seriously cute items for the home, but lets face it, $150 for one drapery panel? I think not. I see ideas on Pinterest all the time and if you can do it for 1/4 of the cost, then why the heck not? My friend had the one up on me, and had already made these for her bedroom. They were so cute! So I decided to give them a shot. Seemed relatively simple. And so it should have been.... Ha!

I am just not a natural born seamstress. Both my grandmothers were expert level seamstresses and could whip up a project from scratch. It was like a super power! My Mom was a great seamstress as well. My sister and I always had matching outfits and dresses, not to mention all of those fun Halloween costumes over the years. Sadly, the line ended there.  I just do not have the skill. This project is Level: EASY and even I should have breezed through it, but alas, my machine and I had a disagreement and the machine won.- 1 machine, 0 Amanda. :)

So yes, the machine bested me, but while it was being repaired, I continued on by hand with the ruffles. When I got the machine back, the remaining sewing was done in an hour. :) This really is an easy project, I swear!

Also, did I mention that this is made from 2 twin sheets? I ended up using 3 actually, but that's because I did my ruffles by hand and really liked them tight.

This project cost me a total of $15 and in total sewing time was only a few hours. It should only take a day for those with a working machine. :)

Original Pin:

http://diytilwedie.blogspot.com/2012/06/anthropologie-knock-off-curtains-from.html

Visit her blog above to see more of her DIY ideas! Such a cute blog!

Items Needed:

1) 2 twin sheets of your choice in color and pattern.( I used beige from Walmart for $4.98 each)

2) Matching thread

3) Sewing machine

4) Scissors

How To:

1) If the sheets are wrinkled, you may want to iron them out so its easier to measure and cut, etc.

2) You need 3 six inch wide strips for the ruffles on each drape panel, so cut a section of sheet about 18 inches wide lengthwise.

3) Cut the 18 inch section into 3 six inch sections.

4) On the side of the sheet you cut, hem using a straight stitch on your machine.

5) I did not hem the ruffles, but you may choose to at this time if you want a more finished look.

6) Now its time to ruffle! Cut one of the 6 inch pieces in half. When you ruffle you lose length! If you have a machine, adjust your tension and create the ruffles. Or take a bit more time to hand ruffle. If you visit her tutorial above she shows how to use the machine and ruffle. I recommend the machine way! lol

7) So now you should have 2 long ruffles for each panel and the panels themselves.

8) Now, you know the top of the sheet that is about a 3 inch hem? Start to pin the ruffles onto the panel  just below that hem. Later that hem will be the rod pocket. The ruffles should be about 13 to 14 inches in from the outer edge on each side. Pin the ruffle all the way down to the bottom hem. Securing it for easy sewing.

9) Time to sew! Carefully and purposefully sew a straight stitch right down the middle of the ruffles and onto your panel. remember to remove those pins as you go!

10) This is where I cheated...I used that fabric stuff that is a glue strip and with heat from a iron seals a hem. I folded over the 3 inch hem and glued the rod pocket together. The other option is to cut a slit in the side of that 3 inch hem and its already a pocket. The tutorial from the Original Pin did hers that way. Take a look to see what you think is easier for you!

11) Hang up your glorious new drapes! Be ready to be wowed at your own savvy! :)

Don't these make a difference in the room? This project is very inexpensive and is very simple. In total, an afternoon could yield you a new accessory to your windows! If there is anything unclear on this How To, please let me know! I would love any feedback!

-Happy Pinning!

Teacher Appreciation!

Ok, I know I promised my DIY knock-off Anthropologie curtains, and I solemnly swear they are on their way.  But, I had a HUGE fight with my sewing machine and the machine won. It had to go in for a check-up. I really did try! But its totally ancient and was my mother's. Was bound to need a tune-up eventually I guess. SO, while I finish my fun drapes up this weekend, here are two posts to make up for it!

This is the fun teacher appreciation gift that we made for my daughter's teacher. It was so simple and fun to put together! And to top it off, her teacher said it was totally different, and she liked it so much she didn't want to open it all the way and ruin its presentation! Score! Total cost? $10! Total appreciation? Priceless. :)

Original Pin:

http://pinterest.com/pin/208995238928077293/

What you'll need:

1) Empty 2 liter soda bottle cleaned.
2) Misc. items of your choosing such as candy, pencils, glue sticks, etc to put inside.
3) Tissue paper or paper grass to place inside.
4) Paper for the label
5) Printer and computer for label or if your handy at your own fun handwriting.
6) Scissors to cut  a secret door to place all the items in with.
7) Glue stick or Elmer's glue to seal the label on.
8) Any stickers, ribbons or extra embellishments

How to:
1) Clean out and dry the 2 liter soda bottle.

2) Once dry, cut a C shape in the side that will be big enough to place your hand through but not so big the label won't cover it up.
3) Place in the tissue paper or paper grass at the bottom.
4) Place the gift items inside on top of the paper. Arranging how you prefer.

5) If using paper grass, place just a bit at the top as well.

6) Print or make the label and glue it on over the C shape.
7) Embellish with ribbon and stickers.

8) Give to the teacher and expect a big Thank you!

My daughter and I had fun with this and just bought fun candy and teacher items from the Dollar store. It made her teacher smile and that just brightened my daughters day! To all those teachers out there, Thank you for all you do!

-Happy Pinning!

DIY Entertainment Console(from a dresser!)

Next to Pinterest and blog stalking, I LOVE Craigslist! I think I have mentioned before that we just moved. I sold several pieces of furniture on there and one of them was our entertainment center. Made a little money off the stuff we didn't need(or want to lift. ha!)! No, really, Cha Ching!

For a while now, I have had a plan to find a dresser and fix it up real cute to go in the living room and hold all our DVD's and Wii games. Moving was the perfect excuse! As soon as we moved, I went on the hunt. I found myself an awesome deal(where else? Craigslist!) and now have another great piece of furniture. Without further ado... my new entertainment console!

The original Pin that was my color scheme inspiration! Love the dark with lighter, high-end look. I also love the argyle detail, but my dresser wasn't really the right shape. Sigh*

http://diycozyhome.com/diy-desk-makeover-instructions/

I think Craigslist is a great place to find all sorts of goods! Kinda like one big awesome garage sale from the comfort of your couch. There's that saying, "one man's garbage is another man's treasure." Its not that its actual garbage, but like this dresser, it is no longer serving its purpose. It was originally used in a little girls room with matching mirror and headboard, but alas she grew. The dresser caught my attention when I saw it. Its got this ridge of detail under the top drawers and I just new that a coat of new paint and some distressing could make it sing a new tune! I almost painted it yellow or mint, but I saw the color of the desk on Pinterest and LOVED it! I almost bought a similar dresser at an antiques store, but it was twice the price, and I thought, "I could do that myself." So I did of course. :)

Here's what to do!

Supplies:
1) Primer! If you want your piece to last and not have to sand, use a primer. I used Bullseye 123 from Walmart. Its approx $8 for a quart. Shouldn't need more than that for two coats on a project this size.
2) Your choice of paint. I used Better Homes and Garden's colors Mink Brown for the top and drawer knobs, and Early Blossom for the body, both in Semi Gloss. I however, used Colorplace paint because its cheaper. I only purchased a quart of each($10ea) and had plenty left over.
3) I used a roller and brush to coat all the pieces.(already had these!)
4) Sandpaper or block if you want to distress.
5) Top coat if you desire extra protection. Minwax Polycrylic is my favorite. It is water based and is the only one I know of that dries crystal clear. About $8-10 a quart.

How to:
1) Take all the knobs and pulls off and take the drawers out.

2) Wipe down all the surfaces and let them dry so the primer will adhere.
3) Coat the entire dresser top, sides, and drawer fronts with the primer. Let dry sufficiently in between coats. I did two.

4) When the primer is dry, paint desired color. Again, I used two different colors, so I did the darker top first and the areas I wanted to distress. It looked a bit messy at this point with dark brown paint smudged all over edges and areas. When that was dry, I painted the lighter body and over those brown areas(they show up later!). I did 3 coats of each. (I forgot to stop and photograph this step!)
5) Paint drawer knobs and allow them to dry. Don't attach til everything is dry! Or you can upgrade to new knobs from your local hardware store for some extra fun!

6) When all the pieces have dried, sand desired area for a distressed look. This is where I lightly sanded away the whiter color to reveal the darker color I had painted underneath in areas on the drawers, edges, and that detail below the top drawers. (Hopefully I explained this well!)

7)  Wipe clean any paint dust.
8)  Top coat if desired!
9)  Re-attach all the hardware.

Total cost of this project: $35 for the dresser, $20 for the paint, and $8 for the primer= just under $70! Can't beat that even at Walmart. Ha!

There is something about a furniture make-over that is so fun to do!  Don't be afraid... Do it!

Happy Pinning!

DIY Painted Mason Jars!

Who loves mason jars? I do! And who loves a super inexpensive mason jar craft? Me! I have had these jars just sitting around over the past 6 months or so. I got a few from a friend who brought me homemade juice and my mom who brought me homemade jams and berries last fall. I had all sorts of ideas of what to do with them. I honestly should have a Pinterest board solely dedicated to mason jars(wait, that's a good idea! ha!). So many great ways to use them, and I am just getting started!

This project cost me a whopping total of $12. Had the jars, as many of us do, but I went on the suggestion of the original Pin and used Martha Stewart craft paint instead of paint I already had on hand.  If you already have paint, then this is getting cheaper for you by the minute! I got the Martha Stewart paint at Michael's in 5 colors, all satin finish: Cloud, Beach Glass, Wild Salmon, Ballet Slipper, and Couscous. They were $1.99 each and I also bought a fresh new sponge brush(.99). That is it! Four items total... Jars, paint, paint brush, and sandpaper or block.

The original Pin:

http://jenniferciani.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-painted-mason-jars.html

Jennifer's blog is one of the wonderful sites I have stumbled across through Pinterest. Its so fun and creative, and I highly recommend you visit! You can also find her link on my page "Blogs I Love." I am still going through some of her projects that I really want to try. I know, I know, I am a total blog stalker. You don't have to tell me. Ha! But really, visit her blog!

Here's the super duper easy how to!

1) Clean off the jars and make sure they are dry.

2) With the sponge brush, paint the jar. (Repeat this for about 3 coats. Wait 20-30 min in between coats.)

3) Using sandpaper or a sanding block, distress the words and areas that would seem to get naturally scuffed.

4) Enjoy the satisfaction that it was that easy. Ha!

This can be done in one afternoon.You could seal them with a top coat if you wanted to, but I didn't. These aren't items that will be touched or moved a lot. Now where to put them?

Stay tuned! Next week is another fun furniture redo that I am excited about! Happy Pinning!