Chalkboard Paint on Kitchen Cabinets

The chalkboard trend... by now everyone has at least pinned one of these babies on pinterest. (Hopefully one from my etsy shop... hee hee) They're fun and so useful. I just love 'em.

A couple of months ago while finishing up a chalkboard project, I had a moment of brilliance... aka I got distracted. On a whim, I painted the inside of the cabinet doors on my pantry. I didn't sand or prime it. I painted the cabinets last year, so I knew it was a good surface. After two coats and about 15 minutes of work, I have a simple, hidden surface to jot down my weekly menu and grocery list. 

The best part: it's super convenient!

I have an iphone app to manage my grocery list, but many times that's too inconvenient. I end up forgetting what I was supposed to write before I can find my phone. I may be in the middle of fixing dinner and realize I need three things. I just jot it down (usually in my messiest handwriting) and add it on my phone later. The menu is great because I just open the pantry and see what meals options I have. 

Here's another shot of my gorgeous cabinet. I did organize it for these photos... in case you were wondering. :)

I buy my chalkboard paint at Lowe's, but I've also seen small cans of it at Walmart in the craft section. Just make sure you have a good surface for the paint to adhere to. I use a disposable sponge brush or roller and apply two coats.

*Before you use the chalkboard, "season" it by rubbing chalk over the entire surface and erasing it with a dry paper towel or cloth. This will make it easier to erase items.

Let me know if you give this little idea a try!

It doesn't take much to make me smile

I have two new things in my living room that put a smile on my face every time I walk into the room. I'll start with the biggie:

I made a slipcover, y'all! And I am so stinking proud of myself. Is it perfect? No way. But that's not what I was after anyway. I just wanted pretty.

Here's what I started with:

I found two of these Old Hickory wingback chairs at a garage sale a few months ago. I paid $40 for the pair. I originally thought I would reupholster them, but slipcovers seemed more practical. I followed Miss Mustard Seed's video slipcover tutorial here. It was not easy. I'd say I'm an advanced beginner when it comes to sewing. This was a challenge!

I used bleached drop cloths for the fabric. The slipcover cost about $35 in materials and took several long nights and nap times. But it was worth it.

What a transformation! I love my "new" chair. And I'm sure the next slipcover will look even better. 

The other reason I'm smiling is two brass candle sconces I found at an antiques shop.

They were $15 for the pair. I love them on either side of the TV. Now, I'm not sure what else to put up there. Suggestions?

Maybe I'm an old lady at heart, but I just love these. Or maybe I really am an old lady. I have about 20 gray hairs right in the front of my head... Ugh... I digress...

It really doesn't take much to make me smile. And when I find or make something pretty and inexpensive, I just love it even more. 

Day 12: Popcorn Garland

It's the last day of Christmas Crafts! The final project is a sweet little popcorn garland. I had a lot of fun making this with my kiddos. Well, they had fun eating the popcorn while I made it. :)

MATERIALS: 

2 bags of plain popcorn (no butter)

Needle & Thread

STEP 1. Make the popcorn and set it outside to get stale (it also keeps your family from eating it).

STEP 2. Once the popcorn is a little stale and not so crumbly, it's ready. Thread your needle, but leave one end attached to the spool. Push the popcorn on the needle and down the thread. It's pretty easy. 

You don't want to let the garland get too long, because it will start getting tangled. If you were putting this on a tree, I would make two or three separate ones. 

I love the idea of doing this every year. It feels so traditional and nostalgic. Another plus -- it costs almost nothing to make! 

Well, that's it for the 12 Days of Christmas Crafts. If you've enjoyed this series, please let me know by leaving a comment. I'm going to make some changes to the blog next year, and I'd love any suggestions you might have on how to make the blog better. 

Merry Christmas!!!

Day 11: Glittered Photo Ornaments

Today's project is similar to the Pinecone Photo Ornaments. The first two steps are the same.... copy your photos and cut them out. Next, use Mod Podge to stick the photo to cardstock and, paint Mod Podge on top of the photo. Cut it out. 

Now, you're ready to make the glittered ornaments. I used two kinds of glitter: a gold powder glitter and regular silver glitter. You'll also need glue and a paintbrush.

Use the paintbrush to paint glue on the edge of the frame. Set out a cookie sheet or cake pan with a rim, and sprinkle glitter onto the glue. Let it dry.  For the picture below, I only used the gold powder. I think the one with two types of glitter turned out so much prettier, but oh well! :) 

I know this is cheating a little bit because it's so much like the pinecone ornament... You'll have to forgive me. It was a crazy day. I locked my boys in the car at Old Navy today and had to call the fire department to get them out. We also went to the pediatrician, got flu shots and ran errands. Crazy day!

And I still have a couple of Christmas gifts to get. I've been done a couple of times, but I keep forgetting people! The big day is almost here though, and I can't wait.

Tomorrow is the last project. I'm going to share how to make a popcorn garland. 

Before & After - Bedside Tables

Last month, I completed one of my biggest furniture re-dos to date: two gorgeous, curvy bedside tables. When my friend, Monica, first showed me the pic, I knew they would turn out awesome. They were heavy, solid tables with ornate curved fronts and sides. Monica didn't like the finish, the tops had scratches and water stains, and she was looking for a pop of color in her all-brown bedroom.

Here's the before:

And here's the inspiration photo of what Monica wanted the tables to look like:

Monica provided the light blue paint in flat. For the bases, I gave them a light sanding, primed and painted two coats with a brush. But then I ran into problems... Instead of a soft, light distressing, I ended up with peeling paint. 

It was a major headache, but I stripped the bases and drawers completely before starting over. I'm not sure why the primer didn't hold. My only guess is maybe the surface was oily. I've heard about "difficult" pieces. These fit that description. 

Once everything was stripped, I started over. After a soft distressing with a sanding sponge, I used two coats of dark wax. The wax gave the tables a beautiful shine and picked up all the brush strokes. I can't over-emphasize how much better it looks with wax. 

For the tops, I used two coats of dark walnut stain and dark wax. I wish I had better pics of the finished product, but those suckers are heavy, and there are a lot of steps between the little house and where I stage photos. 

Notice the hardware? It's what I used for my whitewashing tutorial here.

So here are the tables again. Monica, if you're reading this, I'd love a pic of them in the room! And if you ever decide to sell them, let me know. They really are gorgeous.

If you're interested in having me refinish a piece of furniture for you, please send me an email at aliciaslittlehouse{at}gmail{dot}com. I typically charge $25/hour plus materials.

Thanks for stopping by!

How to Whitewash Hardware

I love it when I find a piece of furniture with beautiful original hardware. The curves and ornate details can be so pretty... but also very "old lady." Sometimes those old brass knobs and pulls can make a shabby chic piece feel very dated.

One solution is whitewashing. There are probably several ways to do this, but here's my version.

Materials:

Paint Thinner

White or cream paint

Chip brush

Bucket or mixing container

Satin finish spray polyurethane

Towel

To begin, wipe the hardware down with paint thinner. I like the Kwik Strip safe paint thinner. It works well and is not as strong-smelling. Wash with soap and water and let dry.

Once the hardware is clean, mix your paint. Pour a dollop of paint in a small bucket and add a little water. I usually don't measure it out. You want it to be thinned a little so the paint is transparent. If you have too much water, it won't adhere well. If that happens, just wipe it off and add more paint. I used a satin finish cream color, but any finish would work fine.

TIP: If you don't have anything on hand, have the hardware store mix up a sample size. These are only a few dollars, and they really cut down the cost of your projects.

Now that your paint is ready, apply it using an inexpensive chip brush. Let it dry, and take a towel to wipe the paint off slightly. You can do this as much or little as you like. Then, follow with two coats of spray polyurethane. 

Voila!

I love the way it turned out!

If this isn't your style, you can also spray paint hardware. Make sure you clean it well, spray it and finish with polyurethane. You don't always have to spend money on new knobs and pulls to give your furniture a fresh look. Many pieces can be updated with just a few dollars.

If you need help giving your furniture a face-lift, contact me at aliciaslittlehouse{at}gmail{dot}com.