The 5 Layer Bench......

I scored this bench on an online auction for a $1. I was the only bidder.  I think the plastic cover scared them away.

FIVE! There were five layers of fabric, including vinyl, on this bench. Eww! I needed a shower after I removed it all.  

Overall the bench was in good shape.  She was just desperate for a makeover and it took me very little time to give her a new look (after she sat in the garage for a few months).

Here's how she got her fabulous new look:

I unscrewed the top from the base and removed the 900 staples and the dreadful fabric. I sanded the base and used Dixie Belle Plum Crazy chalk paint. This paint is super easy to work with and dries quickly. I applied 3 coats using a foam brush. I then applied 2 coats of Minwax Polycrylic as a topcoat and let it sit for a few days.

For the bench I used a 2 inch thick foam and secured it with adhesive spray. So, 2 inch thick foam is not the easiest to cut or I just have a dull knife ( I'm slightly challenged with a knife so it could be an operator fail, seriously, the Man has to open the pocket knife because I can't figure it out. Every.Time.). I picked up the fabric from Michael's.  And then I got to use my new super spectacular electric staple gun!

I reattached the top to the base and took a seat.....on the bench. 

Stay Thrifty,
Shea

Billy's Desk......

Remember that kid from elementary school that didn't pay attention and wanted to copy off you?  You know, the one who's desk got moved to the back of the class all by himself.  He was usually the one that would do gross stuff or make fun of the other kids.  He's the kid that would carve his name on top of the desk and place his chewing gum under the seat for later. 

That kid is Billy and I found his desk.....and the chewing gum!

If you fall asleep easily from reading then skip this paragraph. 

 

This desk was manufactured by the American Seating Company and based on the logo I found on the inside of the desk I would say it's from the 1960s.  The American Seating Company was originally founded as Grand Rapids School Furniture in 1886 and in 1906 it changed to its present day name of the American Seating Company. 

Well, Billy's desk got a makeover..........

There was a gouge on the wood so I patched it using Elmers's Wood Filler Max and then sanded.  I primed the base and then used Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel in Gloss Light Turquoise.  I used about two cans of spray paint to get the coverage I wanted.  I treated the wood with Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner and then stained it with 3 coats of Bartley Gel Stain in Dark Brown Mahogany.  I also used Rust-Oleum Polyurethane for the top coat (3 coats).

I did leave Billy's name and artwork carved into the wood.  You can barely see it now but I just couldn't bring myself to removing Billy's history with the desk.

 

 

 

 Do you think Billy would want his desk back now?

Stay Crafty,
Shea

Who Doesn't Love T-Shirts and Mustaches????????

My Little Man has an obsession with mustaches.  He calls himself Mustache Man and he's known as Mr. Mustache around school.  It's kinda a big deal with him.

Check out exhibit one......

And exhibit two............

And exhibit three....

I made these t-shirts using freezer paper and fabric paint.  Super Easy!

Our Little Man is competing in a goalkeeper battle for the first time.  He has trained in the rain and the heat during the off season to prepare.  I am proud and in awe of his courage, dedication, and determination. This is the first time he will take the field solo.  There will be no team in front of him on the field. So what better way to show our support then with a t-shirt and a mustache!

I used Microsoft word to print the Team Elijah using Britannic Bold font with a size of 185 and the Microsoft clip-art had lots of mustache pictures to choose from.

I then glued the printout using a glue stick onto the freezer paper glossy side down.  While on top of a cutting mat I cut out the letters and mustache using an exact o knife.  Then, I ironed the freezer paper onto the t-shirt. I put a piece of cardboard inside the t-shirt and it was needed.  The fabric paint did bleed through a little.  I used a paint sponge and dabbed Deep Red Tulip Slick fabric paint over the edges of the cut outs and then inside the cut out portions.

I let mine sit over night before I peeled off the freezer paper.

I used t-shirts that I found at Hobby Lobby.  They seem to always be on sale!  Wait 72 hours before you wash the shirts.  AND then, wear them proudly!

 Don't they look sweet?

Now this is what it's really like!

Stay Crafty,

Shea

The Upcycled Window.......

It all begins with a trip to the local thrift store to find a wall clock.  Instead I found this. 

 

YES!

I swear I never walk out with what I intended to get.  Like ever.

This window is really big and wouldn't work where I originally wanted to hang it.  SO...........drum roll please.............................

She now hangs in my daughter's room.  I am totally in love with how it turned out!  AND, I used the drill for the first time by myself!  I felt so empowered!  But shhhh......Don't tell the Man that I watched a YouTube video to figure out how to change the bit.

I added knobs I found at Hobby Lobby for 1/2 off and I painted a few of the glass panes with DecoArt acrylic paint.  I mixed shimmering silver metallic and silver bling glamour dust to get the color with a little sparkle.

I also got a new toy.  An electric staple gun!  Thanks Dad!  That's what I used my birthday gift card on!  I stapled ribbon to the window and the plaques hanging in the corners.

Hanging it was a little tricky.  This bad boy is heavy so I did some research on hanging large heavy objects.  Lucky for me this window was big enough that I could use two studs to help anchor it.  I used 2 inch wood screws and large D-ring hooks.

I must say I am very pleased!

Stay Crafty,
Shea

What's the difference between a toolbox and a toy box???????

The age of the owner. 

I'm slightly addicted to boxes.  Any kind of boxes.  Wood boxes, metal boxes, cardboard boxes, fabric boxes, plastic boxes, if it's got the word box in the name, chances are I want it or have one.  A toolbox is no different.  I found this one at an estate sale.

It even had some goodies.......

It even came with some rust......

I tried using a scouring pad and I tried some vinegar to remove the rust but this girl had little patience for either.  I used sandpaper to remove the rust that I could.  I then sprayed one coat of Rust-Oleum Filler Primer and finished it off with Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch in Deep Blue.  Oh, and I can't forget the mustache sticker that makes it officially "cool" for my son.

It now holds all those little annoying toys that you find all over the floor.  You know, the ones that you step on and try to hold in all the curse words as your hopping around on one foot.  Yep, those are the ones.

And that whisky box keeps all the legos from being sucked up into the vacuum.

Now that's what I call genius!

Stay Thrifty,
Shea

The Mouse Hideout........

Recently we had a snowy weekend and all our activities had been canceled.  So what does this girl do when she doesn't have any place to be?  Find something to paint!  This beauty had been sitting in my garage for awhile.   

 

 

I had picked up a few bottles of the Americana Decor chalky finish paint a few weeks ago in the hopes of doing something different.   Okay, truth be told, I watched a bunch of YouTube videos on using chalk paint and the Americana line was the cheapest and easiest to get.  

I decided I was going to use the dresser in my kitchen to replace my sad baker’s rack that was being held together by a few screws.  Not real sure what happened to the rest of the screws but whatev.  It’s been around for awhile.

Now this beauty was nicely tucked away against the wall in my garage with a towel over it to protect it from the man and kids setting random stuff on it.  I pulled it out and noticed there were some mouse droppings on the towel.  Ewwww!  We thought we had a little creature in our basement but we weren't for sure.  Our suspicions had been confirmed when I followed the droppings from the dresser down to the floor and along the wall and into a gap between the concrete and the drywall.  Then I found a bag of grass seed on a shelf that had been busted open with seeds and droppings all around.  Sneaky little thing was livin large!  We quickly shut that down and served him an eviction notice.

After all that excitement I took a nap I got started on the chalk paint makeover.  I used Delicate as my base (it's a yellow) and Rouge as the top coat.  I did not sand before the base coat but I did do a light sanding after the base coat and the top coat.  The yellow and the wood come through in different areas and it is just beautiful.  I left the top as is and reused the original knobs.  She now has an old farmhouse feel to her.  She's perfect!

That's an old milk crate that now holds my wine bottles!





Don't you just want a glass of wine after all that!



 

If at first you don't succeed....

Try, try again.

I decided to use this little lady as a nightstand in my daughter's room.

Of course it would require a makeover before it could be accepted as one of her own.  I moved the table from the garage to my studio kitchen and walked past it a few hundred times just waiting for it to call to me.

And I waited.

First, I brighten her up with some RePurpose paint in Crisp Linen.  She looked so refreshed!

I thought I wanted to do a little stencil design on it.  I struggled with how and where I should put the stencil.

I didn't like it.  Sigh.

I reached out to my Facebook peeps for some input.  They gave me lots of ideas and within an hour I had painted over the stencil.  Time to start over!

And I waited.
And I stared.
And I walked past it a hundred more times.

Finally, I talked myself into trying again without stencils!  And I like it!

I used some left over paint for the feet (I prefer to call them slippers), drawer, and stripes.  It's Behr Premium Plus Ultra in Yucatan (same color as the wall behind the table).  I covered it with two coats of Rust-Oleum Polyurethane and I spray painted the drawer pull black. 

I'm glad that one is over!