Picture This.......

I love pictures and I love to display them.  After we painted the walls and finished the floor in the family room I didn't put any of my pictures back out.  They've actually been stacked in a pile in our bedroom collecting dust while I took an extremely long amount of time putting together some picture ledge shelves.

I searched high and low looking for 4 foot long shelves and when I finally found some I didn't like the price (imagine that)!  I found some instructions online to make my own and I thought how hard could it really be.  I have a hammer and drill.  I can do this.

I used two pine 1x4's and one pine 1x2 per shelf.  I purchased eight foot boards and had them cut in half at the store.  I painted them using Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover in semi-gloss black.  Then they sat in the basement for about a month.  I'd like to say that I'm just so super busy but really I'm intimidated by power tools.

I finally faced my fear of the drill and started putting them together.  It didn't go well.  I walked away after the second shelf and contemplated if I really wanted them.  Two weeks later I put on my big girl panties and finished them up and hung them all by myself.  Proud moment right there!  I may have used some questionable language in the process but I'll never tell.

I love them and I like the idea that I can quickly change out frames and pictures whenever my mood changes.  I also love that it only cost me around $30 to make all the shelves.  Now that's my kind of price range.

Stay Thrifty,
Shea

From Drab to Fab! My Kitchen Cabinet Makeover.......

I’ll just cut right to it.  Here’s the before:

And now they look super AMAZING!

I used 3 coats of General Finishes Milk Paint in Seagull Gray and 3 coats of the High Performance Topcoat in Satin.

It took me about a week to finish them.  It was spring break so the painting only occurred between naps, a trip to the zoo, movies, wine, swimming, and soccer. It was a lot of work BUT so worth it!  

I cleaned all the cabinets, drawers, and doors with TSP and then used a liquid sander/deglosser before I began painting.  I used foam brushes to apply the paint and topcoat and I did not paint the inside of the cabinets.  

I have to admit that I was nervous about painting them and began to doubt my skills. After I put the doors back on and took a step back I knew I made the right decision.  My kitchen feels bigger and lighter. I’m in love with them.

The drill was misbehaving so the hardware on the bottoms will go on another day!

Stay Thrifty,

Shea