Easy Thrift Store Chalkboard

At Christmas (I know, this is a little late!) we exchange names among my siblings for gifts. I drew my sisters name, and we both have a passion for all things Jane Austen!  So I was searching up ideas, and came across this book which I never got to read but I heard from her that it's a fun book:

The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman

See, she just moved out on her own, so who couldn't use a little Jane Austen advice on life?!  

I also thought I wanted to make her a chalkboard (there, I finally got around to my point!) for her new place.  Who doesn't need a chalkboard.  They have cute ones out there on sale, but I was on a budget for this Christmas gift so I had to work magic to stay within that budget.  

I searched the thrift store and came across this old calendar box for $3.99!

Have you ever had one of these calendar boxes in your house?  Or do you still??

I picked out a pretty blue acrylic paint that I already had on hand, and coated the entire board except in the middle where I was going to put the chalkboard paint.

Next I found this recipe to make chalkboard paint on pinterest:

I cup of acrylic paint + 2 Tbsp grout.

I cut this recipe in half for my project and had lots!

Did you know that you can buy chalkboard paint in the store. $8 for a tiny can, or you can make it with a few supplies on hand!

After painting the chalkboard paint on I waited for it to dry, and rubbed chalk all over it to break it in.

Here it is:

I did my best at making fancy chalk letters.  Not as easy as others make it look!

Does this quote make anyone else smile?!  

I think it is such a funny line especially the way Tom Hollander says it!

What a cheap project to make:

Calendar Board: $3.99 (thrift store)

Acrylic Paint: Free (on hand small craft paint tube)

Grout: Free (on hand)

TOTAL = $3.99

So, will chalkboards go out of style soon?  It seems like they are everywhere!

And yet, I still don't have one in my house...

How to Make a Shelf From a 2x4

My sister knew I was on the lookout for some gorgeous mirrors.  Ever since I saw this on the pottery barn website:

source

So she called me up one day saying she found some beautiful mirrors at my favourite store (Homesense), and was describing them over the phone.  Anyways she bought them for me, and not for a great price, but when I saw them I was so in love with them that I kept them anyways.

BUT... first I wanted a shelf under the mirrors for going in my dining room, so I started looking around the house.

I found a stash of wood in my garage, perfect!

I found a 2x4 and started sanding...

I used Minwax American Walnut to stain the shelf.

p.s don't use bare hands when staining (lesson learned!)

Even a plastic bag is good enough when you don't have gloves.

I haven't put a sealer on it yet, but I have satin finish Varathane to use on it. Which you just use a paint brush to brush on.

I had considered buying a shelf from Ikea, but after spending money on the mirrors, I decided the shelf had to make up for the cost, and I am happy with the rustic look.

The anchors holding the shelf were cheap ones from Walmart that were white and I painted black.  I didn't think they were a great choice but  they were only 99 cents each, where as the others were $7.00 each. No way was I spending that much on 3 anchors.  Besides I like them now, and think the look of them is perfect (kind of like barn hinges).

Okay, you want to know the cost of the mirrors (I would if you were writing this post).  $35 each.  Worth the money! I love them!

So there you have it!  My new dining room...

WAIT, something is missing...

There.

A wide open space for my baby to ride in!  

(it had been raining for a week)

P.S.  Dining room table is my next project.  Hopefully soon, as we are eating on the floor!

Cost of Shelf:

2x4 wood:  free

3 anchors: $3.00

Stain: borrowed from sister

Total: $3.00

Painting Frank and Bing!

I came across a picture of a LARGE painting of a face with a man screaming, and I thought I want to make one of those!  But I wanted people I love and happy ones!

I LOVE Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby... do you?  Oh those swooning songs...  I listen to them way too often (ask my kids!)

So I decided to add them to my home.  But to make a statement I went on a big scale.  

Here is my process:

- I found two large canvas's

- Found the pictures on the internet of Frank and Bing and printed them off

- Then I went and photocopied my pictures onto transparent paper and blew them up with a projector

- Drew them on with pencil

And here is what I had so far:

Here is a close up:

I painted them with just black first.

Then I added the grey and DONE!  

I make it sound so easy don't I?  Well it was! and completely relaxing.  It did take me a few days on an off.

I love Frank in his hat.  It's the perfect character I need.

And Bing's bow tie is the perfect touch to old fashion as well.

I told you they were BIG!

I think I will hang them in my office.  I love how they are having such a jolly 'ol time!

A Stenciled Wall (or two)!

First off, let me just say I came across this photo while perusing google for an idea to stencil, and I fell in love.

Good Girl Gone Glad did a fantastic job on her wall!!  I wanted the SAME.

So, after finding my inspiration from Good Girl Gone Glad, I had to find a trellis stencil which I found on this lovely blog Jones Design Company.  She did her office (picture below) with this trellis stencil and she provides a stencil printout HERE.

I moved my daughter into her own room, and the paint colour was driving me crazy!!!  I had to do something about it right away!!  It's not a terrible colour, but very boring for a fun, hip room makeover!

So I took some paint that I had left over from a project last year (they told me to get way too much!)  as I had enough leftover paint to do my whole daughter's room!  

Okay so I printed the stencil out on the computer, and traced it onto a cardboard cereal box. 

Then I drew the chalk onto the wall in the pattern I wanted.

After many hours of painting I came away with this...

And this...

And this...

It was worth the time!  I am so pleased and my daughter even says she LOVES it!  Ya, she better after how long it took me!

I will have more posts with progress from her room later.  

This took a long time, I need a break now.  

I may just go lay on her floor to stare at it for awhile (wink).

Hutch Project Part 2

So, I am visiting over at

today, and sharing my newest project:

Go check it out here!  And leave a lovely comment so I know what you think!

Thanks Jen!!


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Painted Plant Pots

So I bought these plant pots at a garage sale (all for $3.00), last year (close to the end of summer), so I never got to use them.  I love flowers, so this year when pulling them out to use I decided they needed a face lift.

I fully intended on sprucing them up when I bought them, and thought I might try a stone spray paint.  I haven't tried one of those kinds of spray paints yet, but would love to try one some time.  But for this project I decided to just go with black.  I know, simple, but I had black spray paint on hand, and I wanted them to look classic and chic.

Here is the before:

Yuck, dirty, and they have that cheap speckle grey look to them.

I gave them a good scrubbing, and primed them.  They are all ready looking better!

Next,  I spray painted them black using this wonderfully silky smooth Krylon spray paint.  It actually says on the front that there is no need for priming, and it adheres to plastic.  I primed before I read that!  haha.

And Voila!  They are new and pretty looking.

I added these lovely ladies to the pot, and I am happy with my $3.00 purchase!

For now, they are gracing each side of my bench (which by the way I got at a garage sale 4 years ago for $5 - maybe I'll replace it one of these days)

P.S. I noticed people posting comments on the post after the one intended.  If you want to post it is at the top of this post beside the title (me and my fabulously creative titles right?!!)



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Re-used Picture Frame

So if you don't recognize me, that's a good thing!  I had a lovely makeover done on my blog, and I am so excited that I no longer have an eye sore!  Not all the links are running yet, I have to fill them in still.  But it's still me. See...

Now, before I carry on about my new blog design, I want to show you what I made this weekend.  It's small and simple, but I like it a lot.  It started out with this picture frame I bought at the thrift store for $1.49

Wow, that is one very overwhelming piece!  But I love the frame, they had two, so I actually bought two of them.  What's funny about this is my sister was telling me about two frames she picked up from the thrift store where she lives, and she sent me a picture and guess what... they were the exact same frames!!  Wow, talk about a coincidence!!  Lucky for me, my thrift store was cheaper, she paid $3.00 each.

Anyways,  I primed it...

Then I painted it this sunny yellow, left over from my jewelry box makeover you can check out here.

I picked up this plastic house number for inside the frame for only $2.19 at Home Depot.

Then I placed the backing back on the frame, and screwed the number into the frame.

The screws were too long, but it worked out perfect because I screwed the whole thing onto the wall by those screws, which makes it nice because it is hard for the little ones to remove it.  The place I picked out to put my number sign is on my kids playhouse here:

I love the colour contrast.  They look so pretty together.  Why the number four you ask?  Because I have four kids!  I would show you a whole picture of the playhouse, but it's getting a makeover, so I will have to show you when it's all done.  Super easy!!

Cost:

Frame: $1.49

Number 4:  $2.19

Paint:  leftover

TOTAL: $3.68

Sweet!

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Okay, here is some fun news...

I am having a giveaway starting Thursday.

Want a sneak peak?

I am excited to do this!  I was so happy to have run into Shay at Dumplin Designs, who designed my blog.  And now one of you can enter to be a winner of a custom blog makeover!  Contest is now open!!  Click here to check it out.