Boring Wood Stools Get a Makeover With a French Accent

Hi everyone, how was your Christmas?
I hope it was a wonderful one!
With the new year, most of us seem to have that
"out with the old, in with the new"
yearning.
So with that, I thought I'd share with you my latest transformation, a project that I just completed for DecoArt
Actually, rather than out with the old, I wanted to take it one step further and
keep the old, just make it better!
So, here is a sneak peak at my new-old kitchen stools!

And here is what they used to look like!
Pretty boring, right?
Well, I was about to get rid of them and purchase some new ones.
I am so glad that I had a change of heart!!
Before I share with you more, I'll back up a bit and mention that we're planning to renovate our kitchen.  Yeah!
We'll be getting new counters.  I decided rather than get rid of all our cabinets, as they are still in very good shape, that I'll paint them antique white, and add some new hardware.
We do plan on splurging a bit and replacing the island, which you see below.

Ok, more on that later!

Here is what I did to give my stools a French accent!

After painting them all with DecoArt's "Lace" chalky finish paint (my hand's down favorite color of theirs!),

I used their image transfer medium to add these fun graphics, found over at the Graphics Fairy.

(gosh, I think I'd be lost without the Graphics Fairy!!)

I was pretty nervous about trying the image transfer method.  I'd attempted to a few times several years ago, using the Mod Podge method, with pitiful results.  But, back then I made the mistake of using copies from my ink jet printer.  You really need to use laser printed copies in order for this method to work. 

Trust me, I found this out the hard way!!

So, I took my graphics to Staples and had them make laser copies (since we have an ink jet printer at home), the cost was super cheap.

If you are using graphics with words, just make sure you use a mirror image (flip the print backwards)!

I followed DecoArt's directions, and I must say I am happy with the results!

It was pretty tedious, and not a project that you can rush.

This graphic, an advertising sign for a French candy and pastry shop, is my favorite!

Now that I'm getting the hang of the transfer method, I can't wait to try it on something else!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I used Deco Art's "soft touch varnish sealer" as a protective top coat.

Please ignore the unsightly metal pipe in the photo below!  It will be hidden soon by our new larger island!

Actually it's the gas line to my new gas stove, which I love cooking on!

We'd had an electric stove for years, and I never liked cooking on it.

I still can't believe how different the stools look!  I really do love them now!
So my challenge to you is rather than just going out and buying a bunch of new stuff
(to replace the old), try looking at what you already have and see how you can transform it in some way.
It's amazing what a little paint and tlc can do!!
Disclaimer:  I'm compensated for my projects for DecoArt, but all of the opinions here are my own!
Linking up with Creative Country Mom for Flea Market Fridays

Earning My Wings

Hi everyone,

Are you having fun planning and preparing for the holidays?

I'm afraid that I've gotten way behind this year.  For the past 2 1/2 weeks, hubby and I have had an unwelcome visitor in our home.  The kind that arrives without an invitation, and just won't leave soon enough!  No, I'm not talking about an elderly eccentric aunt, or a loud and foul mouthed brother in law!

I'm talking about a really nasty cold/flu bug that just won't go away.  I won't bore you with details, other than to say we've felt more miserable than we have in years.

We are slowly improving, but have quite a way to go til we are back to our old selves.

Not very good timing, but what can you do?

So needless to say, I've not been doing much of anything, and really have missed blog visits and playing in my craft room.

I did manage to complete a project for DecoArt, that I want to share with you today.

Angel wings are all the rage. Well, I know they have been for quite some time, but I guess I am always slow to catch on to things:)!

So when I was given the assignment to create something featuring the new metallic lustre

by DecoArt, I immediately thought of angel wings!

Metallic lustre is a water based wax, that can be buffed to a high shine.  For this project, we had to use their "rose gold", which to me looks like a light pinkish copper.

Ok, I am babbling.  Must be all of those cough drops I've been eating!

At any rate, here is what I came up with................

 And this is what they started out looking like.

I searched high and low for wings, and finally found this beautiful wood pair on line.  I didn't care for the overly distressed look on the bottom portion of the wings, but no worries!  I would soon be painting over them!

 I first painted the entire wing area with my favorite creamy "Lace" chalky finish paint. A bit of distressing followed. Then I 

used DecoArt's "Dazzling Metalics"

to add a really pretty iridescent shimmer.

It's not showing up well in my photos, but trust me when I say it is lovely!

 Then I used a combination of my fingertips and a stencil brush to apply the rose gold, to highlight the feathers and the edges.

 It's a rainy gloomy day here, so unfortunately my photos didn't turn out that great.  They really don't do the wings justice.

 Here you can see the detail in the feathers. So pretty, I think!

 It was a really fun project.

 I'm hoping I can get my handy hubby to create a really large pair of wings for me using his saber saw.

 Thanks for visiting, enjoy the rest of your week!

(I've been compensated by DecoArt, but all of the opinions here are my own.)

Vintage Jewelry Box Makeover

Hi everyone, happy November!

Wow, it sure is hard to believe that Halloween is already past, and soon the holidays will be upon us!!

Today I thought I'd share with you one of my latest projects that I completed for DecoArt, a vintage jewelry box which I transformed.

Here is a peak at the "after".  Of course, it didn't look like this when I discovered it!

 When I first spotted the piece while thrifting, I just knew it would be fun to give it makeover.

I was drawn to the raised panels on the doors and each side, as well as the pretty embossed design on the top.  Plus, it was made in Japan and very well built, and the music box still worked!  It plays "Lara's Theme" perfectly.  While the ballerina designs on the panels were pretty, they were showing some wear, and one was starting to peel off.  

The two doors opened to reveal three velvet lined drawers.  Only problem was, they were red velvet!

While the material was still in very good shape, the color just did not fit with what I had in mind.

No problem!  I decided to remove the velvet and paint and decoupage the inside of the drawers. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, was I ever wrong!

Can you believe I literally spent hours removing every last trace of that velvet and cardboard backing from the drawers??  It was very frustrating, to say the least!  In the end, I am glad that I decided to redo the insides.  With that said, the next time I make over a jewelry box, I will leave the insides alone!:)

Ok, I am getting a little ahead of myself in all the excitement!

I first removed the hinges on the doors.  Then I painted the entire box in my favorite light blue chalk paint, called "Vintage".  It has just a bit of gray undertones and is oh so pretty!

I also used some creamy white "Lace" chalkpaint to dry brush the piece and give a bit of dimension.

I knew I wanted the drawers to be a bit darker, so I mixed in some black "Carbon" chalk paint with the light blue, resulting in a nice dove gray.

I also gave the entire piece a little glazing treatment for instant aging.

The piece de la resistance is the pretty floral design that I decoupaged onto the raised panels.

It is from DecoArts new decoupage paper line, and I just love it!

Aren't those blue roses gorgeous?

I've done quite a bit of decoupaging over the years, and this was my first experience using actual decoupage paper.  It is the perfect weight and texture, and is so easy to work with!

Here's a look at the embossed design in the top.  It's hard to see in my photo, but the glazing settled into the design making it a bit more pronounced, just as I was hoping.

Oh, another thing I forgot to mention!  I painted the border of the raised panels in creamy "Lace" to help set them off.

I also used Lace to paint the inside of the drawers.  Then I lined them with more of DecoArts decoupage paper in a vintage sheet music motif.  Love!

I must say that I am thrilled with the end result!

Aren't the cute little wooden feet darling?

In the end, it was worth all of the work, and it was a very fun makeover!

I can't wait to find another box that I can transform!

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you have a great week!

Disclaimer:  I am compensated by DecoArt, but all opinions
are my own.

French Themed Lazy Susan, and other Fun Things

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Just thought I'd share with you some of the newest creations that I've made for my Etsy shop.

I love finding lazy Susan's that I can transform with a little paint and tlc!

So I had alot of fun giving this recent find a French twist!

It's been painted with my favorite shade of creamy white chalk paint.

And since you know I love all things French, I thought this stencil advertising a French bakery was quite fitting.

Oooh, la, la!

Another thing I love hunting for are nice wood candlesticks.  There are many I come across that I turn down. But when I am lucky enough to spot nice chunky ones, I quickly snap them up!

I decided to paint these in a pretty light French blue chalk paint.

Then I gave them my special distressing and aging treatment.

Light blue is my absolute favorite color!!

Next up is this nifty wooden tool box/tote. Well, it wasn't very nifty when I discovered it!

It was just plain unfinished wood, and was practically begging me for a makeover!

So, I mixed up several shades of chalk paint to come up with this pretty mossy green.

I thought the French flower market stencil was pretty fitting to add!

Ok, if you aren't sick of seeing my stencils, here is another recent creation of mine!

I've painted and sold quite a few of these wood crates.  

They are so fun to transform with chalk paint and French themed stencils.

I decided to go with a lovely light blue for this one, and creamy taupe lettering.

I can think of so many uses for these crates!

Fill them with books, as I have here.

Or they would be so handy in the bath to hold towels and other supplies in style,

In the living room, store extra throws, pillows, or even board games.

The possibilities are endless!

To each end I stenciled a large fleur de lis, which is quintessentially French!

And since we are on the subject of French flower markets, I couldn't resist sharing a few pics that I snapped of markets around Paris!
****sigh!****

Thanks so much for stopping by, have a great day!

Dreaming of a White Christmas???

Ok, I know what you're thinking!!  

"Geez, Halloween isn't even here yet, and this nutcase girl is talking about Christmas???!!"

Well, in all honesty I am usually not one to rush the seasons.

Oh no!

I cringe when I walk thru the craft stores in August and see the Christmas supplies and decor already out.

And I usually don't like to start even thinking of the holiday til, well at least Thanksgiving!!

But, since I am having major blogger block, I thought I might as well share with you my latest project, which I just completed for DecoArt.

(and I hope you forgive me for even mentioning Christmas this early in the game!!)

If you are a fellow crafter, I'm sure that you usually get a leg up on creating for the holidays well before the season actually starts.

When DecoArt put out the challenge to create Christmas decor in non traditional colors, I knew right away which direction I would take things:

AQUA!!!!

So with that, here is what I came up with...........

 I had so much fun creating this piece!

I began with a large unfinished wooden crate, styled after an old fashioned soda crate.

As soon as I spotted the crate at the craft store, I just knew it would be the perfect canvas for what I had in mind!

I used both chalk and acrylic paints, in vibrant shades of aqua's and blues.

Each opening is painted a different hue, which was pretty time consuming!!

 I knew that I wanted to include the words to a Christmas carol, and since 

Bing Crosby's  famous tune is one of my favorites, I went with that.

So I stenciled a few lines from the song on each long side of the crate.

That was pretty time consuming, as I was using an alphabet stencil and had to do it letter by letter!

For the piece de la resistance, I added wooden laser cut snowflakes, that I painted and glittered.

Because you know my saying.....

"You can never have too much glitter!!"

 For my little photo shoot today, I had fun filling the openings with pinecones, vintage glass Christmas ornaments, faux greenery, and even a tiny wrapped gift!

 Of course all of that involved getting into the attic to retrieve my big red and white Christmas tubs!

It did feel a bit strange doing that on a sunny and mild day in October!

I must say that I am happy with the end result!!

 Maybe this will inspire you a bit as you dream of a White Christmas!!

Ok, I promise not to get ahead of myself season and holiday wise next time!!

Thanks for stopping by!