Vintage Inspired Wooden Tool Box

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Hope you are enjoying a nice weekend.

Today I wanted to share with you one of my latest creations, or rather, a joint creation between hubby and myself.

Awhile back, I shared with you a cute vintage wooden tool box that I put in my shop (and have since sold).  Well, that was the inspiration for this project.

Good thing I have a handy hubby around!  After giving him my specks, he went and bought the materials, and in no time had built this beautiful tool box/caddy for me!

 It is even larger than it looks in my photos, at 2 feet long, and quite heavy, too!

I love green, and thought it would be the perfect shade to paint this box.  Unfortunately, I didn't have just the right color on hand, and I didn't want to go out and buy more paint.  So, what is a girl to do?

Well, mix up her own custom color using what she already has on hand, that's what!

 So, I pulled out my DecoArt chalk paints, and set to work playing with colors.  I think I have just as much fun creating new shades as I do the actual painting process!

I'm so happy with the way it turned out, and can think of so many uses for this piece.

Filled with potted flowering plants, used to carry garden tools around, or even enjoyed indoors to hold books, magazines, and more.  I had hubby build this for my Etsy shop, and it sold just a few days after I listed it!  I was super excited, so now I've put in a request that he build me some more:)

 I had fun during our little photo shoot, placing the tool box/caddy (or whatever you feel like calling it!) on my picket fence plant stand.  I plopped my pretty African violet inside (which always lives indoors, by the way), and added to the vignette my Grandma's vintage watering can and a cute little soapstone bunny, a gift many years ago from my mom.

Oh, a little side note about my Afrian violet.  My mom started this plant for me many years ago, from a plant of her own.  During the course of several cross country moves in the past few years, we had to get rid of nearly all of our houseplants (we had alot of plants!!).  But, this was one that I just wasn't willing to part with!  It traveled with us all the way to Washington State and then back here to Michigan in the shower of our motor home!  And for the past two winters, I took it with us when we headed south to Savannah, also toting it along in the motor home's shower!

So this puppy has put on alot of miles, and she still is blooming her heart out!

Thanks so much for popping by, hope things are blooming at your home!

Spring Green

Has spring sprung in your neck of the woods?

It's been slow to arrive here in the Midwest. Thankfully the grass is slowly starting to green up, and my daffodils are sending up their shoots.  I can hardly wait to pick a big bouquet of them!

When I think of spring, I think green!

Several years ago, I went thru a green stage, where I painted nearly everything in sight light green!

It is still one of my favorite colors, though now you will find me turning to cream, white, and all shades of blue when it comes to painting.

So the other day when I was about to makeover one of my thrifting finds, I was getting a bit bored with the same ol' same ol'  I am sure you know the feeling!

You know how I love finding trays to transform. So last week when I found a folding wooden bed tray, I knew right away that I could turn it from drab to fab!

Of course I forgot to take a before shot, but it was just ho hum boring white and oak toned wood.

I pulled out a bunch of different chalky finish paints from DecoArt, and began mixing til I came up with a pretty light green, that has just a tinge of blue.

 I love how the tray has legs that fold out, perfect for breakfast in bed!

(wouldn't that be a treat?!)

I did a bit of dry brushing, then a hint of distressing to give what I like to call "that aged over time look".

 I then grabbed one of my favorite French patisserie stencils, also by DecoArt, and added the design to the top of the tray in a creamy color.

 I really love all of the swirls and fleurishes in this design!

 I've added it, as well as this neat vintage wooden tool box to my Etsy shop.  I fell in love with the tool box as soon as I saw it!  Believe it or not, I resisted the urge to paint this puppy, as I just loved the original light green paint she's wearing.  I just gave it a really good scrubbing.

 While I would dearly love to keep her, I have to try and downsize, as we have our house back on the market now.

 It's a very stressful time for me, something that I definitely do not find fun!

 For me change does not come easy.

And of course fear of the unknown is getting the best of me.

So I will play with my paints, and glitter (my stress release!), between trying to sort and purge.  

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