Easy Bench Makeover

Sometimes I like a challenge, but sometimes I just want an easy and quick project for instant gratification.  I knew this bench would be it!

I once read that a pillow sham is the perfect size piece of fabric to recover a chair seat, so last summer I picked up three of these shams at GoodWill for a few dollars.

They are Martha Stewart Living brand and are a nice heavyweight fabric.  It was also just the right size for this bench.  

I started by removing the blue and white fabric from the bench seat to find this underneath--

A chenille rug!!  And that was it, no padding or anything else.  Thankfully I had some batting that I was able to layer to give the seat some cushion.  

Then I took apart the sham.  I cut off the back layer of fabric as well as the piping to be able to free the top of the fabric.  I stapled it to the seat top as you would any seat cover.

I almost threw away the piping, but realized it was long enough to go around the seat--I just stapled it around the edges.  It was so easy and added a nice finished touch to the seat.

Not sure if you can tell, but the bench used to have cross bars--only one was left.  I used a hand saw and cut it off then sanded and filled the holes with wood filler. I painted the base with three coats of DIY chalk paint in Valspar Hotel Churchill Vanilla, distressed the paint and then screwed the seat back onto the base.

Voila!  There it is, instant gratification with a wonderfully transformed bench.

Linking to:
Silver Pennies | DIY Showoff | I Should Be Mopping The Floor | Dwellings | The Dedicated House | Creative Home Expressions | Twigg Studios | Coastal Charm | Rain On A Tin Roof | Homecoming | The Dedicated House | Cozy Little House | A Stroll Through Life | Love Grows Wild | Kammy's Korner | Table 4 Seven | Domestic Superhero | The Happy Housie | Living Well Spending Less | Lamberts Lately | Fluster Buster | Sweet Haute | Start At Home |  I Gotta Create | The Shabby Creek Cottage | Craft Dictator | Miss Mustard Seed | Liz Marie | The Shabby Nest | DIY Vintage Chic | Lovely Crafty Home | The Pin Junkie | Pink When |

Featured by:
Creative Home Expressions

French Tables

I finally painted two out of the three tables that I scored for $10 total back in July.

For the first table my original plan was to sand and stain (Minwax Dark Walnut) the top, which I did, and then paint the base white and glaze with brown, which I did. Unfortunately it did not look good--at all.  The brown glaze went into the details of the table, but then was streaky on all the flat parts.  Also, I could still see the brown flecks that were in the original paint job through the white.

When in doubt, paint it black!  Two coats of black paint, lightly distressed, a layer of Martha Stewart metallic glaze in black coffee, sealed with Minwax finishing paste and I was happy.  I also coated the hardware and hinges with gold Rub n' Buff.

I added the detail of the gold Rub 'n Buff to the insides of the doors because I had to sand them down a bit to get them to close again. It took me a little bit of time to come up with this solution though. 

Since I had the trouble painting the first table white, I decided to paint the second table black as well. Although it wasn't to create a matched set--they sold separately. 

I chose to strip the top with a very harsh stripper.  It worked nicely, but was so stinky that I would not use it again.  Instead of using more toxic chemicals like stain, I used my new favorite technique on the top--coconut oil.

I absolutely love the color of the wood with the coconut oil!

I finished the table the same way as the other, except thankfully I didn't have trouble with the doors closing.

When I have issues with pieces, I wind up taking a lot more time to finish them then they should take.  I get discouraged and overwhelmed.  Thankfully they came together in the end and when they sold quickly, they renewed my energy to keep painting!

Linking to:
DIY Showoff | Silver Pennies | Little Homestead on the Hill | I Should Be Mopping The Floor | Dwellings | The Happy Housie | Rain On A Tin Roof | Homecoming | The Dedicated House | Cozy Little House | My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | A Stroll Through Life | Kathe With An E | Love Grows Wild | Table for 7 | Kammy's Korner | Coastal Charm | The Winthrop Chronicles | Not Just A Housewife | VMG206 | Elizabeth & Co. | The DIY Dreamer | Fluster Buster | Yellow Bliss Road | Polka Dots On Parade | The Blissful Bee | The Real Housewives of Riverton | Lamberts Lately | Start At Home | Sweet Haute | Saving 4 Six | The Shabby Creek Cottage | Living Well Spending Less | Domestic Superhero | Obsessive and Creative | Redoux Interiors | Liz Marie | Miss Mustard Seed | The Shabby Nest | Finding Fabulous | Today's Creative Blog | Too Much Time On My Hands | VMG206

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Start At Home
Pink When

Secondhand Scores #23

When I was a kid my parents went to garage sales all the time.  I admit I was totally embarrassed by it.  I never really bothered going regularly until after I had my son.  I realized I could get clothes and toys and things for him for pennies on the dollar and that is when my love for secondhand was born.

Garage sales are my favorite but I also go to flea markets, thrift stores and auctions.  I am always on the hunt for furniture to paint, stuff for myself, my house, my kids and unique items that I could put to future use.  I love the thrill of finding something that was once very expensive for as little money as possible.

In this series, I will share my scores to show you how much you could get for your hard earned money.  Some days I hit jackpots, some days I get nothing, but I always have fun.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I went to garage sales on Saturday with my daughter (3), son and son's friend (both 12) and we all had a great time. 

It is not just shopping like going to the mall.  It is fun going to the different houses to see what kinds of stuff people have to get rid of.  So many times I see toys or things I had when I was young that I can share with my kids.  Or we laugh about how we just saw the same things at a sale up the road.  We all like to be on the lookout for something one of us may want.  It is more like an adventure than just shopping.

It does take a few hours and eventually my kids get tired, but when we get home they love to show off their treasures to their dad.

These are my treasures!

• Large framed artwork for $1
• Brand new wood applique for $.50
• Cute knitted Christmas garlands $1 each
• Two strings of the Santa sweaters
• Two strings of the stockings
• One string of the mittens and hats
• Four spools of white thread I can use with the mini serger I got the other week for $1 total
• Travel Scrabble for $2
• Two pairs of flip flops for $1 total
• Four primitive pumpkin decorations for $3 total
• Beautiful handmade crocheted blanket for $1

Towards the end of the morning we came across a sale that was out on the front lawn of a house, but no one was out there.  We pulled up next to and just my son had gotten out to check out a frame for me.  There was no price on it, so I told him to knock on the door to ask the price. The gentlemen answered the door and said he had put a note out that they were done with the sale and everything was FREE!!!

I had seen the free sign on the tv stand, but I thought it was just for the stand.  But the note on top of the stand said everything but the tables and blankets were free!

The kids had an awesome time picking out a bunch of stuff that they would never had gotten had it not been for free.

I grabbed all this!

• Framed artwork
• Four little Christmas decorations
• Large mason jar that says Pretzels on it
• Butterfly wall appliques
• Two steak knives in the box
• Some kind of alcohol decanter with wild turkeys on it
• Denise Austin workout DVD case
• I opened it after I took the picture only to find the DVD wasn't in the case!
• Ceramic gravy separator
• Smile face tap light
• Two Fire King white glass bowls, one with a handle and spout
• Boy and girl wall hangings
• Large plastic white platter

If this stuff wasn't free I probably would have just gotten the framed art, but I couldn't help myself!!

Linking to:
Polkadots On Parade

Real Housewives of Riverton
The Blissful Bee
Lamberts Lately
Sweet Haute
Shabby Creek Cottage
I Gotta Create
Living Well Spending Less
Domestic Superhero
Redoux
The Thrifty Groove
Craft Dictator
Living Better Together
Liz Marie
The Shabby Nest
DIY Vintage Chic
VMG206
DIY Showoff
Silver Pennies
Little Homestead on the Hill
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
Dwellings
Rain On A Tin Roof
A Living Space
The Dedicated House
Cozy Little House
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
A Stroll Through Life
Kathe With An E
Love Grows Wild
Table for 7
Kammy's Korner
Coastal Charm
The Winthrop Chronicles
Not Just A Housewife
VMG206

Seaworthy + Coconut Table

I got this table at a garage sale last year for $4.  It was tucked away in a storage closet just waiting for its makeover.

To start, I sanded the top down.  I normally use Minwax Dark Walnut stain, but I didn't want this to be so dark. I read on 2 Little Superheroes that she stained wood with coconut oil.  I have some in the house (we use it for moisturizer) and decided to test it out.

I love the way it came out!  Coconut oil has so many benefits over stain:

• It was so easy to do.
• I just rubbed the oil on with a clean cloth--that's it!
• It dries way faster than stain.
• I did wait until the next day to seal it with Minwax Finishing Paste, but probably could have done it in just a few hours.
• It does not highlight flaws in the wood like stain does.
• Stain seems to settle in any imperfection (especially the swirl marks from a sander) and highlight them, the coconut oil did not.
• It is all natural and smells wonderful!
• No having to use rubber gloves or making sure I am in a well ventilated area.
• It brings out the natural color of the wood.
• Not every piece will be the same color since each wood has a different natural color.

I painted the body of the table with two coats of SW Seaworthy that I mixed into homemade chalk paint.

I distressed the edges with the sanding sponge and finished up with Minwax Finishing Paste.  

I am so happy with the way it came out.  The color of the wood paired so well with the paint color.  It made quick and easy work of this piece.  Coconut oil is definitely a technique worth trying out.  

Linking to:

Silver Pennies | DIY Showoff | I Should Be Mopping The Floor | Dwellings | Creative Home Expressions | Craft-O-Maniac | The Dedicated House | Homecoming | My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | A Stroll Thru Life | Cozy Little House | Love Grows Wild | Table For 7 | Kammy's Korner | The Winthrop Chronicles | Not Just A Housewife | VMG206 | Elizabeth & Co. | The DIY Dreamer | Savvy Southern Style | Fluster Buster | Yellow Bliss Road | Polkadots On Parade | Real Housewives of Riverton | The Blissful Bee | Lamberts Lately | Start At Home | Sweet Haute | Shabby Creek Cottage | I Gotta Create | Living Well Spending Less | Domestic Superhero | Redoux | Craft Dictator | Living Better Together | Miss Mustard Seed | Liz Marie | The Shabby Nest | DIY Vintage Chic | The Dedicated House | VMG206

Featured by:
Elizabeth & Co.

Secondhand Scores #22

When I was a kid my parents went to garage sales all the time.  I admit I was totally embarrassed by it.  I never really bothered going regularly until after I had my son.  I realized I could get clothes and toys and things for him for pennies on the dollar and that is when my love for secondhand was born.

Garage sales are my favorite but I also go to flea markets, thrift stores and auctions.  I am always on the hunt for furniture to paint, stuff for myself, my house, my kids and unique items that I could put to future use.  I love the thrill of finding something that was once very expensive for as little money as possible.

In this series, I will share my scores to show you how much you could get for your hard earned money.  Some days I hit jackpots, some days I get nothing, but I always have fun.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I scored lots of little things that make me happy this week!

In the housewares department I got:

• Two tier lazy Susan for $.50
• Brand new funbites for $3
• Brand new adjustable bakeware organizer bargained down from $4 to $3
• A bunch of towels and rags I use when I am painting for $2.50

• Scrabble for $1.  I have been searching all summer for the Scrabble so I can make the cutting board iPad stand.  I got the cutting board for free at the beginning of the summer.
• The Applique creation kit for $1.

• Five potion bottles for $2.  I am going to add Halloween labels to them--something like these.

• A solid brass buck for--get this--$.25!  I practically pushed someone out of the way the minute I saw it!  And that was before I knew it was $.25!
• It looks really big in the picture, but it is only about 3" tall.

• I picked up these four stools curbside on Sunday night.  

Finally, I upgraded a few cork boards that I have been picking up here and there.  

• For the one on the left I used a sack I got a few months ago. 
• For the one on the right I used plain burlap and stenciled it.

• For this board, I wove the burlap like this.

Linking to:
Polkadots On Parade
Real Housewives of Riverton
The Blissful Bee
Saving 4 Six
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Lamberts Lately
Sweet Haute
I Gotta Create
Living Well, Spending Less
Domestic Superhero
Finding Fabulous
Liz Marie
Redoux
Shabby Nest
Crafty Scrappy Happy
Obsessive And Creative
DIY Vintage Chic
Today's Creative Blog
VMG206
Silver Pennies
DIY Showoff
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
Dwellings
Creative Home Expressions
Craft-O-Maniac
A Living Space
Rain On A Tin Roof
The Dedicated House
Homecoming
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
A Stroll Thru Life
Cozy Little House
Love Grows Wild
Table For 7
Kammy's Korner
The Winthrop Chronicles
Not Just A Housewife
VMG206
Elizabeth & Co.
The DIY Dreamer
Savvy Southern Style
Fluster Buster
Yellow Bliss Road
The Thrifty Groove

I Big Puffy Heart Overhead Projectors

I have finally put some of my secondhand scores to use. It is a project that has me so inspired to come up with more to do!

Back in June I scored an overhead projector off of craigslist for $30.

Doesn't it kind of look like Johnny 5
from the movie Short Circuit?

I'll admit it has been sitting since just waiting to be used.  I finally used it and I am IN LOVE!

It has to do with this large framed artwork I got just the other week for $1.50.

It is not a canvas painting--it is a print on hardboard. Here's how I made it into a chalkboard with an added touch...

Step 1: Separate the frame from the artwork.

Step 2: Paint the frame with two coats of paint color of your choice mixed into homemade chalk paint, once dry distress with sanding sponge.

Step 3: Paint two coats of homemade chalk paint in black right over the daisy picture.  

Step 4: Once dry, season the chalkboard with a big piece of white sidewalk chalk.  It made quick work and I only needed to use one piece of chalk.  

Step 5: Wipe the board down and then put it back into the frame. 

Step 6: Download this awesome menu font from The Graphics Fairy and have it printed on transparency paper at Staples for $.99 (plus tax).  

Step 7: Set the projector up and project the image onto the chalkboard to the desired size and area.

Step 8: Be totally surprised at just how easy and quick it was to trace the word! I loved every second of it. If I made a mistake I just wet my finger and wiped off the chalk--no biggie!  

Step 9: After tracing the word, color in the thicker parts. I was done in 15 minutes.

Here it is!

I really can't believe I did that or how easy it really was. In my mind I thought this was much harder to do. It is a chalkboard and it doesn't need to be perfect so I just went for it and I love it!

I can't wait to use the projector on more projects!

Linking to:
Silver Pennies
DIY Showoff
Creative Home Expressions
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
Dwellings
Craft-O-Maniac
Rain On A Tin Roof
Home Coming
The Dedicated House
Graphics Fairy
Coastal Charm
Cozy Little House
Love Grows Wild
Table For 7
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Kathe With An E
Elizabeth & Co.
Not Just A Housewife
Kammy's Korner
VMG206
The Winthrop Chronicles
Savvy Southern Style
Fluster Buster
Yellow Bliss Road
The DIY Dreamer
Polkadots On Parade
Real Housewives of Riverton
The Blissful Bee
Saving 4 Six
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Lamberts Lately
Sweet Haute
I Gotta Create
Living Well, Spending Less
Start At Home
Domestic Superhero
Finding Fabulous
Liz Marie
Redoux
Shabby Nest
Crafty Scrappy Happy
Obsessive And Creative
DIY Vintage Chic
Today's Creative Blog
Funky Junk Interiors
The Happy Housie

Featured by:
Silver Pennies
Creative Home Expressions
The Winthrop Chronicles
VMG206