Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Paris burlap transfer

I was hoping to get to work on some furniture today and take some things to my booth but that did not happen.  I had a lot of cleaning to do and the rest of my day was spent typing.  Oh yeah, there was a nap too.  It is supposed to rain tomorrow and I wont have to type, so I should have some time to finish a project I am working on.

Just a quick post to show you the graphic that I use the most.  The French wreath Paris graphic.  This was the first time I had transferred to burlap that it actually worked.  The first time, the gaps in the burlap fabric were pretty big and it did not transfer.

I had read somewhere that if you spray burlap with hair spray first, it will made the graphic transfer easier.  I am not sure if that is the reason it transferred or if it was just a tighter weave of burlap.


I have had this frame for two years.  It was already white so I just sanded it a little.  Then, I got busy stapling the burlap to the back of the frame.  I must have put thirty staples in it.  I could not believe my eyes when I turned it over to admire my work.  Every single staple was sticking out of the front of the frame!!!  I do not even know where my staple remover is and I was not about to spend thirty minutes prying them out with a flat head screwdriver.  So, on my wall it hangs and will probably stay until I find my staple remover.  Then, maybe I can bribe one of my children to sit there an pull them all out.   In the meantime, I get to look at it every time I go in my bathroom.

I will post the shelf I am working on tomorrow.

Monday, February 18, 2013

DIY tea towels

I still remember the first time I found The Graphics Fairy blog.  I could not wait to try to make something.  Through many attempts of trial and error, I finally found my preferred method to transfer, Citra-Solv with a laser printer.

The first time I ordered Citra-Solv from Amazon, I accidentally ordered the cleaner and not the degreaser.  FYI the cleaner does not work. 

Just before Christmas, we were having a ladies craft party at church, and I decided to demonstrate how to make tea towels.  I went to Walmart to buy the white tea towels I normally buy and discovered these white towels with red stripes.  I think there are five in a package for about $6.   I fell in love with them.

Normally, I keep a file printed up with graphics in it.  When I see one I like, I usually print at least five.  I think I have used the Paris graphic the most, see my previous post of a medicine cabinet door makeover, but I do love all the bird graphics!!!

I have admit that I still get excited every time I do a transfer and lift up the piece of paper off of my fabric and see my graphic. 

Here are the most recent towels I have made. 



I absolutely love the way they turned out.  I took them up to my booth at Witherspoons.  The "Joy" graphic looks very nice on these towels, and that is one I used at our Christmas craft party at church.


That same weekend, I decided to paint a wooden rolling pin white and then I sanded it.  I had the "Chocolat" graphic printed and thought it might look nice on the rolling pin.  I tried to tape it on, but it was hard as the surface was round not flat.  It did transfer but I did not do a very good job and wished I had put more time into taping the piece of paper on better.  It turned out to look “shabby” which is kind of the look I was going for.  I still need to clear coat it.  I thought it might be nice to tie a black ribbon on each side and hang it on the wall. 




I need to find some more wooden rolling pins so I can try this again.  I really want to paint one pink!

I want to thank the Graphics Fairy for opening up a whole new world to me for my business!


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Paradise!


I recently was given this coffee table.  I thought I could do something different with the boards and paint them all different colors.  Someone at Witherspoons suggested doing Margaritaville colors, Jimmy Buffet style. Then I remembered a friend of mine has a sign hanging above her kitchen window that says “Just another day in Paradise”.  I put them together and came up with this.  Here is a step by step tutorial.



 

 
  

First I spray painted the bottom blue and then I started painting the stripes different colors.  I did have to use a different paint brush for each color, but it went fairly fast.

  
 
 
 
 
 

Next I sanded it and then used stencils for the first part of the sign.  I wanted the word “Paraside” to be bigger than the rest of the words.  I had to print it in Microsoft word and then I used chalk on the back.  I traced the letters with a red pen and picked up the paper.  Then, I painted the blue chalk outline black.





  

I then sealed it with Provential stain.  I will give it a coat of wax in the morning, and it will be ready to go.  I am not used to painting with such bright colors but I think I will try this again!

 

 

My summer projects!

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.


I always ask the Lord to help me when I start painting a piece of furniture.  After all, he is the "Master Artist".  He will give me a visual of what I my finished product is going to look like. 



I had every intention of starting my blog over a year ago. Painting a piece of furniture and then blogging about it.  Well as it turned out,  I painted a lot of furniture, took pictures, but never blogged about it.  So, I decided to do one post with lots of pictures of things I painted this summer.



We bought this old chest.  It had a mirror but the frame for it was broken.  I took the mirror off, painted it and sold it separately.  We painted this turquoise and black.  One of my favorite combinations I think. 


My cat loves to help me when I paint and usually will get in drawers or inside dressers and sleep.


 
 
I painted this door turquoise when I painted the chest of drawers.  I like to paint a bunch of things the same color and while one piece is drying, I work on the next. 




This maple hutch was actually given to me at a yard sale.  I was so excited.   I painted it white and then the doors a dark gray.  I think one of the reasons they were giving it away is that the hardware was missing.  I had these drawer pulls in a box with random hardware that I collect from estate sales and yard sales.  One of the doors was off too, but it went right back on. 


Ice cream parlor chairs.  I covered the seats in a bleached drop cloth from Lowes and then used my favorite bird stencil on the seats.


This was my first attempt at painting something "Florentine".  I really like it and have an idea to do one hot pink and gold.  I just need to find the right style of furniture first.



 
This was a maple cart.  The ends flip up. 
 


 
 
Graphic fairy Paris transfer. I painted an antique ball and claw piano stool.  I had to do some minor repairs to the legs but it turned out nice.  It is hard to see in the picture.  Here is the link for graphics:
 
 



 
I bought this oops paint at Lowes.  It is the perfect shade of vintage green.
 
 
 
Old shutters with a silver vine and silver bird stencil.
 
 

 
Rusty old trunk painted turquoise and brown.
 
 
 
This sign was made from the top of a table that was broken.
 
 
Chicken wire stapled to an old screen door.

Chicken wire in an old chair to make a perfect place to put a plant!
 

 
Blue shabby table with French Market stenciled on it.


 
 
 
 


Butcher block kitchen island painted and sanded.




 
 
Marble top table we bought at auction for $12.50!
 


Paris Market sign made out of an old cabinet door.


 


Random pictures of my booth.
 
Old refrigerator that was yellow,and I painted it black at white.
 
 
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way,But the Lord directs his steps.
 
 
I have "plans" to try to post everything that I paint as soon as it is finished and not wait so long.  I can't wait to show you what I painted today!
 
 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Pinterest recipe review Cheesy Bacon Oven Chips

This morning on Pinterest I saw a recipe that I just had to try, cheesy bacon oven chips with ranch chipotle sauce. We were having hamburgers for dinner so these would be perfect as a side.  I already had potatoes and cheese so.. I sent my 17 year old son to the grocery store with a small list of things to buy, including bacon bits. His first official shopping trip for me.

He came back without the bacon bits!!  He did manage to get four packages of hamburger buns though!  He said my one looked like a four. HaHa.

Due to me deciding to paint chalkboards for two hours this afternoon, (will post pictures later) dinner soon changed to bacon and tomato sandwiches..perfect.  I could use some of the bacon and sprinkle it on the potatoes.

But look at this heart shaped potatoe we found!!!  I almost hated to cut it up and eat it!

Pinned Image


These were super easy to make except I was a little confused because it says to put the potatoes in water and bring to a boil and then cover for five minutes, but it did not say if I should keep them boiling or turn off the burner.  I turned it off.. then I turned it back on.  I could not make a decision.  After a few minutes of actually boiling I put them on a dish towel, as I was out of paper towels.  I put them on a baking sheet, salt, pepper, cheese, bacon and put them in the oven for about 15 minutes.  They turned out wonderful.  Instead of ranch chipotle sauce, my children just used ranch and I used sour cream. My husband opted for no sauce or sour cream.  I will definitely make them again.  They were easy, inexpensive to make and tasted wonderful.  We all really enjoyed them! 

Thank you vittlesandbits and pinterest!! 











My picture looks nothing like the original one on pinterest from: http://vittlesandbits.blogspot.com/2012/02/cheesy-bacon-oven-chips-with-chipotle.html

Tuesday, February 5, 2013


1 John 4:7-8

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  


As I was at church Wednesday night, my thoughts drifted to an upcoming wedding shower I was going to on Saturday.  I still needed to buy a gift.  Lots of different ideas filled my head, and then I felt like God told me to make the Song of Solomon sign I saw on Pinterest.  What better gift than a daily reminder of God and his love for you and your love for your husband.  They are so intertwined.   When you pour out your love on God, he will pour out a love in you for your husband and for others.







I had taken pictures as I was making this for a tutorial and then I dropped my new phone and cracked the glass on it.  The pictures did not transfer to my new phone.  First I sanded the frame and stained it.  I painted directly on the glass with a black paint pen and stencils.  The word "Loves" was painted with a thickened Martha Stewart paint.  Then for the custom name and wedding date, I printed this on a piece of paper and then put it under the glass and painted on top of the glass with the same paint I used for the word "Loves" so it was a little thicker. 

I cant wait to make another one!