Tag: DIY

Vintage School Desk Make-Over

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I was looking for a project when I went into the Goodwill that day.

I saw the old desk sitting there in back.   I looked it over and left.

It wasn’t until later that night when I envisioned the completed project in my head.

I ran back over the next morning.

The desk was in pretty rough shape from years of use and abuse.

The three holes in the front of the desk intrigued me…

Was it a combination of several kids over the years or one very bored individual.

How long did it take?

The top was screwed onto the base with 4 screws.  I contemplated how I was

going to fit my hand in the opening to unscrew it.  (I’m including this picture

just in case I’m not the only one. )  Under the desk, were four holes for inserting

an extra long screwdriver into the hole to unscrew the top.  Duh!

I picked up some additional supplies at my local home store.                                   (*affiliate link)

I sanded off the majority of the rust with a Palm Sander*.  (hand sanding would work as well)

Spray the base of the metal  desk with Forged Hammered Antique Pewter Spray Paint*.

This was the first time I’d used a textured spray paint.  I really like the finish.

To keep the project simple, instead of cutting and gluing boards together…

I picked up a large piece of Solid Aspen that was ready to go and just the right length.

I enlisted the help of my brother to help me cut the board.

For those of you that don’t have a circular saw, a regular hand saw could be used instead.

We cut the top 18″ x 24″ and the bottom shelf 15″ x 24″.

If you don’t have any of those fancy corner templates, use the edge of the spray paint can

as a template to mark the rounded corners.

A power sander was used to round the edges of the board.

You could also use a coping saw to cut off the corner and sand smooth with a sanding block.

For a smooth finished edge…  I used a router.

Prepare the wood for staining by lightly sanding the surface.  Sand in the direction of the grain.

Remove all the sanding dust with a clean damp rag.    (read all the directions on the can)

Apply stain on the wood with brush or clean lint free rag.   Allow the stain to  penetrate

the wood for 3-5 minutes before wiping excess stain off.   Allow time for the wood to dry.

Apply a coat of polyurethane over the surface of the wood.

After the polyurethane dries, smooth the surface with a fine steel wool.

Wipe surface and apply a second coat of polyurethane.

After all the pieces were dry…

I screwed the top back onto the base and added the shelf to the bottom bar. 

I added a couple of flat rectangle baskets in the desk opening for storage.

I love the vintage industrial feel of this piece.

No longer a desk.  It makes a great side piece.

*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

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Sue and Nick’s Deflecto Craft Caddy Challenge

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Deflecto Craft Caddy Challenge…

When I worked in the Deflecto Booth last January at the Creativation Show,

each day of the show Deflecto held a Craft Caddy Challenge.

The challenge was to see who could fill their craft caddy the fastest.

It quickly became extremely competitive.  (but fun!)

The challenge looked like so much fun, I decided to create one of my own.

Of course, I wanted to race someone closer to my own speed.

Nick enjoyed the caddy challenge so much that when my nieces came over to swim later,

he challenged them.  He was a lot faster by then.

Here’s a quick video I made last year showing all the features of the caddy.

 

The Deflecto Caddy Organizer* is made by Deflecto Craft Solutions are available at Amazon

and now in Target Stores.

 “This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

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Sharing the Adornit Love…

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As my time as an Adornit Ambassador comes to a close at the end of this month…

I wanted to make them a card to let them know how I feel.

Working with them the last few months has been a fun and positive experience.

Thanks, Adornit for the opportunity to work with your wonderful products.

FYI…the card was made with Adornit’s Flamingo Fever Collection.)

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Little League Champs

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Watching Little League Baseball games are fun…

When they move up from tee ball to coach pitch, it’s a really big jump.

They go from playing in the dirt to actually making some good plays.

Watching the growth from the first games to the last is amazing.

This adorable group of 6 year olds made it all the way to the final championship.

And won 1st place.  I couldn’t be  prouder.

(FYI…My layout was made using paper and stickers from Paper House Productions.)

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For summer fun…click on Slimer ad below

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How to Create an Easy Pickled Finish with Vintage Effect Wash

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How to create an Easy Pickled Finish with Vintage Effect Wash from Deco Arts.

I had this unfinished wood tote that I wanted to use the new Vintage Effect Wash on.

My first thought was to just give the tote a cool white wash using the paint.

But after further thought and a little experimentation, I decided to warm up the look by

staining it with a Walnut Gel Stain first.  I love the way it turned out.

This would make a great garden tool holder, picnic caddy, or my favorite…a Craft Tote.

DIY Pickled Crate

Supplies Used:                (*affiliate link)

 Directions:

  1. Lightly sand the wood crate if necessary.
  2. Paint or brush crate with DecoArt Americana Walnut Gel Stains Paint*.
  3. Rub off excess stain with soft clean rag.  Allow stain to dry.
  4. Apply Decoart Vintage Effect Wash Grey* onto crate with brush allowing the stain to show through.   Wipe with clean soft rag if necessary.  (It’s that easy!)
  5. If desired, add stenciling onto the crate.
  6. Apply a sealer to protect the finish.

The Love Beyond Words Pickled Crate was sponsored by DecoArts.

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Painting Basics

Architextures Vintage Market Collage

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Vintage Market Collage

I had so much fun playing around with the 7 Gypsies Architext Paper Pad*

It’s my new favorite.  It reminds me of going to the Flea Market with my daughter.

So much Vintage Goodness.

The project was basically put together with paper, glue and chipboard.

To begin…I glued the background paper to a thick piece of chipboard for stability.

I can easily add it to an 8″ x 8″  frame later if I want too.

I added several layers of chipboard on the back of each of the images to give dimension.

I also aged each piece by rubbing Vintage Photo Distress Ink* to the edges using a

Ink Blending Tool*.    (*amazon affiliate link)

My favorite piece is the vintage crate.  I added the second layer of chipboard with three small

strips, so that I could leave an opening on the top to add dried flowers from last years garden.

So realistic, it looks like a teeny tiny crate.  I just love it.


                  7 Gypsies Architextures Paper Pad

The Architextures™ Paper Collection was inspired by the all the wonder of found objects, displays, signs, sayings, artwork, creative bliss and sheer beauty found at vintage fairs, flea markets, salvage yards, barn sales, antique shops, old book stores, garage sales, market days and more.

Such a fun collection.  Makes me want to go treasure hunting.

Notice the 7 Gypsies Mini Library Drawer* in the background of the picture?    (so stinkin cute)

The Vintage Market Collage was sponsored by Canvas Corp Brands.

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Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

 

My Americana Crafternoon…

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Yesterday, I had an amazing time with a few of my crafty friends thanks to an opportunity to

host an Americana Soiree from Adornit.

The weather was beautiful for a get together and I decided to hold our Americana Crafternoon

in my Garage/Party Room.  A couple degrees cooler would have made it perfect, but, no one

complained.

We crafted and talked…  (and made some really cool projects)

Even my little buddy stopped by at the end and helped me finish one of my projects.

And the best part for me…

because everything was pre-kitted and ready to go, I even got to sit down and make something.

I had a wonderful time.  Thanks, ladies, for coming over and crafting with me.

Next time, I’ll remember to take a group picture.

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“Celebrate” with a Banner made from old blue jeans

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Create a banner using Joy Embroidered Iron On Letters and old blue jeans.

When inspiration hits in the middle of the night, it usually ends of being one of my favorite

kind of projects.  (This one  was fun.)  

Got any old worn blue jeans ready to be thrown out?

I started with my old blue jeans and 3″ Iron-on Embroidered Varsity Letters from Joy

in red and blue.

I created a 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ banner pattern using grid paper and traced it onto the jeans.

To add a little interest…I incorporated the seams from the sides of the jeans to use for the

front of the banner.  For the word “C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E”  I cut 9 banners for the front with

seams and 9 plain ones to use to line the back of the banner.

The Iron-on Embroidered Varsity letters are sticky backed so I went ahead and placed

them onto the front of my banners before sewing.

Next came my jar of red ribbon scraps.  (I love red so much, I have a jar just for “red”)

I sewed the ribbon scraps onto the tops of each banner.

I then sandwiched the front with a plain back and simply sewed around each banner with

my sewing machine.  After the third banner, I finally got smart and started using straight pins.

As you can tell, I was going for a casual simple look.  (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it)

After I was finished sewing all my banners, I used my We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile*

to punch two holes.  (I used the 3/16″ sized hole.)

I used We R Memory Keepers Eyelets Cool Metal* (affiliate link) for my eyelets.

Did you know that the  Crop-A-Dile* easily goes through both layers of jeans.

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The “Celebrate” banner was created for and sponsored by Joy.

How to make a Patriotic Red, White and Blue Etched Wine Bottle

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Celebrate the holidays with a Red, White and Blue Etched Wine Bottle.

I’m getting ready for a Americana Crafternoon this week-end with a fun group of ladies

and thought I’d make up a few decorations.  As luck would have it, I just happened to

have an empty blue wine bottle.   I thought to myself, that would make a perfect vase.

I added red flowers to a 50 cent Garage Sale-Flag Basket and now I have a festive display.

Shop Dollar Tree for Red White & Blue Party Supplies*                      (*affiliate link)

To make the Red, White and Blue Etched Wine Bottle I used…             (*amazon affiliate links)

Directions:

  1.  Clean and remove the label off a blue glass wine bottle with warm soapy water.  (Dry)

 

2.  Mask off a 2 ½ to 3 inch section on the center of the wine bottle with blue painter’s tape.  Burnish the edges of the tape with your fingertip, the tape should lay flat against the bottle.

3.  Punch stars out of the etchall etchmask*.  Remove backing from the stars and stick randomly on the bottle.  Burnish the stars with your fingertips onto the bottle.

4.  Apply a heavy coat of etchall Etching Crème*   onto the bottle using the squeegee.

5.  Let crème sit for 15 minutes.  (You will need to keep an eye on the bottle to make sure etching crème doesn’t run past the blue painter’s tape.)  Scrape excess etching crème from the bottle and return the extra etching crème back into the bottle. It’s reusable.

6.  Rinse bottle with warm water to clean.  Remember to keep crème away from porcelain or ceramic tiles.  Remove tape and stars and dry.  The bottle will have a nice subtle etching.

7.  While I liked the subtle look… I decided I wanted something a little bit brighter for my patriotic bottle.   I dried brushed white acrylic paint over the etched surface.  Wipe off excess paint with a damp cloth for a white washed look.  The paint only sticks to the etched surface.  (How cool it that.)  It really makes the stars pop.

8.  Re-mask the bottle with the blue painter’s tape, this time covering the etched surface.  Paint the bottom of the bottle with the colonial red spray paint.

10.  Mask a small section on the top of the bottle and spray with gold spray paint.

11.  Cut a small black vinyl rectangle and round two of the corners with the corner punch.

12.  Stencil the word “welcome” from the family words stencil onto the black vinyl using a stencil brush and the multi-surface acrylic paint.

13.  Use the gold paint pen to add a thin border around the black vinyl tag.  Punch a small hole on the top of the tag and tie onto the neck of the bottle with ribbon.

Enjoy the party with friends.  (maybe even empty another blue wine bottle)

      

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Jazz Up your Flip Flops with Patent Leather Paint

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Old or New…Jazz Up your flip flops with Patent Leather Paint from Deco Arts.

While attending the Creativation show in Phoenix earlier this year, I received a bottle

of “new” Garnet patent leather paint to play with.  You could say, I was smitten.

This paint was so fun and easy to work with.

 A quick and easy way to jazz up old or new flip flops.  (also pumps and purses)

To jazz up your flip flops you’ll need…              (*amazon affiliate link)

Directions:

  1. If using old flip flops… Make sure to wipe flip flops well with damp towel to remove any dirt or dust.
  2. Apply patent leather paint evenly with a soft-bristled brush.  The paint will have a slight tacky feel as it is drying.
  3. Apply 2-3 coats of paint to get the desired coverage.  Allow paint to dry between coats.
  4. Cut the shank off the back of the button with Wire Cutter*.
  5. Adhere the button onto the front of the flip flops using Quick Grip Adhesive*.
  6. Allow paint to cure 24-48 hours before using.

Next… Get a pedicure and ENJOY!

The Jazzed Up Flip Flops were created for Craft Ideas Magazine’s Summer 2017 issue.

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