We're Official!

It's official! We are now an official retailer for CeCe Caldwell's Clay and Chalk Paint! All About Moi is now fully stocked with full size quarts, 4oz samples, wax brushes, and MORE!

As we begin on this journey, I am in the process of updating our blog to contain CeCe Caldwell's "how to" paint tips and techniques as well as our workshop information. Until then, please be patient with us and continue to check back for updates!

Falling In Love With Ms. Mustard Seed's Milk Paint!

I recently had my first experience with Ms. Mustard Seed's milk paint and it was a total success! I pickup up this vanity that was an aged bright white...you know that color...that white that has a yellowed tint...ugh.  I wanted to play with some different looks and textures, so I ventured out on this one and hoped for the best. Read below for a step by step playbook of this refunked beauty.

1. The VERY BEST thing about CeCe and Ms. Mustard Seed's paints is that there is NO SANDING OR PRIMING...you just start painting!  So, I just jumped right in and dry brushed a think coat of  CeCe Caldwell's Chalk and Clay paint in Young Kansas Wheat. I did this because I did not want all that bright white as a dominate undertone.  WARNING...the chalk paint underneath the milk paint does take away the natural chippiness effect of the milk paint!! So, do not do this if you want the milk paint to chip itself!!

2.  I think mixed up 1 cup of Miss Mustard Seed's milk paint in Kitchen Scale.  I applied two coats, allowing 1 hour drying time in between. 

3. I then took a damp rag and began distressing it.  I also used a sanding block very heavy handed to get the desired look I wanted around the edges and across the top.  I wanted to dry brush strokes to pop through...that was intentional.

4.  Finally, I waxed the entire vanity with CeCe Caldwell's Clear Wax, using my wax brush to really work it into the paint.

I used clear knobs to really compliment the colors in the vanity, versus using colored ones that would compete with them.

Up next...a blog on using chalk paint versus milk paint...both are GREAT, but very different! :)

Happy Painting ya'll!

Where to find the goods!

Per our latest Facebook requests, here are my go-to tips for finding the good "junk"....

1. My #1, all time BEST place for great finds is garage sales.  With garage sales, people want their stuff gone, so they put it in the yard and most of the time, mark it at a very reasonable price.  Many times, people just don't know what that piece of furniture is worth, it is just taking up space to them, so they are more willing to negotiate...just PLEASE always negotiate in a nice, polite manner and with a toothy smile :) Here in western OK, I check the Penny News, Weatherford Shopper, and the local paper for garage sale ads.  Take cash and come prepared to load items on your own!

2. Auctions:  I am a total auction junkie.  I feed off the competitiveness!!  I have found the best of the best of my stuff at auction.  You can check local newspapers for upcoming auctions or find an auctioneer company you like and get updates from their website.  Go early to inspect all the items up for sale and know BEFORE the auction starts what you are willing to give for those pieces.  It is really easy to get into a bidding war and get caught up in just winning and then you are left with a piece of furniture you really would have been fine leaving without and an empty wallet to go with it. Come prepared to load your own treasures and make sure you know the accepted payment methods before you attend and/or buy.

3. Goodwill....Oh how I used to LOVE Goodwill. Lately, not so much.  I mainly shop the Yukon or OKC Goodwills and I almost always leave with something I really like. However, this whole refurbishing thing has really caught on and their prices have SKY ROCKETED to almost an unfathomable ridiculousness.  Feel the drama in those words?? My last few trips, I have left empty handed just because of the prices.  AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE is if you find a piece that is EXACTLY what you've been looking for and you know this is THE piece for you...you'll redo it and love it forever and ever, amen! Then, you need to go for it because truly good built, last forever pieces do not come around often!!!  Also, get to know the employees. They can give you information on upcoming discounts, delivery days, etc. For example, the Yukon store changes merchandise around every Tuesday, so Wednesday is the best day to hit that store. Come prepared to load your own items as it is against store policy to help you load items..and they are serious...I had to load a desk alone 9 months pregnant!

Hope this helps and please feel free to let me know if you have any specific shopping questions! :)

Happy Hunting!

We're baaaack....and a new tutorial!

Whew! It has been a while and for good reason...it has been back to school frenzy for me! I teach Pre-Kindergarten full time, so I had taken a few weeks off to focus on my classroom and getting into a school year routine.  As much as I needed the break, I sure have missed my painting, blogging, and junking! It is so good for my soul!

So to kick off our return, here is a tutorial on our latest sign!

First, I started with what used to be an old step stool...I simply removed the legs and  sanded the top of the stool. You could use any scraps of wood nailed or hot glued together.  I then cut out the letters for the quote using contact paper and my Circuit cutter-super fast and super easy. You could simply cut out the letters from contact paper if you do not have an electric cutter.  I then attached the letters to the wood and made sure they were stuck on well.

Next, I chose my stain and applied two coats (24 hours apart) using a disposable foam brush.  I applied the stain moving in horizontal strokes, swiping clear across the boards in even coats. You DO NOT want your stain to be clumpy nor soupy. It needs to be done in even, clean coats.   Once the
stain was completely dry, I removed the contact paper to reveal the quote. Now, you could just leave it as is from here and be done, however, I wanted my quote to "pop" a bit more and to make it match my decor a bit better, so I took acrylic paint in French Vanilla and painted in the quote, using the "stencil" the contact paper had left me.  I used a fine tipped brush and applied two coats just to be safe. To finish the sign out, I lightly sanded and distressed it and then sealed it with polyurethane.  Since it was going indoors, I could have simply waxed it, however, I chose to use the poly just to better seal the stain. To hang, I simply attached photo hangers to the back.

This project was super easy and I love how it turned out! It would make a great wedding or anniversary gift!

Happy Painting!

Vintage Upholstery Love

This was my favorite addition to one of my booth's this week. Due to the configuration of my space, I  had to slide this table over to the far side of my booth...just happened to end up next to this vintage settee I just had redone. I stepped back and it just hit me that I love these two pieces together! I seriously fought the urge to load them back up and take 'em home!

I found this settee at a yard sale and ya'll...it was UGLY. I mean UGLY! It's lines were beautiful though and it still had really good bones.  Here is what I recommend when you purchase a piece to reupholster.

1.  Know you are probably going to spend quite a bit of money in fabric and upholstery if you can not do this yourself.  You may want to take that into account when deciding on what to spend on the piece originally.

2.  Make sure it is solid.  Any repairs to the wood work, springs, etc. will only be additional costs, and may end up not being reparable at all.

3.   Here is my biggest tip...if you are going to tear it up anyway (reupholster), then tear into it and make sure it has no bugs, lice, etc. before you even load it up into your car! Once you get those little nasties, it is very hard to get rid of them. I tore into this piece, then once home, I left on a tarp in the garage still hesitant to take into my home. Yes, I have a huge fear of little creepy crawly things!

Once I had it home, I rubbed it down with furniture polish, added some black paint, and sealed the wood.  I have never done an upholstery project this large...the settee also came without cushions, so I knew I was in over my head on this one. I contacted my "go-to" upholstery guy and we played with fabrics, trim, etc. This is always my favorite part! Who doesn't love to play in a ton of fabric??? He did a beautiful job and if you'll notice, he takes the time to line all the patterns up vertically; from the top of the sofa, to the cushions, down the back, and even on the pillow.  All meet up at the exact same point. 

This is the picture he sent me for approval...yes, I did do the happy dance when I opened it! He did a beautiful job.  Yay Rudy!

This is the table that sits next to the settee in the first picture. I'm not a big fan of super long posts, so I will post a tutorial on this table later this week.  Until then, Happy Painting!

Endless possibilities....

If you've ever read any of my previous blogs, you know I am constantly saying "the possibilities are endless" and every time I start a new piece, I am reminded of this and try to push myself a bit further.  This small, antique chest of drawers was brought to me for some custom refurbishing. The customer needed it to match a white daybed with yellow, green and brown accents (flowers). It is very hard to tell in this picture, but the drawers on this chest have flowers etched into the trim, so I thought this piece was perfect for her room.  The only problem was it came to me a REALLY nasty greenish/brownish "not really sure what in the world" color!

I first began by sanding it lightly. It is solid wood, but the varnish was very slick and I wanted to bring out some of its natural flaws.Step 2, I wanted to incorporate all the accent colors in the "matching" bed,  yet I did not want to apply four coats of paint!  So I took acrylic paint (yes, acrylic paint...you could also use latex, chalk paint etc.) and applied brush strokes of a light yellow, mint green, moss green, and doeskin (a light tan).  I put a dab of each color onto a paper plate, took a foam brush and just applied in random strokes throughout the dresser, at times mixing the colors and blending them into one another. I applied heaviest to the corners and edges I knew I would want to distress and really have these colors "pop." Below is the result of step 2:

Step 3, was allowing the paint to dry (acrylic paint dries VERY quickly), and then I applied my first coat of white milk paint. I let that dry overnight, and I applied a second coat the next morning. Once that dried, I took a 220 sanding block and just began sanding.  I finished the piece in two coats of gloss polyurethane per the customer's request. Tip: In any place you want the acrylic paint colors to show, sand lightly. Where you want a true wear and the natural wood to pop through, sand with a heavier hand.  You need a good mix of both!  Again, I always use the liquid milk paint...I don't like mixing it as it never gets clump free for me!  Here is the finished side of the dresser:

I am so in love with the chipiness and I am super happy with how it finished out. The customer absolutely loved it! Love when an idea works out and I don't have to start over :) Happy Painting!

American Flag Wreath....easy and beautiful



When my husband's family began cleaning out his grandparent's estate, I was asked if I wanted his grandfather's flag. It was in such great condition, yet you could tell it had some age on it...I fell in love with it immediately.  The question was, what do I do with it?  I didn't want it to sit in a plastic bag in a closet...such a waste,  nor did I really want to have it displayed in a shadow box.  So I did what any loyal DIYer would do...I hit Pintrest for ideas!

Pintrest had a few images I thought were pretty, but not quite what I was looking for. However, I did take a few for inspiration and then used my own creative brain for the rest.  This was seriously THE easiest project I have ever done. All you need is the following:

Flag
Grapevine Wreath
Twine (I used Jute Twine because I had it on hand)
Tin Star (you can buy these at Hobby Lobby, Michael's etc.)
Spray Paint (for the star if you can not find one in the color you wold like)

I simply took the flag and folded the outside right edges so it was not quite at full size.  I then began draping it around the wreath in a manner that a majority of the blue/stars showed, and with the bottom of the flag wrapping through the wreath at a diagonal and pulled it through...yes, that simple.  I then tied the top (the top of your flag should have holes to loop through) to the grapevine with twine.  To finish off the look, I took a tin star I had on hand, spray painted it  Krylon Gloss Red, and once it dried, I tied to around the outside of the flag. 



TA-DA...love it!

Embracing the Imperfections

From the moment I saw this table at an estate auction, I knew I had to have her. She was so feminine, her touches of the original green paint spying through the clumpy cabinet paint someone had so sadly put on her.  She was very delicate and yet so well preserved for her age.  Everyone else there apparently wanted her too as I had to put my game face on and embark in a bidding war.  I was determined she was going home with me and so she did.

I have let her sit in my garage for way too long while I have debated on how to paint her. Go back to that original green or go a bit edgier??  Also, I knew tackling that cabinet paint was not going to be fun.  As I was getting ready for Junk Hippy last week, this table started calling my name.  I stared at her for a long time before deciding her imperfections were what I loved most about her...so here is her refurbished journey.

First I sanded her down with my electric sander (except on the legs...I did those by hand since it is such an old table).  NEVER, EVER use cabinet paint on furniture. That is what caused her lumpy, bumpy surface.  I did like the crackle look of it though, so I sanded her down just enough to make it smooth, but not enough to remove all of the crackle. If you truly wanted to remove all of that crackle  visually, you would need to completely strip your piece; it will not disappear by sanding alone.  I also only sanded down to the first layer of color (the green) on 80% of the table.  I then took CeCe Caldwell's Young Kansas Wheat and just brushed it on in certain "high traffic" areas (sides, corners, etc) so that it was just lightly pop through when I started distressing.  Allowed dry time, then covered the entire table in a coat of CeCe's Santa Fe Turquoise.  Again, allowed dry time, then I painted her two final coats in CeCe's Vintage White.  I honestly probably could have just done one coat of the white, however, since it is a kitchen table and takes a lot of wear, I decided to do two coats.  I realize this is a lot of painting, but that is just the way it had to be for the look I wanted.  You could obviously make it so much simpler by not doing so many colors.

Then, when all the painting was complete, I started distressing her.  I lightly sanded with 220 grit sand paper on most of the table. I did use an electric sander on the corners.  Again, I like sanding by hand because I feel I have more control on how much is taken off.  The corners had the most crackle look, so I sanded them much heavier than the rest of the table.  You can see this in the image below:

I then applied CeCe's clear wax to seal the table, allowed that to dry overnight, and then buffed over the table again with a rag the next morning.  There are a few dark spots in these pictures, however, they are not actually part of the table (I don't want anyone thinking I used dark wax). 

Here she is all finished. 

I fully realize my design for this table is not for everyone...but honestly, I paint for me.  Of course, I want to sell each piece, and want to make something my customers will enjoy and want in their homes, however, I have to follow my heart on these pieces sometimes or I'll go crazy. As with any artist, I start with a blank canvas and create something beautiful from an image created from my heart.  That is also the reason I don't take on a lot of custom work...I want to be able to "do my thing" and create from my own ideas. That is why I love what I do...if I had to do each piece a certain way, I am afraid I'd stop loving refurbishing the way I do.    I am now thinking I may go a bit crazier on this table, maybe add a flower, chevron or something...or, I may just go more conservative and give her a top coat of green to go back to her original state...you never know!  Sometimes a project is never really complete for me...or maybe I just need to learn when to walk away :) 

Happy Visioning, Creating, and Painting! 

Keep It Simple, Sister!

Ah, that moment when a simple, every day experience leaves you almost breathless and thinking to yourself "Ah ha!"   I have spent a lot of my life working...working for others, working for myself, working and more working.  I don't sit still well and the moment I have "down" time, I find a way to fill it.  Call it determination, drive, or just plain attention disorders, but that's just me.  As moms, I think we all constantly try to juggle it "all"....we want to be super moms, super business women, super wives, super friends, and so on...and on...and on.  I know there are times I am juggling so many things that I know I am lacking in some of them.  I can't be 100% at everything all the time.  So what goes? What gets my most concentrated attention?  Tonight, I got a "sign", an "ah ha" answer, or whatever you want to call it and I am so thankful I took the time to listen.

As my girls were building a castle out of blocks tonight, I over heard my oldest telling her little sister "Keep it simple, sister" as she was stacking block, after block, after block.  Those four words jumped out at me, as if she knew how heavy my heart had been lately and subconsciously gave me the reminder I needed.  I built this painting business from the ground up...taught myself, took classes, read books, learned by failing, took risks, and learned from successes.  Obviously, not much gets to me in this business....I post 90% of what I do and how to do it for all to read and learn from. However, lately it seems EVERYONE has decided to start a "refurbishing" business, every where you turn there is competition and to be honest, some are just flat not ready to be selling pieces. So here comes the heavy heart part...probably just more of my left over hormones from just having a baby...but it caused me to second guess myself.  Putting my methods out there for others to learn from me, then use that information to compete with my business.  It's a fine line and it is not always easy.

How often do we make things so much more complicated by over thinking them?  We second guess our selves, let those insecurity demons get in our heads...even when we know we are one of a kind and no one can duplicate what we do best...be ourselves. Any refurbisher can tell you, our work reflects our personalities...it is a piece of who we are. No one can duplicate that. However, putting yourself out there for others to criticize, love, or ignore all together is one of the hardest things we do.  It is hard to hear someone criticize your work, or the all famous "Oh, that is so easy, I can do that myself."   It doesn't happen often (thank goodness for manners people!), but when it does, it is so easy to let that criticism ring louder than all of the praise we receive. Human nature I guess, but so sad all the same.

So lately, I've been asking myself why I share, why do I blog?  Here is the simple answer:  I LOVE refurbishing...sanding, painting, recreating...all of it. I also LOVE to teach.  That is a gift I knew I had from an early age.  This blog allows me to do both of my loves at the same time. I get to share all the fun I have recreating and I get to "meet" some amazing people along the way.  In short, when in doubt of yourself, go back to keeping it simple...the answer will come to you!

On a side note, to all you "mom jugglers" like me, take yourself seriously, follow that dream or goal you have for yourself and know you are teaching your children such valuable lessons by doing so.  Tonight, blowing bubbles, eating ice cream, and painting with my babies made me so thankful I have the opportunity to do  so each and every day. I get to hear them call me "mommy", have their little chubby arms wrapped around my neck, and as exhausted, frustrated and frazzled  as I may get, I would not trade one moment of this crazy bliss for anything in the world.

Seeing Red!

 With the birth of our son, my DIY projects have centered around his room and some western flare. I realize most people do these things BEFORE the baby comes, but for those who know our history, know I never let my self truly believe in the small miracles until they are here safely.  Almost like I am afraid I will jinx it or something...I guess that just comes after such a devastating loss. Anyway, so I am now focused on little man's room and wanted to share a few projects I have been working on. 

First, here is a little wall decor.

This is actually a piece of barn wood from one of our family barns. It was honestly pretty perfect as it was...weathered, worn, etc.  I took some sand paper and sanded the edges just in case some little hands were to grab it (no splinters for us!) and then just took some red milk paint and dry brushed it over the wood.  Seriously as easy as that. The stars were made from heavy metal, so I used liquid nail to attach them to the wood (I was afraid hot glue would not have been strong enough).  I let that dry overnight, attached hanging hooks to the back, and TA DA! Done!

My second project has been this antique dresser.

I really thought it would be perfect for his room, however, after completing the project, we moved it into his room, started adding the clothes, and figured out it was not NEAR big enough...so, it will now go to one of  my booths...a little disappointed, but love it all the same! This antique dresser was well worn in that it had the perfect amount of knicks, wear, and yet still had beautiful lines and stain color.   I simply covered it in light coats of milk paint, distressed it lightly (I wanted that dark stain to show through, not as much of the natural wood), and then applied dark wax over the entire piece. I applied the dark wax pretty heavy over the corners of the drawers as that is where there was the most wear and I wanted to really draw that out and make it a focal point.  I had ordered western knobs to match his room, but I decided to save those bad boys for which ever piece we end up using in there and the original knobs on this piece were still gorgeous and fit the piece perfectly, so back on they went! I did add a little bit of antiquing gel to them just to deepen their color.

Here is an up-close of the dresser's leg...this is why I love milk paint so...love its "chippiness" and it just adds so much character!

So blessed to have the opportunity to create this space for such a wonderful little boy and I love getting to share it with all of you! Many blessings!

30 minute Photo Frame Project...perfect for kiddos

I love projects I can do with my girls...projects that are quick and simple since my kiddos are still young.This project seriously takes less than half an hour and is super cute! Now, will paint get on the table...likely...so just cover it up with some wax paper and let em go wild :)

I've done this project two different ways, so the steps will include a "MOM ONLY" step and a "FOR THE KIDDOS" step.

Step 1:  If you are DIYing it on your own, just take an empty phone frame and spray paint it. Quick and simple...dries super fast. On the one above, I glazed it with black, so it took a bit longer to dry.  Glazing is completely optional.
              If painting with the kiddos, let them paint the frame with acrylic craft paint and a foam brush. My 2 year old painted hers with her hands and it worked out just fine...of course you can tell it was not brush finished, but it was her frame and it looks just like it was supposed to for her little hands.  Acrylic craft paint dries pretty quickly and will wash off of most surfaces if you clean it up right away.  PUT THEM IN OLD CLOTHES first or have em wear an apron.

Step 2:  While the frame dries, paint your clothes pin (optional).  We painted ours with chalk paint. Again, on this one, I just sprayed it with chalk paint.  My girls painted theirs with the craft chalk paint and a paint brush.  Again, this dries quickly, but do not write on it for 24 hours as the paint needs to cure.

Step 3:  Once the frame and clothes pin are dry, you will need the following to put it together:

• frame (from step 1)
• hammer
• small nails or eye hooks
• small gauge wire (I used jewelry wire I already had on hand)
• clothes pin (from step 2)
• picture hooks/saw hooks

Turn the frame upside down and mark where you want the wire to hang. My photo was a 5x7, so I wanted the wire toward the top in order for the picture to fit.  Take the nails and nail in one on each side (make sure they are even!), if you use eye  hooks, you do this step the exact same way.  Take the wire and wrap it around the nails or hooks.  Then attach the hanging hook (or saw teeth) to the top-backside of the frame (this is how the frame will hang on the wall).  Add your picture by clipping it to the wire with the clothes pin and Wowza! You're done! You have a personalized, cute addition to your wall.  This one hangs above Karsyn's dresser and helps her identify which new dresser is hers.  It is also simple  for them to change out the pictures, which they love to do.  Perfect project for displaying their art work as well!

This project can be done quickly and for CHEAP!!!  Gotta love that combination!

Happy Creating!

A dream is a wish...fairytale toy box

Growing up, I loved fairy tales.  My most favorite was Cinderella...as I grew older though, I forgot about this long lost love.  As a graduation gift, one very amazing woman wrote this quote inside my card, reminding me of my dreams.  When in doubt or confused on what to do, I often pull out that card (yes, I still keep it in my top drawer), and am reminded that I hope I always dare to dream. 

I came across this little beauty on a garage sale site and once I began talking to its owner, I knew I had to have it.  Her father had made it by hand years ago and had since passed away.  He had made numerous pieces and she said she just couldn't keep them all. Kind of made me sad in a way, but I was happy to have it and give it a new life.  Instantly, this conversation with its former owner, led my heart to this quote and I knew exactly what I was going to do with the toy box.

I am not going to go into a whole tutorial on this project as I usually do as it is pretty self explanatory as far as the painting and stenciling go. On the quote "a dream is a wish your heart makes", I simply printed it out off the computer and then used the projector to line the quote up to my desired location, and just painted it on with acrylic paint.  Easy, easy!   I then just distressed it (hence the lightness of the quote) and waxed it! Here is an up close view  of the front:

 

And here is a view of the top:

The top and sides are the exact same color, however, in this picture, it looks a bit more turquoise on the top thanks to my wonderful garage lighting. 

I am still debating on letting this one go (hence my reluctance to put a price on it)...it matches my girls room perfectly, and it honestly makes my heart happy each time I look at it!

That is what it is all about isn't it...loving what you do , loving what you create,  and daring to follow your heart???!!!

Happy Dreaming!

Vintage Frames...make beautiful, but handle with care!

Yes, I have done a post of how to re-furbish frames before, however, re-furbishing an antique or older vintage frame is a totally different beast all together.  I just finished a vintage frame for our girl's room, and while I was working on it, it occurred to me that some of you out there may be doing the same, so here is my step-by-step for this project. Hope it helps!

Why do I treat vintage frames differently than new garage sale finds?  For one, they are OLD, which means the real wood has probably started to weaken a bit. It is rare to find an antique or vintage frame in perfect condition. They usually have a few knicks or are a bit weak in the corner areas, but as long as they are still in whole pieces and some what sturdy, you can repair these things. 

Step 1:  Evaluate your frame.  Staple or nail any corners that are loose.  IF YOU NAIL THEM, use very small carpenter nails. Older frames were made with small nails from the early 1900's, so large nails (higher gauge nails) can completely tear apart your frame and bust the wood.  Any repairs need to be done with easy hands and with the great care. 

Step 2:  Do the knicks bother you or is that the look you are going for?  If  they bother you, fix them with wood filler. Just fill with a puddy knife and wood filler (or honestly you can use a kitchen knife  if you don't have a puddy knife on hand) and lightly fill in the knicks.  Let that dry for a bit, then lightly sand over those places.  I wanted the knicks to show on my piece, as I wanted the frame to be distressed looking to match the girl's dresser.  Shown below is a picture of the knicks that were already present on my frame.

Step 3:  Paint!!  This frame was actually already painted white when I bought it.  However, if you have a plain wood piece, simply apply a coat of paint on it with a brush or roller.  This piece has the
decorative corners and it is totally up to you if you want to remove these pieces to paint or paint over them in your base color (If you remove them, do so with the up most care and never remove nails with
a hammer!! Lightly pull them up by hand and lightly press them  back on in the same manner.)   Depending on what look you are going for, apply another coat of paint or don't if you want more of the natural wood to come through.  My frame received two coats.

Step 4: Distress    We all know this is my favorite part! On an older frame, however, you need to use care and a light hand. Too much pressure can cause the sides to buckle or the wood to split. I NEVER use my electric sander on an antique frame. I always sand by hand with 220 grit sand paper and do so with a light hand.  It does take a bit longer, but there is nothing worse than getting this far in your project to have it break! Ugh!   I always go with the grain and lightly make my way around the inside of the frame first, then the outside edges.

****If you wanted to glaze your frame, you would do so here*****  Simply glaze, let dry overnight, and you are ready for the next step!***


Step 5:  On this frame, I wanted the intricate corner pieces to be a different color (again, to match their dresser, so I was very particular).  They were originally gold, and I did want a tiny bit of that to show, so I took my #8 flat brush and lightly painted the corner pieces with the Santa Fe Turquoise and water mixture from the vintage dresser post.  This dried very quickly, so I was able to distress the corners after an hour.  I took a small piece (just a tad bigger than a half dollar) of 220 grit sand paper and used my forefinger and middle finger to sand over these intricate corner pieces.  They were ornate and I wanted to ensure I did not flatten out any of the curvature in these pieces.  I sanded just enough for the gold to come through in places.

Step 6: Coat...I used polyurethane on this piece.  As you all know, I very rarely use poly as it adds an additional step to the process, but with the white paint already applied, I was not sure the quality of the paint, etc. and did not want to risk it looking yuck down the road.  So I applied polyurethane with a foam brush and let it dry overnight.  The next morning, I took a foam sanding block and sanded over the frame (polyurethane turns white with sanded, to it helps alleviate that yellowish tint poly leaves) and buffed out the poly until it was completely blended.  You could use any sealant you like...wax, lacquer, etc. 

Ta-Da! My finished masterpiece!

Now, back to doing some pieces for my booth spaces...but boy, it sure has been fun to do some pieces for my girls :)

Happy, Happy Painting!

Just for my girls...vintage dresser re-do

As many of you know, we've been redoing our girl's room in preparation for our new bundle of joy. We needed a tall dresser and I have been on the search for months. I'd find one and think "Oh! This is the one", but then that feeling would pass and onto a booth it would go.  Then I ran across this one at a local roadside antique store and I knew it was perfect for what we needed...vintage  curves, classic lines, large drawers, and drawers that do not have pulls-they are made to simply pull open from the bottom of each drawer.  SOLD! Loaded it up and off we went.

The dresser started out a really dark stained color, and I really wanted that to show through, so I did not prime it.  I lightly sanded it with my electric sander, then I painted the body of the piece with CeCe Caldwell's Vintage White. On the drawers, the turquoise I normally use was a little too dark to match the girl's fabric, so I took a disposable quart-size paint bucket and mixed 2 cups of CeCe's Santa Fe Turquoise paint with 1/2 cup of water, then mixed together well inside the bucket.  It does become watery, but not so much so that you have runs, etc. That is the nice part about CeCe's being so thick to begin with.  I rolled this mix onto the drawers in two thin coats. I then sanded the body and drawers by hand so I could control the amount of distressing.  This dresser has some nice vintage designs, and I wanted to highlight those, not blend them, so I took the turquoise paint mixture and painted in the lines of the design on the top and sides of the dresser, then lightly hand sanded around those lines as well. Use your thumb or forefinger and a small piece of sand paper to get inside those delicate lines. I then waxed the entire piece with clear wax and buffed it out once the wax had time to cure.  Here she is...I love it and more importantly, so do the girls.

The funniest part is Kinsley (our oldest) says "Mom, why do you keep painting stuff then take all the paint off?"  I had to laugh out loud because I am sure that is confusing to her...it never occurred to me she might not understand what I do! I promised her the next one I do for her, I will not distress to which she replied "Ok, that would be great!" so I guess I will be doing another one down the road for my big girl :)

I know it seems I use a lot of turquoise and white, but that is what is "big" right now in my area and what sells best for me. Our girl's room is zebra/white/turquoise/light pink (yes, I did let them choose it....Lord help me), so this was the perfect piece to match their decor without going too "over the top." I wanted a piece that would grow with them and not ever go out of style as zebra, prints, etc. tend to do.  Here is another picture in better light.

To me, this is the best part of chalk paint...you can add water to soften colors, mix colors to create your own custom hue, or change the entire color by covering with wax, dark wax, etc. I have heard over and over "why pay so much for paint?" as people shake their heads and I just laugh and tell them "TRY IT ONCE and you'll know!" For someone like me who uses it all day, every day, it is worth the investment. 

I hope everyone has a great week holiday weekend and takes time to thank, hug, and remember a solider...they give all so we can post freely, speak freely, and live freely. God Bless!!

Vintage Milk Paint Dresser...our "new" western beauty

People ask me all the time "So is your house full of your vintage items?"  The answer may be surprising...but, no, it actually is not. My husband is very "Western" like in the cowboy sense...or at least he used to be when we built our home, so most of our decor is  natural woods, lots of earth tones, etc. Now don't get me wrong, my girls' room is vintaged out in white and turquoise, vintage dresser,  and so on, as well as I have little things here and there such as vintage books, antique kitchen decor, and a vintage distressed dresser that serves as an entry table. I refurbish so much for "work" that I am just  too tired to do my own furniture :)  Great problem to have, so I am thankful for this "problem"!

I am getting better about keeping pieces I fall in love with though, or knowing the instant I find a piece if it is going to be a keeper.  For example, this desk below was just what I was looking for and from the moment I saw it, I knew I was going to love "her" for quite some time! I really wanted to have "my own" space in our bedroom where I could craft, blog, or just work in general.  However, our bedroom has kind of an odd shape with funny nooks here and there due to our large furniture inside this odd layout.  So, the desk had to be small, yet functional. Enter this beauty:

I apologize I did not get a "before" picture, however I am still trying to get into this blog groove! This desk had a beautiful shape, a beautiful "natural" wood shinning through its chipping stain, and the coolest part?? It is collapsible!! Yes, collapsible! The top can fold down and the sides can fold in for "flat" storage. It is so amazing because this thing is OLD and is all done with these really cool vintage hinges.  Since it was already such a beauty in it's rough state, I really did not want to cover her in paint, plus I needed some natural wood-like finish for it to match our current decor.  Here is the process I used from start to finish.

This piece had a lacquered finish, with some minor peeling, so I sanded the entire piece with an electric sander. I sanded it as lightly as I could with the electric sander, as I wanted some of the natural wood and wear to be seen.   It was in really good shape, so I did not have to do any filler, gluing, etc (Hallelujah!!!)   I then took Antique White Milk paint and painted the legs and body ONLY.   This piece was so chippy on its own that the milk paint just stuck to it perfectly and after one coat, I knew I had made the right choice.  I let that dry and then applied a second coat of milk paint. This piece had such a desirable distressed look to it that I did not have to put the milk paint on perfectly. I even used a brush and let my brush strokes show.  I then let the paint dry over night just because I was exhausted...I know, not very professional, but midnight at night months pregnant seems more like an all nighter!!!  The next morning, I took 220 grit sand paper and went over the entire body and legs, really focusing on the most distressed areas.  I then took tinted brown wax and waxed the ENTIRE piece...I did the and drawers to bring out that natural darker stain of the wood. I wanted the natural wood parts to really show its age and enhance it's beauty...also to seal and protect it.  I then applied  the wax over the milk paint, really focusing on bringing out the more distressed areas.  The most  fabulous part of wax is that it really lays into the texture of the paint and draws out the areas that have been distressed, making it look so natural. Really rub it in and work it over your entire piece thoroughly.  To finish the piece out, I let the wax sit for 2-3 hours and then I buffed it down with a clean, lint free rag.  TA-DA...it really was easy and I am hoping you can see her beauty in the  picture below (yes, it is crooked and the light is not the most desirable, but hopefully you can still see its form and finish)!!!

This beauty is exactly what I wanted and it fits perfectly in our space.  I know I should probably sell it since that is what I do, but I love her and am already attached :) 

Happy Painting and I hope you find your own beauty in all that you do!

Fun Spring Project: Butterfly Wreath

When I decided to leave my full time job to be a full time mommy and work full-time growing Southern Charm Designs, there had to be sacrifices made financially. No more commission checks=no more shopping whenever I wanted. I LOVE Pottery Barn (who doesn't??), but there are many times their merchandise is just not in our budget. So thankfully, there are lots of creative people out there who share their talent on Pintrest.  Here is a project, originally shared from TatorTots and Jello (which you need book mark! Such a great site!)

Here is the picture of inspiration from Pottery Barn:

Here is the my version and what you'll need to make your own!

SUPPLIES:   Grapevine Wreath (use Hobby Lobby's 40% coupon and you can get for $3.00)

                        2-3 Bags of Super Moss

                        Butterflies

                        Glitter dust (optional)

                        Spray Adhesive  (optional)

                        Hot Glue Gun and glue

                        Ribbon to hang (I used burlap ribbon)



Simply take the super moss and hot glue it around the grapevine wreath. It comes in sheets, so it is very easy to simply wrap around and glue.  Next, I chose to spray the butterflies with spray adhesive, then dusted them with some silver and iridescent glitter dust just to make them a bit more detailed than the off-the-shelf butterflies.  I let them dry for about 5-10 minutes.  You can then attach them using hot glue or wire. I chose to use hot glue as that is what I had on hand.  To finish it up, you simply add a ribbon to the back (again, I attached with hot glue) to hang it!

WORD OF ADVICE: I had read another post on this about using loose moss around the edges of the wreath, so in the picture above, you can see I tried that...I DO NOT RECOMMEND using the loose moss. It is much messier and every time I moved the wreath, so went the loose moss. Plus it added almost too much dimension in random spots.

This project is super simple, super fast (less than 30 minutes!), and very inexpensive (I spent  $9.36, which did not include the hot glue or ribbon I already on hand). 

Here is the original post from Tator Tots and Jello! 
http://tatertotsandjello.com/2011/05/pottery-barn-inspired-spring-butterfly.html

Make today a creative one and happy crafting!

Out of the Comfort Zone...

I LOVE color...I mean, the brighter the better! However, when it comes to painting furniture, I have played it pretty safe. Now, don't get me wrong, I use a lot of turquoise, etc. but it usually just in a one color piece or maybe a two color blended piece, but that is about as exciting as it gets here at Southern Charm Designs.  Many of you probably don't know this, but I started out painting picture frames.  I used to paint colorful, fun frames, with lots of fun designs.   I then moved to playing around on furniture, but never dared to bring that "funness" into my furniture painting. I felt more comfortable keeping it "classic" or "timeless."

Maybe it is the 9 month pregnancy hormones, or maybe just a desire to try something "new" , but I needed to step our of my comfort zone and push myself to do something a little different; more fun. Enter in a cute little (although very orange) drop leaf table.  It had such great lines that I fell in love with it right away. However, once I got into my garage, the orange just kept giving me the "blah" vibe...was not looking forward to tackling it.  Finally, I pulled it out and it hit me...this is the piece I want to "go big" on...big as in color and design.  And so the plotting began...

First, I primed this little beauty.  I was not using chalk paint on this one as I wanted bolder colors, so I needed to sand and prime it. I did not do a lot of sanding as I wanted to it to stay "naturally distressed" as much as possible.  I used Killz primer just because the orange was so bright and heavy.  I am not normally a fan of Killz as it is a really heavy primer (and tends to bubble up), however I felt it was the best choice for this particular project.  I did have to wear a heavy duty respirator mask since I am pregnant...probably quite a hilarious vision for my neighbors.   After sanding and priming, I started adding the color.  I used matte black paint for the top as I wanted it to be a totally blank canvas for me to add to. I then applied the high-gloss turquoise for the legs. TIP:  when painting a piece with curvy/knobbed legs, I turn the piece upside down to paint the legs...to me it just gives you a  360 degree view and I can see any "blank" spots I may have missed (it is sometimes hard to get your brush into those curves, so this helps your view into all those curves).  I have to say that I am so used to chalk paint that I had forgotten how "blah" the latex paint can be...but it worked out and  I think the  next time I am doing so much blank space in black, I'll buy semi-gloss or gloss.

After letting the paint dry, I began my design on top.  I went totally rogue on this one...I grabbed a can of white semi-gloss paint and my Purdy Little Chubby brush and free-handed the chevron across the top.You could always use a stencil if you aren't comfortable free-handing your design!! You could also use white acrylic paint if you had that in your DIY drawer.   I chose white because I wanted it to be very bold, popping off that black and pop it did! I love it!  My hand honestly shook through out  this process as it had been a long time since I'd done a design on such a large space...funny how I still get nervous when I know it is just paint!!  

Once the white paint had dried, I began the flowers. I drew them out with pencil first, then began painting them with a blend of red/pinks/ orange and yellow acrylic paint.  This takes a lot of layers and quite a bit of time to cover up the black underneath, so I would say the flowers are the most time consuming part and where you have to have the most patience.  I then sealed it with  polyurethane because I wanted to make sure the design was heavily protected.

Overall, I am pretty happy with how it turned out...I'm not in love with it yet, but I am so glad I stepped out there and used the same creativity I started out with.  It was fun to just play with color and honestly just  go with wherever the design went. I also learned a lot about what may work on a small wood frame does not necessarily work on a larger piece, so I look forward to applying that knowledge to the next piece and getting an even more fabulous piece :) Oh, and I am going to put "editing" and "photo staging" on my list of things to tackle in the near future...this background is hideous!

Happy Creating and remember to HAVE FUN with what you do!

Milk paint revisited...and a really cool planter

This milk painted planter journey began with a sentimental attachment to a little vintage dresser with amazing curves. It was my husband's grandmother's piece and I fell in love with it as quick as I did with the woman herself. However, it needed  A LOT, and I mean a lot of work for it to be a functional piece.  My husband looked it over and the drawers were going to have to be completely reconstructed, and the top rebuilt  (or at least reapplied)  for it to withstand much use.  So we left in her estate sale inventory...however, the morning of the sale, my sister-in-law convinced me I should keep it..knowing how much I loved it.  Very glad she was my voice of reason!

So I began thinking about what to do with this little beauty.  Knowing how much work it needed, and that my husband was not at all too excited to rebuild it, I decided to make a planter out of it.  No need for the drawers to work, no need for it to be "perfect" and it would be a stunning accent to my front porch...and the very best part? It would remind me of Gma Cole every time we looked at it. Below is the finished project and the "how to"  of turning an old dresser into a planter.

I knew I wanted this piece to look "aged" and "worn"...like it had been outdoors for years.  It was already a really pretty brown glazed color, so I just applied a light, uneven coat of  a mossy green color paint.  After letting that dry, I dry brushed on one coat of  milk paint. Knowing this piece was going outside, I did not focus too much on my strokes or making it perfectly even.  Once this first coat dried, I applied a second coat of milk paint, paying a little closer attention to evening out my strokes and completely covering the piece.  Let me just say I owe milk paint a pretty big apology (and probably the man at Woodcraft as well)! In my previous milk paint post, I wasn't as impressed with milk paint as I had hoped to be. However, I did give the liquid form of milk paint a try for this project and I fell in love instantly! The new love story goes like this....I picked up a can of General Finishes Milk Paint (liquid form) in Antique White.

It is a different consistency, but much more like paint than the powder form had been. It was very smooth, no clumps, and went on well.  I used a brush for this project, although, it did show streaks.  Since it was going outdoors, that dry brushed, almost streaked look was what I was going for (just a side note, using a foam roller with this product makes it  much easier to apply evenly and is highly recommended if applying to a piece going indoors or a more finished look.)   I went ahead and wore a mask due to my pregnancy, but I never noticed an obnoxious smell, so that is big plus!

After all the coats of paint, I took 220 grit sand paper and sanded over the entire piece....the milk paint simply flaked right off. I absolutely loved how the milk paint distressed out. A picture of the top is shown below so you can see the distressed effect up close. You can also see what I mean about how the  brush strokes are very obvious...you won't have this if you use a foam roller.

I then applied a coat of poly-urethane (wearing a respirator mask) and let that dry completely.  Always apply poly to pieces that are being using outdoors.  To finish out the piece, I went over the dresser with a foam sanding pad to smooth it out.  The polyurethane turns white when sanded, so it just added to the finish.  I drilled holes in the bottom of the two functioning drawers, lined with very inexpensive plastic liners (to protect the wood drawers from rotting out)  I bought at dollar general, and then added the plants!  The fabulous part is now I have a functional gardening center, with storage, that fits perfectly into an odd space on our front porch! You can also find many similar ideas and  tutorials on turning furniture into planters on Pintrest!

Happy Planting!