The Spray Paint and The Three Pears

Story of The Spray Paint and The Three Pears

I'm again *repurposing* this tired, old post to participate in...http://itssoverycheri.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-make-tassel-tutorial-cheri-style.html

Like so many of you guys, I really love Ballard Design.   Like so many of you, I do not want to spend $79.00 on something that will eventually, if I am being honest, sit on a shelf somewhere and collect dust.   Like so many of you, I want to only spend about $2 on something that will eventually, if I am being honest, sit on a shelf somewhere and collect dust.

The following chronicles my mission for the perfect white pear.  Or three.  Three of something usually is better than one.  

This beauty is on sale for $79.00.   

Ballard Designs actually does have a version for much less!  $49.00.  Um, no thanks.

Here are  mine.

About $ 5.   And that's for all three!

The Magic of Spray Paint!   It's like having "New" in a can!   Yes I stole that phrase and am going to use it as much as possible - it's too true!  :)

Anyways, I realize that pretty soon (if it has not already happened) the whole White Pretend Fruit trend is going to get old.  But I can't help myself - I really do {heart} the whole White Pretend Fruit thing.  

Here's what I did.   Now, for this project, I did actually go out and purchase something "new".   My tagline on this blog used to be Old Is The New New, but I'm realizing that sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.    The Christmas Tree Shop is full of excellent bargains - and you can spend so little that it's ALMOST LIKE you didn't even go shopping at all.  For real.    (By the way, my blog has a new tagline now - let me know what you think!  :)

Anyways, the pears that I found were a bit TOO pear colored.   They were INTENSELY pear colored.  As in almost Blindlingly Green.     My camera almost couldn't really capture this new to nature color, but here they are when we started out.

.....waiting patiently outside on my handy spray painting blanket with their new BFF - Valspar Ivory Spray Paint.

When I'm seeing them in this photo, the color really doesn't look to bad, but they just did not fit in with the rest of the gang...

So a few minutes and a few swipes with the spray paint later and LOOK!.............

They Are Happier Already!    I just love to put a smile on a fake pear's face. 

Anyways, this is one after just a couple of coats...

I do see a definite improvement.   I did add one more coat, again not bothering with any painting "rules" like preparing the surface - I just sprayed them.   Brought them inside after they dried (maybe 1/2 hour?) and added some black for contrast to the stem with my Cheap Acrylic Craft Paint.

I still don't know where exactly these three are going to end up - probably like everything else in this house, they will be moved around ALOT.   But I want something striking yet simple for my dining room table and that's probably where they will start their little journey.

So damn happy with how they came out!  

I'd love to hear about any project you guys are working on!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Fun with Paint - Chalkboard Style

I will be entering this post in a Linky Party!!   Or two!   Check here for tons of Make Your Monday projects brought to you by Twice Remembered.

Also I am again *repurposing* to participate in a KNOCK OFF KNOCK OUT Party hosted by It's So Very Cheri.

This will also be included in Show and Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home.    Get yer butt here for a visit!

So if you are an avid blog follower, you might have seen the following trick repeated many, many, many times over the last few weeks.   I hope you don't mind one more! 

If you have never heard of chalkboard paint, it is like the coolest stuff ever created!   Take a look at the following "redo" and you'll be looking around your home for stuff to "chalkify" too!!

I started with a picture of a giraffe and it's baby that for some reason I have lying around.  I must have thought it was cute at one point, but needless to say, it does not exactly BLEND with the current decor around here.  But it was a good size and seemed to have some potential.

I hadn't noticed this before somehow, but it has a nice little ropy detail running along the entire edge!  It had blended right in with the greyish, weird, light brown "wood". 

Kind of added another challenge, because I wasn't anticipating it at the time and didn't want to ruin the frame.  But as luck would have it, it's just kind of inset INTO the frame - not glued or anything!  So it basically just ripped right out!

 I went to work figuring out how to dismantle this baby.

 

Alot of your less expensive cheap "art" will have something like this on the back.  These little brackets are bendy and attach the frame to the backing. 

With a little help from my super sophisticated stash of power tools....

Okay, I mean my CHEESE SPREADER..... I was able to get the whole thing apart in approximately 3  minutes. 

Now, this particular piece of priceless art was so cheap well-made, that it didn't even have real glass as a protective cover.   Just a sheet (which DID break) of super stiff plastic something-or-other.   I was thinking I'd save it to use for SOMETHING, but this part did bend and break into a bunch of little pieces.  Well, you win some - you lose some.

Anyways, I took the frame (with the rope torn out) and the cardboard backing outside to paint.

This is my secret weapon used to obliterate giraffes.   I found it at AC Moore, I believe, for about $6 and there is not even a DENT put into the amount still left after this, my first chalkboard project.   

I probably have better photos somewhere, but I basically chose an area of my yard that is away from anything that would NOT like to be covered into chalkboard material and also in the sun for fast drying.  I laid an old blanket down to protect the ground below.

I used this to cover the frame - separate blanket a few feet away from the first.

It's just a basic can of ivory color spray paint from Valspar. 

I did NOT prime, I did NOT sand, I did NOT also do anything else that one is supposed to do before painting.  Not that I am recommending that you guys ignore all relevant and practical advice, but sometimes I am a little lot too impatient to take extra steps.   Just point, aim and you are done.

Then I was left with this below.   About 2 coats on each and they dried very quickly being out in the sun.

Now I'm sitting and hoping that the cool little rope detail will look better against the white and HOPING that I can actually get it back into place without a fight.

The first piece actually did.  The rest wasn't willing to go down without a fight.  I'm guessing that the spray paint made the little "valley" that it sits in a bit too tight or something, but the stuff JUST WOULDN'T FIT. 

But with a little help from my friend (FabriTac) I managed to get the rest into place or at least attached to the frame and now all is right with the world. 

I laid the chalkboard covered piece into the frame and repositioned the bracketts that hold it into place.  Again with my sophisticated power tools butter knife.

Looking better and happier already!

See the weird little smudgy thing on the upper left hand corner ( I do this ALL THE TIME, by the way - people will come to my house and compliment something and I ALWAYS manage to point out it's flaw - why - WHY?)  Anyways, that is because I'm not sure that chalkboard paint was MEANT to go over cardboard and erase easily.   This was after trying to use an eraser, which basically just smudged the chalk around - I ended up using a slightly damp paper towel to erase next tiem and it worked perfectly!

For now, it is making it's home right here...

A little corner off the kitchen, next to where I've got the downstairs computer set up.   

The best part about this arrangement was actually an added bonus that I had not planned out..

It hides a multitude of yucky!!   I love lamps on countertops, but hate the mess of cords that you can never REALLY hide.   Plus a small stash of candles and other kitchen debris can be nicely tucked away behind it - out of view!

I'm going to certainly be looking around my house for more hidden treasure - so many things can be turned into something completely New and Useful and Beautiful!  This entire project, by the way, probably took about 3 hours start to finish and that even includes waiting for the paint to dry.  

Happy Weekend Everyone!. 

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

"Old Stuff" Redo Part #1

Okay, so I found some really good buys at a thrift store that I introduced you guys to right here.

I finally found a bit of time to play around with over the weekend and wanted to share the results, so far.

Okay,   remember this little beauty?

I actually didn't even give her a makeover.  Not even lip gloss or NOTHIN.  Well I did wipe the dirt off, but that's about it.    I really just liked it so much that it ended up on my hutch with some fall flowers.

The color is obviously not coming through the greatest, but you get the idea.   I actually think it would be stunning black with fall flowers, but sometimes I just get impatient!  Maybe this weekend.

Okay, and these candlesticks?

They had a little more lovin'.    I started with a basic Ivory paint.   Everything I do seems to be either Ivory or Black lately.   

All together now... Ebony and Ivory... Live Together in......

Sorry, I'll stop.   Anyways, this is what I ended up with

Prettier, but still pretty boring.   Plus the bow reminded me more of spring.    So I tried this instead....

And I kinda liked it!  The bow got moved along the BOTTOM of the piece and I added some fall foliage and berries.   A gingham ribbon along the top and a cute little birds nest with more berries on the inside.

Then I wondered what to do with it.    A candle seemed so "anticipated" or something.  I know, I'm a weirdo.   So first I tried the super trendy lately "pumpkin on a pedastal".

Yeah, not so much.

Then how about a cute decorative bird?

Still just looked a little out of place - she's too separated from the damn nest or something.  Anyways, then inspiration struck and I found the PERFECT purpose for my new old thing:

A lipstick holder for my daughter's play makeup!   

I'm kidding of course - but it's the only thing that did fit perfectly.    I think perhaps I will just stick with a candle.

Here's the other one:

Added a bow again with a touch of foliage for fall, and along the bottom some more fall berries with a couple of pine cones.

I know you are thinking that the two pieces would make alot more sense if they matched.  You would probably be right.  

Maybe someday - nothing seems to stay the same way in this house for too long before I get bored and change it all over again!

I'll be doing some more postings shortly with the rest of my "finds" along with an updated stool project,  some uses for repurposing scrapbook materials (got WAY too many of those) and I've also been having fun with Letter Decorating.

Have a great day everyone

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Pottery Barn Wannabe

Good morning to you all!


Today's project has to do with my never ending list of wants.   I really REALLY want a mudroom and I really REALLY want a cute coat rack, shelf combo with a bench underneath.   Like everybody seems to have nowadays! 

Something like this would be fine.  Nothing too fancy. 

Even just one of these...

That would do.

I saw this one from Almost Amish (cute name, no?) 

It's $139 dollars.   Not exactly falling into the decorating on a small budget theory.

Courtesy of Woodworkers Warehouse

This one is gorgeous too.  I love the little cubby drawers instead of the usual baskets you see.

Anyways, I did  already have a small shelf coatrack thing so I looked at it, and looked at it again, and looked at it some more, and got to work.

I can't seem to find a before photo, but it was basically that ugly oak material.  Or wood I guess you'd say.  So I got me my faithful black paint and just painted the whole thing.  While it was still attached to the wall actually - Don't Tell My Husband.

Then it seemed to look kind of funny with this bulletin board I have above it with my daughters school "stuff".  This I do have a before picture of...

There she is!

Basically kind of basic and boring.   She wanted a make over too.  Luck would have it that I am so lazy sometimes that I never even hung the damn thing up.  So I took her down and started painting away.   Yes right on my kitchen counters.  Again, Don't Tell My Husband.

I've been using some of the cheapest acrylic craft paint possible (it's about 1.42 at Walmart) and a matchingly cheap paint brush.   Works absolutely fine so far.

Don't worry if things don't go exactly perfect - this project got a bit all messed up (maybe I SHOULD get a better brush) but it doesn't show when it's on the wall anyways.

I did 2 coats and it literally dried in about 1/2 hours, so up on the wall she went (hung with push pins - this will someday prove to be a mistake - I can just feel it).

It's still pretty basic and boring, but I added a basket to the shelf (makes me feel more pottery barnish)

And then I took a crooked picture, because all the cool bloggers do that...

That was a joke by the way.

My point is that looking through "designer" magazines and websites can leave us jealous and frustrated at times, but it can also be an incredible source of inspiration.  I love paint.  I look around my house for things to paint.  Often.  Too often apparently.

If anybody has some cool or interesting painting projects or updates, I'd love to hear about them!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

...Thrifty Finds

Re-edited to add that I am including this post over at Tales From Bloggeritaville for her Thrifty Thursday linky party!


Recycling last week's post in doing so, but after all, this blog is partially ABOUT recycling!

First I want to say hello and welcome to my new followers.    So, Hello and Welcome To My New Followers!   Seriously, there are almost 20  40 of us here now, and that's definitely not a bad way to start a blog.   Next I want to say this:


I. Am. So. Excited.

Wanna know why?  Well - do you??    Okay, I stopped by a little thrift store this morning.  I cannot BELIEVE that I have never been there before.  Oh. My. Goodness.

I should have known what to expect, being the penny pinching cheap girl that I am.  It was an absolute Treasure Trove of old stuff, just waiting for a makeover.   Soon to be new, beautiful stuff!   I will no longer be a slave to full price.  Or even half price.  Heck, the most I spent on any one item was $1.00.   ONE DOLLAR!   And that was for a PAIR of stuff.

I scored the following:  One white SUPER heavy and fat vase (dying for a coat of paint), Two black wrought iron candlesick holders, One heavy silver pedastal, One brown wood chunky candlestick holder, Two lengths of fabric, and One other thing.  Not sure what to call it.  I am gonna pretty the bunch of them up.  AND, I'm gonna show you how.  

But first, today's finds...........

Bad lighting, sorry....

See all those white stickers??   Those are price tags.  They say things like 35 cents.  1.00.   50 cents.  You get the idea...

This is a planter of some sort.  I have no idea yet what I'm going to do with it, but I loved it's shape.

Yup - it's "A Genuine Old Thing".

Here's a pretty pewter candlestick holder (which will never be pewter color again once I have my way with it)

35 cents. 

Another holder or pedastal - this time wood

Honest to goodness dust and everything.  She SO wants to be pretty again.  You can just tell.

Another planter or vase.   Again, I love the size and shape

50 cents.   I could probably even bargain with this poor woman who owns the store too - I feel like going back with a wagon and loading up.  I might even see if she wants to come home with me someday and just pretend to be my grandmother for a while.  She's just that cute.

I think these two cuties would look nice dressed for Fall.

Now, how's all that for a Cheap Frill!?

I called this post Thrifty Thursday, and it actually gives me a really good idea.  Each Thursday (beginning whenver I can actually figure out how to use links and whatnot) I will be hosting an online Thrifty Thursday party.   Link up and share your most recent, or most favoritest ( it's my blog and I can use bad grammer if I want to) thrifty find!

A fun way for you girls (and guys) to show of your own treasures.   Very good exposure for your blogs or stores too, plus just a great way to meet new friends.  

Stay tuned - I have great plans for my old junk....

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce