Thrift Shop Re-Do - Sitting Stool

Hey again!  One more for ya on this rainy Saturday.   This project actually was done in a series of steps, but just completed this morning.   I never, NEVER seem to have a chunk of time more than an hour long available to me at once.  

First I want to thank you guys for all of your comments.  They definitely keep me inspired to continue with my little "decorating on the cheap" journey.  I also want to welcome all my new followers!   I am so, so pleased and honored that you've joined and hope to have many inspiring posts over the next little while.

Anyways, on a trip to the thrift store a couple weeks ago, I came across an adorable little stool.   

Along with a candle holder and box, but that's for later...

Needed some work, clearly, and it also seems like it started life as a tall stool that somebody cut down.   But no matter, there was something appealing about it and guess what?   Six Dollars.   Six!  That's it!  You cannot buy a stool at Walmart for six dollars I don't think.   Well, maybe you can, but then what on earth would I do with my rainy Saturdays??

I plan to have this little guy downstairs in the kitchen or the room off the kitchen or the entry way, or maybe even to bring into the family room if extra seating is needed.  I have too many options sometimes.   So the color had to be black.

I spray painted him up. 

First step, make sure it's a nice day, so that this does not happen.

Then find a nice open spot outdoors, spread out an old blanket (or something) and find yourself a cute helper...

This step is not necessary.   This particular cute helper got bored after about 5 minutes and retired indoors to watch SpongeBob.   To each his own.

I basically just used my trusty can of Valspar Black (I used a flat, not a glossy.   Why?  I couldn't tell you.)  and sprayed him all up.

When one coat was dry(ish) I flipped him onto his head and sprayed the underparts.

Let him dry in the sun for a bit.

I like it alot better already!

I decided that since I didn't prime or sand, or anything else that is recommended before painting, that I would show A Touch More Love by spraying one last coat of a protective sealer.

To be honest, it did not make a bit of difference that I could SEE.  But it did make me feel better.

So this is how things were this morning....

Being a bit of an idiot inexperienced with recovering furniture (even the small stool variety) I had wondered how to make the top a comfy place to sit.   A nice lady at the fabric store suggested just some plain old batting that could be shaped for an underlayment and then fabric on top.

Perfect!   I chose the remnants of the same fabric that was used on my window mistreatments.

That way if it is in the kitchen, it looks more at home.   Somehow it's changed from a "him" to an "it".  Did you notice that too??!  :0

Okay, I have neither tools, experience, brains, or a staple gun, so I again relied on The Magic of Glue.

Fabritac for this project again, to be exact.

I basically guesstimated the amount of batting and fabric that would be needed.   I went extra on the batting, because I wanted an actual "cushiony" feel.  

Cut it all with plain old scissors and then went about putting it together.

I initially did this with the stool right side up, but it turned out much easier (duh) to turn it upside down.

Did a bit more trimming just to make sure there wasn't a ton of overhang.   And what I did was basically put the fabric on the bottom (right side down), then the batting on top of that, then the stool on top of THAT.  Something like the picture above.  Actually, EXACTLY like the picture above.

I glued a little hem along the edges of the fabric, just to make it look neat.  Because don't we always get people that come into our homes and proceed to peer underneath all the furniture to make sure things are neat?   That's what I thought.

I did one side first.  Just wrapped him all up like a present.

And worked my way around.

Oh!  I almost forgot.   Make SURE that you have really sophisticated and "fancy" tools at your disposal to hold everything down while the glue is drying....

My personal favorite is the Chip Clip.   So many uses.

Followed closely by.....

A Small Box Of Heavy Things.   This holds everything in place very well also.

Despite me and Chippy's best efforts, it's still not THE absolute neatest job in the world.   But, remember - this part will be on the underside.   And I don't think people REALLY come to your home to look under furniture.   Just sayin'.

Here's a view from the top looking down.  Or the bottom looking up (it's still upside down)

And, I think he's done!    All dressed up and ready to meet the rest of the house...

I'm sure this will more around ALOT (most of my small furnishings do) but for right now it's in between my Kitchen and my Room That Is Next To My Kitchen.

Just for a fun look, I also tried it with a band of black trim along the edges.   Can you tell it's even there??  

It is ingeniously held on by.....

Tada!  Glue dots.   This is probably ANOTHER practice that is not generally recommended, but it will suffice for now.  That way, when I don't like the trim, or want to change the trim - I can just pull it right off again!   Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

The queen likes it too.  

 I had so much fun with this project!  I'm really happy with how it came out - even though I didn't quite have the foggiest clue what I was doing.   And I'd love to hear what you think!  I'd also love to hear about any projects that seemed overwhelming and just a little scary, and how it all turned out for you.

Ta for now!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Repurposed Sign - Telephone Message Board

Edited to add:  I will be participating, with this here little post, in Metamorphasis Monday over at BNOTP - be sure to check out the other ideas right here!


So, I showed you guys a few project that I would be working on over the weekend in this post.

And, I then followed up with my "Rained Out" post.

But, I realized that not EVERYTHING has to do with spray paint.  It really doesn't.   So I've completed a couple of projects this morning anyways and here is one!
This started with an old sign I found in my barn.   There was something about it that I actually like "as is" but just too dark and faded.   Anyways, here is how she started life:

I removed the back from the wood frame ( I did not take photos, but you can get the general idea from my tutorial on how to obliterate giraffes with chalkboard paint.)   This time I used a rock from my garden as a power tool.   The "fancy" stuff like cheese spreaders were somehow unavailable.

Anyways,   the backing was spraypainted with my New BFF Chalkboard Spray Paint.  Read the above referenced post for more information, but it can basically be sprayed on just about any surface and will create a chalkboard.  No, really - it works!  

So now we have this.  

And I apologize for the bad lighting/photos - it's pouring here and cannot get much light!  I actually liked the frame to remain black for some reaon.  I had an idea for my kitchen which is mostly a creamy white with black accents, and didn't want it to blend into the woodwork too much, so to speak.

But it's obviously a little lacking in the "oomph" department ugly so needed some further "work".

So for just a touch of color, I tried holding a few ribbons against the frame to see how they looked...

I liked this in a way, but it seemed a little too "grannyish".   No offense to any grannies - I think Grannies are great.  

I really liked the brown and white gingham too.

I tried a few more to see what might look nice (I will spare you all those photos) and finally did decide on some khaki-tannish trim along with the gingham ribbon above.

See the knob?   Go look again - it's right there.   Once I started playing around with this piece, I got the idea that it somehow reminded me of a door.   I had this knob left over from when we were trying out looks in my daughter's room, so I ran and got it.  No I didn't - I walked actually.  I walked and got it.   I wish that I had some really really cool old and chunky looking knob, but I am impatient and wanted this project over with LOL!   So this is the one I went with.  

It was attached with Gorilla Glue.  This stuff works GREAT, but use with caution.   It tends to "expand" once it starts setting up, and even though I was careful, a tiny bit did escape from where it belongs.   I decided to just move on.

Did a little more playing around with the ribbon arrangement (again, I'll spare you :) and this is what I finally came up with.

Again, my apologies for the awful photos.   But I think it came out really really cute!  I attached the long piece of trim with my other BFF - FabriTac.   I cut the bows so that they were about the same size, not quite so droopy, and also spaced them out a bit more.

Then the problem was how to hang?

This piece was designed to hang on a part of a beam above where our phone is in the kitchen.  I thought it might make a cute "message board".  

Not being at all aquainted handy with "real" tools, I decided on the following:

Some pretty gingham fabric, cut into a line and fashioned into a shabby little bow!  You are looking at the back of the board in this photo - I used more FabriTac to adhere.

And ...............

Voila!   It worked even better than I thought it would.   Now I have an adorable, cheap enough to almost be considered free, useful and unique Message Board!

I love the architectural detail of the knob.  

And the frame itself is thick and chunky enough to store a piece of chalk on!

So that's what we get for being creative and innovative!   I am truly looking at all my "old stuff" in new ways lately and have a bunch more projects that I can't wait to show you all.   

I'd love to hear about any of your projets as well!   Let me know, send me a link, show me a picture, leave a comment if you have anything you've repurposed in a fun way!

Have a great weekend!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Rained Out!

So ladies, I'm sorry to let you know that my weekend spray painting plans have been thwarted by this....

I don't know if you can actually tell by this photo, but it is raining cats and dogs here!!!

So my spray painting has to be put on hold.  BUT, I do have a couple of indoor projects completed (the rainy day is good for something!) that I'm working on sharing with you shortly.

Stay tuned!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Start to Finish.......

Good morning and Happy Friday!

I have to say that lately, time has been zipping by way too quick.  And I never seem to be able to follow a project through - start to finish - in just one afternoon or day the way I used to!

Between my daughter's activities, volunteering in her classroom, my own "real" job, birthday parties, husband feeding, house cleaning, yada, yada, yada......... there just is not a big enough chunk of time all put together for my own pursuits!

(photo courtesy of Country Living)

Neverthless, the weekend is upon us, without any MAJOR plans, so I hope to get a few of these completed.

Here are just a few "Sneak Peak" photos of what I've been (trying) to work on and what is yet to come.

I have a fun project in mind for this cute little stool I picked up at a thrift store for $6.   SIX dollars!  I could spray paint this with purple GLITTER and cover it with newspapers and it still would be worth the six bucks!

I'm not going to though.

Don't bother adjusting your monitor for the photos below - the leaves and fall accents REALLY are that orange - I really heart the urns though so I must do something about this ....

Below is an ongoing eyesore that I subject myself to everyday that needs some attention.  We call it..... Are you ready for this?    The Closet Room.   Catchy and original, huh?    It's a great spot - right off of our bedroom and it really is mainly for storage.   It's got a huge storage area against another wall (conveniently closed off by doors) and a dresser for storage and two of these closets that STILL do not have doors.  

The plan all along was to finish them at SOME POINT, but "some point" never seems to get here.  Since I am not about to hang a door (yet), I need to come up with another temporary solution.

This was my first attempt at a "mistreatment" by the way - it's been like this for years.   Great idea and something I hope to follow through on with a nicer fabric...

It's basically 1 panel from a set of old curtains hung along a rail!

You can see I cleary have my work cut out for me....

But it hides an even bigger eyesore, so I think with a different fabric (and some attention elsewhere in the room) I can stop shutting the door to the whole area entirely)

This is what needs to be hidden - the bedrooms in this part of the house are TINY and there is not even room in my daughter's room (or my own) for a closet.  

I also found this cute(?) sign thing in my barn that I'm dying to do something with...

These cuties were another thrift shop find - $1.50 - for both!

They could use a lil' love too.

This little rolling pin thing is actually a small shelf!   Thought it might be cute with some attention...

Another "barn" find was this, um, lovely? breadbox.   Definitely needs an update, but I like it's shape and size and it's got alot of room inside...

I also am going to work on a tutorial to show you guys how to make something like this with extra scrapbooking supplies

Perfect for photo storage or a winter display (did I really just say WINTER?) or as a unique gift box!

Long term projects include a craft room that looks a little more like this:

... and a bedroom that looks a little more like this....

... and cleary I'm gonna need some of this....

Anyways, I'm certainly not going to get all of this accomplished over the weekend.  But if I can somehow *focus* just a little more, I'll be able to finish at least a few projects.  

I can't wait to share the end results with you guys!

What is everybody else working on??  I'd love to hear about your own projects!!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce