Mackenzie Childs - Inspired Vase and Box

Yesterday I revealed my newly updated guest bedroom.  

The room is chock full of projects.  

I'm a big fan of Mackenzie Childs and harlequin designs in general. I needed a few accessories for the room so I looked around at what I already had in the house and transformed a basic clear vase and wine box.

The wine box I had lying around from Christmas when someone brought it as a hostess gift.  The clear vase was from Valentine's day roses.  

Using Annie Sloan chalk paint I had on hand I painted both the box and the vase in old white.

Using a ruler I measured out a harlequin pattern on the top of the box.  I free hand painted the vase.  On both pieces I used Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue.  

The dots between the diamond pattern as well as the outline around the box was done using a Sharpie paint pen.

I added detail to the vase using craft paints I had on hand.

These were the perfect way for me to finish off the top of the armoire.  I love how they came out.

Can't wait to hear what you think.

-Judy

MacKenzie-Childs Inspired Pumpkins

I've always loved MacKenzie-Childs.  They make some absolutely beautiful things.  Their pumpkins are no exception.  However their signature pattern is black and white and although very pretty, it doesn't go that well with my decor.  Not to mention their pumpkins range from $50-$175 each.

Unfortunately, when you shop for faux pumpkins this late in the season, it's impossible to find the ones with the pretty stems.  Those got sold out probably back in August long before I was even thinking about Halloween.

So I settled for this basic pumpkin from Michaels.  Using paint I already had on hand, I went to work.

The first coat of paint I applied was chalk paint I had in pure white.  It covers well and is a good base for any other colors.  

I used a pencil to draw out the grid pattern.  My pumpkin lines weren't even all around which made it a little more challenging.  I used a linen white and a golden brown color on the pumpkins.

Next I highlighted with gold and aqua. I painted the stem a gold as well.   When I was happy with all of my highlighting,  I coated the whole pumpkin using polyurethane to give it the shine the MacKenzie-Childs pumpkins have.  

So my pumpkins cost $5 each for a total of $10.  

Not bad and such a pretty look.

What do you think?  Can't wait to hear.

-Judy

Chalkboard Flower Pot Turned Scrunchie Holder

Westlake Ace Hardware was so kind and sent me all of the supplies I would need to create a chalkboard flower pot.  For some reason as soon as I saw the flower pot and the chalk spray paint and chalk all I kept asking myself was, "wouldn't this make a super cute scrunchie holder?"

So, that's what I created.  

It was super easy.  I started with a plastic flower pot and chalkboard spray paint.

I taped off the parts that I did not want sprayed with the chalk paint.

For the top and bottom rim, I painted it using aqua blue chalk paint I already had in the house.

I added a fabric liner to the inside and filled it with hair scrunchies (if you have tween age girls in your life, you will understand how the scrunchies can take over the house!)

I used chalk to decorate the top and the bottom as well.

You could easily turn this into a Mother's Day gift by planting flowers in the pot and writing Happy Mother's Day instead.  It would make a super cute gift!

I'd like to thank Westlake Ace Hardware for providing me with all of the materials.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Swing into Spring party.

The party opens at 8pm EST.  Hope to see you then.

-Judy

How to Reupholster a Chair

I want to create a game table area in my basement.  I am on the hunt for two chairs that I can completely transform for this area.   About a year ago I made my first Craigslist purchase.  It was a great chair that needed an update.   I transformed it using chalk paint and a drop cloth.  Reupholstering is a little time consuming, but not really hard.   Here is the full tutorial. 

My first chalk paint project is finished.  I am very happy with the results.  This project started with an awesome Craigslist purchase.   $20 - what a deal!

photo from Craigslist

The chair had some great bones.  I started this project by stripping the chair of all fabric.  It wasn't easy...it had nailhead trim all over it.

It was at this point that the fun began.  I had ordered Anne Sloan's chalk paint from Robyn Story Designs, a retailer in Florida.  They were awesome to deal with...I ordered late on a Friday afternoon and received my Anne Sloan paint, waxes and brushes by Wednesday morning. Don't you just love instant gratification?  If you are in the market for chalk paint, you should call Robyn Story Designs...they have inventory of Anne Sloan paint and waxes and are so helpful on the phone.

I started by painting the chair a combination of Duck Egg Blue with highlights of Old White.

After painting the entire chair, I used the clear wax.  I had ordered the wax brush, but because this chair had so much detail, I found it easier to use a rag to apply the wax.  I will use the wax brush on my next project.

You can see in the above photo that when you first apply the clear wax it slightly darkens the paint color.  However, once it dries, it lightens up again.

I tried to get a close up of what it looked like when I went to sand it to start distressing.  I think this is where you can really see the benefit of chalk paint vs. latex.  You know when you go to distress latex how sometimes it doesn't evenly sand off...or it will peel?  That doesn't happen with chalk paint.  It's super easy to distress and even easier to control how much you want distressed.  One tip...definitely wear a mask when you sand.  There is definitely more dust that with latex (however, less after waxing than before...I had sanded some before and then it's like clapping erasers together).

I also ordered the dark wax.  I used this extremely sparingly.  I again used a rag, dipped it in the wax and then wiped off most on a paper towel before applying it to my chair.  I just wanted to give some dimension to the detail...not totally change the color.

I had saved all the pieces from when I took off the original upholstery.  Makes it very easy to use it as a pattern.  I used foam I had for the under cushion.

Using my electric bread knife, I cut the foam to size easily.

I used a drop cloth I purchased from Home Depot as my fabric.  I cut a piece a little larger than I needed and laid it over the seat.

  Using the air compressor staple gun I got for Christmas...

I started stapling...

...and stapling.

Once it was stapled all around, I cut away the excess fabric.

I then cut out the fabric for the arms and the back and front.  I added foam and then stapled it all around.

Again, I cut away the fabric.  It doesn't have to be perfect...the trim will cover all of the staples.

For the back I started by stapling the fabric from the front.  I cut away all the excess.

I then added a piece of batting.

Then I added the cardboard (I used the same piece I had removed...it was still in good shape), then the foam, more batting and then the top fabric.  Yeah...this part wasn't so easy.  With that many layers it was hard to get it all to line up.  However, after I got a few staples in, I was home free.

It was now time for the trim.  I bought the trim from JoAnn's for $0.99/yard and then someone handed me a 10% off coupon when I was checking out, so I only paid $0.89/yard.  I bought eight yards ( I had about a yard left, but my rule of thumb is to always buy more than less...nothing is worse than having to go back out when you are in the middle of a project).

Using my hot glue gun and my scissors (rather than my fingers to push it into place) I attached the trim.  If you've ever worked with hot glue you know that you can burn your fingers so easily, so I like to use my scissors...the glue peels right off the scissors.

I'd like to say I was done at this point, but I still had to make the box cushion for the seat.  Again I used the old fabric as a pattern and cut out a front and a back to the seat cushion and the side panel.  I also made cording to coordinate.

I pinned and then sewed the three layers together.

Here is the final product.  I love how it came out.

I added the pillow as a final touch.

Remember this pillow?  I made it out of two dinner napkins.  All I did to make it fit the new chair was open up the pillow, remove the insert, add a smaller insert and sew a smaller seam.  The width of the pillow stayed the same.

So what do you think of my first attempt at re-upholstery?  It's the perfect addition to my guest room.   I have to be honest...it was so much work.  It took way longer than I ever anticipated, but I love the result.  Have you reupholstered anything lately?

-Judy