Chalk it up!

I went to pick up a trunk one day and the former owner gave me a stash of boards.  They were the kind that are used for shelving in many of the Sauder type TV stands.  They weren't good for much.....or were they?  I thought aha! I could make them into chalkboards.  So I cut them into shapes and painted them with black chalk paint. Not bad, free boards that probably would have been trashed if I hadn't taken them and re-purposed them!

 

 

This is an old sled that I made into a chalkboard advent sled.  I used a picture frame to make the chalkboards.  Rusty old bells adorn the wire handle.

 

Let the Blogging Begin!

I cannot believe that I haven't been able to share in so long. My life is very complicated and there are many struggles but I am very blessed because God has been there with me every step of the way.  I have continued to find wonderful things to re-purpose but I haven't been able to take the time to post since May. So now I have a stash of pictures of the finished projects that I am going to share.  I will comment on each one but so I can post them all my thoughts may be brief.  I am determined to share the work I have accomplished over the last few months and I hope you enjoy looking at my work.  Feel free to pin my stuff on Pinterest I love when I am surfing and pinning and my stuff comes up!

 

I found this really nice round table for 4.00 and decided to paint it up like a Coke sign.  I made up my graphics on my computer and then traced them on.  I hand painted them and then sealed them with poly coat.  The color looks a little orange but it really came out Coke Read.  This table didn't last long in the shop where I had it which always makes me a happy camper!

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Chair Remake

I got this high chair a long time ago, I don't think it was very old and but I liked it. It was missing the tray but I thought I could resell it "as is" and someone would be interested in it for display. A nice doll or teddy bear I was thinking but I guess I was the only one that thought that.  The chair sat there for 2 years no nibbles so I decided that I would take it home and give it a make-over.

I decided to go all out and went through my stash of goods to see what I could partner up with this great little chair and give it a chance to be a part of modern decor but keep a trace of the vintage charm.

I attached a found mirror and some shutters to the top and an old door top to the chair handles.  Next I attached some boards so I could give it drawers.  It is a very one of a kind piece and it sold right away.  It makes a nice display piece and doesn't take up much room. 

 I added a tin tile I had to the back as a drawer stop and accent.  I painted the whole thing white and sanded it up so it looked worn.  Who can figure, I put a pile of stuff out in the middle of the room and just start hooking it all together and then sell it. What fun. I am thankful that there are people that see things as I do and expand there minds to decorate with the unusual.

Folk Art Cupboard

Well I am going way back to last year in November to post projects that I finished and never got to put on my blog.  I found three of these old unusual shelves in a free pile (I haven't changed since you last heard from me, free is my favorite along with 2.98)  I liked how whoever made these used boards for the shelves that had holes drilled in them.  The holes are not commercially drilled because they are not uniform and you can see were the drill bit jumped on occasion.  All the better for me I love the things that aren't the norm and have flaws that generate character.

I really didn't know what I wanted to do with the units until one morning I decided they should always be together and never separated.  I got out my trusty saw and leveled on of the shelves so I could mount it on the top of another shelf.  Then I assembled the third shelf to use the boards to create the doors.

In this picture you can see that I bolted one shelf to another, I love to attach things together to make a new inspired piece that never would have been in existence had I not decided to rescue it.

Here is the finished project. I painted it old white and stenciled the doors. I also added top shelf I had lying around to give it a bit more height.  I think that it came out nice, I brought it to the shop to sell and listed it as  a "Folk Art Cupboard" and it sold almost immediately.

Its good to be back posting again and sharing all the things that I love to do.  I hope to post several things today and get caught up.  I do have a board on Pinterest that has all my past projects as well so if you want to see more of what I do jump on over there and take a look!  Blessings, Cat.

Dry Sink

Went to a garage sale and bought this neat dry sink for 10 bucks, wow haven't spend over 2.00 in a long time and I have to say it felt good! Sorry as I said in my last post I was so excited to get back to painting that I forgot "before" pictures.  It just had a golden oak stained finish so nothing too radical about this make-over.  I had to make some new doors for this piece but other than that it was in good shape.  I painted it with bonding primer first and then a coat of off white.  I sanded the edges and gave it a coat of poly finish.  I can imagine this as a wonderful display piece filled with prim or shabby chic goods.

Reclaimed Mannequin

I went to the flea market on Memorial Day and found this great mannequin form for 2.00.  It was cracked in several places but I love mannequins and just had to have it. I knew immediately what I was going to do with it. My mind never stops when I am at a flea market the problem is the rest of me can't keep up ( that is why it took a month to get to this project).  I patched up the cracks with some plaster wrap and went on to the next step.

I took an old door panel I had and primed it and then painted it dove grey.

Next I covered the entire mannequin in plaster wrap.

This is the stuff that every kid in school makes a mask out of in art class. It is the best stuff ever. I know I could have made my own plaster wrap but with this piece I wanted the wrapping to give it more stability and stick to the plastic mannequin.  Sometime you have to go the distance and pay the man.  I just ordered some more on line from Jo Ann fabrics. They sent me an email for 50% off one item and free shipping...cha-ching! I got the 5 pound box! Can't wait to make the wings I have planned!

I put a board up the back so I would have something I could screw to the door panel

Here is the finished piece. I really like it. After the plaster wrap dried I covered the mannequin in vintage magazine pages. I used some brown paper for the sash and the gold wings are some I just had on hand from another find. I made the roses out of an old quilt and other fabrics.  The star is an old ornament reflector and I used black tulle to make a skirt.  I put some trim around the waist with pre-made roses. (Can you see the purse to the right of the mannequin? I am working on that and will post it later on).

Paris Hotel Wash Stand

Well this stand is pretty self explanitory.  I had an old wash stand collecting dust in my store room and thought it was time to give a chace to be loved.  I added an old door and there your have it a catch all for more than just dust. I always say you can never have enough old doors laying around waiting to be stenciled and attached to something old. 

Red Neck Wine Glasses

I was wondering how I could make dinner special for my (adult) kids last Wednesday and remembered a post on the net I saw a while back on Red Neck Wine Glasses (Does Red Neck really have to be capitalized? I better ask Jeff Foxworthy).  Anyways I found this tutorial on making these glasses and knew someday I would have to make some for myself they were hawg heaven! http://kraftingwithk.blogspot.com/2011/04/redneck-wine-glasses.html  Go visit this blog Krafting with K is is really cool and this idea was just the ticket for making my enchilada dinner over the top. 

I had some pint jars in the basement that had been sitting there for about 5 years gathering dust so I brought them up and washed just for the occasion.  I guess since they were Red Neck style I could of skipped this step but I did it anyways, then after they were dry I followed the steps in K's blog.  I added the glass jewels cause I may be a Red Neck but I still like my BLING!

I will tell you Mountain Dew never tasted so good coming from a can.  You can take a Red Neck girl out of the country but don't mess with her sophisticated style.