Spray Paint 101

How to paint a refrigerator

May 11, 2018 by Tanya 11 Comments

Oh friend, I cannot tell you how fun this before and after were.

I always have a running list of things I want when thrifting and junking.

Do you keep a similar list?

Right now mine looks like this (probably pared down due to recent deep cleaning and getting rid of stuff we don’t need)

Good quality white curtains
2 side chairs that need minimum work
Entry way table
Anything that looks remotely close to Ironstone
Pedestal base for new dining room table

There are little things too but those seem to be the items top of mind for upcoming projects.

And, this weekend I was able to take one off the “list” a refrigerator for my office at work! [Read more…]

Filed Under: DIY, How To Save Money, Spray Paint 101

DIY Galvanized Plate Chargers

November 26, 2017 by Tanya 18 Comments

I have always wanted a set of beautiful plate chargers, especially for the holidays.

And, being a thrifty mama I have had a really hard time justifying the price tag to amass enough of these to create a full place setting around our farmhouse table.

I have thought of picking them up at Dollar Tree, and painting them, but I just had not found a paint that looked close enough yet to the look I was going for.

Galvanized steel is kind of my jam right now.

We found a huge vintage galvanized handled tub on a local Facebook buying/selling site for lovers of shabby vintage goodness. I will share it when I am done with the living room for Christmas.

I love it.

And once that galvanized goodness came into the house and waited for the tree to come home from the woods recently, I knew I needed to find a paint that looked as close as possible for my plate chargers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: DIY, Entertaining, Farmhouse Style, Spray Paint 101 Tagged With: DIY, farmhouse, plate chargers, twelveOeight

Thrifted wood garden stool before + after!

February 12, 2017 by Tanya 19 Comments

I am SO excited to share this quick and easy before and after with you today.

Sometimes a dramatic change is simple and does not involve any fancy tools or lengthy amounts of time to complete.

And sometimes…

With a little paint, and some dry time…

A beautiful swan emerges from a dark old piece of furniture that is tired and in need of a refresh.

I found this wooden plant stand/garden stool piece for $9.99 at a little thrift store locally that I have not been to before.

It was nice and solid and initially I thought I would make a padded seat for the top, I love the direction it went once the paint began to dry.

Admittedly, I do paint a lot of things white. But with grey walls and our larger pieces of furniture being fairly dark, a fresh, crisp white gives a space a whole new feel.

I love this Chalky Finish spray paint by Krylon. I used less than one can and it covered over this dark wood very well. [Read more…]

Filed Under: DIY, home decor, Spray Paint 101

Thrift Store Redo: a thrift store chair makeover

September 10, 2015 by Tanya 2 Comments

I am fairly certain I had no dang business thrifting or hitting yard sales this year at all.

Not with the makings of my own thrift store in my garage right now.

But sometimes you have to live on the edge a little, and you see something that strikes a chord (apparently that happens often from the lack of even a decent sized trail to walk in my garage) and you just need too…..

just go for it.

This chair makeover is actually the inspiration behind my home office makeover I am working on right now, I love the mix of the aqua and white fabric against the copper, so pretty!

It was super easy, I began with a sturdy folding metal chair, about 1 yard of stain resistant fabric… [Read more…]

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, home decor, Spray Paint 101, Thrifty Finds

DIY Lamp Makeover Before + After!!

February 26, 2015 by Tanya 3 Comments

I love a good before and after, don’t you?

It’s like watching someone who loves their denim jumpsuits with Birkenstock’s get a whole new look
and wow us all between commercials and in less than an hour!

Miraculous!

Today I thought I would show you the before first.

I have a feeling my girlfriends and I may end up making the yard sale we had last year an annual event.

It was FUN! And, a few people had things they no longer wanted that didn’t happen to sell, so they were
kind enough to pass them along to yours truly.

This lamp was one of those. I’m pretty sure the shade was fine before, but a few months in my garage was
enough to tear the shade apart. So, I searched for a drum shade…ALSO from the garage, so far this is
one thrifty lamp! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, home decor, Spray Paint 101, Thrifty Finds, Thrifty Living

Day 5: How to Clean and Update Those Gross Vent Covers

January 10, 2015 by Tanya 7 Comments

I have to admit, I had not really gotten down and looked at my floor vents until a couple years ago.
Yeah, it was a little gross! But when I did finally check them out their were really dirty and rusty.

And buying beautiful new vent covers (especially for a whole room or home) can get pricey!

But, I have good news for you, beautiful, clean, modern looking floor vents are within your reach
at pennies on the dollar. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Spray Paint 101, Thrifty Living

DIY Vintage Copper Marquee Lights

December 2, 2014 by Tanya 21 Comments

My boys are finally getting their shared room makeover they have been waiting so long for.

Of course I was so excited to show them the first thing I am making for their rooms, their own Marquee letters for their
initials. They weren’t super excited about the copper color, or the lights until it all came together.

Aren’t project always like that?

You are kind of unsure until it comes together, and you are able to stand back and really check it out.
The boys were extremely relieved because the copper paint doesn’t look “pink” after all…not sure when it did, but ok.
And the lights aren’t “girly” but they are cool.

So, it’s kid approved and now everyone else wants one and can’t understand why I haven’t made theirs yet.
Sheesh folks, give a girl some time!
But I was secretly smiling as the positive feedback came in, and then tonight they stood behind me in the dark hallway
watching me shoot the final photos.

Hopefully they love everything else I am doing in their room.
It’s going to be very different than what they have had up until now. I can’t wait!

Ok, here is what I used to make my own DIY Vintage Style Copper Marquee Light on the fly: [Read more…]

Filed Under: craft, DIY, home decor, How To Decorate, Modern Decor, Spray Paint 101

How to make a Chalkboard Globe {Holiday Edition}

November 23, 2014 by Tanya 32 Comments

Do you ever think about how very huge our world is, yet so small at the same time?
We are all part of something so much greater than ourselves, interlinked, equally loved and valued
by our Creator. On a planet so strong yet so delicately balanced to sustain life.

It’s awesome, and wonderful to think about.

Some of us are very far away from loved ones, and it sure is hard to think about not being with
them when we think of carving turkeys or watching our favorite Holiday movies each year.

Looking at this globe each day, knowing we all stare up at the same moon and stars made me feel
that much closer to loved ones miles away.

I picked up this globe for just under $10 at Goodwill recently, and while that’s more than I usually try
to spend on an upcycle, I had this exact project in mind.

And I didn’t want to paint my grandfather’s globe either, so in the cart she went. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Christmas, Craft Ideas, Decorating, DIY, home decor, how to make a chalkboard, how to use chalkboard paint, Spray Paint 101

How to Make a Glitter House Village {the easy way}

November 13, 2014 by Tanya 14 Comments

Does the thought of having a your own Glitter House Village sound wonderful?

It has to me too for a couple years now.

And I have thought about different ways I could construct cardboard glitter houses,
But schedules are busy this time of year, and it’s hard enough to sometimes
balance it all and have time to create and craft too.

Let alone build a teeny village while keeping little hands from grabbing one
and running around like crazy folk.

So the idea went on the back burner until I came across a pretty but kind of faded
Victorian style house at Goodwill. It was $6.99, and I brought it home and left it
on the kitchen counter for a couple days. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Christmas, craft, Craft Ideas, DIY, Dollar Store Projects, Spray Paint 101, Thrifty Finds, Wreaths