Decoupaged Side Table

Okay, so I am pretty bummed out that I didn't think to take a before OR in progress photo of this side table, it was really beat up and had seen better days for sure! I had it in my basement for about a year and a half, at first I had sanded it and stained it but I still didn't like the way it turned out. I've wanted to try decoupaging ever since I'd heard of it and figured this was a nice small piece to start off with. I found a black and white floral print drawer liner at Dollar Tree that I bought a few rolls of that I never got around to using. I thought, how cool would it be to use that for the top and black laquer spray paint for the rest? I primed it, sprayed it, then used a couple of coats of Minwax Polycrylic to protect it. It came out pretty nice!

Rocking Chair Facelift

I recently moved and there was a lot of random furniture in our basement. One of them was this rocking chair that my boyfriend wanted to throw out:

I didn't have to prime it because it was already painted white, but it was just dirty looking! I had some left over spray paint from the half table I painted but I didn't want it to be all one color. I sprayed the majority blue and used grey as a contrast color for the backboard and side spindles. I also picked up some stencils at Wal*Mart and put a brocade in the middle of the backboard.

Book Page Centerpiece

I love this! I've seen the the book wreaths but I've yet to see a centerpiece done. How adorable would this be for a book club meet?

So what I did first was buy a half ball foam form, be aware of the size of your table. I bought a 5 inch half ball at the store for $3.00 because I have a smaller table. Remember it will get larger once you start adding the paper.

I live right next to a bookstore, so I went over and bought the first fifty cent used book that I could find. I wanted the pages to have the yellowy tinge to it, but if you'd rather have it more white I say go for it!

Next you can cut a circle out of construction paper and glue it to the back of your foam form as to not get dust all over your table! I used a glue gun for this project. Then I started to rip out the pages of my book. Get a good size pile going, and then rip them in half, like above. Then you take the paper, put your finger in the middle and ruffle up the sides. Once it's all scrunched up, glue the bottom to your foam. Add each piece close to the last so you can't see any of the foam!

And here's the finished product!

Vintage Half Table & Candelabra Project

I went to an undercover flea market over the weekend and picked up a sweet find: A vintage half table that was only $10! There were marks on the wood which was a bit too dark and dreary for me anyway, but I knew I could do something with it.

My inspiration was a dresser at a store called Forever 21 in the Maine Mall. It's an elaborately carved piece that someone spray painted turquoise and I LOVED it. I looked around online and figured out how to get started. 

First I sanded down the rough parts, I sanded by hand-I didn't want to buy a sander and break the bank just for a little table. Then I primed it with some Valspar primer that I bought from Lowes. Note: Start out with your piece upside down, prime that, let it dry, THEN flip it over and prime the top. I started on the top and flipped it over too early and I had to start the process over! (Don't judge I'm a novice at spray painting!!!)

Next, I got out my spray paint, also Valspar. It's called Exotic Sea and it's Gloss. I don't like the look of Satins, I feel like they give the furniture no life! I let it dry COMPLETELY between flipping and I did two coats.

Then I glazed it, using Behr faux glaze, which you have to mix with another color. I bought Glidden Interior Semi-Glaze in Seal Grey. I mixed them at the proper ratio and then painted it on the table in small sections letting it sit for a minute, then removing the bulk with a wet cloth and leaving little spots here and there in cracks to add the aging effect.

And here it is all dry in my home!

Oh, almost forgot! I bought an Iron Candelabra at the same shop for $4. It was already white, so I just did the same exact painting process (minus priming) to match and put in on a book shelf on the opposite side of the room. So cute!

Find a brooch that you love but would never wear?

Okay, so I always see very cool pieces of jewelry that I love, but could never see myself wear. Especially  brooches, who wears those anymore? I recently found a cameo brooch at a thrift shop that was only $1 so I knew I had to get it. Once I had it home I thought of the easiest solution: Make it into a magnet! SUPER easy and fast! All you have to do is pry off the hardware and buy some magnets at a craft store and superglue one on! Now that I've made one I can't wait to go back and pick out another brooch. They look awesome on the fridge!