Just keep scrolling down this page to view each craft project – I don’t know a better way to do this – I’m technologically challenged – if you have any suggestions, please feel free to leave me a comment!
I tried this once before and didn’t get very far so I’m going to try again. I’m going to get back into doing some crafts and I’ll post pics for you of both my successes and my failures (look for more failures – I’m not a good crafter) LOL
June 3, 09 – This first pic is of something I found at a garage sale – it started out as a walnut stained wooden mirror with three cubby holes on the bottom – on the back was a label that said it came from Target and the original price of $70 – but I only paid $12 for it (I’m a thrifty crafter, too) – the closest representation I could find at Target online looks like the piece below — because I forgot to take a picture before I started messing around with it (I told you I’m not good at this)!
The difference is that where the hooks are now there are three cubbies and I’m going to use this to hold incoming bills and mail, stamps, address labels, and outgoing mail. Devoted Spouse kindly hung it up next to the back kitchen door going into the garage coz that’s close to where I hang keys. Here is what it looks like now:
yes that's Devoted Spouse in the mirror!
from different angle
What I did on this was to sand off most of the original finish and then dry brush the piece with an acrylic paint color called Yew. Then I sanded and varnished – DS put the little card holders back on – I made cards and voila it’s done. I couldn’t get a good clear shot of the little cubbies, but the first one has a card in it that I cut out from regular card stock then sponged a dark yellow and w/a calligraphy pen wrote In, the middle cubby says Stamps and the far right cubby says Out. That’s it. My first official craft project for you guys (not counting the Easter egg fiasco I did in a separate blog posting).
Comments and suggestions always welcomed. This sounds like a fun thing to pursue – you tell me what you think!
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June 13, 09 – Here is next project – it’s a child’s school desk chair which I found at a garage sale for $3. I couldn’t pass it up – it’s in really good shape and looks to be oak – I haven’t decided how to refinish it yet – strip it completely and re-stain, or do what I did before and just sand most of it down and dry brush it in a partiuclar paint color. Ideas are always welcomed. I may need Devoted Spouse’s help with sanding this one – sanding is a little hard on my back as it means I have to do an extraordinary amount of bending over — oh wait – I could have Devoted Spouse hoist this up on a sawhorse table for me – yeah, that’s the ticket. Here’s the beginning project. I’ll post pics as I work on it and when it’s done. Wish me luck! UPDATE: Aug 21st – this is on back burner as my back hurts too much to lean over and sand. I’ll get to it, though.
old school desk
August 21 – Can u guess from the following picture what I’m about to do?
Yep – I’m about to start crafting for my 3 Pay it Forward Crafters – I’m looking for inspiration at the moment and took a few things out of the craft cupboard to get some ideas on what to do. Hmmmm… what to make, what to make…
5 Comments
June 4, 2009 at 1:44 am
I love it. How clever to take something so plain and make it uniquely yours. I’m impressed! I think I have a couple of old picture frames that need that paint finish on them. Thanks!
You’re my friend…it could be a macaroni picture and you would say I was clever – all kidding aside, I love the technique of dry brushing any piece of furniture to make it look old and weathered and like the finish has just worn off over time. This didn’t come out quite as good as I wanted – but I’m not embarrassed to hang it on the wall and use it, so I guess that’s okay. Let’s see what I can “ruin” next…
June 16, 2009 at 3:12 am
Why have I not noticed this section of your blog? Cool projects and I can’t wait to see what you do with the school desk. I love making over old things.
Because you don’t pay attention? Nah, it’s because it’s new – it took the place of the boring school stuff, since I dropped my last class and am getting around to finding the courage to tell the school that I’m dropping them, also (just haven’t gotten there yet). I thought I’d try my hand at some crafting – and since I’m such a clutz I didn’t think it would turn people off with that Martha Stewart look – it might show them they, too, can make a mess out of things while having fun at the same time. Like everything else on this blog, it’s just a temporary side trip. The desk is gonna have to wait a little longer til I can get Devoted Spouse to elevate it for me so I don’t have to bend while sanding.
June 30, 2009 at 9:36 am
I love how the first project turned out, really cool! I don’t do well with stuff like this, but then again I am somewhat craft challenged. If it isn’t crocheted, now knitted or cross stitch it isn’t something I can probably handle.
Thanks, it was fun. I want to do the chair, and Devoted Spouse has a table he can put the chair onto so I can reach it to sand it without having to bend, but I’m just not feeling good enough to tackle it yet. I’m gonna hit some needlework while my back continues to settle down a little more. I about killed my back working on the first project.
August 14, 2009 at 3:04 pm
You’re a lot more craftier than I ever could be! But that mirror looks gorgeous!
Thanks sweetie – the mirror was fun – right now the back hurts too much to tackle the chair so I’m working on small crafts, rubber-stamping note cards; cross-stitch projects, a little painting, that type of thing. Check the blog Monday for an interesting Craft Plan…
August 22, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Hello Missy!
Stopping in from Twitter and I love your projects! I’m like you I could while away a few days crafting, its what I do to relax =) Hoping to do that today. Btw love how you redid the mirror, looks perfect with the paint job! Cant wait to see what you do with the chair, pls send me an @ tweet when you post (I’ll be checking your blog anyway but don’t want to miss it!)
Take care; hope your back feels better and GBU!
Hi sweetie – Nice to see ya! Stop by any time. The chair is going to wait a little longer – back hurts too much to bend, plus I have some smaller craft items I need to get done for some blogging buddies. When i finally get to the chair – if it turns out okay, I’ll let u know I promise. Okay, call me dumb, but como se dice en English GBU??? (sorry, my Espanol is a bit rusty). GBU? What am I missing/I’m bad on acronyms and horrid on texting and twittering – I never abbreviate enough! Dumb me.