Tuesday, June 15, 2010

A Chandelier Redo

I have been wanting to replace the light fixture in my girl's room for a looong time. 



So I headed to my local thrift store and picked up this beauty of a chandelier for $4. No I'm not crazy. I just worked my magic on her. 


First job was to get rid of those ugly orange light covers.  I found five of these mini lampshades at GW for 50 cents each.  I had my daughter paint them white before I covered them in fabric because the brown showed through the fabric.

Next step.  I painted the entire fixture heirloom white.  I didn't like it.  I also decided the plain straight wood piece in the middle just wasn't pretty.  The entire thing looked too plain.  So I went through the $1 box of furniture legs I picked up last summer and decided to replace the middle part of the chandelier with a "fancier" one.  It was the perfect height.  Of course the leg had to be drilled all the way through for the wires to go through.  Then I sprayed the entire thing "Ballet Slipper Pink."


I sewed a pink satin cord cover and added crystal pieces I got at Target after Christmas for 50 cents each.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK!!!


I'm missing a light bulb on the far left (only had four).  So the shade is sitting lower than the rest.



And here is a picture of my girl's room last fall.  I hadn't quite gotten all of the polka dots done around the top.  I picked up the two antique twin beds at a yard sale several years ago for $25 for both.

Now the bedroom is complete with the exception of replacing the door and closet doors.!!!!!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Old Spools and Thrifty Finds


Last year I bought this set of three vintage looking spools at a yardsale for $2.  The colors weren't quite my style so I changed them up a bit yesterday.


Ahhh.  Much better.  I removed the colored yarn and wrapped different sizes of jute around them. They are thanking me.


I picked up these decorative balls at a yard sale last week for $2.  The metal basket was given to me.


At the same yard sale last week I got four of these large baskets for $10.  They fit perfectly on the shelves of my $3 yardsale table.


This shelf sits above the above little table.
I just found this cute topiary at our local thrift store for 50 cents!


I also picked up this vintage mirror and the large suitcase.  I got these at a yardsale free.  The mirror was marked $2 and the suitcase $1.  I bought two large items for $10 each.  My total was $23.  All I had was a $20 so I asked the man if he would take a check or if I should go to the ATM.  He said I could have the mirror and suitcase for free!!!! I guess I can say I now have a collection of vintage suitcases since I have two. Ha.

This little table was $5 at a yardsale.  The finish was in really bad condition so I sanded and painted it and rubbed it down with walnut stain to tone down the white.



One more show and tell.  I made this pillow from a drop cloth and black paint. I'm really liking monograms.

Have a great weekend!!!

I'm linking up with Frugal Friday , Thrifty Treasures , I made it without my hubby, TDC's Before and After Party, and Met Monday

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Headboard Turned Bench


I have been wanting to make a bench using a headboard and footboard for a loooong time.  It was just a matter of finding an inexpensive set that I liked.  I picked up these two pieces at a thriftshop for $10 for both pieces.  I love the simpleness of the design.  There were no side rails with them.  I used scrapwood (tables leaves from an old broken table) we had in the garage to finish it off. My husband helped me put in a few long screws I couldn't get to go in but other than that I did all the cutting, putting together and painting.



Remember the box of furniture legs I got at a yard sale last summer for $1.  I used two of these to make the sides higher.  I thought about using fancier legs but these plain boxy ones match better.
 



After caulking I sprayed a coat of Kilz primer on it yesterday.  I'm still not sure what color I'm going to paint it but I love it already.

Total cost of bench: $10

Edited 5-7-10 to add this pillow
I really wanted to make a cushion for the bench but foam is so expensive. Tonight I had an idea pop into my head. I started with this table runner that I picked up at a yard sale last summer for $1. Someone made it with coordinating fabrics so it is reversible.


It was about a foot longer than the bench so I cut the extra length off and sewed the ruffle back on. A lady from church had given me about 15 yards of quilt batting that she had used as "snow" at her daughter's wedding reception. So I took some, rolled it up, turned my pillowcase inside out and rolled it onto the batting.


Instead of a cushion I have this great reversible pillow that cost me $1!!! The bench with the pillow cost me a grand total of $11 and a few hours work!





I have this beautiful old piece of wood I cut from the middle of the footboard.  It is almost three feet across.  I think I will make a sign to hang on the wall.  Maybe I will paint "Antiques" across it.  So many options.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Armoire Redo and Finds

Check out this sweet little table I picked up last week at my local thrift store.  It was $3.  It had obviously been sitting outside and had a layer of powdery dirt on it.  I brought it home and got out my air compressor and blew the dirt off.  I love the finish on this piece it is already shabby distressed white.



I finally painted this armoire.  I bought it several years ago at a yard sale for $30.  It was unfinished pine in excellent condition.  I painted it a light celery green color.  It really was a pretty color.  (Wish I had a before picture).  But I have been wanting it to be white.  One morning I decided to just do it.  I took the doors off and didn't even take the tv out to paint it.  I distressed the edges and wiped it down with dark walnut stain. I also sprayed the goldish-colored hinges my favorite oil-rubbed-bronze.  My only regret is I wish I had done it sooner.  I'm loving this "new" peice.



Here's a picture of my winter mantel.  I need to make it brighter for spring and summer.  I love the sticks and pheasant feathers though.  I'm really into natural decor items.



I'm loving old keys.  I picked up this set at a craft store for $4.  And turned them into..............

.......these.  I found the door plate at a different craft store for $4.  The keys were more of a brown color so I sprayed them with my ORB paint and they match perfectly now.  I wasn't sure what to do with them until I stumbled upon these two picture frames at my local thrift store for $1 each.  They were new and still had the Target tags on them.  I love the distressed black finish on them.  I cut some scrapbook paper I already had and mod-podged it to a piece of cardboard.  I simply hot glued the iron pieces to the paper.  Both pieces cost me a total of $10.


Remember this mirror with hooks I got from a yard sale for $5?

I gave her a coat of ivory paint, then rubbed her down with stain.  I sprayed the brass hooks ORB.  She now resides by my back door.  I'm hoping to find a bench to put under it so the kids can sit and put on their shoes when they go out to play.

Here's another project I have been procrastinating.  My sis-in-law gave me this vinyl saying over a year ago.  I had my dad cut a board for me and it just sat until now. The other problem was my board was two inches too short.  I could have just bought another board but I didn't want to waste this one or spend the money on a new one.  So I cut the words apart and took out a little space between each word.  Then I had to get it all even.  It turned out perfectly.


I love this font!  I love the impact this makes being four feet long.

Just a couple pictures of fun things I bought.  I got the cute birds nest at Tai Pan on a recent trip to Utah and found the urn for 50 cents at a thrift store the same day.


I also picked up three of these galvanized buckets at Tia Pan.  Maybe they will replace the current decor on my mantel. I can see them filled with white tulips!!!!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Thrift Store End Table Makeover and Beadboard


I picked up these two end tables on Saturday at our local thrift store.  They were only $5 each and are solid wood.

I sanded with course and then fine sand paper.  The painting took a lot longer than I expected.  I applied two coats of Kilz primer and three coats of white semi-gloss paint.  I did all of this with a 2 inch foam brush for a smooth finish.  Then I took my sander to the edges and applied dark walnut stain over the entire piece and  wiped it off.  I sprayed the brass colored handles on the drawers with oil rubbed bronze spray paint.  I picked up the baskets at Michaels today for half off.  I couldn't be happier with the results.  I love them!!!




I was getting tired of the red on the back of my built in shelves so I decided to brighten it up with some bead board. 

It ended up being a bigger project than I expected. I pretty much did this by myself. I am getting good with the skill saw. I went and bought myself a nail gun last week. It was on sale for $20 and I had a coupon for an additional 20% off so I got it for $16!!! I had to chalk all the seams and nail holes.  I  love this new look.


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