For today’s project I am up-cycling an old gold frame and adding a Redesign with Prima transfer from the Floral Collection. The transfer is applied to a unique background – a piece of one of Dollar Tree’s storage bins.
Cutting apart a Dollar Tree storage bin
The material is kind of a paper/fabric with cardboard in between layers. I cut off a piece to use as background for the transfer.
I cut the cardboard to fit the frame.
I used a glue stick to glue the material onto the cardboard.
I then trimmed the material to the size of the cardboard.
It was time to paint the frame. I mixed a little baking soda with a littler chalk paint to achieve the texture of stone.
It took two coats. On the first coat I used a brush to pounce the paint/baking soda mixture on so I didn’t get brush strokes. For the second coat I used a foam dauber. I love the distressed shading this technique produced. I set it aside to dry well.
Once dry, I gave it two coats of Mod Podge Pearlized Glaze Spray to seal it.
It was then time to apply the transfer to the material I had adhered to the piece of cardboard. I didn’t seal it as it is a decor piece and will not be handled much.
The sheet underneath is a silicone baking sheet I use to work on. Paint does not adhere well to silicone, so it is easy to clean after I finish a project.
I added the transfer to the frame. You could add the glass back in but I did not use the glass.
The final reveal – The material under the transfer looks almost like a piece of linen. It makes a very nice background.
The oak dresser we’ve had for several years in storage is now refurbished. When we bought it, the base literally fell apart as we were loading it, but that mirror was so worth all the work it was going to take to bring it back to life. The mirror is beveled and has just a bit of aged patina.
Researching it, we found the company Estey Furniture produced it in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The original handles were a bail type handle, but were replaced at some point by these Depression knobs from the 1930s.
Danny took the dresser completely apart. He loaded the base into our SUV and took it to a grands babysitting gig and stripped it. A few weeks ago, he loaded it again and when we were babysitting another grand in another city, sanded it, and put it back together.
We had completely forgotten what the mirror looked like. Wow! It changed my whole idea of how I wanted to refinish it. I decided a whitewash look would bring out the grain detail and take away the orangeish look oak raw oak sometimes has. The drawers were not pretty on the inside and sides so I stained the insides and stenciled a pattern on the outside.
This is the difference between the whitewashed look and raw wood after stripping and sanding. After whitewashing everything, I gave the base and mirror 3 coats of water-based Crystal clear Varathane Polyurethane in satin finish and 5 coats on the top of the dresser.
I couldn’t wait to take pics. I used an app called ProKnockOut to remove the mirror reflection and change it out to a new image of a bedroom I found on pixels.com and to cut out the dresser itself and to apply a plain background.
It already has a new home. This piece ranks right up there as one of my favorite pieces we have ever refurbished.
A very early morning project – I can still hear a rooster crowing in the distance and I live in the city limits. Lol
I made these big clay beads for a friend yesterday. They dried quickly in the hot sun. This morning I painted them, dried the paint and added white wax and rubbed it in. I strung them on jute rope. This will still need to fully cure a few more days.
The farmhouse table and chair set we have been working on this week is finished!!
The top, which Danny stripped, sanded and bleached, has 5 thin coats of Varathane crystal clear water based matte polyurethane, yet it looks like nothing is on it. It has character marks but so pretty! The legs are painted white with 3 coats of the polyurethane.
He stripped and sanded the chairs and they also have 3 coats of the polyurethane. The chairs go well with the table.
It was a little difficult taking pics in the middle of the living room at night, but I couldn’t wait to take pics of this cute set! 🙂
Update: I’m still obsessed with the little farmhouse table and chair set we just finished transforming yesterday. Last night I thought it needed a farmhouse centerpiece so this morning I put it together.
I had made a white vase with a design on it some time ago using a clear glass vase. I first sprayed it with a clear matte sealer to help the paint adhere, then put rubber bands around it. I then sprayed it with a frosted spray paint. When dry I removed the rubber bands.
Today I arranged hydreangas I had dried. Some of the blooms on these hydreangas were huge! They are very fragile and need handling with care, but I have had them awhile and they are still beautiful. I love how drying them preserved the beautiful green and pink of the big blooms.
I am so in love with everything about this. I wish I could keep it. However, it takes up quite a bit of space in the middle of my living room and I have nowhere else for it. I would love to put it in a Four Seasons room …. if I had one. 🙂
Relaxing with my crafting. I can truthfully say I am going to be obsessed with white wax for a few days. I started yesterday and have already completed 4 projects.
Project #1 – I updated a duck that already had a lot of detail.
I’ve been seeing many crafters updating vintage ceramic ducks. I bought this one several years ago. I think it was from the ‘80s.
I decided to finally update this one. What a difference a little paint and Briwax Liming Wax makes!
Julie’s Designs and Signs has a great tutorial on painting ducks. I think the ones she painted may even be from the same company, just a different design. I basically followed her tutorial. My paint was different and my wax, but the idea is pretty much the same.
I gave the duck two light coats of our Missouri Limestone Paint Company chalk paint in the color “Trading Post”. I didn’t want heavy coat of paints because I didn’t want to cover up the texture.
First coat2nd coat
Once both coats were thoroughly dry, I covered the duck in white wax. I use the Briwax brand white wax because I’ve had it forever. It works well.
Once the wax was on and pushed into the details well with a Dollar Store stencil brush I have, I took a soft paper towel and wiped it off.
I love the end result!!
Project #2: Mexican pottery transformed to an aged stone look
After using the Briwax Liming Wax on the duck earlier, I started looking around. I have had this piece of Mexican pottery for a long time. The texture of it was perfect. If it wasn’t, from all the videos I’ve been watching, I could easily add some texture to my paint with baking soda to get the rough look.
By painting this piece with our “Missouri Limestone Paint Company “Gray Goose”, letting it dry, then applying the lining wax by dabbing it into the paint, making sure it got onto the crevices with a stencil brush , then wiping it away carefully, I was able to get this aged stone effect.
I thought I’d try some stamps on it after and they worked great.
I added a few more stamps and this one is going on my dining room table. I’m sure I will be making some more aged stone look vases, even if they once started out as glass jars. 🙂
Project #3: An Aged Stone Look Bird Hook
I just had to do this aged stone look again. I knew this little 3 1/2” w x 5” high bird hook would work as it is a textured resin material.
I love how the dark gray paint and Briwax Liming Wax gave it a bluish tint.
Project #4: A Oui Jar transformed into a little aged stone crock
I’m still playing with Briwax Liming Wax. This time I took a plain Oui yogurt jar and made a utensil holder for some cute dessert “sporks”.
I wondered what dark green under the wax would look like. I loved the color it became.
But first I sprayed the Oui jar with a sealer so the paint would adhere well. I added several teaspoons of baking soda to my Missouri Limestone Paint Company “Evening Shade”, a dark green. The baking soda will make the paint nice and thick and grainy.
I painted and dabbed it on thick this time as I wanted a lot of texture that would be like concrete when finished. I let the first coat dry, then applied the second coat.
Once the jar was thoroughly dry, I added the white wax, then wiped it off. Love, love, love this look.
I added a couple of stamps and filled it with the colorful dessert sporks. 🙂
This turned out so well, it will be available, complete with the “sporks”!
Yesterday was a snow day (in public school terms) so as a retired teacher I respected the tradition of doing nothing but play. I discovered a new painting technique in the process.
Earlier I painted plastic eggs to make some egg bunnies, but that’s another tutorial. Basically, I glued them shut, scuffed them up, gave them a coat of chalk paint, dabbed more paint along with picking up at the same time with my brush some Howard’s Chalk-tique
After I made ears for them I decided they needed to be in their own egg cups.
So I painted some peat pots and tried out an idea I’ve had since I bought some plastic puffy stickers at Dollar Tree. My thought was I could glue the rose stickers on, paint over them, then distress them. They had a metallic finish on them and so I was hoping the metallic finish would come through, and Oh….yes it did!!! I found these at Dollar Tree. I also found keys and butterflies and now can’t wait to use them, too..
I used a fast drying glue called Quick Hold. It is made by E6000 but sets up much quicker. It sets in about 45 de ones and cures within 4-6 hours. It has been working great on almost everything I’ve used it on. It was holding well on these attaching to the peat pot but they were a little stiff and the ends kept popping up. I wasn’t concerned as I thought I’d reglue them after I painted over them.
I then painted over them and used a mini heat gun to dry them. An amazing thing happened. The heat must have softened the plastic and did something to the glue (possibly reactivating it) because I was able to easily push down and press them for a few seconds and they stayed put! Not sure why or how, but they lay down now. Just fine!
Then I took a damp towel and rubbed away the paint on the raised part of the roses…..and there was the metallic finish coming to life right before my eyes. To really enhance it I rubbed a bit of clear wax over it and Wow! As you can see in the photo above, my idea worked! I’m so happy!
I could do snow days every day (for awhile anyway. Lol)
While waiting for my visiting grandson to wake up, I strolled around my basement wondering what I could declutter first. Then I happened upon a package of terry cloth coasters called “Thirsty Coasters”.
I bought several packages of these at one point, thinking I could do something with them sometime. Another time I bought several cool little coaster holders. Same. Lol
Forget decluttering for now. I started wondering if I could stencil a design on them. I had a little boho mandala stencil that fit perfectly and I had lots of chalk-style paint from our brand we produce and sell Missouri Limestone Paint Company, so I chose “Gray Goose”.
They stenciled beautifully. Once they have had a good 30 day cure, our paint will be indestructible no matter how many sweaty glasses or hot coffee cups are set on it as the paint becomes part of the fabric.
This will make an awesome Christmas gift – just thinking ahead. 😂
So, I have done a bit of decluttering, too! Lol
I gathered my supplies and my coffee and was ready to begin.
I like using the makeup sponges I get at Dollar Tree for stenciling and small projects. I off load a little of the paint onto the paper plate so that when I stencil, it doesn’t seep under.
The terry cloth took the stenciling beautifully. I love how they turned out!
When a friend contacted me to see if I would like a large bag of Oui yogurt jars, I jumped at the offer. I’d been seeing many different ideas on using them for projects. Better yet, she had already cleaned them and…..she delivered! I couldn’t wait to try adding a transparent color to them!
I am a crafter who likes quick results but still want to produce a quality product as I usually sell my creations. Except this one. The final result reminds me of depression glass and is so beautiful! I loved my project so much I kept it for myself. 😌 I do have more jars, though. 😏
My friend’s jars were already cleaned, but I have read that it can be a little difficult to remove the label and the glue around where the foil lid was. Some have found soaking them for 30 minutes worked. Others report using Goo Gone, and an emery board on the lip will remove stubborn glue there.
I had watched some tutorials that just seemed too time consuming or I know wouldn’t work for me (coloring the inside of the jar, or spray paint, or painting it on are a few techniques that come to mind.)
I have painted glass with a special technique and baked it before with excellent results, but I have also skipped the baking and used what I call my magic finishing spray and the finish becomes as hard as rock and passes the scratch test even before curing. My magic spray is shown in the photo above: Mod Podge Pearlized Sealer. I usually purchase mine on Amazon. It is hard to find in craft stores.
This technique I’m using here has worked for me so well when using chalk style paint on glass (and metal) I thought it should work well with Mod Podge and food coloring. And it did!!!
If your jars are free of glue and have been washed thoroughly, it is time to create some faux depression glass! Here are the supplies I used:
I also used a hair dryer with this technique and some metallic silver paint
Step 1: Wipe down your clean jar with alcohol to make sure there are no oils on it. Try not to touch the surface of the jar with just your fingers now. Use a paper towel to pick it up.
Step 2: I used the dishwasher safe Mod Podge. Again, I usually purchase from Amazon because I’m not close to big craft stores, but this is normally available there. I do not use this type because I think these will be dishwasher safe afterwards. I don’t. I’m not recommending washing them at all. Dust them or use a damp cloth, but avoid hand washing even. These also are used for decoration only, in my opinion, not for food. I use it because it is glossy and I think not as thick or sticky as regular Mod Podge. Any glossy should work, though. As you can see it looks rather opaque, but trust me the glossy dries clear. Matte will not.
Mix your Mod Podge and food coloring. This is tricky because as you can see the color I mixed looks nothing like the jar does when dry. It is a little trial and error. I was going for the look of the teal colored vintage insulators. In the photo I realized I had to much green at first so I added more blue. This color ended up being perfect.
So…. I would suggest you try a couple of tablespoons of Mod Podge and about 4 drops of blue food color. You might not even need any green.
Step 3: I wrapped my hand in a paper towel and put my 4 fingers inside the jar. The reason for doing this is that the paper towel and my fingers made a snug fit and the jar didn’t move on me. Also, it kept my hand from getting too hot when I used the blow dryer to dry my coat of Mod Podge/food color combo.
My trick to get a really neat texture on glass is to daub on what you are applying onto the surface with a makeup sponge (like you are stenciling.) I buy these at Dollar Tree. Best of all, I just throw them away when finished. I just daubed the mixture all around, turning my hand to reach all the jar sides. Don’t worry about the lip. I later daubed some metallic silver on it.
Step 4: I mentioned I was an impatient crafter, so a hair dryer is my best friend. I made passes of heat and shots of cool air, finishing with the cool air and not getting too close to the jar, until I felt it was dry enough to do a second coat. It will be a bit tacky, but that’s ok. (I’m just showing the hair dryer here. I couldn’t take a pic and dry at the same time, so I’m not really drying that close!)
I then applied a 2nd coat. You can see the 2nd coat makes it a bit darker when applying, but once dry you can really see the difference.
Step 5: Use the hair dryer again, getting it as dry as possible. I admit, I rushed it a bit. It was still a bit tacky. But, truthfully, I think Mod Podge always stays a bit tacky. 🤷🏼♀️ You could wait awhile to see if it goes away, or you could be impatient like me and move on to sealing it. 😬
Step 6: Now is the time to seal your jar. I missed taking a photo of this step but I basically turned the jar upside down on a piece of plastic, and sprayed all around with the Mod Podge Pearlized Glaze sealer. Again, don’t worry about the rim. I recommend wearing a mask for this step and have good ventilation. It doesn’t take long for this to dry to the touch. Just a couple of minutes. But then I used the hair dryer on it, too. After about 15 minutes, lightly try the scratch test. Hopefully, you will not get any scratch marks. And it will continue to cure and get harder.
Step 7: Final Step: Use another makeup sponge and daub over the rim lightly with a metallic silver to give it a vintage look as well as a finished look. I use Rustoleum metallic water-based paint I got from Menards. But any will work.
And now for individual photos! I can’t tell you how pretty this is on the table. I used timed battery operated votives that stay on 6 hours and automatically go off and back on again at the same time as I first turned them on. Again, I found these on Amazon.
The tray was a vintage gold Home Interiors mirror. I painted it with the metallic silver and added legs I purchased from Amazon. They are called Woodpeckers and are the 2” size.
I loved doing this so much, I just had to see what the red food coloring would do, so I tried a couple of tablespoons of the Mod Podge and about 4 drops of red food coloring. Beautiful! Although, if doing it again, I would use less drops for an even lighter pink.
Oui French Yogurt jars are the best! Can’t wait to make more projects with these jars!
I’m on a roll with these jars. Here’s a couple more things I’ve made. 🙂
Not a Oui jar, but a pendant shade I added to my light fixture. I used the same method on a clear glass shade.
A Valentine Craft – A Tiny Banner from Dollar Tree Dominoes
I’ve come up with a way to use these flat wooden dominoes from Dollar Tree! I bought some of these thinking there had to be a way to use them in crafts and this morning, it hit me….💡 Tiny banners for tiered trays…..or other ways you can think of.
I made one to see how they would look, but you can see they work great! I just had to share so you could run out and get a supply of these dominoes. They are generally in stock, but I did see you can buy anywhere from 4-32 packages online. You might have to pay shipping to your home for smaller quantities, but for at least 36 ordered, I think you can have them shipped to your store.
These dominoes are raw wood on the back and paper on the front.
The wood is thin Balsa wood, like the little wooden airplanes you put together. I cut this one into a banner shape with scissors. I tried a craft knife later, but strong scissors worked better. I sanded the edges smooth and drilled small holes for the baker’s twine, also from Dollar Tree.
To get the aged wood look, I painted both sides with white chalk-style paint and let dry. Then I watered down a little dark walnut gel stain and used a paper towel to wipe it on and wipe off. I did just a bit of white on top again. Just a bit. Then sanded each one just a bit. The sanding really distressed them nicely. I hadn’t done the final sanding on my sample.
I painted right over the paper. I did both sides, but the back is raw wood so I don’t suppose you’d have to finish it.
I had some hearts I cut from vinyl but you could also use stickers. Dollar Tree did have a lot of those.
If you use generic string or jute twine and removable vinyl, you could easily change out your banner for any season. Stickers might be harder to remove, but maybe not.
Don’t you hate planning meals and grocery lists for those meals, then think? Why did I buy this? What did I plan for meals? When did I plan to make the meals? A Chalkboard clipboard with a template stenciled in paint (or cut from vinyl) lets you fill in the name of the meal with a chalk pen and then wipe it all away, ready for the next week.
I purchased this clipboard from Dollar Tree and painted it with chalkboard paint. It may have come from Dollar Tree or possibly Dollar General.
I used a cut file I purchased with a commercial license from https://dawnnicole.co so I could legally sell the menu planning clipboards I created.
However, if you want to do this for yourself personally, the template is free for that.
I cut out a stencil on my Silhouette machine for this project and stenciled it with our brand of chalk-style paint “Missouri Limestone Paint Company” in the color January. You can also use permanent vinyl.
The first time before using chalk on it, though you need to prime it with a layer of chalk. Then clean it off. This keeps older messages from showing as a ghost image after it is erased.
I may just start planning some meals and buying some groceries regularly now. 😁
SharSum Paint 