From Thrift Store Find to Rustic Monogrammed Serving Board

Using a time-worn cutting board...a Goodwill find...and four baseboard corner posts, I was able to recreate a high end serving board for less than $5.00. Compare that to the $60 Pottery Barn price tag! See my blog for a detailed tutorial.

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/1407522/from-thrift-store-cutting-board-to-rustic-monogrammed-serving-board site

Refinish Ugly Maple Cubboards

Kitchen cupboard makeover

At least I think they are maple.. Who knows, the finish was about all worn off of them.

I wanted a rustic look, but didn't want to spend any money on them, I already had stain, and a wood burner.

Started with this:

Remove doors and clean

Sand and mark out lines, and burn lines into the wood.

I added melted chocolate and black acrylic craft paint and sanded it lightly. I wanted it to look like it had a frame around it and rustic wood.

Last step, used pecan stain with satin finish clear coat in it. 2 coats were added.

I did the cabinets in a two tone finish, satin and flat. See the top accent piece it's finished in flat, the doors in satin.

I did the cabinets in a two tone finish, satin and flat. See the sides and between drawers is finished in flat, the doors in satin.

finished cabinets

finished cabinets

finished

finished

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/14068786/refinish-ugly-maple-cubboards site

5 Reasons Why Sellers Shouldn't Be in their Real Estate Listing Photos - seriously!?!

Click here to check out the photos - eek! http://bit.ly/xqhnbT

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/140686/5-reasons-why-sellers-shouldn-t-be-in-their-real-estate-listing-photos-seriously site

I Love Crocks!

Not those ugly shoes, I'm talking about ceramic crocks and I don't why but I've always just loved them!! Do you??

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/1406209/i-love-crocks site

Changing Table Converted to Desk

The sad time has come for us to retire our changing table. I couldn’t bear to get rid of it, it holds such a special place in my heart as we have used it for both of my babies, now toddlers too big for it. I decided to make it a project and now have a changing table converted to desk, and can keep this sentimental piece going strong with us.

I've seen some fun ideas where people convert their changing tables into drink carts or plant tables for the garden but those aren't really anything we'd actually use so I decided to make it into a desk for our bedroom.

We picked up this generic changing table off of a local yard sale site when we were expecting our first baby. It was in rough shape and stained wood. I sanded it down and painted it white and it has served us well. The front railing isn't shown but I removed it to open up it up and make it more like a desk.

I cut off about 4" on each leg to make it the height I wanted. I also cut down the shelves to be the length I wanted to open it up for a chair to slide in. You'll notice the shelves were not stable at this point, I'll address that later.

I cut down some 1x3 pine boards to fit on the top and raise it up above the front lip. Once they were cut, I set them aside so they wouldn't get paint on them. I tightened all the screws in the legs and filled everything in with wood filler, including the holes from the front railing. Once everything was dry, I sanded it really smooth.

I whipped up some chalk paint using a Valspar paint sample container. You can get the full details over on my blog. My 3 year old son and I painted it together.

I cut 1/4" plywood to make a backing for the shelves to stabilize them. I added some scrap 1x2 pine pieces on the inside of the shelves to help with that as well. I stained the pine boards and then hammered them in with large head nails for a more industrial look. I sanded the edges and roughed everything up. Then I wiped a little stain all over to give it an antique look.

I finished everything off with a clear wax.

The desk top perfectly fits my laptop and printer and is a nice workspace. Plus it makes me smile every time I see it and reminds me of my sweet little babies that are growing way too fast! If you want more details on how I did any of this, pop on over to my blog.

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/14061513/changing-table-converted-to-desk site

Living Room - Before & After

Check out the before & after of our living room!

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/1406127/living-room-before-amp-after site

Vintage Coca-Cola Transfer on the Pillowcase, Easy and Precise

It is easy and precise method to transfer laser print to wood, glass or metal (both need to be painted with acrylic paint first) or fabric - like here. You need special chemistry for cars, gloves to protect your hands,cotton fabric, laser print - if you transfer sentences, need to be reversed like in mirror, scotch tape - or similar one, cotton cosmetic pad and old tea spoon. Ready to see the steps? :)

I used Ikea one. Here are details, I am sure it is available all around the world :)

All the stuff you need is on the picture: a piece of cardboard to put under the fabric (as protection), cotton fabric / ready pillowcase, cotton cosmetic pad, gloves, scotch tape, scissors, laser print and Car Plan Sealed.

Step 1: Put cardboard under the fabric. I used similar one to the pillowcase to show the method.

Step 2: Take your scotch and laser print and put on the fabric, the graphics need to be reversed like in mirror - look to the Coca Cola trade mark.

Put the print on the fabric, use scotch to stick it, but it can not cover the part with the graphic, just blank paper part.

Step 3: Gloves are essential.

Take you Car Plan and put on the cotton cosmetic pad.

Step 4: part by part, sink the print with the cosmetic pad, it dries quickly so to not sink large part.

Step 5. Take tea spoon and gently but firmly rub a teaspoon of moistened part of the print. Your second hand should keep the print to hold it on the right place. continue...

you can check from time to time how it look like under the print.

And that's it.

Your transfer is ready and can be washed in 30 C degrees (86.00 Fahrenheit for my US friends). Enjoy!

Ready pillow case looks like this.

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/14053721/vintage-coca-cola-transfer-on-the-pillowcase-easy-and-precise site