Dresser Before and After

I so wish I could take credit for this furniture transformation.  This past week I have been selling furniture online for a friend.  I posted a dresser and a woman named Liz snatched it up right away.  As a hobby and side gig she refinished old furniture.  She picked up the dresser Sunday afternoon and by Tuesday morning she sent me a picture of the after.

 

IT.  IS.  BEAUTIFUL.

 

 

RIGHT?!? 

 

I can't even believe how beautiful it turned out and how quickly she works!  Seriously impressive.  I knew you guys would be interested in a little furniture inspiration. 

 

It appears that she sanded the top and gave it a coat of beautiful stain to bring out those beautiful wood tones.  (The scroll part in the pic is actually another piece of furniture and isn't part of the dresser.) The brassy hardware all got a coat of paint.  The dresser itself was painted in white with a glaze over top.  I want it back now!!

 

If you're local to the Birmingham area you can sometimes find Liz's pieces posted on Facebook at Mountain Brook Trading and Resale 280.

 

Do you guys refinish furniture?  I'm really wanting to get into it.  What are your favorite techniques?  What do you use to paint - chalk paint, spray paint, glaze, stain?  I'd love to hear your tips and tricks!  Also feel free to link any before and afters you have in the comments.  I LOVE before and afters!

 

 

**UPDATE:  Liz shared with me her color selections in case you want to recreate the look.  It was a custom mix cream , and glazed with an aged bronze glaze. Hardware was painted in hammered bronze

Graduation Crafts! Diploma Cover Scrapbook

Hey, hey, hey! It's graduation time!  There's nothing like the feeling of letting all those school burdens go and feeling that sense of accomplishment.  Plus, it makes me want to sing School's Out by Alice Cooper and who doesn't love that song?  Nobody, that's who, because that song is awesome.

Johnny Boy and I got married our Junior year of college so we spent our Senior year and our first year of marriage enjoying date nights at the library.  Oh yeah, keepin' the romance alive.  Nothing says love like a 1,000 page science textbook.  We graduated Spring of 2006 from BYU-Idaho, John with a bachelor degree in Chemistry and me with a bachelor degree in Geology and Earth Science.  Nerds.  You can say it.  We know. 

John's parents were generous and bought us nice frames for our diplomas which left us with these empty diploma covers.  You know I wasn't going to let that go to waste.

The cover is a nice pleather and satin bound cover with our university stamped in silver on the front.  This isn't a piece of junk {I mean I paid thousands of dollars and years of my life to get it} and it had a greater purpose than just tossing it.

So I added a few scrapbook stickers and pictures from our big day and The Diploma Cover Scrapbook was born.

This scrapbook is John's.  Mine is basically the same.  Just with a few more pictures of my parents.

I also had these cute little diplomas that I stuck in there.  You can buy a similar one HERE.  If you don't frame your original diploma you could still keep it in the cover and just scrapbook the left cover.  Lot's of options here.

 

The scrapbook is nice and compact and fits on my bookshelf but I can also take it out every spring to remember the accomplishments that we achieved and look at how cute we look in black robes and cardboard hats pre-children.

 

 

Happy Graduation to All You Grads! 

 

 

 

Feel free to turn this post into a little graduation brag board - Did your baby graduate Kindergarden, High School, College?  Give a shout out to your High School {Reed High class of 2000!} or did you finally pass all your classes and get that higher degree?  Whatever it is, y'all have worked hard so be sure to brag about it below in the comments!  

 

 

Frosty Potter - The Snowman Who Lived

Y'all.

Things went crazy today in Alabama. It snowed! It's snowed here a couple of times before {less than once a year} but you Northerners would probably call it frost or a dusting of snow.

No, today was serious snow. When it snows down here everything shuts down completely. No one dares to drive because there are so many hills and no one knows what to do. So Southerners do what we always do when "severe weather" strikes - stock up on bread and milk and hole up in our homes until it goes away and gets warm again.

But I was brave and I tried to find winter clothes for us {I ended up in canvas shoes with no socks} and Maggie and I got creative and built the world's greatest snowman.

So without further ado, I'd like to offer you greetings from Alabama, The Cutts Family and Frosty Potter - The Snowman Who Lived!!

From Sack to Sweet - shirt refashion

Want to know why my kids are so smiley???

Because mommy just made them new shirts and they are so excited!

Just kidding.

They couldn't care less. 

I told them that if they smiled I'd take them out to lunch.

A mom's gotta' to what a mom's gotta' do.

Even though they are not excited about clothing refashions it doesn't mean mom isn't!

I got this fabric gift bag from a friend a while ago.  It was what inspired me to make reusable gift bags like the one I did HERE.  I always loved the fabric and it was too hard for me to give it away.  So.... I did the only thing I know how, and I refashioned it into a cute new top for the Magster.

See?  Not interested in taking pictures at all. 

Why would she be, when there are bugs to look at?

"Ugh.  Mom!  Enough already!"

Anyone else have a 4 year old teenager?

How it was done:

The insides had French seams so I left those alone.  I cut off the bottom of the bag to give it a straight edge.  This gave me a nice little tube of fabric.

 I then cut a curve for the sleeves.  I was just guessing at this point and I made the sleeve scoop a little too severe.  I ended up cutting off about an inch from the top.  Using a shirt or tank top to guide you may help make sure proportions are right the first time around.

I then folded down the top of the shirt and sewed a casing for the ribbon to go. 

For the bottom, I attached a red ruffle from some scraps in my bin.

This was a great repurposing project for me but you certainly could do this with just regular fabric and ribbon.  It's just a shorter version of a pillowcase dress with a ruffle on the bottom.

Go check out your stash and repurpose something today!  It's a lot of fun!

Rubber Dipped Vases {Tutorial}

Are you guys ready for the simplest project ever?

Today I'm going to tell you how to make rubber dipped vases. 

I know it sounds weird.  Rubber?  Well... yeah.  From pictures, it looks like it could be dipped in paint but it's actually rubber.  The rubber gives a unique texture, feel and security.  It won't chip off, fade or crack like paint would and would also repel moisture.  Plus, it's just cool to work with new materials.

My dear friend Mary was cleaning house and gave me the teeny little vases and the rubber so I thought it was fitting to put them together.  I used them as part of my Ombre Ambiance table setting {though technically they aren't ombre} and I liked how they added to the table without overwhelming it. 

So here's how to make your own rubber dipped vases:

SUPPLIES:

- Plasti Dip

- Vases

- Disposable bowl or cup

- Stir stick or plastic spoon

Plasti-Dip Create Your Color

First, let me explain what Plasti Dip is.  The men in your life have probably already heard of it.  It's rubber coating that is used for coating the handles of tools.  You can purchase it at most hardware stores in the paint section.  It comes in a mini paint can and costs between $10 - $20 a can though you certainly may find it for less.  A little goes a long way.  The most common color that it comes in is black {that's all they had at Lowe's.} but they have a new product called Create Your Color which Mary found here on Amazon.  The rubber in the can came clear and I simply mixed the supplied colors until I got the color I wanted.  The rubber is liquid in the can but firms up once dried.  I still have a lot of rubber left and can't wait to get started on more projects.   {P.S. this post isn't sponsored by Plasti Dip I just thought I would keep you informed on the product.}

TUTORIAL:

Step 1:  In a well ventilated area, open your can of Plasti Dip and pour desired amount into bowl.  Mix in colors until you reach your desired color.

Step 2:  Dip vase bottom into rubber mixture slowly according to instructions on can.

Step 3:  Allow any extra rubber to drip off and let dry.  Repeat process if you want additional coats.

I really love the charm these teeny glass vases now have.

Now it's time to scour the house for more things that should be rubberized!  Can you imagine the possibilities?

Ombre Ambiance

So if you've been following along these past few weeks you may be saying to yourself, "Where is Alicia's post about voting for So You Think You're Crafty this week?"

Well, I'm here to tell you... sad day... it's over.
Done-zo. Ka-putz.  I was voted off the island.  Whatever you call it, I was eliminated.

I'm left scratching my head on where I went so wrong this week.  I had no idea I had such a fail on my hands.  I really loved my project but to each her own I guess.  My mom suspects that it could be that the ombre dying of the table cloth didn't translate as well on camera.  It's entirely possible.  I guess I just have to chalk it up to the fact that I had fierce competition and someone had to go last week so why not me?  I'm sad to leave the competition and had a great time.  I'll enjoy following along and cheering on my fellow competitors.

The theme was ombre so I gussied up some of the things that were just blah and tried to give them a little wow factor.  Here's my entry but come back tomorrow and the next day for tutorials on the paint technique I used as well as the rubber dipped vases.

Using items I already had at home, I created a nice little ombre table scape.  Except for the bowls & forks, I made everything you see here, including the table.  But we can just focus on the ombre.  For the ombre theme I dyed some vintage fabric that I sewed into a table cloth and accented with some rubber dipped mini vases.  I spray painted a Chinese lantern left over from my wedding in two tones of blue and also painted the handles of my salad tongs to match. 

I used several shades of blue to create a nice, tranquil vibe.  Perfect for enjoying my beautiful backyard.

Thank you to all who supported me in this competition and continue to support me through this blog.  You guys make me feel like a winner!  {I fully recognize the cheesiness of that last statement but it's true.}

The good news is, now that I'm out I have lots more time to dedicate to The Creative Vault and re-opening my shop for the first time in 3 years.  That should be fun.  

Oh yeah... and I may have a fun Harry Potter Week in store too so stay tuned!

Neon & Navy Pool Bags

 Here is my project for SoYou Think You're Crafty's last weeks Summer Bounty theme.  I love these bags especially since they have been so useful at the pool.  I had some tough competition though and was nearly eliminated!  Let's hope that never happens again!  This weeks theme is Ombre.  So head on over and vote for your favorite.  Hope it's mine!

__________________________________________________________



Neon.  Navy.  Stripes.  Chevron.

The only thing hotter this summer is the weather!

Oh wait for it... all these pool bags only cost $2.  Now that's a HOT deal!

I picked up a navy striped canvas shower curtain from the thrift store for $2 and got to work on making essential pool bags for summer.  The result was 4 bags and a tag to keep all of our pool gear in check. All edges are surged for a finished look and hot pink thread accents the bags throughout.  With accents of neon green and shabby chic hot pink chevrons, simple bags become fun and fabulous!

Duffle:  A repurposed hot pink zipper closes the pleated bag.  On a strap are decorative chevron stitches in hot pink and 3 large chevrons line the front.

Tag:  A simple fabric tag tied with jute, hangs with a clear vinyl cover to keep our pool card within easy reach as we check in.

Clutch:  This clutch is closed using the elastic that comes when you buy a new pair of kids shoes and a bright green large button.

Large Duffle:  A large round bottomed bag.  Using the existing grommets from the shower curtain I strung through some neon green ribbon to use as the bag closure.  The bag also has a shoulder strap for easy carrying which is accented with hot pink chevron stitches all the way down.

Wet Suit Bag:  This bag is made with a piece of table cloth vinyl and uses a thinner version of the neon green ribbon as its drawstring enclosure.

While at the pool taking photos these fun bags had many admirers and offers to purchase the bags but no sale.  These babies are all mine and I know they're going to get lots of use this summer!  

It's nice when useful and fashionable meet!

  

Now...  who wants to go swimming?!?!

DIY Play Parachute

It's another week of voting over at So You Think You're Crafty.  The theme this week is Summer Bounty.  Feel free to head on over and vote for your favorite!

In the mean time - here's my project from last week.

A  PARACHUTE!!!!!

Do you remember how awesome these things are?



It's pretty common knowledge that the two best days in Elementary School were:

1.  Pizza Friday's.

2.  When the teacher pulled out the parachute.

So let's time warp back to the good ol' days with a little basic math...

That's right... 1+1= 1 super fun new 7 foot wide parachute to play with anytime we want!  No more waiting for Presidential Physical Fitness Day to parachute to our hearts content!

The kids think it's mom's best repurposed project ever. 

And THAT is how fun is born.

Craft Fail: How not to dye a paper lantern

I had this nice paper lantern left over from our wedding.  Over the years, it had yellowed and wasn't so nice. Of course being the DIY genius that I am I knew just what to do!

I decided that I should dye it to update its look and breathe new life into it!  Perfect!

I prepared some fabric dye and while holding the lantern over a bowl and slowly and carefully began to pour the dye over the lantern.  It worked!  It created a beautiful shade of grey which would go so well in my living room.

Okay, now here's the part where the word genius beings to get air quotes.  SO...  being the "DIY genius" that I am I took the lantern outside and opened it up so it could dry quickly and evenly.  Opening it up tore that wet delicate tissue and the entire lantern exploded {literally} onto a mess of little wire coils.  It was like opening up a can of trick peanuts and having springy snakes pop in your face.  

There may have been screaming.

And that my friends is How NOT to Dye a Paper Lantern.

Quilted Stationary

Today starts a new week of voting at So You Think You're Crafty.  The theme this week is rpurposed crafts.  So head on over and vote for yours truly {or whichever you like best}.  I can't tell which is mine just know that it's awesome.  Haha! 

Last weeks theme for the competition was scraps so I dug into my scrap hoard and came up with some

Quilted Stationary!

I really love to sew on paper and fabric gives a quality and texture that even the cutest scrapbook paper paper can't.  Before sewing, I secured the fabric to the paper with a gule stick so really this can be a no sew project as well.

Quilt Block Card:  This was an extra quilt block that never got used so I stitched it to a square card.  For the envelope I attached some of the leftover fabric from the block to the inside.  It's complimentary to the card and adds a nice little surprise.

Nautical/Americana:  For these I dug into my fabric, notions and paper scrap bins as well as the recycle.  The anchor card design is made from a fabric background with a fabric anchor appliqued with gold thread.  The flag card is a combination of fabric, red ribbon, white trim and a paper star.  The "freedom" card uses a combination of fabric, trim, paper and even uses the red plastic cover that they use to cover the tray of Cuties oranges at the grocery store.

Bright & Bold Birthday: For the balloon cards I used some black and white gingham fabric and attached it to bright cards by playing around with the different fun and decorative stitches on my machine with hot pink thread.  I then cut out a stencil in vinyl and painted a neon balloon on each one.  For the bunting cards I made teeny tiny flags and attached the tops using a straight stitch and added a birthday greeting.

So there you have it.  A fun and useful way to use up those scraps you've been hoarding!