Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Velvet Finishes, however all opinions and multi-colored shelves are 100% mine. Sweet Lord, it is unbelievable to me how much a person who has been on this earth for less than five years can amass. The sheer number of stuffed animals that the Circus owns is unfathomable to me. She has…
velvet finishes
How to Create a Beachy Colored Look with Paint + Video
Last year, I figured out a way to make furniture glazes in any color. When I did that, I had just tried out different colors on spare pieces of trim I had lying around. I always intended to go back and makeover an actual piece of furniture using the method. But then life happened. #bestofintentions…
How to Paint a Plaid Pattern for Lazy Gals
You guys. You guys. You guys. No. Really. You guys. I did something. I did something I wasn’t sure I could do at all. I was sure it would be an utter failure. I held my breath with each brushstroke and removal of FrogTape. But it wasn’t a failure. It. Was. A. WIN. You see…
When in doubt…go polka dots.
I’m ashamed to tell you how long I’ve had this chair sitting in the garage ready to be made over. I’ll say it’s been the better part of a year at the least. It was one of those purchases that went like this:
It’s $10! I can’t pass it up for $10!
But you don’t need it Jenna.
I know that. But it’s $10!!!
You don’t need it.
$10.
Make a smart decision, Jenna.
Ok. I’m buying it.
Said conversation was between myself and myself of course.
So since I really had no clue what to do with it or where I would put it, it just sat for a while. And then one day, I got a wild hair and decided I would attempt to paint the upholstery on this piece rather than re-upholstering it since I’d never tried painting it before. I only had $10 to lose. Here’s how it turned out…
Click the link below to read the rest…
Business in the Front, Party on Top: 70’s Credenza Makeover
I got my first and only Achy Breaky Heart t-shirt at the flea market in the middle of town.
I was seven.
It was heather gray, with a big multi-colored neon heart and multi-colored neon lettering on it.
I was so damn proud of that t-shirt.
Billy Ray Cyrus and his mullet essentially had overnight success with a song that had a terrible title.
It was the age of the achy breaky heart craze.
It wasn’t until I was in at least middle school, if not high school, that I realized the name for Billy Ray Cyrus’ infamous hairstyle was a mullet.
And that people described it as business in the front, party in the back.
Well that’s just what this credenza makeover is. Business in the front, but the party’s up top…
Click the link below to read more…
Using Velvet Finishes Paint in a Paint Sprayer
It’s no secret around here that I have a love for both Velvet Finishes paint and my HomeRight Paint Sprayer.
In fact, last year, when Kellie from Velvet Finishes asked me about trying her paint, one of my first questions was “Can I use it in my paint sprayer?”
Luckily, the answer was yes.
Now if she would have said no, it wouldn’t have been a deal breaker. There are lots of times when the weather isn’t cooperating with me and I can’t use my sprayer or other times when the project is small and it just doesn’t make sense to use the sprayer.
But on big projects and pieces with lots of little details and nooks and crannies, I like to use Velvet Finishes in my paint sprayer to cut down on my work time.
Because I like having more time for cheap beer, ya know?
Am I right or am I right?
Many of you, my dear people, have asked me if you can use Velvet Finishes in a paint sprayer and I’ve said, “Yep, you sure can!” Just like with any other paints though, you do have to thin Velvet Finishes before spraying it.
So here’s how it all works. Even though there’s a lot of writing, its really easy – I promise.
Liquor Cabinet Makeover + Adding Fretwork to Furniture
After a few weeks, I started missing the red.
Not the red on the buffet itself, but just the color red in general.
Apparently, not only are my beloved colors kelly green and navy, but also a bold red.
This really isn’t surprising. Red was always my favorite color growing up. I’m quite sure it became my favorite color when Reba wore the red dress.
If you know the dress I’m talking about, then we are kindred spirits.
So I started hunting for something to paint red.
Que Lorrie Morgan’s Something in Red.
Sorry, I’m not quite sure how this post has become about country music of the 90’s.
And I happened upon my great-grandmother’s china cabinet turned liquor cabinet.
I know. I know. You can judge me. It won’t bother me at all.
It was time for a change.
And not just a change in color, but also a change in location.
When it doubt, use all the colors.
About a month ago, I drug the kid and Bill out of bed early one Saturday morning to go yard saleing.
They hate love it when I do that. 😉
I decided to be nice for once and give Grunt Labor the Saturday morning off.
He usually gives me Saturday mornings off, so it was long overdue.
Before leaving the neighborhood, we had lucked up on a bamboo patio table for a whopping $2 and a 5×7 leopard print rug for only $5.
Luck was on my side that day.
It quickly ended when there was a meltdown with the kid when I refused to buy a creepy $7 FurrRealz Cat.
$7 for a toy cat at a yard sale? And it looked possessed? Move along child, move along.
At the next stop though, we lucked upon a play phone, a beanie baby skunk and a Care Bears nightgown that the kid just had to have.
I’ve never been so happy to see a Ty Beanie Baby in my life.
The meltdown ceased.
As we were about to leave, I spotted something that had potential out of the corner of my eye…
A vintage paper sorter.
I looked at Bill.
His eyes lit up and he said, “We can do something really cool with that.”
He’s starting to think like me.
I asked the man how much for it.
$12.
Oh honey. You must be crazy. I don’t pay $12 for anything at a yard sale unless its furniture. Let me show you the rug I just snagged for $5.
Yep, I’m that girl, y’all.
Sorry not sorry.
We started negotiating.
The Perfect Navy Paint
The part-time child, Bill, and I have formed a sort of business partnership.
I find furniture for him to paint. He paints it. I write about it. We sell it. I get my initial investment back and he keeps the profit for his labor.
When I first presented this idea to him, he was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to jump on the two end tables that I had already picked up.
I even let him pick out the color, which in my opinion is the perfect navy paint…
Mid-Century Modern Lamp Makeover (A.K.A. I Dream of Jeannie Lamp)
I watched reruns of I Dream of Jeannie when I was a kid. It wasn’t one of my favorites, but I thought Barbara Eden was so pretty. And while Larry Hagman will always always always be J.R. Ewing in my mind, he was still pretty great in I Dream of Jeannie.
Well over a year ago, I found a lamp that screamed “I Dream of Jeannie” at a yard sale.
It was $2.
It came home with me.
And as most things do around here, it sat for a while until I had a great idea for it.
And finally I did.
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen this image where I asked YOU to tell me what to do with the lamp…
Glamorous Dresser Makeover
Have I told you that my dad claims the title of “Rain on a Tin Roof Middle Tennessee Marketing Manager?”
I’m not kidding.
He even signs his emails to me that way.
And he hangs my business cards at the post office.
And tells all his friends about me.
And the people he works with.
I’m sure they loathe me by now.
One of his co-workers, Shannon, (who is forced to work right beside him – poor girl), offered me a dresser she had in her garage. Thanks, Shannon!
Seeing as I never turn down free furniture, I went and picked it up.
In my not-so-big SUV.
With my dad, the kid, and Will.
That was a tight squeeze fun ride home.
It was well worth it though for this glamorous dresser makeover.
Color Coded Organization
Let’s get one thing clear.
I am not an organization guru.
Heck, I’m not really a guru of any sorts. I just fly my freak flag and do what works.
I have my own weird methods for organizing and storing stuff.
For example, the kid has three different boxes in her room for small toys.
One holds things that could potentially be living: plastic dinosaurs, My Little Ponies, Smurf figurines, Little People, California Raisin figurines, etc.
I don’t know where I come up with this stuff either.
Or why I consider Smurfs and California Raisins to be potentially living things.
Another box holds non-potential living things: wooden blocks and plastic easter eggs.
I know, it makes no sense.
And the last box holds paper items: stickers and things to write on.
Shocking. One box actually makes sense.
See what I mean when I say that I do what works for me?
I knew you would get me – you’re my people.
This is my latest “what works for me” organizing method:
Color Coded Organization
And shockingly, this may actually make sense to more people than myself.
The No Priming, No Topcoat, Way to Paint (Seriously, I’m not even kidding.)
Let’s be honest about a couple things:
1. I’m lazy on occasion.
2. I’m impatient.
How does this effect my furniture makeovers?
I hate having to prime a piece before I can put some glorious color on it.
Hate it.
I need instant gratification.
Anyone else?
And when the color is finally on, I can barely wait to get the piece back in its place.
Oh, but wait….it needs a topcoat.
That means I have to wait more.
Did I mention I was impatient?
Did I also mention I found a solution for this problem?
Well, not a solution for being lazy and impatient, but a solution for the priming and top coating.
There is a way to paint that requires no priming and no top coating.
Boom.
World altered.
