Quick Coffee Table Makeover

Last October, I featured my Coffee Table Makeover - well Spring is nearly upon us and after watching numerous HGTV makeover's or remodel rehab shows, I was itching to tackle my coffee table. 

BEFORE

When I did the makeover on my coffee table I didn't seal it - (I know myself, I change my mind too often lol)

But with the weather still biting cold here, I knew I couldn't go outside and do a full sanding down so this was my quick fix which only took 2 days.

First, I wiped off the paint using a simple kitchen scrubber sponge and warn water & soap

I wanted some of the paint to peek through, so I didn't take it all off.

Once I'd gotten the wood to look how I wanted it, I gave it a light sanding done with 220 grit fine.

Now it didn't take all of my wording off - but I wasn't worried as I will be covering it with a

 Picture Frame Tray

I picked up some Minwax Ebony Stain which you can get from any hardware store or even Walmart.

 This pot cost $4.99

Leave it for about 15 minutes for the stain to soak in.

Then, using an old rag - wipe off any left over stain that hasn't been absorbed.

Leave to completely dry overnight.

I used 2 coats of Original Mod Podge Glue to seal it

And here's the end result.

I love how rich it looks in contrast to the Acadia White Paint on the legs of the coffee table. 

Quick Coffee Table Makeover

You can still see peeks of the white paint showing through. Making it look quite Rustic.

To see how I made the Wood Crate, CLICK HERE

& 

To see how I made the Yellow Picture Frame Chalkboard Tray, CLICK HERE

Just add handles to the tray.

.

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Easy Wood Crate

So how many have days where, we seem to either be a couch potato -- reading a good book or catching up on your favorite show OR where were super busy doing numerous household chores, a quick 30 minute workout, as well as squeezing in a couple of crafts.

Well, my day today has been the later. Waking up early may have something to do with it too... And dinner is done and cleaned away - yep early dinner all done before 5pm!!

I will say not everyday is like this - some days are a couch potato day, where I catch up on emails, TRY and write a few words, line or if my girls allow a chapter of my book :)

But today, with the sun shining, I wanted to try my hand at making a crate - which will house some fresh spring flowers.

Before I start, I will say I didn't take pictures of each step -- but here is a  link to another post to see the basic way I made this crate.

I had some spare wood which I cut into:

 4 same sized long pieces for the sides

 2 same sized for ends (pine wood) which were about 1 inch wider than my other end pieces of wood

2 same sized for ends (the smaller dark wood)

4 same sized pine wood for the bottom

2 scrap pieces of wood for the inside to stabilize the crate

2 handles (which I had lying around)

Black Paint Pen

Benjamin Moore, Arcadia White Paint

Nails, Screws & a Hammer

What I did was to make 2 separate boxes using 2 long and 2 shorter pieces of wood. 

Nailing them together.

( Click on this link follow pictures 4 -6 to see how to make the box)

Then setting the one box with the larger sized end piece of wood upside down on top of the other box and using the scrap wood, I nailed them in place.

Once that was made I painted it. It took 3 coats in total.

I didn't even worry about paint blotches or runs - I wanted this to NOT be perfect.

Then I drew on some numbers and used the Black Paint Pen to color them in.

Then I screwed some handles on and popped in some of my favorite spring flowers which has brightened our little living area up.

I LOVE how it turned out 

 Even though I'm not the best carpenter.

Easy Wood Crate

If you want to know how to make the yellow picture frame tray/chalkboard that is under the wooden crate

CLICK HERE

The only thing I did differently was

 add handles and add a cloth backing to it using a Staple Gun

These are the pictures for the yellow Picture Frame Chalkboard Tray 

Look closely at the bottom, you can see the 4 smaller sized wood which made the bottom base.

 I nailed that to the bottom box.

Here you can see the small pots of flowers fit just right. 

And on the inside, you can see the 2 scraps of wood holding the 2 boxes together.

You can make any sized crates

 Just measure the size of your flower pots your gonna use and  off you go. 

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Aztec Indian Healing Clay

Now, I'm not the type of person to spend big bucks at a salon or spa (Being a wife of full time student doesn't allow such perks lol) But being said, there are some things a girl 'MUST' indulge in. One of them is chocolate and the other  are really good body products - that is -- as natural as you can get. None of the added nonsense of chemicals, parabens and chemically added fragrance's.

I for one, can't handle all that gunk!

But I must say, I have been using Aztec Indian Healing Clay1qda for over 2 1/2 years and I absolutely love it.
If using as a face mask it reinvigorates your tired skin. You can use it as a detox bath, which is fabulous too. It has many different ways to be used. Just be warned... When you have applied the clay, as it dries -- you will feel your face has become WARM, PULSE and TIGHTEN!! It feels great.

Now if you plan on doing your face mask when your little ones are running around, beware....They will call you names! Yep name calling! My little one, Carys saw me applying the mask and her eyes popped open wide and gave me this weird look and walked away. Then when I had completely finished applying it... Seren & Carys stood there and in unison said..."ARGH SCARY!" and ran away.

They kept their distance, taking a peek when they thought I wasn't looking, and then to add to my newly scary face, I growled!! And they ran off into their bedroom's screaming!! LOL And when Jason came home, they ran to him saying.."Mammy... Mammy is scary," and Seren added, "Mammy is green."

Jason followed it up with, "Oh, mammy looks scary." So that made them laugh and I sat there for the next 10 minutes, being called, "mammy, scary, green mammy, argh!"

Ah, don't you just gotta love your kids :)

But, today I'm going to show you how easy it is to apply a FACE MASK and after this I will show you how to make up a DETOX BATH (No pics of me in the bath lol) now that would be scary lol.

FACE MASK

 Aztec Healing Clay

Bragg's Organic Apple Cider

Water

Glass or plastic mixing bowl 

Wood or plastic spoon to mix

Use 1 part Clay to 2 parts liquid.

I used 1 part Apple Cider

1 part Water

Any left over face mask - scrap into a glass jar and use a good screw lid and the clay will keep for future face masks.

Mix the Apple Cider & Water together

I used an empty used yogurt pot and a craft wood popsicle stick

Pour the liquid into the clay.  Stir well, now you will get a reaction from the vinegar.

 It will fizzle up. Keep stirring

Till it thickens. 

Now if you want it to be a little thicker, sprinkle a little more clay in.

Apply to your face, I apply it not too thick but thick enough.

 Then leave it dry for about 15 - 20 minutes

 -ARGH... It's the Green Scary Mammy!!

Picture on the left is 10 minutes in

The right picture is 15 minutes.

You can touch to feel if it has dried. 

To remove the mask, just wash your face with warm water and gently wipe off.

Splash your face with cold water to close your pores. Then apply some moisturizer -- I use my homemade Raw Shea Body Butter

After your face mask, your face will feel tight and zingy!!

It will look RED!

Don't fret - the redness will fade, But I wouldn't do this type of mask right before picking the kids up from school, or date night LOL

I might add, my eyebrows are so fair, it looks like I only have half an eyebrow on each side. Plus you won't get many pictures of me sporting a bare face - well this will most likely be the ONLY one LOL

DETOX BATH

2 CUPS EPSOM SALTS

1 CUP APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

1/2 CUP AZTEC HEALING CLAY

5 - 10 DROPS LAVENEDER ESSENTIAL OIL

Mix the Apple Cider Vinegar & Essential Oil in a cup

And measure the salts and clay into a bowl.

Run a hot bath and add the vinegar/oil and then the dry salts and clay and whisk

Watch as the mixture creep and mix through the water.

 It looks like a storm brewing in your bathtub!

Your bath will look like a a very dirty one, grab a book and a big glass of water and soak in your 

DETOX BATH till the water is cool.

Towel dry. 

After the bath you may feel a little worn out. The  best time to do this bath is before bed.

MAKE SURE YOU DRINK WATER.

In the morning you will feel SO much better

AS a side note - I drink a Teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with water every day.

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