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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Christmas Chalk Art

It was finally time to get my Christmas Chalk Art up on my chalkboards.

I love how they turned out. It still amazes me what you can do with a simple piece of sharpened chalk.

Give it a try sometime.

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Chalkboard Picture Frame Art

I'm

 On the

 Chalkboard Art Train..... 

Are you?

After picking up a bundle of cheap wood picture frames from the local, Vincent De-Paul thrift store, I knew exactly what I would turn them into.

 Remove the back and clean.

Paint your glass from the frame with Chalkboard Paint, I used Walmart $8 a tin. Just remember to leave it dry for a good 4 hrs after the 1st coat, and when you give your frame the 2nd coat, paint it in the opposite direction. Once dried leave for a couple of days to dry out completely.

Once it's totally dry, you are going to condition/ghost it. That just means you have to prep it before you use. 

Take your chalk and rub it one way then the other. 

Then eraser it, well.

Here's a before & after pic for you to see the difference.

Next I sprayed the frame black, using Krylon paint and primer. Leave it dry

Then I used some left over paint, and gave it 2 coats.  Laving it dry in between each coat.

Then using a small amount of  Acadia white paint, using kitchen towel I quickly rubbed on the paint, then rubbed the excess off, leaving my frame to look like this- pic below

Once dried I distressed it using steel wool & fine grain sandpaper

Then put your chalkboard glass back into the frame, and re-use your backing and secure.

Next it was time to do some 

CHALK ART!!

First I wrote out what I wanted, using simple stick of chalk.

Then using Bistro Chalk Markers I went over my outlines.

AND THERE YOU HAVE

YOUR VERY OWN 

CHALKBOARD ART

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