Red, White, & Blue Fireplace Mantle

I've been asked about the details of my latest mantle decor, so here goes...

There are quite a few elements that stayed put from the last mantle... The old chippy window, shutters, blue metal milk can, wood cheese box, and wreath were all mentioned in my Easter Mantle post.  

The bunting is made from jute webbing, usually used for furniture reupholstering.  I loved the color and texture and thought it would made a neat bunting, plus it's on $.99 a yard at Hobby Lobby!  I had the jute cording and Fabri-Tac glue. The bunting cost less than $1.50 to make!

I made one flag and then used it as a template for the others.

 Cutting & assembling over coffee ;) 

I used Fabri-Tac to glue the webbing to the just rope.  I got both from Hobby Lobby. 

 

 

The frames are from the Threshold line at Target.  No, I'm not being paid, I just really love about everything from that line.  The larger one looks a little like wainscoting. I found a free printable on pinterest and adjusted the color a bit so it would match my decor a little better.  I cut the flag out and centered it on a piece of burlap just to give it a bit of texture. 

The smaller frame is fan shaped, also from the Threshold line.  I printed off a patriotic star that I made using power point.   

I added some very cheap, like $.99 for the bunch cheap, red geraniums from Michael's, to the cheese box for a pop of red.  
 

A better view of my clearance bird cage.  I really liked the color.  I didn't want to do bright red, white, & blue, but more of a grey, muted blue to go better with my existing home decor. 

I had a hole on the right side, so I took a mason jar from my craft room, tied some ribbon that I had on hand around it, put cream hydrangeas in it, and set it on some books that I had on my book shelves.  
 

The blue birdcage was a $6 Hobby Lobby clearance score.  The dark red berries are also from Hobby Lobby and I believe they were 50% off and only $.99 each (I used 4) and just sort of stuck them in there for some color.

My lazy side it really hoping that this mantle will get me through the 4th of July.  I have the feeling that this summer is going to pass in the blink of an eye.  I still haven't figured out where April and May went.

Do you put patriotic decor up around your home or do you keep it to one area like a mantle or front porch?

Chevron Top Side Table

To date, this side table is one of my favorite pieces.  It now lives in my friend Lauren's house. 

Here is the before pic.  I found this one at my local Estate Sale Store.  It's always hit or miss.  This particular day, I left with 3 tables. Yay!

I have had this table for probably 3 months and just wasn't sure what to do with it.  Sometimes you just have to wait for them to tell you.   No, I'm not crazy! 

The Process...
I painted the whole table with an off white that I made mixing Annie Sloan Chalk Paints in "Pure White" with a small amount of "French Linen" the make the white not so stark, but still pretty white.  Once dry, I made a 2 inch grid on the top of the table.   

Then I started taping the diagonal corner to corner.  THIS PROCESS IS TEDIOUS, BUT SOOOO WORTH IT!  I had lots of help from my littles.   ;)

Then I taped the other way.  I told you... tedious.

Then I took a straight edge and a blade and CAREFULLY & GENTLY cut out the chevron pattern. I did this one in 2 sittings because my kids were bugging me to take them to the park.  :) 

Doing it this way makes a very clean pattern.  I haven't tried using a stencil, but might attempt it after this.  I then painted Annie Sloan "Duck Egg" on top and painted the lower shelves solid duck egg blue. 

I removed the tape once I finished painting, while still wet. carefully.  Make sure to have a place to put your painty, messy tape, like a plastic Walmart bag or something.   

 Once dry, I went to town distressing it.  Then I waxed with Clear Annie Sloan wax and buffed to shine.  This one turned out better than I imagined!

So... Is chevron a short-lived trend or here to stay?  Who out there hast attempted to chevron something in your home?  Any tips?

Linking up here:
http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2013/06/inspire-me-linky-party-15/

Perfect Little Greige Side Table

I might have a new favorite color of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  French Linen.  I'm in love...

Last week, I went to a fantastic estate sale.  I could have easily spent 3 hours there.  The entire upper level of the building was stacked antique furniture.  AMAZING!  Luckily, for my wallet, my hubby kept texting me to see where I was & how much longer.  I only brought home a small pile ;) This was one of my finds.

The top was a little rough. Perfect for painting.

 When using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, you don't need to sand or prime, so a painting I did go.
One nice coat of French Linen.

Then I taped off stripes on the top and painted them a creamy white that I made mixing Annie Sloan "Pure White" with a little bit of French Linen mixed in.

I always have the best luck when I remove the tape when the paint is still wet, just proceed with caution.  I also decided it needed a pop of the creamy white color on the bottom, so I painted the cross braces the same cream color. Then I let it all dry and went to work distressing with 150 grit sandpaper and then 220 to smooth things out. Once smooth, I gave it a couple of coats of Annie Sloan Clear Wax and buffed to shine. 

Some close-ups...

 If only I had a place for this one... ;)

Do you have a favorite "go to" color you usually end up painting things in your home?  I always lean toward grey-based blues and greens.  My husband actually said I wasn't allowed to paint anymore rooms in the house green. We'll see... ;)

I'm linked up here...
Liz Marie Blog

Coral Pink Stenciled Side Table

I found this beauty at an online garage sale.  Isn't she pretty?  Not so much...

I gave her a good sanding and then mixed up some homemade chalk paint using this recipe.  I went with chocolate brown because I planned on doing some distressing and I wanted the dark brown to show through the coral pink.

Then I forgot to take pictures... Sorry :(

I mixed up another batch of chalk paint using coral pink paint instead and gave it one coat and let dry.  Then I used a set of Martha Stewart stencils on the top and the shelf below.  I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in "Pure White" for the stenciling because it was handy.  Then I distressed using 150 grit sandpaper and then 220 grit to smooth it out.  I used Annie Sloan clear wax and then a little of her dark wax in the grooves to make it look aged.  Then another coat of clear on top and buffed with a clean rag.

This table is for sale on my facebook page.

Linking up here:
Remoldelaholic
Liz Marie Blog

My Blissful Space Giveaway!

Check out my friend, Crystal's blog, My Blissful Space... She has great ideas and tips for organizing, home decor, etc. She'll even come organize for you!  Plus, she's doing a great giveaway! Check it out!   
http://www.myblissfulspace.com/2013/05/10000-page-views-and-giveaway.html

Rory's Big Girl Room Makeover

A Pink & Yellow bedroom for my little princess ;)

Eli was only 6 months old when we found out we were expecting Rory.  Talk about a shock happy surprise ;)  Eli was obviously still calling the nursery home...we hadn't had a reason to evict him from his green walls and jungle animal bedding crib.  That was about to change, notice served little man...time to move out!!

We moved Eli to his new room a few months before Rory's arrival. I got lucky and found bedding I loved that was pink and green, which meant I didn't have to paint the nursery walls to convert the gender for our little lady!

Those of you that know me might find it strange that I didn't want to paint... Truth be told, I had just painted the kitchen, entryway, Eli's new room and was starting on the living room (which I finished the week I went into labor) so I had hit my limit for pregnant painting (plus, I'll save pregnancy brain's impact on my color selection process for a humorous post later).

Back to our big-girl bedroom story... Here are the pics I have of nursery after the conversion for Rory's arrival...

Shortly after Rory's 2nd Birthday, we were looking at switching her to a big girl bed.  Our kids are both so tall that we bypassed the toddler bed business and went straight to twin beds for each of them.  I had 2 items that inspired the direction that I took with Rory's room.  The first is this vintage painting that I found on a garage sale.  I just loved all the colors in it. 

The other is this vintage chenille quilt coverlet.  It's insanely pretty.  Pictures don't do it justice.

I had found a vintage chenille quilt, very similar to this one, on ebay.  Sadly, I was out-bid at the last minute.  Grrr! Being the crazy that I am, I contacted the seller and convinced her that I NEEDED another one, so she had another produced in about 10 days and sold it to me.  Yep, I get a little crazy, once I get my mind set on something. 

Rory's favorite color is pink.  Pink anything and everything.
However, I was not about to paint her walls pink.  NO WAY!
Her second favorite color is yellow...and not only can this momma handle yellow, but I had a vision of using yellow to tie the different elements I had found all together.  AND, just in case her love affair with pink is short lived, I'm not over committed to a room that, "looks like it's been hosed down with Pepto-Bismol."

Though I knew I wanted to try a stripe, I wasn't sold on how many stripes I'd be able to stomach.  I didn't want to over-power the room.  However, once I had one wall striped, I knew it added an awesome level of detail, and kept the overall tone of the room young and fun....a few hundred hours later and all four walls were done (striping = tedious, but SO worth it)

The mini-dollhouse bookcase was a moving-sale score.  Just a quick paint update to refresh the color before it took it's place in it's 2nd home.

Leave it to craiglist to inspire a big-girl bed makeover too.  My hubby was a little terrified when the dated, brass headboard showed up in the driveway.  A couple cans of Rust-Oleum, Oil-Rubbed Bronze spray paint, and a can of spray-on polyurethane made quick work of my headboard transformation.  I love the detail of a metal headboard.  It serves as a strong anchor to a very soft, feminine little girl's room...and the color contrasts nicely with the light colors of the room's palette.

Teal Spindle Side Table

I found this gem at a garage sale.  It was beat up, wobbly, and had an awful faux paint job.  Ick!
Here are the before pictures...

 It also had a very dated stamped pattern on the sides.  Even if the pattern could be salvaged (yeah, really not an option for me) one side was missing.....

So... I pulled it all apart and started over.

I pulled the sides off and cut new ones that didn't have a yucky pattern on them (welcome to 2013 Mr. Table) I glued in the new sides and tightened everything back up so it wasn't wobbly.  I primed all the pieces with a dark brown primer, so when I distressed with sandpaper, the brown would show through.  Then I painted them teal. 

  I distressed (150 grit sand paper) and then sanded smooth (220 grit sandpaper) the finish so that it could be waxed.  I used Annie Sloan Clear Wax. 
 

 It is a really pretty shade of teal, but still a little bright for my taste, so I decided to add a little dark wax. I added dark wax to the grooves and corners to give it more of an aged look and it toned down the teal, just enough. 

All Finished!

 

 A little of the brown and red paint peeked through where I distressed it more than planned.  I was trying to avoid this by using the brown primer, but I ended up liking how it looked and distressed it so more red showed through.

A delightful accident.