Here’s a helpful
post on how to tie a scarf:
To see the full
post, click below:
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Let's Make It: Anthro Knock Off of Pernilla Necklace
Let's Make
It: Anthro Knock Off of Pernilla Necklace
Flamingo Toes,have I told you how much I love that name?
Anyway, she makes the most incredible, well...
everything!
Today, she has posted her copycat of the Anthro Pernilla necklace,
and I, for one, am loving it!
I love jewelry but hate to pay what it costs, and this baby, the Anthro Pernilla
is $189!
Crazy, I tell you!
But, we have wonderful people like this,
teach us how to make affordable pieces!
to see the full tutorial, click
below:
Anthro Knock Off of Pernilla Necklace
Please grab
a featured button.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
How To: Prevent & Get Rid of Weevels
How To: Prevent & Get Rid of Weevels
YUK.
sorry for the most disgusting post topic ever.
But, lots of people get weevils.
You can even bring them in from the grocery store.
YUK.
oops. I already said that, didn't I?
An ounce of prevention...
to see the full tutorial, click below:
Friday, February 4, 2011
Spray Paint 101
Spray painting is the technique we utilize most on our
furniture re-do’s. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share what works and
what doesn’t:
Why Spray Paint? Why we choose to use spray paint:
First because, as inexperienced wanna-be furniture
rehabbers, I contacted Kathy at Creative Home Expressions who shared tips with
us. Second, through trial and error, we
found that spray gave the most even coverage (if applied correctly) while
brushing almost always leaves brush marks. It is our opinion that spray paint
provides a more professional finish. Additionally, spray painting takes much
less time. Note: At this time we do use
spray cans. Although we have a sprayer, we haven’t yet done a large piece (this
is forthcoming as I have been getting some GREAT deals!), therefore we have yet
to pull this out and practice.
Cost Effective: It is our opinion that spraying is much more cost effective than brushing because of the time involved as well as how much paint it would take to brush and try not to leave marks.
Cost Effective: It is our opinion that spraying is much more cost effective than brushing because of the time involved as well as how much paint it would take to brush and try not to leave marks.
Our Choice Of Paint: We ONLY use Valspar spray paints. Even without a clear coat their paint coverage and finished look is amazing! Never, ever buy the el-cheapo cans. You will get what you pay for.
High Gloss, Semi-Gloss & Flat:It depends on your project but we generally choose semi-gloss. This is the look we like and we also find it more durable with children.
Prime, Prime, Everywhere a Prime: Do we prime? Yes! You will get better coverage and better overall results.
Sand?Yes, we always do at least a minimum sanding. By this I mean
we lightly rough up the surface to give the primer somewhere to stick. We use
220 grit sandpaper. If you don’t sand, you run the risk of peeling and not
sticking.
Color Choices:This is an individual choice, but for use we like: White Ivory, Black, Blue, and Gray. They also have better coverage.
Paint runs:To avoid runs in your spray paint, apply thin coats of the spray paint. Spraying too much on will cause the paint to run. Next time we paint, we hope to do a video tutorial showing our technique. If we do get a run in the paint, we lightly sand that spot and paint another coat.
Where to spray? We spray in a workroom and have sprayed in the garage. Doing your painting inside allows you to control your environment (temperature, etc). We cover our spray area in plastic to prevent overspray on other areas. Sometimes there is still some overspray. Please keep that in mind when you start spraying.
Do you spray outside?Hardly ever and it is from personal experience we no longer do this. There are two main reasons: First, we did so and it was ruined due to sun and heat. It caused the paint to bubble. We had to sand it all down and start from scratch. Time and money waster. The other reason is the bugs. We can get a piece finished and see where a bug flew in. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to see a painted bug carcass in my work.
Other Tips:
Spray in a well ventilated area or wear a mask.
Buy quality paint!
Spray in a well ventilated area or wear a mask.
Buy quality paint!
Step by step
It's easy to create a beautiful, durable finish. All you need to do is follow these simple steps.
Note that some projects will require even fewer steps - not all objects will require sanding and priming.
Monday, January 10, 2011
On The Cheap- Easy Budget Transformations: Ditch Your Dish Soap Bottle
Want a
quick and easy budget transformation that has instant impact? Ditch your dish soap
(and any other cleaners or hand soap) bottles on your kitchen sink! This is
extremely budget friendly, coming in as low as $1. Often the dollar store
carries olive oil bottles that can be simply filled with your favorite soaps
and placed back on the counter.
Look around
with a creative eye and you are sure to find something unique that will look
great on your counter, like these inspirations found on the net:
This makeover is instant and can be very inexpensive, as well as allowing you to buy soap in bulk (or even make your own soaps!) without having to lug out a giant jug of soap every time you need to wash dishes.
P.S. Lisa asked "I wonder where you can buy those stoppers????"
These are available at kitchen supply stores, Target, Walmart and Bed,Bath, & Beyond.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
How To Paint Furniture
You are probably here because you have seen many bloggers painted furniture projects and want to get your feet wet, so to speak. No matter the piece, whether it be a chair, a dresser, or any other wooden piece, the steps are pretty much the same. For example, take this curio cabinet that we painted (which used to be a whitish wood tone):
We wanted to take this outdated curio and bring it up to date. Sprucing it up with a fresh coat of black paint took them from thrift store (picked up at Goodwill Boutique) to outstanding display, in just a few hours.
How can you do this to? Simple:
1- What type of surface are you working with on the piece that you’d like to paint? If it is stained and you are going to paint, you only need to buff down slightly with100 grit sandpaper. Unless it has layers and layers of paint that you want to remove, we sand enough to rough the surface to give the paint something to 'stick' to. If it is unfinished wood or flat paint, you can skip the sandpaper, however we always choose to slightly sand for a better finish. After the sanding, be sure to wipe down the piece removing dust.
2-Using oil-based primer will ensure that the paint sticks to the surface and nothing unforeseen comes through and ruins your new finish. We choose spray because a brush tends to leave brush marks. Spray the entire piece with a light hand. Your spray should be light strokes as to not have runs. Your coat of primer doesn’t have to be perfectly even (it usually sprays in an uneven look). As long as you have covered the entire piece is well, with no glops and runs, you should be ready for the next step once it dries..
3- Using a high quality spray paint, apply thin, even coats of paint (semi-gloss makes a nice wipe-able and durable surface). Always be sure to wait until the first coat of paint is thoroughly dry before applying a second coat. This thin application is the key to avoiding glops and runs for a smooth finish.
5- I know it's hard once you see the beautiful piece, but you must wait a full 48 hours or more to place objects in or on your newly painted piece to avoid dents in your finish.
Sounds easy, right? So don't be scared and jump in. Remember thin, even coats and to take your time. It's definitely a quick project with huge rewards.
Oh, and an added note based on experience, do not leave your project in the sun to dry. The paint will bubble form the sun and heat. Good luck!
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