Is That Chair Leather? No, It's Painted Fabric!!

This chair really looks like fine red leather. But it's not.

I painted the upholstery on this chair then sanded it to make it into this beautiful red piece that feels soft as suede and totally perks up my living room.

Here she is at the start. The local St. Vincent store had two of these chairs but I only needed one. I am now KICKING MYSELF for not buying both!

The frame and fabric were in excellent condition. Very tight joints, comfortable seat. I figured I could re upholster it or...as my Pinterest board says, 

Paint That Chair!

I won't do a tutorial since the DIY info is all over the web. Literally....videos, Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV, Hometalk!

I decided to use acrylic paint in bright red and liquid textile medium. I mixed two parts paint to one part textile medium. I used a full 8 ounce bottle of craft paint and 4 ounces of the textile medium and mixed them well.

Then I sprayed the fabric with water in a spray bottle (mixed with a bit of fabric softener). I dampened each area just before I painted it using chip brushes. I also masked the wooden areas.

I painted on my back deck on a 90 degree day. Excellent light and weather for painting! But I have to tell you ladies, even after multiple coats I was feeling very very iffy on this project.

Very iffy. 

I was already calculating if I had enough red fabric in my stash to go ahead and re upholster this chair, I was very undecided about the appearance.

And then after three coats the fabric started looking pretty good. 

Lovely color retention, really good texture of the original woven pattern and 

I was using less and less paint for each layer. 

Of course, I let each coat dry for an hour in the hot sun before adding the next coat.

Urg. Here's what I used. 

I know most blogs have neat photos and a concise list of brand name products plus links for purchasing, but I was ready to PAINT so I just dove right in. 

I didn't buy anything since I already had it all in my stash.

Ahem.

Here's the painted and sanded fabric up close. 

It looks just like leather and after sanding it feels like a very soft and sumptuous suede. 

I am totally pleased with the way this project turned out!

I cleaned the wood with Murphy's Oil Soap then polished

 it up with Olde English lemon oil polish.

And the paint does NOT rub off.

Even if you are wearing white jeans as a test.

This was totally worth the time and money to get myself

 a bright and comfy chair for our living room.

Would I do it again? YES!

Pallet Wood Planter Covers Part 2

One of my post popular posts this last year was this DIY using pallet boards to cover black plastic nursery pots.

 I LOVE the way they came out!

Here's the link to part 1....

http://makethebestofthings.blogspot.com/2015/03/pallet-wood-planter-covers-diy-part-1.html

And here is what we did to finish them off and how they look filled to overflowing with flowers and plants. 

These are the type of planters we get at our local tree nursery. The smallest we used for this project are about 10 gallon size and the largest are about 25 gallon size. The big ones measure about 24" across the top.

We did not sand the boards. We just cut them to length. On the bigger planters we wedged each board under the top rim then used the brad nailer to attach each board.

We also spaced the boards closer together at the bottom than the top to allow for the taper in the planters.

Here is one of the biggest 25 gallon planters. It took a bit of finagling and mitering, but The Welding Man added a nice, neat frame to the top rim. It finishes it off quite nicely!

I like the natural wood look but on a whim added a bit of dry brushing with the trim color from our deck. The Walker's Low Catmint fills this pot to overflowing with purple flowers all summer long.

I like it alot!

Here is a comparison of natural wood and dry brushed planters. For my garden I prefer the painted look!

I checked online on the expected longevity of these plastic pots. Since they are made for commercial nurseries they have a high UV tolerance rating. They are made to last for years. That is good to know.

We have several more pots and a bunch of pallets ready for more planters. I've already bought new rosebushes so we better get to it.

And the best thing about this project? The plastic planters are less than $6 each, even for the biggest ones.

I call that a win win!

Come join these linky parties....

http://www.flamingotoes.com/2016/02/show-and-tell-link-party-50/

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2016/03/pj-320-the-best-salvaged-junk-projects.html

http://tatertotsandjello.com/2016/03/link-party-palooza-25-target-gift-card-giveaway-march-16.html#more-79342

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/washing-an-hermes-silk-scarf-madame-paulette/

Three D Effect With Hot Glue

I had this idea of adding a raised, three dimensional design on a glass vase and kept wondering just how could I do it?

I wanted it to be simple and quick and, of course, cheap. I also wanted to use supplies that I or just about anyone out in DIY land had in their craft stash. Here's the list of things I used...

Use hot glue, tissue paper, Mod Podge (or school glue) and craft paint to turn a plain Dollar Store vase into a unique decor item.

Here is how I-

 For my first design I chose a simple fleur de lis shape and drew it on plain paper. 

You could also print out the shape you choose.

Tape it INSIDE the container you are decorating.

Fill in that shape with hot glue. Be generous and fill it in completely.

 Do not worry about being too precise or getting all the lines exactly so. 

This process actually looks better if it is not too exact, because next you will be

 adding texture to the entire outside surface of the vase.

Melt any glue strings that are hanging off your design with a heat gun or hair dryer.

Tear the tissue paper in irregular shapes and crumple tightly, 

then smooth out. Have your stack of tissue

 ready for the next step.

Working on the 3 dimensional design first, brush a generous coat of glue or Mod Podge on top of it. Carefully lay the tissue over the design and gently coax the tissue into the edges and details with a soft brush. Brush more glue on top. Go slowly and carefully so you do not tear the tissue.

If it does tear, just smooth it down with your brush and place another piece over the tear.

Glue tissue over the entire outside surface of the vase, including

 folded over the top lip by about an inch and down around the bottom.

I let it sit overnight until it is completely dry. The glue or Mod Podge 

will dry to a hard surface on the glass with really interesting textures.

Next, use acrylic craft paint for the base color of your vase. 

I used Country White which has a buttery hue.

Cover all of the tissue paper and let it dry completely.

And now, the final step to bring out all that great texture and really make

 that 3 dimensional design pop. Dip your paintbrush in black craft paint

 and wipe off most of the paint on a rag or paper towel so your brush is almost dry. 

Gently drag the contrast color over your design.

 Go slowly and add more if you want the design to stand out.

 If you add too much contrast you can touch it up with your base color. 

Dry brush your contrast color over all the edges...

top rim, bottom edge and every little crease and crinkle of textured tissue paper.

And VOILA! You've turned a plain jane vase into a great looking decor piece!

Remember, this decorated vase should be wiped down only, never immersed in water or even run through the dishwasher. The paint, glue and paper will come loose.

You could do roses, monograms, cartoons, logos and Halloween skulls. 

The possibilities are endless.

AND, you probably have everything you need already in your craft stash!

Yeah, I Spray Painted My Rug

So...here's my front deck in the middle of the warm weather fix up. I spray painted the plastic chairs a bright turquoise and found a boring tan rug for $20.

Good start.

I figured I could paint that blah rug as so many others have done on Pinterest, Hometalk, Design Sponge, Apartment Therapy....

I thought maybe multicolored stripes....or chevrons...or a pretty paisley stencil...or even FLOWERS!!! 

But what?

All of those ideas require precision measuring, detailed 

placement of yards of painters masking tape and hours of work.

That's enough of that noise. 

I figured I had two, maybe three days of really nice weather 

for this project but no painters tape or pretty stencil.

So today I just went for it.

What I DO HAVE are a 16" pizza cardboard, a Dollar Store plate and a leftover saucer. 

Hmmmm, the idea is coming together.

I also have cheap Walmart paint in flat black and white

 PLUS the bright turquoise spray paint I used on the chairs.

I figured, just do it.

It's a $20 rug. 

At least it won't be boring anymore.

Here's a tip-wipe the edges of the saucer and plate
(or whatever you choose to use) after each spray
 to avoid getting the wet paint from a previous color making
 a "drip ring" on your work.

Hey, I like this alot!

This is not chocolate pudding, ice cream or cake batter. It is craft paint to 

touch up the brown spray paint which disappointed me. 

But hey, I still like the way this rug looks!

No more BORING tan rug!

This was quick and easy and turned out even better than I pictured in my head!

And I didn't have to spend a dime for this project since I had everything I needed already.
I call that a win win!!

A Living Plant Roof On Our Shed

Two years ago we recycled three doors for this gorgeous wedding backdrop for our grand daughter. Insanely Creative Christy made the huge poster board flowers 

and I grew the white flowers in the urns. 

THEN, we built this little garden shed out of the original three exterior doors and

 one more door from the local Restore. We built it in place and put a roof on it.

 It is the perfect size for our gardening tools and supplies.

The inside of the shed is lined with plywood for stability and strength. 

We wanted to be sure that our little shed was strong enough

 to hold the weight of the heavy roof.

I knew I wanted to put a living green roof with trailing plants and succulents on this little shed. 

Today it finally got done!

The Welding Man used cedar fence boards for the eaves and end caps.

Our grand sons finished the roof prep by stapling waterproof pond liner fabric in place

 and then helped to plant the roof! 

Oooh aaah! 

I like it alot!

I did extensive online research on this project and even got this library book...
Small Green Roofs by Dunnet, Gedge and Little. It is extremely informative!

Here is a photo of the pond liner stapled up and over the edge of the cedar boards.

 We did not pull the liner tight. We left a bit of slack inside 

the planting area for the soil and roots to fill in.

We recycled two layers of dormant grass turf so that we had 5" of 

planting depth within the pond liners and added potting soil to cover the turf.

 I've been saving lots of shallow rooted plants like creeping jenny, different sedums and succulents and miniature viola vines. I added the clumps of Japanese blood grass for contrast and also as a thickly growing soil binder.

A small clump of scarlet dianthus is up there along with some pink and white bamboo grass.

I love how the red tips of the Japanese blood grass picks up

 the reds of the sedum and dianthus.

Now I will prime and paint this pretty little shed soft white after The Welding Man finishes the trim pieces.

For the roof I will sow handfuls of wildflower seeds on the roof and water them in with a sprinkler installed on a short hose. The plants I chose do well with less water and the succulents even like things a bit dry.

I will also get some summer annuals like lobelia and alyssum to trail over the eaves. 

I like it alot!

Here it is with a fresh coat of primer. I like the white on this little shed!

 I really like the hippieish Hobbitish look of this green roof.

The total cost, so far, on this little garden shed is $40 for the four doors at the Restore.

We paid $4 for a box of door and gate hinges at the same store.

Framing lumber and particle board are scraps we had on hand.

The cedar fence boards are left from our back yard fence.

I will use the leftover primer and paint from the wedding prep two years ago.

By far the most expensive item was the pond liner at $45 for a 5' x 12' piece. 

Screws, nails, staples, misc. hardware add $5.

The plants are starts from my own yard and planters I've been growing for two years.

So for less than $95 we've built a nice little garden shed that is perfect for that corner of our yard.

I will do another blog post once it has all the trim, is painted and has

 loads of flowering summer plants on the roof.

I'm really looking forward to that!

Biiiig Mason Jar Terrarium

These big Mason jar type drink dispensers are everywhere these days. We've used them for at least half a dozen family occasions in the last couple of years.

They are handy and convenient and look great with

 fruit slices or ice floating in the beverage.

But what do you do when a big ol' drink dispense springs a leak around the spigot and doesn't work for serving drinks anymore?

In this case I put a cork in it and saved it on the shelf for an idea I had...

to make a big ol' two gallon terrarium!

There it sat until I started repotting some houseplants. I knew these smaller ferns

 would be perfect for the terrarium I wanted.

I layered gravel, soil and activated charcoal in the bottom. 

I trimmed the roots and the tops of the ferns so they'd fit inside the jar and grow bushier.

I also planted some pink and white bamboo grass and lime green creeping jenny.

Here in Oregon it is not hard to find moss at any time of year. I found

 three different kids in our yard and trimmed them to fit.

I added aquarium gravel and some quartz pebbles. 

Already I like this alot!

And since I'm a color junky I added some pretty blue glass and marbles.

Some larger rocks and a piece of interesting driftwood get added to the mix.

Using a mini Christmas ornament and a small spool of thread, I made tiny garden ball. I hot glued twine to the spool for a bit of interest.

Oooh aaah! I like this alot!

At one foot tall it is a nice focal point. I'll post more photos when the ferns and bamboo grass fill in a bit more.

It's the kind of project I like, using things I already have and recycling one thing into something unusual and pretty.

Zero cost, loads of enjoyment.

Win win!

Painted Pallet Boards on Square Planter

I'm always looking for ways to use pallet boards in my garden. 

Since we covered black nursery pots with pallet boards my mind has been spinning!

http://makethebestofthings.blogspot.com/2016/02/pallet-wood-planter-covers-part-2.html

I figured if pallet boards can make black pots look good,

 how about the other planters in my yard?

Here is the before of the kinda grubby square planter by my front steps last summer. 

Last week I painted it with primer then used our house trim color to paint it 

(and almost everything else) turquoise blue.

 I love the blue against all the shades of green and the flowers!

And here is how it looks NOW-

 For this project I drybrushed the turquoise paint on some pallet boards and used

 our handy dandy brad nailer gun to attach them.

You could also use outdoor construction adhesive but we like the

 security and ease of the nail gun.

We didn't even move it from the yard.

 We just rocked it up at an angle and nailed the boards in place.

Oooh!

 I like the whole vintage vibe this gives that plain planter!! It looks like

an old wooden container that has aged for years.

Aged, 

vintage, 

rustic

 and BLUE! 

Exactly my style!

In the future we MIGHT go ahead and cut some pallet boards

 to fit into the triangular spaces.

 But for now I really like the texture and AGE 

the painted boards give to this plain square planter!

Hmmmm, what else can I do with the rest of my pallet boards?