Sunday, January 4, 2015

Thrift Store Side Table Makeover

Third non-crochet post in a row, sorry.  I'm suffering from a bit of craft A.D.D.  So I picked up a somewhat hideous side table from the thrift store for $8, and turned it into a pretty cute one!


It didn't start off this cute.  I forgot to take a full on before picture but here's what it looked like mid-way through the project.  When I found it, the finish on it was yellow and peeling off.  It was a thick high gloss peeling abomination.  But I saw potential . . . 


For the top I used our rotary sander and sanded off the finish down to the bare wood.  I then finished it with Watco Danish Oil in medium walnut.  I wish I had gone darker, but I'm still very happy with how it came out. I LOVE Danish Oil!  So easy to use and it brings out the natural beauty of the wood.  Now most furniture makeover blogs I've looked at like to stain first and then put on some soft furniture wax or a coat of poly.  I'm a complete newbie here, but I was really impressed with how nice the Danish Oil finish came out and I cut out a step.  Once you're done wiping on that oil, you're done.  No top coat is needed.

For the legs, sanding just wasn't cutting it, I would have had to spend three weeks getting ever nook and cranny on those legs.  So then I tried Citristrip and it literally did NOTHING to the finish whatsoever (must not work on this particular finish).  Next I tried a super chemically smelling "furniture refnisher" that actually was working, but because of the smell I had to work outside.  Unfortunately it was freezing and I felt like my fingers were going to fall off so I decided to paint the bottom with DIY chalk paint.

I used 1 part Plaster of Paris with 6 parts off white paint (Miller Little Dove) and a teaspoon of water and mixed it in a rinsed out Starbucks cup.  I used 3 coats.  When I was finished painting I just threw the cup away.  Easy to the peasy.  The paint turned out so great!  I love the chalky matte finish.  It looks really professional.

I love my new side table!!!


For more DIY furniture makeovers, check out these awesome blogs: The Weathered Door; Miss Mustard Seed; The Nesting Place 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Vintage Suitcase Makeover

Here's a quick and easy tutorial on how to makeover a vintage suitcase.



To complete this project you will need:

  • vintage suitcase (super cheap at the thrift store or you can find tons of medium cheap ones on Etsy)
  • quilt batting
  • cute fabric (I used a Liberty print corduroy)
  • sewing machine or needle and thread
  • glue gun



This is Kaya



Kaya has a lot of stuff. Kaya needs a place for her stuff.


Meet a $4 vintage suitcase from Goodwill.



Step 1: Do your best to clean out the inside of the suitcase.  I used the vacuum and some baby wipes.

Step 2: Lay your batting over the inside of the suitcase from the top of the lid all the way down  to the handle. Cut to size (you should have a large rectangle - this does not need to be perfect, just do the best you can). Cut two smaller rectangles for the left and right sides. 

Cut the batting so it fits just inside the suitcase.
Step 3:  Lay your batting on top of your fabric and cut out your fabric leaving about an inch or so of extra fabric all the way around. 

This is a side piece.

Step 4: Pin the fabric over the batting and sew around (this would be easy to hand sew if you do not have a sewing machine).  Again, perfection is not necessary; just do your best.



Step 5:  Get your glue gun ready.  Glue gun the large piece in place, starting at the top of the lid and ending at the handle, flattening and straightening as you go.  Glue gun your small pieces on the sides.





Step 6: Cut a strip of fabric and tie in a bow on the handle.


You're done!  Now Kaya has a place for all her stuff!



And when Kaya's happy, we're all happy.


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