Put Your Saturday Clothes On

This weekend was extremely productive for us. One of those slightly rare weekends when JP and I tune into each other and decide that this weekend, we will in fact get things done. Usually I spend all weekend cleaning the house, taking advantage of daddy being home all day to watch Coraline. Instead of just cleaning this time, we knocked off some of the real projects I had on the list.

I'm terrible at tutorials, so I just did my best to take some pictures while we were working :)

Project 1: Build a Headboard

I can't remember the last time I had a bed with a headboard on it. I miss having something that feels like a real bed.  For the longest time I have wanted to build our very own padded, tufted head board. We got working on that this weekend. JP got a big piece of plywood at Home Depot, then got 2 inch foam, spray adhesive and big buttons at the fabric store.  I sprayed the adhesive on the board and foam, stuck them to each other and used a staple gun to attach the fabric to the board. Just wrapping and pulling tight as we went. I admit it is not perfect or done. I was finishing this up around 10pm on Saturday night, perhaps not the ideal time for crafts. I need to get an upholstery needle so I can put the buttons on. I also though JP would make the legs shorter, the fact that it is this huge is a surprise. He told me that the bottom 13 inches would be behind he mattress, oh well.  I think it will look really great when I get buttons on and clean our bedroom (which I did not do for any pictures).

Project 2: Cardboard Tube Art

This project was totally inspired by Jess over at The Hip Single Mama via Design Sponge. Basically it means that I have been collecting cardboard tubes for what seems like an eternity. I saved a lot of them from paper towels, toilet paper and wrapping paper then I cut them into strips. I didn't measure or anything of the sort. It was very free form. I placed them out in a way I liked and then started to glue them, but I didn't even stick to my original design when gluing. I love the way it came out, it's totally an organic free form piece. Then I used spray paint to give it some color, blue to match the living room.

Step 1: laying them outStep 2: using Modge Podge and clothes pins to hold them togetherStep 3: spray paint

Project 3: Redo Chairs

I have three mismatched chairs in my house. 2 of the chairs came from my mother in law and 1 of them I pulled from the neighbors trash. The 2 from my mother in law were just fine, I just didn't particularly care for the style, color or cushions. The trash chair was a mess, caked in peeling green house paint and no cushion at all. This was my pet project this weekend for sure, I loved doing this.

Step 4: Painted! 

See, I am terrible at tutorials, I didn't take pictures of the stripped down chairs before I repainted them. I hate the paint I used on these two chairs. It was Krylon and I love the colors, but I used an entire can on each chair and the coverage is not at all good. They sill look great, shabby chic like, which totally works. If I ever feel like buying a few more cans of paint I can just give them some more coats. I might write to Krylon and complain about this. When I get a high gloss spray paint, not only should one can be plenty for 2 chairs, but I want a saturated glossy finish! JP's pet project this weekend had the same results only shabby chic doesn't cut it for me there, so I will have to get another can or two of paint to finish that next weekend. Sigh.

Project 4: Iron Singer Sewing Table

This table was sitting in my mother in laws garden with rocks on top. It was in bad shape for sure. JP spent hours removing the gross plywood top and grinding the paint and rust from the cast iron bottom. This is allof course, for me and my brand new Singer Inspiration. Again, I can let the pictures speak for themselves, I am thrilled with how this is coming along. If it were not for the crappy Krylon paint, it would be perfect. How did one can of spray paint not cover this totally in a lovely tomatoe red gloss color? I have done a lot of spray painting and I think it's just insane. Sadly I am totally in love with this color and will still have to buy the same Krylon paint to finish it.  JP also cut a new top for the table and we painted it with chalkboard paint. Really not a ton of reasoning behind that, I liked the red and black combo and I am in love with chalkboard. Someday Coraline will love drawing on this table.

Step 1: Before

Step 2: stripping it down

Step 3: painted!See what I mean about the coverage?

So that is where we are so far with those projects. My the end of the week I hope to update with finished pictures, tufted headboard, sewing machine on the table and chairs with cushions! My house is really coming together and that is super exciting to me. These days, I want to be at home more then out.

Comments

[IdaMae]

I am in AWE! I love all that you are working on. Makes me want (need) to get a move on!

great stuff.

You are inspiring me!

[Jo]

yay! for fun projects! I am always searching for my inner craft-lady. you've given some great ideas! Have a fun week :-)