Chalkboard Paint...So Much Fun!!!

While reading one of my favorite blogs ,"Bless Our Nest" (link under decorating ideas), I came across this cute idea using chalk board paint. So, I headed down to a local thrift shop- bought some old silver trays and decided I would give it a try. 


I really like having this big one in my kitchen. I saw a few cute ideas that I hope to use in the future...1) tonight's menu 2) a scripture 3) the menu at a shower or dinner party 4) happy birthday to a family member 5) love notes to your hubby:)

This is the other one I did for my office. It is really light weight so I just hot glued some ribbon on the back and hung it up.  Give it a try...and get some colored chalk for summer:)

Free Stuff

Don't you love free stuff? My wonderful sister-in-law GAVE me four chairs. My nephew sanded them down for me. Then I spray painted them black, brushed on 2 coats of black paint, used the electric sander to distress them, and finally I freshened them up with some new fabric. (Actually, my mom put the fabric on the chairs...more about her later in another post...she is the "queen of home projects") 

I am so happy with the way they turned out. 

It really is easy to give dining chairs a new look. Just a little paint and fabric can totally change the look of a chair. Just a couple of hints if you are thinking about replacing the fabric on your chairs YOURSELF....

1-DON'T, I repeat, DON'T get striped fabric. Sometimes it is hard to keep the lines straight.

2-DO get a fabric that can be turned different directions...ie - checks, leopard print, zebra print or florals. 

3-DON'T be afraid to "think outside of the box". My friend painted the chair at her kitchen desk lime green and then put a bold black and white damask fabric on it....adorable! 

4-DO look at magazines for ideas. Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs are two of my most favorite places to look, and they are...you guessed it...FREE:)

Treasured Things...

So, here I go again...blogging. I found a whole new world of people out there who are like me...love lamps, love fabric, love decorating, ... love creating. So, I have decided to give blogging another try. Only this time I am going blog about the the things I create. 

Let me give you the run down on my black and white dresser/buffet. A couple of my most treasured things are the turquoise and cream dishes from my mom's mom, and the big gold mirror from my dad's mom. I was having a hard time envisioning how they would fit into my "mostly red" and "casual" home. This is the solution I went for - a funky piece of furniture that would make these old treasured things seem new. 

My friend Krista found this old dresser for $40 at a garage sale. I got out a ruler and during my children's naps I drew the lines, painted it, sanded it,....done. Someday I want to try this idea again on a red piece of furniture with red and white harlequins...maybe a bookcase...cute!