This post was from October 2010

Tutorial: Using a Paint Stripper

I experimented with Using Paint Stripper which I have been a little afraid of. But I picked up a dresser and it has a Terribly Horrendous Paint Job as you can see.

Thick, Globby and weird.

The blue paint was Scary and no match for a sander. I had no other choice.

This is what brand I used, and the supplies I used as well.

The Stripper says it is a spray on but I just globbed a thick layer on and spread it with my hands, Double Gloved.

Here is what it looked like with the stripper applied.

You can see it starting to warp the paint after a few minutes.

I let it sit on there for about 15 to 20 minutes.

After it has been on 15-20 min, take your scraper and start scraping it off.

It actually glides off. Easier than I expected.

Scrape as much off as you can. It comes off in huge Globs of paint.

Just Slopp it onto some news paper.

(You will accuire quite the pile which I managed to step in 3 times. )

If it leaves any areas of paint that don't scrape easily,

just put more stripper on & let it sit

for a few minutes.

Once you have Scraped everything off that you can,

Use the wire brush & scrub all the areas that have any details like

the corners or any groove that still have junk in them.

Here is a picture of the plain wood after it has been scraped.

Now you can sand it smooth or sand it down all over to the bare wood.

It is a little time consuming but not as bad as I thought.

I would only recommend this on pieces with mostly flat surfaces.

It would be a nightmare to try this on something that had lots of detailing.

FYI.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

This post was from September 2010

Here are 2 little nightstands I finished.

They just needed a little makeover and now they're looking good as new. This was my experimental paint job which turned out way cute. They are a light grey with aged areas and white coming through.

My new favorite paint treatment.

Before

After

and yes. My entertainment center Will be getting this color.

Someday when I have a spare minute.

So that is my new goal.

peaceout.

This post was from September 2010

This lovely little desk found a new home this morning. I finished it last week when I had time off. It turned out really good. I like that it turned out very neutral with the Charcoal Grey finish. It will look good in an office and not be too girly.

Before

After

Naked

& Clothed

Thanks for lookin!

This post was from September 2010

This is a china cabinet I finished a few weeks ago.

I wish I could find a before picture but I couldn't find one.

When I got the hutch I had no shelving so I just measured the inside and ordered 2 pieces of 1/4'' glass.

September 2010

This is a dresser I just finished. I kept the original knobs because they are unique little wooden knobs I don't see every day. I got this dresser at a yard sale and immediatly fell in love, knowing exactly what color it would soon be.

Dove Grey (sigh) .

That is not really the color, that's just what I call it. The color is one I mixed up.

& I did find a before picture

Before

(after sanding it)

AFTER

I was inspired by the dresser in this office. I just loved how simple the whole thing looks. So when I stumbled upon mine,

I was in heaven.

This is a Wonderful Design Blog full of the cutest things, a Way cute house and beautiful pictures. Check it out! you wont be sorry.

Jones Design Company

Thanks for the inspiration.

This post was from March 2010

My last post about my hutch was forever ago, but everyone asked about the colors and what technique I used. So I put together a little Tutorial.

The color's I used are a mixture of

Benjamin Moore- Night Train, and

Benjamin Moore- Edgecomb grey.

For the tutorial I found a piece of wood then I just used wood glue to put a piece of trim on there to show how to get the grey in the creases.

Step 1- Prime

This was a natural piece of wood so it needed primer. I used Kilz. I prime about 90% of everything I do. I don't want to take the chance of spending hours and hours on something, just to have something go wrong b/c I skipped priming.

Step 2- Sand

I use a small palm sander with a fine sand paper.

This will remove any brush strokes that you can feel.

Wipe dust off with a damp cloth.

Step 3- Paint

I use a small foam roller to get the smoothest coat.

both colors are Benjamin Moore paint,

mixed until I liked the grey color.

Night Train + edgecomb grey

Step 4- Sand with fine sand paper. Wipe down.

Step 5- Paint 2nd Coat

Step 6- Sand with very fine sand paper (400 g), wipe down

Using the Night Train I just mixed in a drop or 2 of black paint. This is considered a glaze. You can add water to a glaze or you can buy actual glazes. I just used regular paint. You can see the lighter color under the new paint is the paint I used for the 2 coats, thats about how much contrast you'll want.

Step 7- Brush on the grey paint or Glaze.

Make sure you get it in the creases of the moulding. It can be a quick fast coat, and you can cover the whole thing.

Step 8- Wipe Glaze Off

While the glaze is still wet, just use a cloth that is barely damp and start wiping it off.

I found out that if the rag is too wet, it takes too much of the grey off.

Wipe most of it off of the flat areas, just leave the dark in the creases, corners and edges of the piece.

Step 9- Seal with Polyurethane, satin finish

This was the first time I used wipe on Polyurethane and it is the Bomb.Com

Seriously, I loved it. It is my new favorite product to use. It is so easy to use. Just wear gloves and use small rags you can throw away.

I have used other types and they are messy and leave streaks and some bubbles. Not this.

I put 2-3 coats on the hutch, letting it dry 24 hours in between. No sanding in between.

I put an extra coat on the top of the bottom part of the hutch to protect it where things get set on it.

*Do Not Use it on White or Cream painted pieces. It will yellow, or discolor.

The end. I hope this helps! Let me know if anyone try's it out, I would love to see if this was helpful and if your piece turned out.

Thanks!

This post was from October 2009

Funky Junk Interiors had a link party, so I chose to show this chair that I just finished.
(Visit her blog to see all the other projects people are showing)

This week I reupholstered this chair that has been sitting in my garage.

I got this chair for $2.50 at Goodwill on 50% off day! I wanted to do the whole chair in the zebra print but that fabric was more expensive. So I went with the blue fabric that I found for 3$ a yard and just did a zebra pillow instead. I wanted to re-do the chair as cheap as possible. Out of the extra fabric I was able to make 4 throw pillows for my bed. So the chair & 5 pillows were $12.50 total!

Before

March 2009

Step by Step chair Re-d0

1.) Remove staples with needle nose plyers & take material off.

- Sand out any scratches and nicks on wooden areas that will be visible.

- Prime wooden areas that will be painted.

-After priming, sand with a fine sand paper. Wipe with damp cloth
-Paint 2 coats. After it dries, Sand again with very fine sand paper & wipe off

- Seal. I use polyeurathane with a Satin finish.

-Lay old pieces of matieral out on top of the back side of new material.

Trace with pencil and cut each piece out.

-Lay the piece of material on the chair and center it so it will stretch over the batting evenly. Use a nail gun and start at one side, nailing the material into place, working your way around the chair. My chair had large pins in some areas. They came in so handy because they cover up any folded areas so you cannot see a seam. (notice on the side of the seat.)

This post was from October 2009

(Click on Picture!)

Its a before and after Party for Home improvement projects! So I thought I would post pics of my Kitchen, and I just finished my new little cornice yesterday so perfect timing.

I havn't posted any pictures of my kitchen since it got a facelift last year. So here it is so far...

I'm going to do the After first, because the before is quite scary.

AFTER

Before

We actually lived with the blue counter tops and laminate cupboards for a year. Then I ordered new cabinet doors, as plain wood (paint grade) and painted them myself. It took FOREVER but it was worth every second and saved alot of money! Then my brother put in new countertops for us, and My Husband put the crown moulding on top. I'd say it made quite a difference. I've been so happy with it.

Don't forget to go to the DIY Show Off (click here) & see all of the before and after projects that people have submitted! Lot of great projects to see! Or if you have a home improvement project you've been working on, Add your link to her site!!