A Klassy Kids Korner

I made another Goodwill purchase recently. A child's loveseat bench for $10. I loved the sweet look of it and instantly had romantic visions of my two darling children sitting on it it together one day, holding hands like two little angels (yeah, right!). Anyways, I bought it and decided to paint and upholster it because the unfinished wood, frankly, wasn't doing it for me.

Here is the before:

And the after:

I'm really into this nailhead trim. I've used it on several projects now. It really dresses things up a bit.

I think this whole project maybe took me an hour to do. To distress the bench I used a french paint technique that I learned over at Centsational Girl that is so stinkin' easy. Now I don't mind that this bench is out it the open with the rest of my things because it looks kinda classy for a kids bench. I was going to do it up really girly for Lady B but then decided to keep it out in the open so I wanted a more neutral, sophisticated, kid's bench (if you've ever heard of such a thing?!)

Lil B was pulling weeds with his dad when I begged him to come sit in his little chair for a picture. I even bribed him with a gummy vitamin if he would just sit in the chair and smile for me. He wasn't really having any of it.

You can see he is wistfully looking to where his dad is pulling weeds. "Don't really want to be sitting here, mom....but you did promise me a gummy vitamin"

Maybe one day you'll appreciate your little bench. One day when your tiny little legs are weary from all that running you do outside and you'll want to take a load off and drink some water from your big boy cup. Yes, that day you'll have just the perfect sized, cushy upholstered bench to rest your tired little body and enjoy a refreshing beverage!

A girl can dream, right?

Doesn't She Clean Up Nice?

This is why I have developed a fondness for the Goodwill. One woman's trash is indeed another woman's treasure.....

I had been looking for some little silver or white cups, pitchers, or vessels that I can use as vases to display flowers from the garden that my hubby maintains for me (thank you, Mr. WF)

I found these little cups at the Goodwill and thought it was a long shot. What if I just threw away money on two old gnarly-looking cups? But I took a gamble at $6 for the pair and just looky what a little silver polish did for them? Beauty-full!

I know my tablescape needs some work but I'm not sure the monster truck is going to make the final cut.

Uh-oh.....it's just started to rain. Let's hope Lil B doesn't wake up screaming that he wants to "see rain, see thunder". I'm not ready for naptime to be over!

Crafty Project #4526: The Chest of Drawers

So here is the unveiling of the highly-touted chest of drawers project. I had been on a hunt for a chest of drawers for Anna's room. After all, the girl has about 1000 bloomers, countless bows, headbands, clippies, socks, and other miscellaneous accessories that I just didn't have to deal with when Lil Man was little. Like any respectable girl, she needed some more closet space!

I found this piece at a consignment store and just couldn't pass it up. It was labeled a "shabby chic dresser". The scale of it was perfect. The lines were great. It was exactly what I had been looking for except it was a little heavy on the "shabby" and a little light on the "chic". It may look cute in the picture but, believe me friends, when I got it home I could not bring myself to put my dear little girl's delicate clothes in this dirty, scary dresser so I set out to revamp it with a little Lori pixie dust.

I'll spare you the details but this project that should've taken about 3 steps went through more steps than an addict at an AA meeting. I finally got her into recovery and now she looks like this!

Perfect under Lady B's vintage wall montage.....luuuuvin' it! I especially luv the crystal knobs purchased from everyone's favorite craft-a-licious store: The Hob Lob.

I know, that stencil looks familiar, right? Mr. WF asked if it was now the official family crest since it's on our coffee table AND the dresser but I couldn't resist. The dresser was begging for some fancy so I gave it to her.

If You Can't Take the Heat, Get Outta the Garage

OK. So literally today my skin melted off my body, landed in a puddle on the asphalt, sizzled, shriveled up, turned black and only ashes were left. It was THAT hot. I kid you not. I ran two errands where I parked only 10 yards from the entrance of each store and in the short trip in and out the above melting scenario happened at least 4 times. I can't take the heat. I just can't. When we're outside even Lil B says "Too hot, mommy! Too hot!"

During this heat spell we are usually sequestered in the house for most of the day which is really not my ideal way to pass the day. We did join a neighborhood pool which has been a lifesaver. We usually hang out there in the evenings and cool off.

Ok, enough complaining about the weather. I've been out of blogging commission again while transforming a consignment store find. Where do I find the time to do this stuff, you may ask....during naptime and in the evenings. Doing something crafty is sort of relaxing to me. I like having a productive project to focus on otherwise I can and will waste my time. And don't tell me to read a book because, as my husband says, "do you even know how to read?" Hate reading. Sad but true. Those summer reading projects from school turned me off forever....but I digress.....


So, thanks to the heat, I have spent my free time sweating off gallons of water weight in the garage sanding, staring at, painting, re-painting, staring at, sanding again, and more staring at this chest of drawers. I have also become fierce enemies with the creepy, crawly moths, roaches, and june bugs that invade my craft space in the evenings. I can't work in these conditions, people! It is downright freaky what is in my garage at night! Anyone ever notice how june bugs are the most spastic insect creature ever? They have no real flying ability and get stuck upside down constantly. hate. them.
It has become the bain of my existence, this chest of drawers.....I thought it would be as easy as my $5 Goodwill table but, alas, it has proved to be a bit more stubborn. Anyways, it's almost done and I'll post pictures soon of what's been stealing my affections from the blog.

From Boring to Bow-Bling!

And she strikes again. Keep me away from the Goodwill store!

So I dragged my mom to the Goodwill store near her house the other day in hopes of finding another treasure and I found this little straw purse. I thought it would be the perfect little summer tote for when I run errands without the kids and the monster-bag they require.

This was another $5 purchase. I'm noting a trend here:

Goodwill + $5 = Fabulous

I made a bow from some pretty paisley fabric that I bought a few weeks ago that I just liked so I bought it. I have a "favorite fabrics" stash. I am addicted to pretty fabrics and I just buy a yard or half a yard when I see something I like...for such a time as this!

As we were perusing the Goodwill aisles my mom came across a blazer she had given away (indeed we were at the Goodwill near her house where she donates her old stuff). "Look! Lori, here's my jacket!" We were actually looking at a blazer that used to be in her closet on the racks of the Goodwill store. I started laughing hysterically. I almost peed my pants, in fact. Anyone else find that funny because I was laughing so hard I was crying.

Before and After

TA-DA! The unveiling of my $5 Goodwill table transformation...

BEFORE

AFTER

Let's do a thrifty recap
Table: $5
Spray paint primer: $4
Under color taupe spray paint: $4
Top color ivory paint from the reject pile at Home Depot: $1
Elmer's glue for the crackling effect: $2
Gel stain for the legs: $5
Stencil for the top design: $10
Total project cost: $31 and a little elbow grease
Not too shabby for a shabby-chic table, huh?

Craftiness Complicates (and Enhances) My Life...Yet Again

What the heck is going on over there, I'm sure you're wondering since you are visiting my blog to see if there is a new post, right? We had a busy weekend...

Family was in town visiting. We had a birthday party for Lil B on Saturday, I attended a big-girl birthday party for one of my friends Saturday night, then on Sunday I helped host a baby shower for my sister in law who is cooking up a playmate for Lady B. She is due in August--YAY!

So since my life isn't complicated enough I've decided to tackle yet another crafty project....

Some background: I'm a devoted fan of some craft-a-licious blogs such as Centsational Girl, Thrifty Decor Chick, and The Shabby Nest. When I read these blogs and see all the crafty goodness that awaits me I am struck silly with inspiration and ideas of grandeur for my home.

The other day I decided to pop into my local Goodwill store to see if there was any furniture that might satisfy my crafty itch so I could try out a painting technique I read about. And just look at what was calling my name.....

I almost missed it because it was sitting on it's side. But her legs were what caught my attention. Those cute little legs. On that trip, I ran into a friend at the Goodwill (random, I know....you know who you are....Lisa!!) and she convinced me to indulge myself on the $5 purchase. Yes, you read that right...this baby was a whopping $5. Which is why I bought it because if I brought home one more table that was worth one penny over that amount I think my husband might put me out on the curb for Wednesday's pick up. However, I billed this as an "experimental craft project" that could be thrown away if it went south....so stay tuned for the transformation....