Daisy's Crate Bed

This is Daisy...

And, she likes to sleep here...

So, I decided to build her a bed out of the scrap 1x4's I had left over from furniture projects.  I wanted the bed to look like an old, weathered crate so I didn't put alot of effort into constructing it...i.e. square corners, etc.  Once I got it together, I added the small castor wheels to the bottom.  I then applied my vinegar and steel wool mixture to weather the wood. 

I liked it, however, it was to "red" in color for what I wanted, so I gave it a light sanding and applied dark walnut danish oil to the surface by rubbing it in with a soft cloth.  That helped take the red out of the wood, but it still needed more.  So, I started dry brushing green paint and then white paint on the surface.  When I was happy with the color I applied another coat of danish oil to age the paint color.  Finally, I applied Daisy's name to the front using the freezer paper transfer method. 

As well, added the "No.1" to each side of the crate, again using the freezer paper transfer method. 

 I made a cushion and cover (that is removable and can be thrown into the wash) out of an old feather pillow which fit into the crate perfectly.  Daisy now has her own bed, but it looks as though she is hoping to head back to the couch!

Thank you for stopping by...
Lesa

Newly Painted Entryway

It was time for a change.  I couldn't stand it any more...I was getting tired of "Cinnamon Sizzle"! 

I wanted something fresh and airy so without hesitation, I painted my entryway.  The new color is called "Habitat" and it's from Home Hardware.  I love the color and it works well with the rest of the house. 

I repainted the doors and the trim with "Puff Ball", again, from Home Hardware. 

I also repainted the coat rack to match my console table and added a seat cushion to the bench.

I constructed the bench from an Ana White plan which was actually called a "spa bench".  However, my entryway is not very large so I needed something compact to fit in the space.    When it comes to accessorizing, my rooms usually "lack" detail...everything is usually pretty simple.

The entryway flows right into the rest of the house, so I had to paint a few other walls the same color to make it come together.

I'm really happy with the new color, for now!  Thank you for stopping by...have a great day. 

Lesa

http://abodelove.blogspot.com/

{3} Mini Projects

I managed to complete {3} mini projects this past week and thought I'd share them with you...

{1} Kitchen Sink Burlap & Canvas Curtain:

I love the look of a skirted sink so I decided to make one for mine out of burlap and canvas.

{2} Storage Box Makeover:

I found these storage boxes at a bargain shop...the size and shape of the boxes were perfect, however, the color choices were not so good. 

However, for the price, I thought I could transform them into something I would use. 

First, I gave them a coat of primer. 

I discovered that the metal handles could be removed, so I did just that and gave them a couple of coats of rubbed oil bronze paint.  I then painted each box a "green/gray" color.  Once dry, I re-attached the metal handles.  I thought canvas liners would look cute, so I made a pattern by tracing the bottom and sides of the box onto paper.  I added 1/4 inch to all the pattern pieces and for the four sides I added 1 1/2" to only the tops.  This allows for the top edge to be hemmed and to fold over the top of the box.  

I cut my patterns from canvas.   First, stitch the end pieces to the bottom

and then the sides to the bottom. 

Now, sew each corner to form the liner.  Once all four corners are stitched, fold the top edge down approximately 1/2 inch and sew in place.

Here are the finished storage boxes...

{3} Canvas Cushion with Painted Stripes

I built this bench from an Ana White plan last year.  It is actually called a "spa bench", but the size was perfect for the size of my entryway.  I decided it needed a cushion, so I made one out of...you guessed it...canvas. 

I cut my canvas to the size of my bench adding about a 1/2 inch to each side for the seam allowance. 
I made piping out of dark brown fabric and pinned it to the canvas "sandwiching" it between the top and bottom canvas pieces. 

After sewing it together, I decided to add large stripes to just the top of the cushion. 

I used masking tape to mark off the width of my stripes and then simply sponged paint to fill in the stripes. 



Once the stripes dried, I added "fill" to the canvas shell and now I have a cushion for my bench.

Thank you for stopping by...I hope you enjoyed your visit!  Have a great day!!

Lesa

Before and After Nightstand

I had this nightstand stored in the shed.  At one time, it was white, had two drawers and had a home in my daughter's bedroom.  But, over the years it's been painted and pulled apart and now looks like this...

I thought with a little TLC I could fix it up and maybe my daughter can use it in her home.  First thing I did was put a piece of plywood in the bottom...

Next, I sanded the entire piece to remove any lumps and bumps.  Then I gave it a couple of coats of paint. (Sand Bar)



After the paint dried, I lightly sanded the nightstand using 220-grit sandpaper.  I sanded it a bit heavier along the edges to reveal the dark brown paint underneath.  I removed the sanding dust and applied Danish Oil in a medium walnut color to give the paint an aged look.

It needed something more, so I decided to make a canvas curtain for the front.  Again, just the canvas was a bit boring, so I made a burlap ruffle and added that to the bottom of the curtain.  I used a piece of dowel for the rod and two cup hooks for the brackets.

It still needed something to give it a bit of interest so I gave the top a tattoo.  I found the bird image after doing a "google" search and applied it using my freezer paper transfer method.

Now, I think it's done.  I hope my daughter likes it! 

Thank you for stopping by...have a great day!

Lesa