Oh, the place you'll go

This project was done with a old window screen, canvas, and cork board. It took a lot of patience to complete the canvas, but all areas were quick and sweet!

Here's the step by step: 

 -Frame-

 After ripping the screen out of the old window, 

sand the frame as smooth as possible.

Paint as many layers as you need to complete the color/style of your liking.

Let dry and your window piece is complete.

-Canvas-

Once painted to your liking, complete the following!

I did not free hand the words - I found a font I liked, picked a size that would fit within my canvas and printed out a printed out a template. 

Over the template, lay a piece of wax paper and tape the two together so your template doesn't move on you.

With puffy paint and tracing your template, let the letter creating begin!

Once your letters are complete, they should peel off the wax paper nicely. 

For pieces that are stubborn and stick, use a tweezers to pull them off.

Position your words on the canvas so they fit how you like them...

Once in position, use a large paintbrush to seal the letters down with modge podge. 

*Note: modge podge is simply equal amounts water and Elmer's glue

Use a few layers of the modge podge to prevent your letter for peeling off.

Let your canvas dry, and it is complete.

-Cork-

The cork came on a long roll... It just needed to be cut to size.

Behind the cork board, is a piece of cardboard cut to size as well.

Once layered and flat, the cardboard and cork is stapled to the back of the window frame.

Your cork board is complete.

To finish the project, simply fasten hooks to the upper corners of your frame to hang it.

This project isn't complete for me yet, I am looking for a nice map of the US to document all of the places Allan and I have traveled together - on the mirroring wall, is one photo from each place we've been together. While it's still a work in progress, that's fine with me! We're still on the search for our own home so it can wait till then :)

Enjoy!

e.l.l.

Second Chance Dresser

Over the summer, I needed a few "tasks" that were separate from wedding duties... We had a dresser hiding in a closet being used to organize things because it didn't match anything in our house and the paint was peeling off from a poor paint job I did in college (didn't sand it prior to refinishing... definitely necessary!)

The dresser started out as a an oak colored dresser that was covered by dark brown espresso paint. The paint was chipping, peeling, and just not appealing to the eye anymore... We had paint brushes and different paints laying around from other small projects so it was time to tackle the sore sight! 

What I needed:

Electric sander

Sand paper rounds for sander

Standard sand paper

3 bristle paint brush(s)

Foam paint brush

Paper bowl or something to fill that is disposable

Color of paints to be used - for smaller projects like this, the sample size paints you can get are PERFECT!

Polyurethane

What I did:

1. After taking the dresser apart and removing the hardware, start by using the electric sander to get the tough stuff off - sanding the areas that are covered in previous stain or paint color.
2. Once most of the paint is off, use standard sand paper to help hit areas that are hard to reach with an electric sander or that are not smooth.
3. When smooth, wipe down all areas of the wood to remove any left over sawdust - this can get under the paint and WILL effect your paint job!
4. Using the bristle brush - Start laying the paint! Make sure you are painting in the same direction of the grain in the wood. I started by painting everything white and adding yellow in long, fast streaks (not trying to cover smoothly with the yellow)
5. Once a layer of white and areas of yellow were dry, I created one more color to add.... I did this by combining equal portions of yellow and white paint in a paper bowl. By doing this, the change in color becomes more fluid. 
6. For the last layer of paint, rotate applying the different colors to the dresser - quick, long strokes will give you a streak look!

Once ALL of the painted areas are dry, use the foam brush to apply the polyurethane. The more coats, the better. I applied three which were all able to be done in the same day as it was gorgeous outside and I started the project in the morning.

*** I did get new hardware for the dresser because I did not want to spend the time sanding the hardware and repainting - cheap way to make a change! ***

Easy change to make any room come together! I used the same steps and technique on the side table for this room- Check back for the "how to guide" for the frame on the wall behind the dresser :)

e.l.l