Thrifted Chair Makeover

While getting our house ready to put on the market I realized I NEEDED a chair in the master bedroom.  So, off to the thrift stores I went.  I found this chair at my favorite thrift store, Our Thrift Store.  This is my first time redoing a chair and I was excited to get right to work.  

 So this is where I started out.  A dirty, yucky green chair that looks like it's seen it's fair chair of business meetings. 

Can you see that price tag? $16.99.  Can't beat it!

I started by taking it apart.  The seat was pretty easy, just flipped it over and unscrewed it.  The back was a little more tricky.  I couldn't figure out how to get to the screws.  

 So, I just took my screwdriver and tried to pop out the little wood piece.  To my surprise it worked!  Some were a bit stubborn but they all came out.

Try to keep up with which screw went where.  I put all small pieces in a baggie until it was time to put the chair back together.  

After taking it apart I cleaned it with steel wool.  This chair was an inch thick with nasty.  So it got a major scrub.

And then it got a light sanding with a sanding block.  Nothing crazy.  I like things easy and simple.

 Now on to the good stuff.  Spray paint!  I sure do love this stuff.  And more than the paint I LOVE my spray paint handle deal.  Pretty sure it was like $5 and I have used it countless times.  Keeps the fingertips nice and happy!  So, I first used a primer.

The plan was to do a stressed look.  I hadn't found my fabric yet and thought I was going to go shabby chic.  Which is why I started with the white.

 I read somewhere (I wish I could remember where!) To use petroleum jelly where you want your piece to be distressed.  Since I have an 18 month old I just went right into his room and tried it out.  I stuck my finger in and wiped it on the edged of the chair in various places.

 On to the main color.

 This is what an area with the jelly looked like before wiping it off.  I just used a towel and wiped the whole chair down good.

 I was happy with how it turned out, until I found my fabric.  I fell in love with the fabric, but thought it needed a more finished look.  I took the chair frame back outside and painted it one more time.

 This would be the least enjoyable part of the whole project.  Getting the old fabric off was a PAIN!  And felt so gross.  Ugh.

I used several different methods for pulling out the staples.  A screwdriver, pliers, yelling to name a few.  I ended up with work gloves on after popping the screwdriver into my hand several times.

Once the fabric is off you have a nice template for your new fabric.  At this point I also took the foam seat and sprayed soaked it with fabric refresher.  I also had batting left over from another project so I cut a piece to make the seat just a little more comfy.

Isn't this fabric the best?  I kinda want to eat it.  But that's another story.  I got it at my new favorite fabric store, Dickson's Vacuum and Sewing Center.  I got 2 yards for $15!  FYI it took less than 1 yard.  I wanted extra just in case I may want to do another chair later.  Since I was using both hands I don't have pictures of putting the new fabric on the seat.  It's a simple process.  Cut the fabric a little larger than your template (the old fabric).  Lay the seat on top and pull up one side to staple, then the opposite side.  The do the other side then last side.  Then just pull tight and staple all the way around.

 I popped the seat back into the chair frame to admire. (This is also when I decided to repaint the chair.)

 So, getting the back recovered was a little bit more complicated.  The old fabric was made up of two pieces that were sewed together.  I didn't really want to, but I seam ripped the two pieces apart and cut out the two pieces and ran to the sewing machine.  Made a quick stitch to replicate the old fabric.  I wrapped it around the chair back and did all the stapling on the sides.  Same place I took the staples out.

 I just set the back in to admire before all the finishing touches.  I did need help from the hubs to screw it back together.  My arms just weren't long enough to get the pressure I needed to do it alone.

 And there you have it.  A sitting area in my bedroom!

Chair: $17

1 yard of Fabric: $7.50

Paint: $5 (estimate)

Total cost: $29.50

I love to be inspired! I hope you are inspired too!

Spray Painting a Dresser

I Love spray paint.  So, when we needed to update our "bachelor pad" looking master bedroom on the cheep what did I do?  I grabbed the spray can and got right to it.  This dresser is really well built and in great shape.  But it's been around for awhile now and it's been many different colors.  It started out in my sister's room as a teenager and then followed me into my teenage bedroom and lastly I painted it the nice sea foam color pictured to go with all my pink and green stuff as a young adult.  

Then I got married.  

We needed a dresser.  So, it was moved into our room and there it sat for 6 1/2 years.  We put our house on the market and there is nothing more motivating than having your house for sale.  In a few short hours we had a much needed face lift to our bedroom for about $8.

I did not prime this piece first.  Mostly because I was going for a quick and cheep fix, not a lasting and perfect fix.  We plan to get "real" bedroom furniture when we move.  This will most likely get pushed into a guest room or a playroom at which time it will get painted again.

I used the RustOleum spray paint with hammered look to it. It only needed one coat and 2 cans of paint.

I'm feeling a little more adult after bringing this into our bedroom.  Also, I'm feeling inspired and ready for the next project!

Leaning Something New: How to Blog

My first attempt at blogging is going to be about a project I helped my nephew make made for my niece.  

 

DIY Memory Game

First things first.  Get inspired. Looking around on Pinterest I found some ideas here and here. Then off to the store for hands on inspiration.  

  

This is what I came up with.  Some wooden ovals and a wooden box.  Very inexpensive.  First unscrewed the hinges and clasp to paint the box.  I spray paint EVERYTHING.  I love spray paint.  While the pink paint was drying on the box and the black paint was drying on the ovals, I got to work on the "front" side of the ovals. 

It is important for the "front" sides to be as uniform as possible.  If you have smart little critters kids at home you know they will memorize which card is which for a not very fair game of Memory.  Because of this I went with a solid color paper with texture.  I opened up Word and typed up the title of the game, "Samantha & Eric's Memory Game".  Then just cut and paste over and over til the whole page was covered.

Then I pulled out my super duper handy Silhouette SD.  Measure the oval and set up a page of ovals to cut out.  Keep it simple.

Next pull out your Mod Podge and get all those ovals glued down.

While the "Podge" is drying start working on the photos part of your memory game.  This is a gift from brother to sister, so I decided to make this only pictures of the two of them together.   I again went to Word and inserted the picture.  Sized it to fit then copy and pasted to make 2 of the same size.

And print onto photo paper. And cut with a straight edge and exacto knife if you have it.

Once the "front" side dries, you can turn them over and Mod Podge the pictures on.

Back to the box.   The bottom needed a little finishing.  I cut a piece of black felt to fit the bottom.  Use rubber cement to glue it down.

I decided to add a few pictures to the outside of the box.  There were just so many cute pictures of these kiddos. 

Mod Podge the whole box.  All around.

I used letter stickers to give this game a name.  Also "Podge" this part.

Things are starting to dry!

Brother helped with the "Pogding" and screwing the box back together.

Brother also added a special message to the bottom.

Personal Memory Game, ready to go!  Make sure everything has dried completely before stacking them together, they will stick together!!

Wrapped and ready for Sissy =)

Go get inspired.