Create Your Own Patterned Paper

Hello, Crafty Folks!

I enjoy creating my own backgrounds and my own patterned papers.  

The most difficult part of this project was deciding which Teresa Collins™  products to use.  Choosing from a new line of stamps created for ClearSnap® and exciting A4 embossing folders created for Craftwell® wasn't easy but I finally chose the "Love" and "Hope" stamps and her new Craftwell® A4 embossing folder "SnapShot".  Need I say more?

Before

To see the tutorial for this project and to learn more about the new Teresa Collins® products for ClearSnap® and Craftwell®, please check out my post on the ClearSnap® Blog

HUGZ

Challenges:

Things To Alter

Disclosure Statement

EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2009, FTC GUIDELINES REQUIRE BLOGGERS TO DISCLOSE ANY TIME THEY ARE COMPENSATED FOR ENDORSING OR REVIEWING PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.

The Project demonstrated above contains components received for free in return for my services and for posts on my blog. I affirm that I have not made, nor would I ever make or endorse, misleading statements regarding any product or service used in the operation of this blog.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE USED ON MY BLOG, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT CMALKAH@YAHOO.COM.

DecoArt Blogger Outreach - Freshen That Bathroom!

Hello, Crafty Peeples!
Thank goodness my project request was approved by the
DecoArt Blogger Outreach Program 
YaY!   
My guest bathroom has been varying shades of pink for the past twenty-six years.  Pink and blue, pink and green, pink and beige.  I really wanted to change things up without waiting for The Hubster to steam off the wallpaper (you know how husbands are when it comes to their "Honey Do" lists.) 

In The Beginning was the Wood!

This is the vanity after I scrubbed all the wood with Murphy's Wood Soap.  

I started dumping drawers then I remembered I needed a BEFORE picture.

 Thoroughly cleaning your wood is not necessary but was important to me.  I was surprised at the amount of furniture polish that accumulated in three months since the last time I stripped the wood. 

In The End was the Americana Decor® Chalky Finish Vanity

I love my new vanity.  To achieve this color:

 Mix One Part Americana® Decor™Chalky Finish "Yesteryear "

One part Americana® Decor™ Chalky Finish "Relic."

CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER FABULOUS COLORS AND COMBINATIONS

HOW I REFRESHED THE VANITY: 

Remove doors and drawers from vanity.

1. Thoroughly clean your vanity of dust, dirt, wax, etc.  Clean wood requires less paint.
2. Apply painter's tape to surfaces you want to protect.   
3. To achieve this color: Mix One Part Americana® Decor™Chalky Finish "Yesteryear " and One Part "Relic."  Mix paint in small batches.  I used syringes to mix my paint and added an extender to prevent the paint from drying too quickly.  The color will be consistent. 
4. Apply paint. Usually, only one coat of paint is needed.  I applied two and allowed 30 minutes drying time between coats.  After applying final coat, I allowed my vanity dry for 2 days but I am a little OCD!)
5. Apply Decor™Creme Wax (clear.) I allowed the wax to dry tacky to the touch then buffed and repeated.  (Just remember, I am OCD.)***

 10mL syringes I used to mix my paint.  I was able to reduce waste by mixing small batches.

THE MODESTY WALL

I painted the counter of the modesty wall to match the vanity and trimmed it with Decor® "Carbon."

I allowed all of these surfaces to cure for a week.  Lots of wet stuff gets deposited here.

VANITY HARDWARE

Cabinet hardware is expensive.  Reusing is a much better idea.  Chalk paints provide great coverage and, if properly sealed and cured, will last for years or until your next "refreshing' project!

ACCESSORIES

The toothbrush holder and soap dish were originally pink.  The ring holder was pink and white with little flowers.  The soap dispenser is Ms. Meyer's®.  I forgot to take pictures before I started painting.  The decoupaged design is a napkin!

THE LIGHT FIXTURE

 I painted over the old metal fixture, put in some new LED bulbs and I was done! What a difference!

Thanks to Americana Decor® Chalky Finishes my bathroom has gone from this:

TO THIS:

The new smaller commode helped the transformation.  These cool colors help the room appear larger and the white just feels "clean."

The window shade is white not blue.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

My next planned project for the Blogger Outreach Program is to transform my dressing closet into a craft storage/mini workroom!  I have to estimate how much paint is needed and then decide if it is feasible.  I encourage you to look around your home and find a DIY project.  Start small and work your way up.  Chalk paints are great and easy to use which is perfect for novice DIYers like me!

HUGZ!

CHANA MALKAH!

*** For those who are not OCD!

(excerpt from DecoArt® web page)

AMERICANA DECOR® CHALKY FINISH

Quickly and easily refurbish flea market finds with Americana Decor® Chalky Finish paint. This ultra-matte chalk paint requires no priming or sanding before using. No special skills required to achieve looks from shabby chic to bohemian modern. Customize with waxes or varnishes to finish and protect the paint surface. Unlike Annie Sloan branded waxes, Americana Decor wax does not need to be reapplied to upkeep the protective finish.

Intro to Chalky Finish

see all Americana Decor® Chalky Finish videos

• Ultra-matte, chalky finish
• Available in 29 vintage, intermixable colors
• No priming or prep needed
• Adheres to even the slickest surfaces
• Easier to distress than other acrylic paints
• One-coat coverage with most colors on most surfaces
• Durable due to unique cross-linking feature of paint resin system
• Water-based for easy clean-up
• Made in the USA

Believe - Quietfire Guest Designer

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

I am so excited to present this project as a Guest Designer for Quietfire Creations!
I was honored to be invited, and trust me, I agonized over what to create!  Eventually,
I created two projects using the  Quietfire "Believe" Die

Project #1   An Upcyled Ping Pong Paddle
Project #2   A Journal Cover

I was inspired by a project from Asmah Abidin.  She had the fabulous idea of upcycling a ping pong paddle.  I thought this would be the perfect showcase for the Quietfire "Believe" Die!

I sent my hubby off to the Goodwill and he returned with 2 paddles, and a Racketball Racket, which he says he purchased in self defense just in case inspiration took a left turn somewhere.
(Translation no more sudden trips to the Goodwill. )

The elegance of this Quietfire "Believe Die"  really draws the eye into this design, I think!   

Quietfire offers a Believe Stamp Set that could be used to complement the die. 

Paper piecing has become a true port of refuge for me on the days my hands don't work well enough for me to color.  I drew the colors for my paddle from her jacket!.

 The dark wood stain, really brought out the earth colors.   To brighten the palette a little,  I added the orange-red flowers and a smathering of TH Abandoned Coral DI on the flourishes.
PROJECT #2 - JOURNAL

I resisted the temptation to make the spine and back more elaborate!  I decided to leave both black and add only random swipes of gold!  I covered the entire project with three coats of  Liquitex Professional Gloss Varnish...the effect is quiet lovely!