Rustic Country...

There's just something about the country colors of red matched with the presumed modern color of gray... As I reach for my variety of colors to paint with, I usually grab the red. It's not only a popular color but is extremely warm and tends to be immediately noticed as soon as one enters a room.

This adorable buffet table was discovered in someone's driveway for FREE (I love that word)! It was a mess too- It took a little TLC and two amazing colors to turn it into the perfect piece for entertaining.

This set turned out so fun. They really are side tables but were so low I repurposed them here in this picture as a children's room set.

I love this toddler's rocking chair...

In spite of a corner getting chomped on by a dog, this coffee table turned out quite nicely. Sometimes I get more requests for the items I stage in these pictures than I do for the furniture I'm selling! Proves I need a shop ;)

LOVE our Mud Room. This very old dresser was made cheaply and by thin wood but we couldn't resist keeping it after we brought it into the mud room to stage for selling. it may be a little needy but it's a perfect example of rustic; old and charming!

I was rather surprised how many people wanted this repurposed coffee table chest! It was a little needy but with the help of a hammer and a cleaning cloth, it soon turned into a little beauty...

This desk was a cool find at a yard sale. I didn't think much of it the first time I saw it. However, once painted and staged for re-sell, it turned out super cute!

Rosettes and Sprigs of This and That...

Ladies Church Craft night meant trying something new- homemade burlap roses were fun to make and hard too! I had the ladies helping ME as I instructed THEM on craft night =)

All to say, We had a lovely evening and here are my two wreaths...

Mirrors and Moss

Taking a break from posting about chalk painted pieces to show you so DIY projects I've worked on. This was a dated mirror I found for $5 (I know- the magic number!) and combined with Michael's moss, it was tuned into a great entry mirror for a baby shower I held in my home.

 

Tropical Waters Blue...

This small side table was a $5 find. It was the end of a busy day of painting and I just wanted to paint something else. However, it was getting dark and I was running out of time so I picked this small piece and hurriedly brushed paint on it. The interesting thing about chalk paint is that it literally begs you to make a mess in order for it to be more beautiful. It turned out very cute!

I wanted to keep this gorgeous, heavy frame! It was another $5 find and was in desperate need of some lovin'. And as you can see, it got some!

Branching out in color and styles

When I first met this very exotic shade of blue, it was being happily brushed on my sister's wall in our newly purchased home. All I could think was, "Oh my goodness, that is an awful blue!". I rather changed my mind as the color grew from fad to timeless in a few short strokes of the brush.

 When mixed with calcium carbonate (click here to purchase) this Tropical Waters by Behr became a calming, serene choice on the pieces of furniture below.

I then tried my hand at a yellow shade that we had in our shed, as well as a fun orange color. In all, I'd say my personal favorite is the blue over the funky colors! I still managed to sell all of these pieces fairly quickly.  

 

 This cute twin be frame was a trash find! I loved it's character...

 This coffee table was darker in color (as you can see in the distress marks) and was purchased at a yard sale for $19 (because that's all I had left to spend in cash)

 I really enjoyed how this small entry table turned out. It's color made it easier to decorate in either a modern feel or a more rustic touch. Here, I gave it more of a rustic flavor.

This Mid-Century coffee table was a fun challenge- it's short height made it less desirable to buyers but one loved it for it's unique color scheme. Modern style in décor and color for sure!



Chalk paint... Is it that easy?

Yes, it's that easy! I pretty much slapped two different colors on the repurposed coffee table and it turned out so fun! 

 I bought the buffet table at a yard sale for $20 and did two colors as well. I love the tropical color scheme; it's so fresh and happy! I re-sold both of these pieces and then realized what a great hobby this would make. I now tend to look like the Beverly Hillbillies on Saturday mornings :-) 

More pictures to come...

Small Beginnnings and Great Savings...

SO... Chalk paint is super fun as it's an easy way to paint something... Fast! No sanding (sometimes light sanding needed) or too much prep work involved. I also love the way it turns out once it has dried. I think Annie Sloan paint looks fun and dreamy and I also enjoy listening to Annie talk in her British accent as she throws her paint brush this way and that but I've got good news for  you budget-minded folks.... Chalk paint can be made with leftover latex paint from your shed and some calcium carbonate powder (you can purchase off amazon.com) and add a Pinch of water to it and there you go! More pictures to come.. But these two pieces were my very first :)