Creating Chalkboard Cabinet Doors from Habitat Restore

Our local Habitat Restore has stockpiles of new and used cabinet doors priced at $1 each.  Yep - one buck!  So, now, I have a little stockpile of my own....

Here is an example of new ones.  I started by sanding, then priming, so the paint (Benjamin Moore Paradise Valley) would not chip so easily.  Then, using my Purdy XL cub brush, I painted the center with chalkboard paint.  I adore this brush - I didn't use any painter's tape!  Who doesn't love a good shortcut???

Then, I used one of my new favorite machines I just discovered at our plant to drill holes for the knobs.  A very old but amazing drill press!  You will be seeing more work with this baby.  It has made my life so much easier!  It can hold just about any drill bit I want to use - and drills it straight!  Oh - I think I'm in love :)

Added these knobs I found at half price from Hobby Lobby - they were $1.50 each.  Now, a peek at some of my projects with the cabinet doors I have been accumulating.  (That's a nicer word than hoarding maybe?)

Lots of Works In Progress going on around here.  Hope to share more soon!

As always, I am so thankful you stopped by!  

Big Bright Blue Shutter Jewelry Holder!

Once upon a time, I found some old shutters at Habitat Restore.  (For real, it was around May of last year)  I had so much fun with my first project, my old pink shutter, that whenever I find shutters anywhere I grab them!   Here you see this shutter looking so lonely and bare on the old shower curtain I use for painting in the backyard.  

Here is the paint to give it a new life!  This is my youngest daughter's favorite color and, how convenient, that it comes in a spray can?

I sanded the shutters a bit then sprayed the paint right on - no priming, or any other prep work.  Sweet!  Added some knobs and drawer pulls I also bought at Restore - they were $1 each.  Here is my favorite one.  I think it would be so cute on a little boys dresser or maybe even whitewashed or glazed or painted!

Well, here it sits by the back door ready to get loaded into the car with tons of other stuff and travel with Julia to her college apartment.  I wish I had a picture to share of it with her jewelry because it looks really great.  She was sweet to send her Mom a picture but Mom lost it somewhere in her computer.    

I will get another one and add it soon!  

She has earrings hooked over the shutter slats and necklaces/bracelets on the knobs and handles.   The upside down pull holds her earring studs.  And she has pictures tucked into the slats.  Oh - I hope to share a picture soon!

And her friends loved it so much that I have made 3 more jewelry organizers (and they are not all shutters)   I hope to share those soon!

until next time!    

  

Finally finished my Dog Pillow!

I have been promising my daughter, Kathleen, that I would make her sweet Morkie a pretty pillow.  That was, ummm, about 6 months ago.    Today, I finally made it.  I'm one of those that needs the fabric to "talk" to me for inspiration.  And, I just bet, a lot of you understand!  

So, I found my inspiration fabric at Hobby Lobby last week.  It's a colorful paisley mixed with flowers on a black background.  I love this fabric.  Sad to say, I didn't write down the name of the fabric pattern and, when I went back to JoAnns, it was not there.  They sold out of it fast.   Well, live and learn....seems to be my theme lately.

Back to the pillow.  I wanted it to fit a standard pillow which is usually 20 x 28 inches.  I like to make my pillows a little smaller than any insert I will use - makes it a little more plumpy  (is that a word?)   It was originally going to be an envelope pillow but I decided, at the last minute, to experiment with an invisible zipper.  

This is my attempt and I tried to follow the manufacturer's instructions.  But, I gave up and sort of winged it.   Pinned the right side of one zipper side to the right side of the fabric.  Used my zipper foot to stitch as close as possible to the zipper teeth.

Pinned the other zipper half the same way (right side to right side)  and stitched again.  

 Okay, not too bad a job.

Now for the fun part... final construction of the doggie pillow!

Pin the right sides together and stitch all around.  FYI - I always forget to unzip before I finish the last side so I have to creatively find a way to unzip the pillow so I can turn it right side out.  

Insert pillow and I am finished!  Maybe.  I think I want to round out the corners...

Ohh - one last thing.  This is the next dog bed/pillow I want to make.  Love it!

By Leah Anderson

until next time!

Pillow Day!

Today was pillow day for me.  And it feels soooo good to finally start using some of the fabric I have been accumulating.   One of my favorites is this one with pink and green animal/reptile silhouettes. 

 It is similar to one I used on an old Lonestar chair that I bought at Restore for $5.00.  And, it was my first time using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!

   I love both these fabrics and think they would be adorable in a little girl's room.   The pattern design is something you would expect more in a boy's room and that is one reason I love it!   

Okay, so, back to my pillows.  I made two with the first fabric.  The 18" x 18" pillow back was made with painter's drop cloth and has a zipper in the back.  My 14" square pillow is an envelope pillow using the same fabric on the back.    They are different because I am experimenting a bit here.  (More to come)

Not the best picture - I will replace it soon....  And put on your shades for the next pillow.  I love this fabric - it is so happy cheerful!  (For some reason it looks a little "Dr. Seussish" to me - and that is all anything takes to catch my eye)  This 18" square pillow is another envelope one.   

 (FYI - the envelope pillow is my favorite to make.  Since I am NOT so great at tutorials, check out this site for instructions. Or, just Google it, as my kids say!)  More pillows and lovely fabrics coming soon......

until next time!