Custom Mail Boxes...

 

Organize Your Mail

Using Chalkboard Paint

 

 Materials: Tip: When you go to the hardware store make sure to check the "Oops" paint shelf for great deals for a project like this.

* 1 or 2 Unfinished mail holders ( I found these at Michaels)
* Multi-Purpose primer ( I use Valspar :tinted gray)
* Light colored paint ( I used a cream: latex)
* Red paint (This is a pre-mixed red:Valspar enamel gloss)
* Chalkboard Paint
* Med grit sanding sponge (much easier for distressing)
* Small paint brush or sponge brush
* Small artist brush
* Old rag ( paper towel will work too, just not as good)
* Paper & Pencil

Steps: Tip: Layering  multiple colors of paint

will give you a since of depth: creating an aged appearance.

 

1. Lightly sand any rough areas & wipe down with damp towel.

2. Paint with Primer & let dry.

3. Paint with cream ( just kind of a light coat) & let dry.

4. Paint with red & let dry. (may need 2 coats of red).

5. Sand lightly all over for a more antique look.

( I decided that I didn't want mine to look new and glossy,

so I sanded most of the sheen off).

6. Sand harder over the edges to give it a "worn" look.

7. Wipe down with damp cloth.

8. Optional: I made my own glaze by mixing a bit of my

grey primer, a tad bit of chalkboard paint and a few drops of water.

*Paint this glaze over areas you want ( I did it all over).

* Wipe it off with a rag or paper towel.

* Repeat in some areas to make darker & wipe away.

9. Make a template out of paper of the size & shape

that you want your label to be.

10. Use template and trace around it on your mail holder.

11. Paint label with chalkboard paint & let dry.

12. Paint a 2nd coat of chalkboard paint & let dry.

13. Use chalk or a chalk Marker to customize your labels.

 

Hang and Enjoy!

 

                   

 

 

 

 



Mirror to Chalkboard...

What's on the Menu Tonight?

 

This is a great way to fill an awkward corner

 &

 tell the guests what's for dinner.

 

 

Materials Needed:

* Mirror (I just bought a cheap tall mirror from Meijer)

* Multi-Purpose Primer (I used Valspar and had it tinted grey)

* Chalkboard Paint

* Nice high quality angle brush (Purdy or Wooster)

* Painters tape ( if you are messy)

* Newspapers or drop cloth

* Chalkboard Markers ( bought mine at Michaels)

 

Steps: Tip: Always ,always, always stir your paints well before using!!

1. Make sure the mirror is clean & free of dust.

2. Tape around the border ( optional)

3. Paint on primer & let dry.

4. Paint a 2nd coat of primer & let dry.

5. Paint on Chalkboard Paint (don't paint on too thick) & let dry.

6. Paint on a 2nd coat of chalkboard paint & let dry.

7. Optional: Antique metal frame: Mix a bit of the chalkboard paint with some water & use a small paint brush to paint in frame seams and ridges. Quickly wipe most of it off.

8. When everything has completely dried, use the paint markers to write out a menu, or decorate as you wish.

Tip: To help you write straight across: Cut out a piece of cardboard to the width of mirror (so it fits inside the frame). Use regular chalk and draw a line across using the cardboard for a straight edge. Then you can use your markers to follow your chalk line. Then when your marker paint has dried, you can easily wipe away your chalk line.



Ways to Use Chalkboard Paint

This Week I'll be sharing 5 projects where I used chalkboard paint.

 

Use Chalkboard Paint to make

Custom Planters

 

                         

                         

 

 I love to use fresh herbs in my cooking, but  I don't have a window in my kitchen (just a slider door)  so this little set up makes it nice and easy to pick up and move to and from the sunlight.

What you'll need to make this:

 

* Unfinished crate ( I found mine on sale at Michaels)

* Stain (Any color you want. I used a water based)

* Sand Paper ( I used a fine grit sanding sponge)

* Terra Cotta pots and saucers ( I found mine at Meijer's)

* Multi Purpose Primer ( I got mine tinted a light grey. I always use Valsar Paint)

* Flat white paint ( I used latex)

* Black Chalkboard paint

* Foam Brush

* Stiff Paint Brush

* Artist size paint brush

* Old Rag

* Chalk markers ( I got these at Michaels)                                            

 

THE CRATE:

1. Use the sanding sponge or sandpaper and get rid of all the rough areas.

2. Use a damp cloth to get all of the dust off.

3. Use the sponge brush or an old rag to apply stain ( I worked one section at a time).

4. Wipe off stain with a rag.

5.Once you have stained the whole thing, let it dry. (or put a 2nd coat on like I did) just depends on how dark you want it to be.

 

THE PLANTERS:

Tip: I use old pizza boxes as my "drop cloth"& to set my freshly painted items on.

1. Paint on the primer ( I just used a foam brush) and let dry.

2. Use the stiff dry paint brush & dip the tip in the white paint.

3. Brush on white paint ( I dragged it across so you could see the grey though the white) & let dry.

4. Cut a circle out of paper & use it to trace a circle where you want it on the planter.

5. Use a smaller paint brush to paint on the chalkboard paint in the circle & let dry.

6. You will most likely have to paint on a 2nd coat of the chalkboard paint.

7. Once everything has completely dried then you can use chalk markers to customize your planters.

8. Plant your plants in the planters.

9. Place your customized planters inside the crate.
 





Keep on "Rolling" with the Hommies ...

If you're on Pintrest, then you know there are a lot of  creative and artsy ways to reuse a toilette paper roll. This is probably the easiest.

 

Problem: Cell Phone Case + Dock = Bad Connection

 

Solution: TP Roll                                                    

  

Steps: 1.Take a toilette paper roll and flatten it a bit         

2. Place it behind your phone              

3.DONE                                               

 

 

 

 

Story Behind This Solution:

 

Cell phone cases are necessary, but annoying to take on and off when you want to dock it. I can't take off my case without either breaking it or hurting my self, so I keep it on to dock it on our Bose. In leaving the case on, I have to carefully dock it and then make sure it doesn't lean back too far, or else it will stop the music. What could be more annoying than listening to music while in the shower, and then have it abruptly stop?  Resulting in you having to get out and adjust it with no guarantee it won't happen again. I was trying to figure out what I could use to prop it up, and there was a empty roll on the counter. I squished it to size, and it worked like a charm. It might look weird, but it works!

Corky Inspirations

A Corky & Colorful Way

to

 Organize Your Kitchen

 

 

Great way to:

 

*Recycle old corkboard

*Organize your measuring cups

*Create a baking center

*Fill an awkward wall space

*Add some color to your kitchen

 

 

 

One annoying thing about corkboard squares, is that the corners are easily broken off. This is what happened to mine, and I didn't have the heart to through it away. I decided to tear the rest of the edges and used it to hang my measuring cups.