WOW... it's been awhile

It's been almost a year since I've posted.  That's just crazy...  Life is crazy busy and I just don't have the time (or energy) to blog anymore.

I've been getting a TON of spam comments lately, so I figured I would jump on and fix that problem.  So, I disabled comments.  I was planning on shutting it down completely, but I know there's some links floating around.

For anyone interested...

The house is FANTASTIC.  We love it!  We're finishing up having all the carpet (except in the bedrooms) replaced with tile.

Mom is doing well, but it's been a LONG journey (and it's not over yet).  After chemo didn't completely obliterate things, she started radiation and then ended up in the hospital where she had another surgery and they found more tumors.  She recently finished radiation and is waiting for another PET scan and consult with the oncologist.  She's made it this far, I know she can beat this!

Thanks to everyone and anyone for listening to me ramble about stuff!  I love you guys!

Blue cabinet with a SURPRISE

Finally decided to sit down and post about this cabinet.  You can't really tell in this pic, but this thing is pretty ragged.  There were holes in the top, like someone had screwed something in it.  Just generally in sad shape.

So some sanding, wood putty, paint, distressing, glaze and wax later (sheesh)...

It is a really pale blue, though it looks pretty much white in this photo.  Should've took pics outside before I brought it in, but I didn't...

I got the knobs from the $1 section of Michaels... and they were on clearance... paid like 30 cents for them!

So what's the surprise you ask?  I've had this heavy duty  fancy wrapping paper laying around for awhile.  Sometimes I use it (if it's for someone really special!), but mostly it's just kinda sat around. So...

The inside back and shelf!

The inside of the door!

It's a little bit of POW when you open up the doors!  I just thought it would be fun!

And since the painting doesn't ever seem to end... Keeping in the same idea as the headboard and nightstand from my last post, I used a doily!  So, now I have a bright orange doily to craft with, and a pretty cool side table!

I love orange and gray together!

Isn't that Pinteresting!

I'm frantically trying to get as many DIY projects done before moving day arrives.  I'm not quite sure how moving, unpacking and organizing a new house will work with DIY!  I have a feeling things will be a "work in progress" for a bit.

2 of the items needing attention were a headboard for M and a nightstand for A.  I was NOT looking forward to the sand, prime, paint routine.  Thankfully, I've got Pinterest and a plethora of pins on DIY chalk paint (not to be confused with chalkboard paint).  Had Hubs bring home some non-sanded grout to make my chalk paint.  I chose this method (you can also use plaster of paris and calcium carbonate) because, well... he got the grout for free!  For A's nightstand, I mixed it with some of a mis-tint $2.50 quart of almost white paint.  The grout got mixed in with some lovely purple for M's headboard.  Then I came across this pin for using lace over a dresser drawer.  Looked kinda cool, so off we went to the thrift store.  They each picked out their own lace, both VERY different!  Everything kinda sat around for a few weeks.  We all got sick and just generally busy.  I decided I was just going to go for it yesterday!

I'm the worst at remembering to take before pics, so I searched the computer and came up with nothing.  So, I'm going to require you to use your imagination here...

Before:

a grody, dark brown thrift store find (it was 99 cents)

After:

I was going to stop at just the drawer fronts, but I loved it so much I did the whole dang thing!  Of course, I finished it after the sun went down.  Drawer fronts is all you get for now.

Before:

a plain, Jane VERY poorly painted white headboard

After:

The headboard was a little tricky with getting the draping right.  The first side didn't look fantastic, but Hubs helped me tape and clamp and hold.  I am going to go back with some black paint on the very top edge, just to make it look more finished.

My overall thoughts... I LOVE how this turned out.  I'm gonna give it a couple days and then use finishing wax on both pieces.  I did have some problems with the top of the nightstand and the chalk paint.  I didn't sand or prime at all and I had problems with the second coat of the chalk paint lifting off. I think partly due to not letting the first coat dry completely and the fact that the top of that thing had a wicked glossy sheen.  So, I would suggest giving anything you're planning on painting with chalk paint a light sand, just to scuff the surface a bit.

One of my other major furniture projects is complete and I think it's pretty fantastic too!  I did manage to come across a pic to do a proper before and after.  So here it is before...

I think I paid like $5 for it.  I was in desperate need of some storage and it was cheap and functional.  I didn't have the time or budget to search for pretty.  I'm not going to share the after with you just yet.  I don't know if you could handle any more awesomeness!


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