My Table Makeover inspired by pinterest

Although my skills as a blogger are not that great, my craftiness is pretty awesome (if I do say so myself!)  I have been so inspired this summer to create new and different things.  Over the next couple of days, I plan to up date you on several FINISHED projects.  Yes, they are done and just need to be posted for the world to see.
 So here's the latest project:

My Craft Table Makeover

Here is a picture of the table that inspired this project.  I found it on pinterest.com.  You can see my pinboard at     http://re.pn/b/jNed  

You can also click the photo for a link to the original blog that featured this piece.

I was visiting one of the local "antique" stores in our downtown area. I say "antique" because not everything is antique strictly speaking.  I stumbled upon this treasure and had a feeling that it needed to come home with me. I'll been in this cleaning, de-clutter, makeover mode and knew that this table could become something really special.

The table in its original state.

Next came the hard part: deciding on the perfect color scheme. After a couple of trips to my local Home Depot and my trusty pinboard, I decided on these:

 You may be asking yourself, why three colors?  Well, let's find out.

The Tutorial:

The look that I wanted to achieve was a rustic, "hey, look at this cool old table that I found" distressed painted look.  This works great for those of us that don't have the patient for perfection. 

I started by giving the table a good sanding with a palm sander.  If you don't have one, they are available for a variety of prices starting at about $30.  What could have taken hours with manual labor took about 20 minutes with the electric sander.

Next, clean the table thoroughly with tack cloth.  Tack cloth has a slightly sticky texture that picks up all the dirt and sawdust from sanding.

I wanted the table to appear to have several old coats of paint coming through from age and use.  So, I began by using a layer of golden leaf yellow.  The paint I used was a latex semi-gloss.

Don't worry about  brush strokes at this time.  I wanted to see the grain of the wood coming through the paint.  I did not use a primer either-trying to use the least amount of steps.

Great hint:  I think this originally came from real simple magazine.  Stretch a rubber band (or two) across the open paint can and use it to wipe of the excess paint from your brush.  Works like magic and the paint falls back in the can.





Let the paint dry completely according to the package.  I have trouble waiting and live in Texas were the temperature was about 105 degrees in my garage, so that took about 30 minutes.
Next step:
On to my beautiful peacock feather paint color.  I gave the table one good coat of the teal blue. Again, I wasn't to concerned with covering all of the yellow paint because I am going to distress the table anyway.

peacock feather paint over the golden leaf

Again, let it dry completely.   Now, I began giving my new "old" table that well loved look by using a coarse sandpaper to rub away the blue paint in areas that would get a lot of use over time.  Some places the yellow shows through and in others the wood is visible.

 Final step,  I used a glaze and some of the dark pewter paint over the peacock feather.  The gray glaze just adds another layer of depth to the finished table.  To apply the glaze: use a chip brush to roughly apply the glaze.  Next wipe it away with an old t-shirt.  You can purchase paint rags at Home Depot, but I bet you have a drawer full of old stained t-shirts that would be great to recycle.  That's it.  Check out the finished product.

I'll post pics of the table in it's new home soon, but I have some other things to create before the room is ready for the big blog reveal.

'til later,

Tangy

Wine label coasters- Now Available

Hi to all!  Another busy week of taxi-ing the kid to her various classes.  This week, sewing for her.  I love to see her following in the creative footsteps.  So what have I been up to lately?  Creating these wonderful wine label coasters that are now for sale on my etsy site.  Check out the link www.etsy.com/shop/kikus . 
  Here's a little preview of what's there.

'til later.
Tangy

It's good to finish what you start- even if it takes 3 months.....

So sometime this spring I became acquainted with the pillowcase dress.  They are everywhere in the deep south. We Southerns love our little ladies to be cute and comfy with lots of extra cuteness thrown in.  I made the first dress back in probably March with the intent to make a matching one for some lovely little ladies that I know in Mandeville, LA.  Well, Tuesday after some dental work (not so fun) I finally finished the second dress. This morning I decided to add some matching headbands to complete the look.  What little girl doesn't love a bow? Well, check out the pics below to see the finished looks.  Hopefully, the dresses will fit (fingers crossed) and I'll get a pic soon of the girls to post.
(By no means am I taking credit for inventing the dress pattern or headbands, but I always put the kikus spin on things.)

'til later today,

Tangy

It's been a while

Hi there,
   So the best laid plans have a way of going some place else.  It's July- Happy Belated 4th to all of you!  We have been a busy bunch here in Texas.  Lots of pinning (pinterest ya know) and creativity is exploding out of me. So many ideas and things that I want to accomplish, blogging about it is up at the top of the list.

  Well, I have completed several projects with many more in various stages of doneness. I need to upload a ton of pics and start posting soon.  Check back later today to see what was happened in the last 3 weeks.
'til then,


Tangy