Project 11 & 12 Decoupage French Ad Coffee Tray & Nautical Table

This old night table got a little bit of a change. I printed out some old map graphics that I found on the Graphics Fairy site and I gave her a nice French Grey chaulk paint.

 I used modpodge to fasten the maps and then when that was dry I covered the top in a thin coat of laquer for protection.

Now this is a table befitting a home at the shore.

Here it is when I found it.. the before. someone had given up on her.

Below is another very simple project of decoupage which is one of my favorite art mediums.

I came across one of those vintage trays for holding pyrex casserole dishes, and wanted to spruce up the bottom for use as a coffee table tray. I chose a graphic from The Graphics Fairy and printed it out on 2 pages.

Then applied modpodge to the tray and decoupaged the paper print out onto the tray. You have to smooth a lot to release air bubbles.
When it is all dry, another coat on top for protection and it is done!

I hope you like them, and give it a try,

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Project #2 for 2012 a found Vanity

Project 2
This is one piece that spoke to me, one day as I walked with my grandbaby down the street from her house to mine. "Rescue me"it whispered, while 2 men were tossing things out of a house. so I stopped and looked and I asked if anything was wrong with this piece. They just had no use for it... so... back I walked to get my son's truck and rescue her I did.
But I did it again. Forgot the dark and oak-y shots...Got so excited and dove right in. Here is the finished product. Annie Sloan to the rescue on this abandoned vanity.

 This vanity was all dark oak.
Halfway through the paint application, I did the dunce move on my head.. :)
"You dope you forgot the befores"
So you may have to imagine a wee bit of the before. Here is a couple shots I stopped and took.

The whole thing was dark

Then I got back to work on it.

My Inspiration:

I really like the highly distress look of this bureaux, below that I spotted and photographed,

 at Home Goods

So I set out to do a similar finish.

A close up below of that inspiration bureaux.

And a close up of my vanity below when finished.

I'm pleased as puddin on how pretty she is.

And today she went in my booth in Cape May

I already had an admirer before I even got the tag on her.

That feels good.... I did take my time finishing her. 

It was off and on work for 3 days, cause my life gets in the way.

You know how that goes, with laundry and dishes, and God forbid, anyone should need to eat!

But.. got her done.

Do you like it?

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First project for 2012 The Basement

I needed to update the basement. And I went a little Frenchy.

I started with paint.  I know bad blogger I didn't take before shots. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and excited and just dive in!!
The bottom half of the wall was wood paneling similar to the floor, which is a medium to light wood laminate. (It had been carpeting but we changed that out about 5 years ago.)
The top half of those walls were wallpaper which  we had too much trouble getting off, so just painted over. I like how it turned out...The wallpaper had a texture so the paint looks neat.

The fresh coat of paint was nice but needed a bit more. ...I did get that before picture, after the paint was done..

After some organizing, hanging paintings, and cleaning up, time to get to the finishing touches.

I took an old cookie pan that was almost destined for the recycle bin,

 And mod podged it into a tray for cocktails

 With images from the Graphics Fairy

I gotta tell ya those sofas are slipcovered with a faux leather,that comes with separate seat covers I bought from Surefit 3 years ago and they have withstood the test of time and teenagers... boys no less! These slipcovers have held their ground on 2 totally different sofas, that are too old to comprehend.
Trust me you don't want to see them as a before!
One is a T cushion seat and one is a regular seat. These cover a hodgepodge of leftovers, they are the best slips I ever bought and have a soft suede like feel. I highly recommend them.

The seat with all the throw pillows, lift ups for storage and I just covered four kings size pillows

with dropcloth for seating

  I added a mix of pillows we had with a few new ones from Home Goods

The old trunk has been around forever and was painted pink when I purchased it.
 It got a fresh coat of a Behr color called "calming retreat", the same as on the walls.
It's a nice soft neutral beige with a tiny hint of pink, like soft sand, at sunset.

And a calming retreat is what the basement actually feels like now, when I want to get away from the noise above.
 It even reflects more light the minute I open the door to head down there...( which I avoided when it was dark paneling )
A Frenchy candle here and there adds to the effect. Also mod podged with images from the "Graphics Fairy"

hmmmnn... maybe I will just start working down here in this space. It turned out pretty cozy.
What'ya think?

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Before and after French Provincial table

I should have been Christmas shopping but..

This morning while I had my coffee, I transformed this table with a nice cleaning and freshened it up with some creamy white paint.

This is how it looked when I found it. It was in dire need of some care, some love, some TLC.
And since painting and working with my hands is good therapy for me, I was in the mood today.

It has the prettiest marble top

And now it's quite the gem...Don't ya think?

What a difference some paint makes, huh?

I put this one in my booth in North End Garage in Cape May New Jersey.

sharing at Metamorphosis Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Favorite things to do in the Autumn?

Sorry I haven't posted much during October, but I have been busy painting and a million other things.
I am still working on the guest room/ slash office re-do, and will post some of my progress this weekend.
But I've been waltzing around town taking some pictures here and there, and I wanted to share with you some of the things I enjoy the most in the fall season.
I still love the beach this time of year!

Who wouldn't love this feast for the eyes. The clouds make it so pretty, don't they?

My Cottage is up in that cluster of houses. 

Beach Cruisers waiting for the return of their owners as they walk on the beach, 

no need for chains and locks.

Just around the bend of the beach up here...it looks like you can jump and touch those clouds!

Around the bend is the lighthouse.

Looking Halloweenie even without it's decor yet.

I've discovered a few new shops too, and especially wanted to mention 

the North End Garage in Cape May.

I was drawn in immediately when I spotted the front window. I love vintage bottles.

they're multi-colored glass sparkling in the sun.

I love to browse around these places. this one has a few different dealers.

 I love all the different rugs on the floor.

I adore this perfect size trunk.

So eclectic.

And this cute little dresser has smuckers lids as handles. I love that idea!

Ok.. so I have to get back to working on my guest/ office room. I posted that plan here.

I knew it would be a long journey, lots of other things to do along the way.

This bed and this bureaux below are what I have been working on, painting

Here is a sneak peak at the bed still in progress.

It is a three step process, for the many layers look I'm after. 

the headboard just has the grey as of yet.

the footboard has the 2nd step also

Annie Sloan Paris grey

Then Annie sloan Off white dry brushed over that

Then some sanding.

This entire room is being redone with just the cost of paint.

All the furniture I am using has been taken from different rooms in the house or storage.

And this pretty antique pitcher will be getting a sweet spot in the new room.

Isn't it the sweetest thing?

I'm off to do some more work on my little Frenchy room.

Have a great weekend!

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