Headboard Shelf

Oh, Pinterest, how you tempt me....


We have never had a headboard in our master bedroom.  I usually have 26" square pillows with coordinating linens as my headboard.  Recently, I changed up our bed linens from green to blue - and wanted to do something different over the bed. 


Enter Pinterest Pins like this one, or this one...
...and then add in a new miter saw for the Handy Hubby...

And here's how it went down...I've added a lot of pictures, so that other DIYers may be able to follow the steps.


We measured the width of the king sized bed and decided we wanted the shelf to be a little longer than that, so we settled on 77".  Her are the pictures of Handy Hubby assembling the shelf:


He used three pieces of 3/4" plywood for the structure...

 ...added trim to the second lower section

...and rounded trim for the outside edges...  It was all glued in place with wood glue and then taped until the glue was dry.

..and finally, nailed into place.

We used wood putty to cover all of the nails/screws and imperfections in the wood.  After it dried, we sanded it smooth.

Handy Hubby built his own corbels, because we couldn't find any we liked at the hardware stores.
See why I call him HANDY!?!

The corbels were screwed into place from the back side.  We decided to add some additional trim to create "frames" on the lower part of the shelf, but I neglected to get pictures of those going on!


And then we went to town with the finishing process.
We applied four light coats of heirloom white spray paint, lightly sanding between each coat.  Why spray paint? This is a color that I really like and I had too many, several some cans on hand.  ;)


Also, Handy Hubby hates to paint and can't stand brush marks.  We even looked at paint sprayers, but he hasn't made a final decision on which model he wants to invest in.


Notes:

• light coats of spray paint help avoid streaking
• plywood soaks up the paint.

Here she is after the painting/sanding process:

A bit of sanding on the edges helped to distress/age the piece and I added some stain I had left over from my kitchen cabinets - applying the stain more heavily to the sanded edges.  The stain works great, because you can brush it on and then wipe off as much, or as little, as you like.  Using a damp rag to wipe off the stain will help you take off even more.


The final step was to protect her with two coats of satin polyurethane.  Here are some closeups of the final look:

This piece is heavy.  Hubby estimates it to be around 30-40 pounds.  Because I was a little nervous about it potentially falling down on our heads, he purchased hanging hardware that was rated for much heavier.  The hardware was screwed into studs for extra measure.

Now the fun part...What to put on it!?

I think I will enlarge/print a family photo, frame it and sit it on the shelf, leaning against the wall.

Accessories and fabrics:

• Candle holders - Hobby Lobby
• Burlap - from my stash
• Candles - Michaels
• 26" pillow covers - I found the fabric 50% off at JoAnn's and made the slipcovers myself.  I think I have enough left over to make a matching drapery valance.
• Throw pillow - Hobby Lobby
• Black Letter "P" - The Farm Chicks Show

I'm really happy with how this piece turned out.  She makes me smile!  What do you think?


-TracyP

Linking back to:
Craft-o-Maniac Monday
Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase

Paint Chip Calendar

I've been looking for different DIY calendar ideas - to help keep my family on track for appointments, etc.  Looking at my Pinterest boards (here,here and here) , there were quite a few "paint chip calendars".  So, I decided to try my hand at one.


I scoured the house for a suitably sized frame, but couldn't find one that had the right feel for my kitchen. So off to Hobby Lobby I went! (Any excuse is a good one...)


Going to our Hobby Lobby isn't a simple out-n-back.  It's 50 miles away... but so worth the drive.  Trying to avoid large crowds, I went early. Since I hadn't been there in a while and I was ALL BY MYSELF, I took the time to slowly shop the store. PAY OFF - on the clearance aisle, I found these beautiful frames for $8.00 - marked down from $39.99! Yes, I bought four...they're gorgeous and if I can't find a use for them, my hubby will use them to frame his photography. Happy girl...

The frame was a little dark for the kitchen, so it got a coat of heritage white spray paint...and some distressing on the embellished edge...and a little stain to age it.
(Sorry!  I forgot to take photos of that part!)


Next, I went through the scrapbook paper I've been hoarding collecting and found something that complemented the paint chip colors I chose. Scrapbooking adhesive worked to adhere the paper directly to the frame backing (?) - you know, the part that holds the picture and glass in place.

I had picked up the paint chips at my local hardware store - the same place I buy all my paint, rationalizing that I had spent so much on paint, they could throw in some paint chips...(rational or not?)

Figuring the necessary allowance for the frame coverage, I "eyeballed" the paint chips into place:

Because my paper was embossed and had a shiny finish, regular scrapbooking adhesive wouldn't work to adhere the paint chips. I resorted to plain ol' Elmer's glue.  It worked like a charm.

I placed the glass over the paint chips to hold them down until the glue dried and then cleaned the glass and put it all together in the frame:

Here it is, hanging on my kitchen wall just above my apron holder (you can find that tutorial here). 

14x18 frame at Hobby Lobby:  $8.00
Heritage white spray paint from my stash: $0.00
Paint chips form hardware store:  $0.00
Actually completing a project from one of my Pinterest boards:  PRICELESS!

-TracyP


linked to:


     

Vintage Artillery Case - A More Peaceful Use

I found this artillery case at a garage sale and was able to pick it up at a reasonable price.  I loved the wooden structure, old rope handles and stamped military labeling.

My handy hubby installed the webbing, so that the lid would stay open.

I had purchased a few too many annuals (Hey! They were on a killer SALE!) and this box needed a more peaceful purpose. I love the incongruity!

More work to do on our backyard "sanctuary", but off to a good start!

-TracyP

Cabinet Transformation

So many projects, so little time....and life "happens".  After 12 years in our house, I've finally updated the kitchen cabinets! Being a DIY-er, I just couldn't get comfortable with the idea of spending thousands of dollars on a new kitchen. We've painted the kitchen (twice) and installed bamboo flooring, but the cabinets just never got to the top of the list. This year, I used part of our spring break to "git 'er done". Cue Rustoleum's Cabinet Transformation kit!

The process, while time consuming (5 days - 2 with my wonderful daughter helping full-time), really wasn't that difficult.  If you can apply a smooth coat of paint, you can do this!

Here are the "before" photos:

AND AFTER!
I used two small Rustoleum Cabinet Transformation kits ~$50 each and installed all new cabinet/drawer hardware.

I still need to finish the the countertop bullnose, install the baseboard and paint the doors/trim, but I am loving how the cabinets turned out!
It's so much lighter and brighter.  Sigh....happy girl!


-TracyP