From ugly to chic..

I inherited this wood bookshelf from my father-in-law.   He used it when he was a kid and it served its purpose holding my kids' books and stuffed animals in my family room.  But, then I rearranged my family room and when the love seat wasn't blocking it, I realized how BLAH it was.

So I decided to get all crafty and try to make it cuter.   I first spray painted it espresso brown, but it was really a chocolate brown (not a dark chocolate-- more like a Hershey's bar).   Not a fan.

So then I brushed on this glaze.   The problem is that there's not any nooks or crannies for the glaze to stick to.  I found a big dry brush and after painting on the glaze with a foam brush, I ran the big coarse brush over it to create a subtle finish.   Be warned-- it takes 2 days for the glaze to dry this way.

I then decided to paint the back and then stencil it, but I think I realized how much work that would be.  So then I thought I would modge podge scrapbook paper, but I didn't find any paper I liked.   But, then I found this fabric at Hobby Lobby.  It was on sale for $15 a yard.

 

I then used spray adhesive to spray it to the hard board backing and then I snuck in a few staples around the edges.    And I had my hubby nail it to the back of the bookshelf. 

And here it is! (with the sunlight streaming in on it)...  

 

 

BEFORE

My first refinishing job!

I decided to give refinishing some nesting tables of mine a try!   I received from freecycle 2 oak nesting tables.    They don't have much going for them in the design department, but I loved that they were free.  I spraypainted them a glossy black and enjoyed them for the last few months.  Until the finger prints started.  The glossy finish kept a running record of each time my kids touched it.

I then decided to get crafty!  I found some robin egg blue paint in my garage and I realized what I needed to do!   I painted the tables with a crappy brush and didn't even prime them first.   After two coats, I added a dark brown/black glaze from Lowe's with a foam brush.   I then used a damp rag (or old t-shirt) to remove the glaze from where I didn't want it and voila!  Some very cool tables that actually accent my living room now!