Console Table Re-do

I bought this console table from Target years ago. And it served a great purpose but I started resenting the color. I wanted a piece in my living room that had a little more character to it. All my furniture was starting to be too matchy matchy, so I got this little creative bug in my brain and decided to paint it. Of course telling my husband about what I was going to do made him less than thrilled. I wish he would just trust me when I tell him I want to paint the furniture :)

Here is the sad little before picture.... :(
I had dropped some oil on the table a few years ago and it literally rubbed the paint of the wood right off. I tried to cover it with picture frames and stuff but they just kept staring at me like a flash light.
I decided to try the chalk paint mixture first since I had never used it before. So I first started with sanding the table. Really lightly. I think the chalk paint is designed to eliminate the step of sanding but since I had never done it before I just wanted to be safe.
Next came the mixture. I used a quart of Valspar Ultra Paint + Primer in a Satin sheen. I picked Garden of Paradise. Adorable color!! I also picked up some Plaster of Paris from Michael's to mix with the paint. I used a big mixing tub and I mixed 2 cups of paint, 5 tbs of plaster and 2 tbs of water. The secret is really really really mixing the paint up. Mine left some bubbly things on the table as I painted. But again it being my first time I kind of over looked them. I was able to scrub off a lot after it dried, but mixing it really well first would cut down on the step.

I wanted this table to have a nice distressed feel to it and my first thought was as much as I loved the color it was too bright for me. It needed something else. So I tried to paint a few areas lightly with some left over black paint I had and it wasn't the look I was going for. It was too harsh.
Next up I took the sander and had some fun!! I roughed up the edges and a few spots on the table. It was a lot of fun but I highly recommend using safety glasses. I learned that the hard way.
After searching around I found the best thing ever!!! Valspar Antiquing Glaze- OMG! Holla!! Loved this product, it was exactly what I needed to finish the table and it was so easy.

The great thing about this product is you don't have to be precise. You can make it look like you want and there is no way you could really screw it up. That I loved. You take an old paint brush, brush a little on and wipe off with a towel. It works best when the brush is pretty dry. It was exactly what I needed!
Here is the finished look. I love this table. It looks really old like it's been in our family for years and it brought so much character to the room!!!
Here is another before and after shot.... what do you think?
I have some more projects I am working on and can't wait to use this glaze!! Stay tuned!

Chore Clipboards for Kids

My kids are at the age where chores are part of the every day life.  It stinks but hey guess what, mom needs help around here :)
So I made up a chart for our fridge a few months ago that was working ok but I wanted something a little more individual for them and because I'm such a crafty gal, I wanted to make it a little more crafty.
So I thought about decorating some clipboards for them to mark off on their chores.... in my mind this will make them want to do their chores.  Hmmmm, not sure if that is a reality or not... we'll see.

Here is what you'll need:
Clipboards (any size you'd like)
Paint
Scrapbook paper. I used 2 coordinating prints
Ribbon
Mod Podge
Paint brushes or paint sponges
Sand Paper
Fabric Glue

First you need to sand paper the clipboards, just a little bit so it roughs them up.  Next you paint the clip boards any color you'd like.  I even let Reagan help on this part.  Just be careful when you get up near the clip part.

My grocery list clipboard I made was painted green and I painted Hunter's baseball clipboard white.

 

Next you'll cut the first piece of paper that you want to go on the bottom.  I soaked the back of it with Mod Podge.

Next up is the upper piece of paper.  Don't worry if the Mod Podge sneaks out, it will dry clear.  Just make sure you put in on straight.  Also make sure your top paper goes all the way up under the clip to hide any imperfections with the paint.

 

Next I took a piece of ribbon and glued it to the two pieces of paper.  Make sure the glue you use underneath is free of lumps.

 

I cut up some ribbon and tied them on the clip.  The more different the ribbons are I think makes the clipboard that much more adorable.

   

Here's Hunter's baseball clipboard.  I love this one!

 

Last thing you want to do it paint Mod Podge on the entire clipboard when you are done.  It will add a nice hard layer over the paper so the ends won't bend up.  Basically kid proof it.  I was worried at first because the Mod Podge created some lumps in the paper from being wet but they all went down on their own after they dried and it looked great!

Finished products!

Here are the clipboards with their chore charts on them!  So cute! :)