October 2011 - Home Improvement Blog
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Sunday, October 30, 2011

On a "Scale" of 1 to 10, Hubby's Skills are a 10

On a "Scale" of 1 to 10, Hubby's Skills are a 10




I purchased this scale on ebay a few months ago, mainly to get the tray.  It ended up that I wasn't able to use the tray for my original intent, so my husband did a refurb on the whole thing.


Here's what it looked like in all its glory who would paint it yellow and orange? to start with:






I believe whoever painted the scale might have also been in charge of painting this fire hydrant by our house!  U.G.L.Y.!!!





He took everything apart and removed all of the paint using Citrastrip, then a wire brush attachment on the grinder.






He shined up the brass.




He then spent a ton of time recreating the labels that should have been on there.  I am in awe of his patience!





He primed all of the parts.






He painted everything except the tray holder Cherry Red.  (He didn't want to draw attention to the tray holder, so he painted it black)




Can you believe the details on this??






 I think he did an outstanding job!



Thank you for visiting!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:

 Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays
The DIY Show Off UndertheTableandDreaming

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Transferring an Image onto Wood

Transferring an Image onto Wood




I have tried several methods to transfer images from my favorite website, The Graphics Fairy, onto wood.  The Citrasolv method works well, I've tried Mod Podge and some others, but also wanted to try using the Woodworker's Transfer tool that I learned about from Dee at A Lapin Life.  I found the link on her site to buy this tool from Amazon. (It costs about $14 and qualifies for their free shipping if your total is over $25)  It was really easy to learn how to use it from the directions right on the package.




I started with a mirror image of a graphic from a laser copy.  (Remember that if you only have an inkjet printer, just take it to Kinko's or anywhere with a big copy machine, copy it and you'll have a laser copy)


I used a simple, small,  beaten up fence board from Lowe's.  I did sand it where I was going to apply the graphic, so it was pretty smooth in that area, but other than that, I left it in its beaten up state.  I taped the graphic to the wood so it would stay in place and rubbed the heated tool over the paper.  It took a couple of minutes of running the tool over the paper for the graphic to transfer onto the wood.   I lifted off the paper and the graphic looked great.





I stained the wood with Minwax Puritan Pine.  I like this color on cedar as it's kind of dark, but still shows the graphics.  Unfortunately, no one seems to carry this color anymore!







After the stain dried, my husband made the box.  












I found some fall bushes at Michael's.  I stuck them in pots with styrofoam, put some spanish moss on top and they were done.



I really love the way the wood transfer tool works!  Dee at  A Lapin Life  has a tutorial on using it to transfer graphics onto fabric as well.  I think that may be my next project!


Thanks so much for your visit!

vif187

Funky Junk Interiors The DIY Show Off The Graphics Fairy

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Some Smokin' Deals at Garage Sales

Some Smokin' Deals at Garage Sales

I'm sure sad that our garage sale season is about over!  This past weekend I found a few fun things at great prices.


I was thrilled to find this unopened tobacco can for $1.  The people I bought it from thought that it was at least 50 years old.  They were really sweet and told me that they hoped I wouldn't smoke it.  :)  I promise--I won't! 


I found the Jack Daniels tin for 50 cents.  I have no idea if it's old or not, but it's pretty neat.  I have them both above my cabinets along with an old egg scale and Ball jar that I purchased on ebay awhile ago.



I found the Premium cracker can for $1.  It's probably not terribly old, but I do love my saltines, so had to have it.  I found the apothecary jar the other day at a local antique store.  I have several just like it, but I had to buy it!  :)  I found this Ball jar at Monticello in Portland last month and I've had the little scale for several years.

It's funny that I haven't been going out looking for cans, but they seem to be finding me!  I love the color and uniqueness of each of them.  Now if the weather can just stay nice for another couple of weeks, I can go searching for more  treasures!

Thanks for coming by!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:






Sunday, October 23, 2011

Wine Cork Art

Wine Cork Art

 My husband made this little piece of artwork the other day. 


He started by cutting a flat side on the back of each cork so they could easily be glued in.   He then cut half of them a little shorter so they would all fit in.  (two corks sideways are shorter than one cork longways, so the longways ones get cut)



He made the frame, but had it this far before I got a picture--sorry!  He used the popsicle sticks to make sure they were lined up straight.





He glued them in, alternating back and forth, making sure that the winery names were going the right way.





And it's done.  What an inexpensive and fun piece of art.




Thanks for coming by!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:

 
> UndertheTableandDreaming
="Home Stories A2Z">Home Stories A2Z

Friday, October 21, 2011

Birds on a Branch Box Update

Birds on a Branch Box Update

 


I made this box a few months ago and stenciled our house numbers on it.  I liked it, but didn't love it and already had our house numbers on our front door, so it was time to redo the box.

I turned it around (and love this beat up side)!


I found these birds at Hobby Lobby. 
I attached them and suddenly had a much different looking box.


I added some pansies and I was done! 






Thanks for your visit!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday 

Asal SEO

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