Bed and Breakfast Sign Knock Off

I pinned this sign recently, I loved it and knew I had to make one!

This past weekend I was going on a Ladies Weekend to a friend's cottage and had been trying to decide what I would take as a hostess gift.  (insert light bulb turning on here) This sign would be perfect!!!
So I set out to start designing my version of this using Silhouette Studio.

This is a screen capture which shows how the type fits into the shape I was working with.  I had cut out half of the sign outline and traced it onto press board.  Frank used the Jigsaw and cut out the shape for me, he also sanded the edges for me.  When I cut the lettering out I left the sign outline so I would have a guideline for lining up on the wood.

In the meantime, I painted the board out in black, then gave it a coat of watered down elmers glue so the next layer would crackle.

I painted over the black with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Old White, let it dry so it would crack.  When the paint was still a little damp I scraped some areas for heavy distressing, then sanded the whole sign and focusing on the edges.

One of the best things I have learned for script fonts especially is using good quality vinyl for my stencils and the right cut setting is key to fast weeding of the vinyl.  I also like using a dark vinyl so I can see the weeded letters better.

I forgot to take a picture while painting.  Here is the painted sign propped up outside so I can varnish.  Boy do I need a studio space!

Here is the final sign hanging in it's new home!

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It's Pallet Time!

When I saw that Funky Junk's SNS 138 was featuring Pallets and Reclaimed Wood projects I had to repost this project, it's one of my favs to date and I'm looking forward to doing more like it.  I think it was a post that Donna did a while back on how to select the right pallet for a project that started my obsession.  I'm very luck to have a good friend in the printing business and he now sets aside pallets that he thinks will work for my projects.

Here is the post on my pallet project ...

I have been obsessing over pallets and distressed wood lately.  Pinterest has just been adding fuel to the fire.  Initially I wanted to cover one complete wall in the living room with pallet boards, or Piet Hein Eek scrapwood wallpaper which is totally out of my budget!

I love this wallpaper!

Anyho, I recently asked my favourite Printer, Jim, what he does with all the Pallets that come into his building.  He told me he either returns them or trashes them ... WHAT????  They're treasure I told him, I must look at them.  So Frank came with me and the first beauty we set our eyes on was this one ...

I love her!  I must have her! 

She stayed in the back of my car for a few days, while I pondered what her future would be.

Then I received this image in an email from Joss & Main.

There's another image at their site with this clock resting against a skid/pallet and I loved the look.

I shared the image with Frank and told him I was going to make this clock and rest it against the pallet we brought home.  He said "why don't you just paint the clock right on the pallet".  Hmmmm.

OK!

Above is my "plan" for the project and our living room wall, can you visualize it?  Isn't it Cool?

So we got to work, Frank got to play with his Sawzall.

He removed the lower part of the skid for me.  While he was doing that I was prepping my masks to make the painting easier.

Here is the part 1, the background colours.

I used Annie Sloan Chalk paint as the base colours, the center is Old White and the outer section is mainly Louis Blue with some Paris Grey. I didn't go for complete coverage since I wanted the distressed look to come through.   Once the paint was down I slowly peeled back the mask.

Here she is, what do you think so far?  I do not know what I was thinking from here on as I do not have any photo's of the steps.  So next I painted the border, and numbers with black acrylic craft paint.  I used my Silhouette to cut my masks.  It was a little tricky, since I had to tile the image to get the size.

Once the painting was complete we drilled a hole in the center of the board for the clock motor to come through.  The hands are a little small but they were the best I could get without ordering online and waiting for them to arrive.  I'm on a roll and I'm not waiting baby!

This is her first reveal, we had a problem with the hands so I purchased a better set and movement from Lee Valley.   Next I painted the boards to mount the hangers and lanterns to.

Frank painted over a sign we had already to fit our colour scheme and we decided it looked so good we would put it over the clock on the sofa wall.

Today Frank put it all together on the wall, I am so happy with it.

Cool eh?

Here's an evening shot with the candles lit.

I really like the shadows these lanterns cast.

I wish I had a before photo but I hated the wall so much I didn't want any evidence.

This is the print that was on the wall, it looked lost on the wall and just did not suit our decor anymore (I'm not certain it ever really did).  I sold it on Kijiji to a nice couple who picked it up last week.  Yay!

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Coffee Table/Bench Makeover is finally complete!

The end of last year we picked up this coffee table for $16 at our local thrift store.  It's really sturdy, I had a vision of it becoming the perfect entrance bench.   It's so darn pretty I was torn when it came to painting it (not!)

After sanding the top,  the top was painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Louis Blue then I added this phrase that was cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  The navy blue is vinyl that is being used as a mask that will be peeled off after the next layer of paint...

We also removed the doors.  Relax ... it's going to look great!

Here is it after being completely painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Graphite, then I peeled off the vinyl so the Louis Blue could show through.

Then I distressed the whole table/bench, and waxed it with Annie Sloan Clear wax,  I also used a small amount of dark wax over the exposed wood areas to give them a richer look.

Here she is in her final glory!  As you can see it was made for this area, there isn't an inch to spare.

I added the baskets which we are using for Buddy's leash, our gloves, mitts and other items that used to end up on the shelf above.


I'm linking  to -

Jennifer Rizzo: Thrift Store Makeover

Picture Perfect Room, progress report #2

Nope, not done yet but she's coming along!  Wanna see a before shot?  Are you sure, it's scary.

Isn't it welcoming?  I have been following so many amazing blogs,  many that have these gorgeous entrances that are white and bright.  I yearn for that fresh, white, beachy entrance way!

Here's the stage we are at now ...

It's taking a little longer, there is tons of caulking to be done and another coat of paint.  The entrance bench that I have been working on needs a little more distressing and a coat of wax.  We have hooks to go up under the shelf and also there are blinds that need to be installed.

Previously the windows looked like this ...

I had "shopped the house" and reused these white sheer panels to cover the windows, you know, to get that breezy tropical look.  Can't you just feel the warm tropical breezes ummm, cold wind now?
I picked up some very cheap reasonably priced blinds on Friday, they are just white vinyl slats that I will eventually replace with white wood blinds.  I don't like the look of the tops of most cheap lower priced blinds so I made valances with fabric I picked up a while ago.  Geez, talk about being resourceful since I don't have a sewing machine.  I used fabric glue ... I was high on fumes yesterday!

I ironed the edges

Then glued and stuck down, I do love how fast this works, so much faster then fabric tape.

I added dimes to the bottom corners to add a little weight.

Then I attached the rings to the tops.  The final reveal will have to wait til completion of the room.
I also made one pillow cover in the same fabric and using fabric glue, I have one more to make.

Here is the beginning of a painted sign, this is a cabinet door from Habitat which I am painting 

with ASCP Louis Blue.

It will be going up on the shelf and the arrow is actually facing in the direction

of the nearest beach.

So here are the components that have been worked on, stay tuned for final room reveal.

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Picking a colour for our front door ...

Ever since we moved in last year I have been contemplating what colour our front door should be.  Initially I was thinking of a brick red or burgundy tone, I've always wanted a red door.

I thought we could match the color of these chairs I found on Kijiji last year. I tend to like a consistent color pallet throughout a home, our gas stove is burgundy so we do have a couple of hints of this color inside the house.  I noticed the paint is starting to chip on these chairs so I'm not opposed to painting them to match a new front door colour.  Last week I was inspired by Brittany (aka Pretty Handy Girl) and her post on paint and color    I love so many of the door colors in the post.  I decided to consult with Brittany and get her input on our front door, I did limit Brittany by asking her to pick an Annie Sloan Paint Color, I really want to paint the chairs out using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint so why not use it on the door too!  Following are some of her recommendations, I'd love your input on which one you like.

I look forward to hearing your input, and click here for your own color consultation from Brittany.  Now if I could only get her to come here and build me something <grin>.