My First Link Up!

I have been so inspired by the many blogs I am following.  Til now I have been a spectator and have not participated in any link ups or contests but this weekend I said "Gosh darn! I'm going to get involved".  I improvised with items I had available so I'll show you how I turned this ...

Into this ...

I started with a mirror that I have had for years, I've tried to sell this mirror in garage sales but I have moved it 4 times!  Somehow it even survived my goodwill donations, so it was time to Use it or Lose it!  I painted out the mirror with Caromal Colours Paint,  this textured paint sticks to almost anything.  My first coat was in Colonial Blue ...

As impatient as I am I was able to leave this to dry over night.  While this was drying I used some Omni Gel to transfer an image to use on this sign.  I was inspired by some art that Miss Mustard Seed used for one of her hand painted signs so I created something close to that ...

I started coating my copy with Omni Gel, as I mentioned I used what I already had, I wish I had professional sign equipment like Donna at Funky Junk or even a Cricut so I could create a stencil so I could paint the sign instead.  I don't care for the glossy textured finish that the Omni Gel has. 

This morning I gave the mirror a coat of white paint and started soak my image transfer to remove the paper.

Next I used the omni gel to add the expression to my painted mirror

Once the gel dryed, I applied some aging gel, sanded back the paint to distress.  You will notice the shine in the image above.  I don't like the shine so adding paint and sanding back helped to remove this finish.  I completed the job with a coat of wax and a string to hang ... Whala!

Thank you to all the wonderfully talented women who inspire me by sharing their projects and how to's on their blogs!

Finished Tray

It's done! I didn't put an expression on it in the end, a last minute decision.  It's true that you need to "feel" the project as you go.  So here is the before ...

It was a sage green which no longer goes with our decor so it became one of my first projects using the  amazing paint from Caromal Colours.

And here is the After ...

 

Here are some up close images of the finish,  Caromal Colours paint is thick and adds an aged texture to any piece you apply it to and it sticks to almost anything!  Once the paint was applied and dry I used my handy dandy sander to smooth and distress, then I applied the aging toner, for a finishing touch I stenciled a decorative accent and sanded it back to appear old and worn.  The final touch is Liberon past wax in neutral .... Whaaalaaa!  done.

Fun with Paint!

Last night I started to play with some Caromal Colours paint.  This paint is so much fun!  We are going to be using it to paint our kitchen cabinet so I wanted to get used to the feel of the paint.  I started on 2 mini projects ... a piece of board that was calling my name for a sign and a tray that I finished with crackle medium 12 years ago.  Here is a pick of the tray "before".  Isn't it pretty (not!).
Here is what the paint looks like, it's thick and blobby (is that a word?)  This paint has been specially formulated for distressing and easy refinishing projects.

I'm using the colour "parchment" and will sand, distress and age with a burnt umber.  Below is a photo of the plank I worked on, I just played with the paint, sanded and appled a Welcome vinyl expression that I had.  I did not age the plank ... I was to anxious to finish something ... I know I have to learn patience but I'm trying to cram in a lot in my 2 days vacation.  I promise to be patient when I finish the tray ... stay tuned.  Watch out, you never know what I will paint and distress next ... maybe the chair or pot in this picture.

A Beautiful Fall Weekend

What a fabulous weekend!  I love fall, we had the blinds wide open today, here's the view out our front window.

We didn't get any painting done this weekend but I enjoyed some Fall nesting ... cleaning, and cooking.

I received my Epicure prize shipment this week courtesy of Nancy McKay Watts (aka The Spice Nut) with Epicure Selections.  One of the items I decided to get with my $85 winning was a 12" fry pan with a glass lid ... this sucker is huge and it is my new kitchen fav!

Friday night I made a beef and noodle stir fry, there is sooo much room in this pan it is fabulous for one pot cooking.  It's so much more then a fry pan.  Tonight I made Pork tenderloin with a mushroom pan sauce and served it over a cornbread stuffing.  Here are some pics ...

Love the tempered glass lid!

I made Frank take a picture of his plate before he started to eat!

Back to decor ...

Did a couple of "practice boards" on some paint finishes this weekend.  We want to do some faux brick on the wall behind our gas fireplace/stove.  Frank will do the texture portion of the bricks with drywall compound then I will paint the bricks, this photo just shows some of the colour palette but the texture will make such a difference to the final outcome.  I had also been wanting to paint faux wood beams, I did practice boards of barn board, pine to match our floors and a darker stain but right now we are leaning toward a full wall of brick only.  My pine practice painting is below.

There will be more texture on our wall from the compound which will make it easier to add dimension with paint (I haven't mastered adding dimension on a flat surface)

If we had decided to do a beam I would have gone with a  less "mustard" base, maybe something a little more grey.

Well this was a mish mash of an update wasn't it.  I read so many great blogs, I hope to pick up on their style as I get more accustomed to updating here. 
Have a great week!

Addicted to other Blogs, Faux Beams and Shower Curtains ...

OMG!  I have been spending so much time reading other blogs that I have neglected updating my own.
Things are going slow with the updates here at "Just a Cottage Small" but I'm hoping to take a few days off work so I can concentrate on giving the house some TLC.
I've been testing some painting techniques with the intention of creating a Faux Wood Beam.  I'm not sure if I will follow through with this look but here is the start of one look (I added some overall graining after this pic was taken but the camera battery died)

I'll keep you posted on what we decide to do,  I tested a few other finishes last night that mimic barn board but I'm not sold yet.  The only other progress we've made is coming up with the final colour scheme for the Kitchen along with some great cabinet transformation ideas thanks to Frankie.  We are going to use paint from Caromal Colours for the Kitchen in Wisteria and Colonial blue.

Oh, I almost forgot ... I finally found a shower curtain for a great price ... $20!  We had a white Terry cloth one and I found it too bland.  I couldn't pin point what was bothering me but once I hung the new curtain I realized since it is a small bathroom everything reflects back at you through the mirror, now there is some interest/pattern in the reflection.  I am just posting a glimpse of the curtain as there is still work to do in the Bathroom before the "reveal".

Til next time!

Pics of a completed projects

On yesterday's post I mentioned a couple of small projects we had completed so far but I didn't have a chance to post any photos.  I should know better ... a picture's worth a 1000 words.

So here you go Annette <grin>

This is the gate out of our backyard that leads to the forest trails ... Bambi lives back there!

Just another view of the fence (the wood fence was already here when we moved in)

The wall colour will change (one day).  No I don't hang my clothes by colour ... is that a bad thing?

Alternate view of closet organizer.

Transformation, Change, Morphing, Renewal and the organized space

I am inspired by change and the people that are able to see the beauty in everything.  It can be taking a home that is a diamond in the rough and making it shine or someone who beats the odds and transforms their health or financial future.  This is what gives me fuel and motivation.  I feel I am going through this in many areas of my life right now ... Frank and I are inspired and motivated to transform our home to a space that gives us pride.  I don't know if anyone can relate to this but if my space is messy, not organized or not decorated to my liking I tend to feel unmotivated, I will sleep more, I lie down on the sofa or I will retreat to the bedroom to watch TV.  As soon as my home is clean, shiny, organized and decorated my energy increases, I sit up on the sofa, my posture is better, I am more productive.  I enjoy cooking more in a clean organized kitchen.  Call it Feng Shui or whatever you like but environment is critical to energy ... do you feel the same way?