DIY Chalk Paint and A "New" Stool

I have been so excited to share a few of my smaller projects with you. I have been working on them along with my kitchen project.

Chalkboard

I had a mirror that I didn't really like, it had a wood frame (which I failed to get a picture of). First of all I sanded it down, then I primed and painted it the same color as my kitchen cabinets.

Then I changed my mind about the color, so I put on a few coats of black instead. Here is coat one.

Here is coat 3, the last coat. I like this a lot better!

Then I peeled off the tape, and applied 3 coats of chalkboard paint to the mirror. This was the very first time that I worked with chalkboard paint. I used my small roller, with the roller being for ultra smooth surfaces. It went on really well.

I was so glad that there were no roller lines showing once it dried!


I have read that you should coat the whole surface with chalk before you write on the board, then rub it off with a dry cloth. This is supposed to make it easier to erase your chalkboard. Mine had been erasing wonderfully!! Here is a picture before I wiped off the chalk.

Before I show you the finished picture of the chalkboard I want to share another little project with you.

My New Stool

I spotted this old, ugly, stinky stool at my Dad's shop, and my Dad said I could have it!! I was so happy because my head already had a lot of thoughts about what I could do with this stool!!


First of all, I wanted to get rid of that awful trim that was hanging from the top.



A lot better!!


Next, I sanded and cleaned all the rust off of the legs. Then I spray painted the legs black with a metal spray paint. It took 2 coats. Instant transformation!!

Lastly I bought a yard of material at Joann's for $5. I cut it to fit the seat of the stool. My wonderful hubby brought in our air compressor, which has a staple gun. Let's just say once he taught me how to use that thing, I fell in love!! I applied the new fabric directly over the old fabric. So I didn't need to re-cushion the chair. This was very easy to do!



A hundred staples later....


I was able to find the perfect place for my two projects!!

Later this week I will show you what I did with the remaining fabric from the stool.



Today I feel so blessed to have a hubby who doesn't hold me back from attempting a little bit of everything when it comes to my home!!

Spring Decorations

I have been wanting to join Lianna Knight over at Growing Our Own Garden, she did a post on Easter decor! She inspires me with all her decorating skills!!

My kitchen project is almost completed. So I was able to start decorating, of course I brought out all my spring/Easter decor. It's not much, but I love every piece that I decorate with.

Kitchen Sink

Living Room

Dining Room
Kitchen Table
I am giving you a sneak peak at how the Kitchen will look with the drawers back on, of course with the old hardware on that I spray painted.

I have so much to update you on! My kitchen project was worth all the hard work that I put in. I cannot wait till you see the results!!

I can tell that it's Springtime, because I am busy!! I love the fresh air, and the green grass that is popping up!!!

Today I feel blessed that Spring reminds me of the sacrifice my Lord and Saviour made for me.

Lori's Kitchen Project-Table and Chairs Are Done

This week I am participating in...

I love to see other women's projects. I love to get new ideas!! I hope you enjoy the before and after transformation of my kitchen table and chairs.

Here is the table before...

Here is the table with the primer on...


Here is the table completed with the black paint applied. I just used a small roller for ultra smooth surfaces and a small paintbrush for the corners and the small grooves. I thought they worked great!! It's amazing that my mother-in-law bought this table for us for $10!!

Here is one of the chairs before...

and after they had two coats of black spray paint...

I have to throw in this find that I bought at our local thrift store! I wasn't a fan of the silver...


...so I spray painted it black! I love the way it turned out. I just used the same spray paint that I used for my hardware, a spray paint for metal. I put two coats on, it only took me an hour to complete this project, with most of the time just waiting for it to dry.


Amazing, the powers of spray paint. I'm sure you have at least one item in your home that you could revamp with spray paint. There are lots of great colors out there. I am sold on black for the time being.

This was my table and chairs before I started my kitchen project...

...and after!!

I love the way that the table and chairs turned out! It was so super easy to do! If you have any questions about this project or any other project that I have done, please let me know. I would be happy to answer it for you. Everything that I have done is something that anyone can do! I am in no way crafty! I just love to save money, and see my hard work pay off!!

Today I feel so blessed to wake up each morning with hope for the day!!

Lori's Kitchen Project-Hardware Completed

Here is all the hardware prepped and ready for spray paint. Black spray paint, of course.

We have had glorious weather this week, so I was able to complete all my hardware with 2 coats of spray paint. It took me a lot longer than I had imagined. The hardest part was finding something to lay them on, so that I could carry them in and out easily. I covered a few of my cookie trays with newspaper, used some thick paper towel, and some large towels. They worked out pretty well.

Here are some of the pieces getting there final coat of spray paint.

They are now drying here...

Tonight I should be able to transport them here...

They will then stay in these container until I am ready for them to be put on the finished cabinets!! I cannot wait for that day! I told my hubby, I cannot wait until the day when I can be screwing all the hardware back in place. I think that the black hardware will really set off the antique white paint color. I am so super excited for the end result.

Today I feel so blessed to have had such glorious weather, it does wonders to my spirit!

Lori's Kitchen Project-All Done Priming

I am all done priming!

I got the kitchen priming all done. So now I am totally done with my primer. I tinted my primer a light green (more on that later).

The primer went on really good. I use a small roller for ultra smooth surfaces, and it does a fabulous job. You cannot see any brush/roller marks. I am super impressed with that little guy! I will try to post a picture of it.


I wanted to show you a before picture of my corner cabinet. I'm not sure what you call that thing in the center, anyways I am going to paint the inside of it.

After pictures to come.



I am so happy with what I got done. My back is seriously killing me, I have never painted so much in my life!


Now I am ready for the main colors!!
Antique White and Black


I have purchased small amounts of each color.


This week I would love to:
Finish all painting
Find some kind of liner for the inside of my cupboards
Spray paint my chairs (weather permitting)
Paint my table legs with the same black paint that the cupboards will get
Spray paint all my hardware (2 coats, and there's tons of hardware)


Wow, that is a lot of stuff to do this week!! You know there will be updates of it all!!


Today I feel so blessed to have a Chiropractor, because he will be getting a call very soon!

Lori's Kitchen Project-The Small Things

My project is going well. I have not had as much time to work on it in the last week as I would have liked. But I am happy with the things I got done. I am a very organized person, so I have to keep up with the laundry, cleaning and all that other stuff! I try to clean up a project area before I move on to another, so I knew this project would take me a while! I cannot focus on all I have left to do, or I will start to panic!

It is really amazing to me how small changes can make such a huge difference to me. I have been working on a few of the small things from my project.

I spray painted all my light and electrical switch plates, as well as the screws so they don't stand out. It is so super easy to do! Just take off all your outlet plates, wash them and the screws in soapy water, then dry them all really good. Next lay them out on paper towel or any kind of old cloth, then spray paint. My outlet plates just needed one coat, but the screws needed 2 coats. Let dry for a few hours. While those are drying you will need to spray paint the outlets on the wall. I taped paper towels around the outlet so it won't get on my wall, that worked really good. Make sure you do it as fast and as light as possible. After everything has dried then put the outlet plates back on and see the wonderful results!!

Here are a few of the before and afters!

Just that little change has already done so much to make my kitchen look more updated, and I am a huge fan of black accents!!