Birdcage Redo

Last week, I had my first experience with using a glaze.  I have been wanting to brighten up my black birdcage for a while.  After I started, I realized that I chose a really intricate piece for my first try, but it all worked out in the end.

Since the birdcage was already the color that I wanted to show through beneath the crackle, I didn't have to do any painting before the glaze.

This is the before photo.  I cleaned up all the dust before I started.  I got the Weathered Crackle Glaze from Lowe's and a quart of cream-colored paint with a flat finish.  

*Note: It is very important to get paint with a flat finish, otherwise the topcoat paint won't crack.  I also tried using flat spray paint, but that doesn't work either.

The first thing I did after cleaning the birdcage was to paint a coat of glaze over the entire cage, starting with the inside.  Next, I waited for the glaze to dry for one hour.  Now I had a three-hour window in which to do the cream-colored paint.  After four hours, the glaze doesn't do the crackle effect anymore.

The topcoat was the most time-consuming part of the project.  The paint needs to be applied in as little strokes as possible to prevent the glaze from coming up and gumming in with the paint.  I tried get as much coverage with one stroke as I could.  It turned out pretty well overall.  There were some spots where I had a little bit of trouble, but I am very pleased with the results, especially for my first crackle project.

Luckily, I have a lot of glaze and paint left over, so I will be able to do many more projects like this.  I would recommend anything with lots of flat surfaces for a first project, like a message board or picture frame.

Personalized Baby or Toddler Shirt

I finished an order last week for a Personalized Baby/Toddler Shirt.  I haven't done one in this font before, and I thought it turned out really cute and fun!

I'm planning on getting some heat-transfer vinyl and doing some experimenting with my Silhouette.  I'll post pictures all about it. 

New Messenger Bag

The Cherry Branch Messenger Bag is back!

This version features three different colors of embroidery floss: red, orange, and yellow.  The branches were printed onto olive fabric.  This is the last bag with the olive color.

I still have two more bags to make, both of which will be on brown fabric, then I am officially out of the cherry branches.

These bags have always been popular in the past, so it may not be around for long!

Changing Pad Covers

When we got our changing table, the pad that came with it was boring, white, and plastic-y.  Waterproof, yes; but stylish, no.  I had some baby print flannel on hand, so I thought I would see what I could do with that.

Luckily, I had just enough to fit the changing pad perfectly.  It was seriously meant to be.  I used a yard of flannel and four buttons to make a sort-of duvet cover for the pad.

Since I have already had a baby, I knew that I would want an extra to have on hand.  I also had a yard of this flannel in my fabric:

This is one of the last projects that I had planned for the new baby!  Now I am not quite sure what to do with myself.

Car Seat Canopy

Since I spent so much time trying to balance a blanket on top of the car seat last time I had a baby, I decided to buckle down and make a canopy/tent/cover/whatever-you-want-to-call-it.  I found some white minky on sale for the inside, and I got this great Alexander Henry fabric for the outside.  Since I spent a little bit more on specialty and designer fabrics, the total cost was around $20, thanks to some great coupons.  

I used this tutorial for the basic measurements and such, but I didn't end up making it reversible, so I only have the straps on the outside.  As I was making this helping my mom make this, I thought that it would make a pretty cute blanket one day if you just unpick the straps once you are done using it with the carrier car seat.

My due date is a month from Monday, so the anticipation is really growing!  I can't wait to use all the cute stuff we have been accumulating lately. 

Pennant Wall Art

We hung the pennant wall art that I made for the baby's room, and it looks fab!  

The stripes are painted, the flags are scrapbook paper, and the strings are ribbons.  The paper gives it a lot of dimension, and the ribbon adds some fun texture.  The room feels a lot more complete on that side as well.

Bathroom Shelf

Welcome to our poor, neglected main bathroom.  Of all the rooms in our house, the main bathroom, master bathroom, hallways, and laundry room are all still basically untouched decor-wise since we moved in a little over a year ago.  No paint, no theme, no nothin'.  

All we did was hang that little wall shelf over the toilet (the other jungle decor is a lucky hand-me-down from my mom), and things look a lot more lived-in already.

Here's to finishing another project that I have had on my list for a while.

• Make fabric boxes for the new changing table (still looking for a great tutorial, will let you know when I find one!)
• Finish fall wreath (work in progress!)
• Paint birdcage cream or light yellow
• Find a buffet to paint for the dining area
• Get chairs for the front porch
• Get potted plants for the driveway
• Build shelves on either side of the washer and dryer
• Take door off coat closet, paint, and put cubbies inside
• New couch pillows
• Install wall shelf in main bathroom
• Refinish piano
• Make some green frames to match green stained table
• Fix leg on green table
• Get or build a picnic table for the backyard
• Sew kitchen curtain (work in progress!)
• Sew changing pad covers
• Make flower hairclips
• Turn craft room into nursery
• Laundry room makeover

Chalkboard Sign Redo

I have been wanting to do a chalkboard paint project for a while, and I have also had a good-sized wooden sign that has not had a home since we moved to our new house.  Finally, the pieces came together and this project happened.  I didn't take a great before picture, but I was able to find a photo that gives you the idea:

I sanded down the part of the wood that had the writing, removed the thin wire hanger, and drilled bigger holes.  Then, I painted about three coats of apple green over the top of the black and sanded the edges a little bit.  Next, I taped off the area I wanted to be the chalkboard and painted about three coats of chalkboard paint.  After the paint was dry, I seasoned the chalkboard paint, threaded on the ribbon hanger, and wrote a festive message! 

I am very pleased with the result!  I love that I just erase the writing and have a year-round message board.

Nursery Update

The walls are painted, the glider is here, the artwork is done, the curtains and lamp are hung, the crib and changing table are all set up, the quilt is finished, and the fabric boxes are made.

Here is a peek at the flag artwork I did.  There are four canvases in all, and they will be hung on the opposite wall above the changing table.

This is a better view of the quilt my mom made.  (Thanks, Mom!)  It was the inspiration for the flag/pennant theme.

Here is the glider we got with the felt ruffle pillow I made a while ago.  The pendant light, other pillow, and curtains are from IKEA.

This is the (unorganized) changing table with all the fabric boxes I made.  They still need to be filled with all the baby stuff.

Here's a shot from the door.  The circular cream rug is also from IKEA.

All in all, I believe it's coming together very nicely.  There are still a few more things I want to do:

1. Hang the flag artwork
2. Hang another sign I already have
3. Get some big flowers for the empty yellow vase
4. Organize changing table
5. Make changing table pad covers
6. Make a pennant banner with baby's name (This one will have to wait until after the baby is born, since we haven't picked a name yet)

I feel much better about the room than I did before we painted.  The color was hard to photograph, but it is a soft aqua blue (Mystic Sea by Valspar), and it turned out perfectly!