Does anyone else collect wayward, neglected mason jars? Does a box of mason jars on a store shelf speak to you like it’s begging you to buy it? Well, maybe that’s just me.
I’m kidding, of course. Sort of. I have a shelf full of empty mason jars in my pantry. They’re all different brands, sizes and shapes and I love them. I store things in them, give them away filled with goodies for gifts and make things with them. Recently, I combined some mason jars with another favorite of mine.
Chalk paint.
Chalk paint makes the letters and details on a mason jar pop. Chalk paint makes a mason jar more than just a mason jar. It makes it decorative and pretty. Chalk paint also makes you walk, talk and speak foreign languages. Actually I’m just kidding about that last part.
Just apply one layer of paint first. You won’t like it after the first coat dries, but just like a lot of projects, it does have an ugly phase. Give it 12 hours to dry and apply a second coat.
And then you can use your jars for whatever you’d like. We use them to store pencils, markers and crayons.
Or we sometimes use them to show off spring flowers.
Or just put them on your shelf and enjoy them.
The possibilities are pretty endless.
Have a great week! Join us Wednesday for a little room refresher, family style!
I wanted a cute bulletin board for my daughter’s desk, but I wanted it to be cute. I also didn’t want it to cost a lot.
I decided to use what I had on hand and make it happen. I had an empty white frame and some foam poster board. I also had cute fabric that would match her room and some pretty ribbon.
I began by cutting my poster board to size with scissors.
I then used Locktite spray adhesive to attach my fabric.
After I got the fabric attached, I decided it needed a little something more. I chose to add ribbon and glue some white buttons to the board.
And then I popped it into a frame and hung it up. The eldest little Lumber chose some of her favorite pictures to display on her new board.
It turned out super cute and so helpful for organizing her desk area.
And best of all, it was super cheap and super easy to make as well.
When we last left you, our beautiful antique mantle with its faux firebox looked like this:
Nothing was painted, no stone was laid. Things were kinda bare. And unfinished.
Our first item on the agenda was to paint it.
First, we caulked any cracks or areas we felt needed filling in. We painted the mantle and the adjoining boards behind it with white paint in satin finish.
Next, we installed Airstone to the surround and the bottom of the hearth.
This stuff is amazingly easy and fun to work with. Simply spread the adhesive on the back of the stones like you’re frosting a cake and press into place. You can also cut the stone with a hacksaw or circular saw.
We then laid faux slate vinyl tiles across the top of the hearth. We may upgrade it later to real slate but I am loving how this looks, and how little it cost.
We then painted the faux brick paneling with some matte black chalk paint. I just like the finish.
We still have a few areas to fill in and some trim to add, but all in all, I am loving it!
Stay tuned! The rest of our living room is about to change in a big way, and I can’t wait to show it to you!!
Last month, I told you all about how my husband and I purchased and antique fireplace mantle.
We have a long, blank and boring wall in our living room, that unfortunately is our focal wall when you walk in the door. I’ve always wanted a pretty fireplace on that wall but knew we couldn’t afford a real one. A faux one was the next best thing 🙂
Using a plan from Bless’r House as a model, we decided how large the mantle and hearth would need to be and we purchased the wood.
Here is a list of what we used to build the fireplace:
Antique mantle (found through local antiques dealers)
2 plywood sheets
Faux brick panel
11 2×4 boards
2 1X12 boards
1 2×12 board
Finishing nails
Deck screws
Drywall screws
Tape measure and yard stick
Circular saw
Jigsaw
Hammer
Power drill
We began by deciding how large we wanted the hearth to be and we cut two 2X4sat 64 inches long. We chose 64 inches because this made the hearth a tiny bit wider than the mantle itself. The cross pieces and sides are 24 inches.
We then cut a piece of plywood to fit the top of the hearth, but we did not hammer it down yet.
We then carried the hearth into the house, placed it where we wanted it, and attached it to the baseboards. We then attached the plywood to the top of the hearth.
We then attached plywood strips and two by fours to the back of the mantle.
After attaching the two by fours to the side, and the plywood strips, we cut out a surround from one of the plywood sheets. I attached it using small wood screws.
I then attached 2X4s to the wall at the correct height to the wall. Be sure to hang these on studs, but if you can’t, make sure you use drywall anchors that can accommodate heavy weights.
I then attached the 1X12s for the side braces to the 2x4s.
I then put the mantle up beside these braces, and attached the two by fours on the back of the mantle to the braces. I used decking screws to do this.
I then realized we had about an eight inch gap between the mantle and the wall.
Attaching a 2X6 to this space covered the gap and laid flush with the back of the mantle.
We then cut and added faux brick paneling to the wall behind the mantle and on the sides so that the inside of the mantle couldn’t be seen.
We have nearly finished the mantle. We now only have to paint, add the stone, and fill in some nail holes. Our living room looks so much better already! Can’t wait to share the finished product with you all!
I absolutely love antique stores, resale stores and thrift shops. I love looking for specific things, but I also love finding random treasures too.
Recently, I found this pretty and unusual desk in a Habitat for Humanity store. For a split second, I considered buying it.
Then, I spotted this pair of French toile chairs that would be darling in a little girls’ room.
It made me wish I needed them. In the end, I said goodbye to the cute desk and the darling chairs and walked away.
But, I digress. I mentioned that I sometimes go in a store searching for specific items. On this trip, I was in search of a new large piece of art for our living room.
I didn’t find what I wanted, but I did find these two neat paintings.
There are a handfull of items I am always on the lookout for in a resale shop or flea market. There are a few things I love to collect and I almost never pass up. Today, I’d like to share those lovely treasures with you.
1. Milkglass
I have several pieces of Fenton milk glass, and while most of my collection has been passed down to me from my grandparents and great grandparents, I also frequently purchase small pieces when I encounter them. I have passed on milkglass pieces just as often as I’ve purchased them, in an effort to keep my collection small.
2. Seagrove Pottery (especially blue)
I was raised in Central North Carolina, so I’m very familiar with Seagrove pottery. I remember being absolutely gobsmacked by how expensive the pottery is on Ebay, so I am always excited to find a piece for sale in a flea market or resale shop. I’ve emassed a decent collection from yard sales, thrift stores and family members.
3. Vintage tea cups and tea sets
You can often find one or two matching cups and saucers. You can do so many cool things with these- decorate with them, make bird feeders from them, make candles with them, gift them to a friend with a box of their favorite tea…the list is endless. I use mine beside my kitchen sink to store my rings while washing dishes.
4. Vintage quilts
Quilts often cost a pretty penny. If you find a nice vintage quilt that is still in great shape, buy it! That’s what washing machines are for! If it has a small tear, you can fix it. If it’s faded, use it for a picnic blanket. Vintage quilts also make great wall hangings.
5. Vintage picture frames
Have you ever seen vintage picture frames with the glass removed and painted with chalk paint? I’m telling you right now, you should do this! These frames would be lovely in a little girls’ room painted pink. They’d also make a lovely statement wall on a staircase. Or just a cute collage wall in a hallway. Hang them up empty or with photos in them.
Other things I love to search for are antique signs and advertisements, household items like wash boards, and old license plates. What do you love to buy from resale stores and flea markets?
