I am so very excited to have this project at the top of my to do list! You find the most fascinating things when you are out scouting for things that you don’t know you need. I fell in love with this antique Frezone ice box at first sight. My dad would tell stories all about the ice box they had when he was a kid. He was born in 1934 so perhaps those stories gave way to my fascination for old things. It’s finally time for this antique ice box refresh!

It is the second Wednesday of the month! That means it is time for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team projects. This antique ice box refresh is the perfect example of taking something old and transforming it, in a thrifty manner, for alternate use. Renew! Repurpose! Restore! Let’s go!

History of the Antique Ice Box

Here’s what Google says about the ice box:

“The icebox was invented by an American farmer and cabinetmaker named Thomas Moore in 1802. Moore used the icebox to transport butter from his home to the Georgetown markets, which allowed him to sell firm, brick butter instead of soft, melted tubs like his fellow vendors at the time.”

Blocks of ice were kept in and sold by local neighborhood ice houses. There was an ice house as recently as the 1980’s in my childhood Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk. My dad would buy blocks of ice to cool kegs of beer for the famous Core States Bike Race that went past our house on Lyceum Avenue in Roxborough. Dad was a local celebrity during the event. But that’s a story for another day…a really long and fabulous story.

The Vintage Frig company website states that “During the early 1900s domestic electric refrigerators became available, and by the 1940s they were common in US homes.” Before that time, people used ice boxes.

“Ice was shipped to its destination city or town in block form to be kept in an icehouse and then delivery by horse and wagon in block form street by street through the city. The refined form of icebox as kitchen furniture or appliance was invented between 1850 and 1860 and remained in production in a similar form until the advent of the electric fridge in the 1940s.” (sourced from The Vintage Frig website).

Ice boxes were usually made of wood and had a zinc or metal interior lining that kept the cold inside and cooled your meets, dairy products, drinks, etc.

Here are photos of different styles of ice boxes:

I don’t have a spot right now for this antique ice box inside my home right now. It’s gonna take some purging to make space for her and I’m not quite there yet. In the interim, I plan to put her to functional use outside under our covered patio area.

Choosing a Paint

Being made of metal, it is important to make certain that this beauty will be protected from the severe Alabama weather. Although the patio area is covered, it does get some scattered rain and is definitely exposed to extreme heat. Both of these elements of nature are adversaries to metal items and can cause rust. So, I grabbed my favorite paint, BLACK DOG SALVAGE FURNITURE PAINT which was created for salvaged and antique objects. Not only is the paint fabulous for this antique ice box, BDSFP makes heavy duty sealer that, in my opinion, is second to none in protecting your favorite vintage items from the extreme outdoor elements. Crab Coat is my go to for protecting outdoor items.

Prep Your Project Piece

I won’t go into great detail about how I prepared this piece but if you are interested in ALL of the details, check out these other posts on how to prep items for paint.

As always, prep your piece in the following manner:

• clean with warm soapy water to remove any dirt and surface debris
• lightly sand the surface to smooth any inconsistencies or minor scratches, dings, or mars
• wipe or dust away any heavy dust from sanding
• wipe surface with TSP to remove any lingering dust, oils or dirt

There was quite a bit of cleaning, then sanding, then more cleaning to do.

Fortunately, most of the rust was just on the surface and sanded off.

Even the spots where rust was a little heavier cleaned up nicely. I was so grateful!

The degree and severity of rust is always a big consideration when I buy metal antiques. You always want to make sure that the integrity of piece is intact and that the rust is not excessive. I only buy items where light to minimal sanding is required.

For metal items, you should select a paint that is made for metals. Just check the label to see if your favorite paint can be used on metal surfaces. You always want to select the best paint for the job so that it adheres well and lasts a good long time.

I selected BDSFT in Clean Canvas, their version of pure white. I conducted a few tests as this piece is metal and I was super worried about further rusting of this antique, though most of the rust was just on the surface. I prepped the piece using the steps above. Then I applied two liberal coats of paint allowing each to dry between coats. I applied two coats of Crab Coat, BDSFP’s marine grade environmentally safe exterior top coat, allowing each coat to completely dry overnight. For final application, 3 coats are recommended. I allowed the piece to sit outside under the deck for what I intended to be about 2 months. It actually sat there for a year.

Here are the photos with the test coats applied.

And here is the piece almost one year later after withstanding the outdoor elements.

Once I cleaned off the dust and thin layer of dirt, the surface was virtually rust free. The paint had help up marvelously! I call this a win!

I should also mention that I used Bar Keeper’s Friend to clean up the handles/pulls. It worked fabulously! I also use it to clean my hammered copper farmhouse sink.

BDSFP protected this beauty from the harsh Alabama elements. I was confident that this antique ice box would be safe in this under deck location. So I started the process again by using the prep steps again. I lightly sanded the top coat and wiped it down with TSP. I applied two liberal coats of paint. Two were enough, and though I considered adding another for extra protection, alas, I was low on paint. So two coats of paint were followed by three coats of Crab Coat.

And here she is, ready to hold any items we need protected from the elements.

She adds a bit of nostalgia and class to the area. Just the inspiration needed to get the rest of this new patio spruced up.

I’d say this is quite an improvement.

I am missing one latch handle. So if you come across one for a Frezone Ice Box, let me know!

Be sure to leave them a comment as to what you liked and what you would like to see in the future!

Wicker Table Makeover

Welcome Wreath

Turn A Storage Bin Into A Planter

Antique Ice Box Refresh – You are HERE!

Old Mirror: New Look

Vintage Aluminum Wash Basin Hanging Planter

Framed Coastal Wall Art on…Sandpaper!

The post Antique Ice Box Refresh appeared first on Shop at Blu.

The temperature in Alabama has finally hit 70 this week. That’s not bad for the second weekend in March. Are you like me? When the first hint of spring appears, I run to Home Depot or Lowe’s and scout out the new colorful spring plants. It never fails. The first warm day has me planning my spring and summer deck/garden design. What colors? What plants? Will I add any new species this year? I have a lot of pots so I tried to recycle them. That gives me more funds to spend on new plants, right? So let’s upcycle some garden pots with paint! This year I’m starting with these two.

I thought I could use them for some spring flowers and then Easter flowers and then some succulents for the summer.

If we are recycling, upcycling, renewing, or repurposing, chances are a thrift store find is involved…like those two pots above. And, of course, this is a great topic for Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday!

So here we go to upcycle these pots by adding some paint. Remember to scroll to the end of the post to see all of this month’s projects from the fabulous Thrift Store Decor Team!

Prep to Paint

As with any paint project, the first step is to prep. Start by removing and old plants from the pot. Remove any plants and remnants of dirt from last year. Clean all of the old soil out of the pot.

Give your pots a good bath in warm soapy water. Scrub them with a brush. Rinse well and let them dry in the sun. Soak them for about ten minutes in a solution of one part water, one part bleach. Put them in the sun to dry. After they dry, I always wipe my project pieces down with TSP to remove any lingering dirt or oils. This will ensure that the paint adheres to my project piece.

You are ready to paint!

Decide on a Color or Color Scheme

I decided to keep a similar color scheme from last year as there’s a good variety of colors and it’s easy to match accessories and additional pots. So of course, I grabbed my supply of Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint. If you scroll back through the blog, you will see the variety of colors I’ve used in past projects. The beauty of BDSFP is that you can blend the paints to make custom colors. So everything matches! Check out their website for color recipes. This paint was designed for salvaged items so you can use it on any surface including, of course, furniture, concrete, metal, synthetic resins, glass, etc.

I grabbed five smaller paint brushes and five different colors of BDSFP. My plan was to slap the paint on each pot in a random manner and after the paint dried, cover the pot with a white wash to mute the colors. I have enough bold colored pots on the deck. So I wanted more of a muted or neutral color this year.

I started by painting the rims of each of the pots with Clean Canvas (pure white).

I don’t have any real reason for this except that I thought starting with the white would seem to unify the two different pots as they were different sizes and colors with different textures. The large pot is resin and the smaller is concrete.

Adding Color

Ready for real color! I started with Blue Ridge, of course!! I loaded a brush and applied a stripe to the pot. I rotated the pot slightly and made two more stripes. I alternated stripes from the top to the bottom to the center of the pot in no particular order. I rotated again and added another stripe. I continued until my rotation brought me back to my first Blue Ridge stripe. Then I added Go Green in the same manner followed by Keep it Teal.

I had some Watermelon left from the drum table project so I used that next. And I ended with That’s Gonna Need a Bandage.

You can see the application is completely random.

And I like how each section of the pot is a little different.

I went heavy on the red in one area. To highlight that color on my deck, I will simply display my pot with that side forward to highlight any red pillows or accessories. You can play with the colors however you like.

Making a White Wash

Next I mixed one part Clean Canvas (White) with a bit of water. You can play with the consistency. I kept my paint rather on the thicker side because I didn’t want the colors to be too bold. Although, as you know I love color. So I did find it hard to apply the white wash. But I stuck to the plan! Simply brush the white wash over the pot and then wipe it off with a rag. If there is too much white on the pot, wet the rag and wipe again. Continue to add and remove the white wash until you achieve the look you like.

Head to the thrift store or a yard sale and grab some old pots! How easy was this upcycle???

And now the fun part…filling the pots!

I dug up a nice round of daffodils from the front yard. They will do nicely on the deck for the next week or so.

I added a few grape hyacinths as well.

I found these English Daisies at Home Depot. Have you ever seen these before? I’m hoping they are hardy like my Shasta Daisies that are just starting to appear in the yard.

They were the perfect size for the smaller pot.

Looks like I am gonna be busy the next few weekends painting some more pots as I’ve got plants waiting in line.

How do you stop with just one color when all of the colors are so beautiful?

Can’t wait to fill up the pots…all of the pots.

Mia is pretty excited for deck season too!

Look at that March sky!

We certainly are looking forward to the sunsets too!

• House of Hawthornes- Salvaging A Vintage Porcelain Enamel Kitchen Table
• My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia – DIY Wood Candle Holders from Finials
• Sadie Seasongoods –Mid-Century Modern Wall Decor from a Collage Frame
• Petticoat Junktion –Paint A Wood Mirror
• My Repurposed Life – Simple Small Table Makeover
• Our Southern Home –Decoupage Wastebasket Makeover
• Organized Clutter – Thrift Store Hinged Box Spring Makeover
• Shop at Blue – Upcycle Garden Pots with Paint
• Domestically Speaking – How https://www.domestically-speaking.com/how-to-make-a-cane-wrapped-vase/To Make A Cane Wrapped Vase

Be sure to leave a comment on each post. We love your feedback! What do you want to see next?

The post Upcycle Your Garden Pots With Paint appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I suspect that my love for gaudy yet gothic things stems from my Catholic school education. Growing up in a church like St. John the Baptist in Manayunk, Philadelphia lends an appreciation for old churches. Isn’t she beautiful?

And the inside is incredulous.

I took these pictured during my last visit in 2022 for a parish celebration. Look at that detail and those classic arches.

Here is the magnificent altar.

Anyway, when I see something that reminds me of my childhood, I grab it. I have the perfect paint to transform this metal garden decor lantern treasure that has seen better days.

And, what a perfect project to share for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team project. Yes! It is the second Wednesday of the month so, at the end of this post, I am sharing this month’s team projects!

Endless Paint Options

I have been working on sprucing up the outside patio area of our deck. I’ve been trying some custom paint recipes with Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint.

They have 13 basic paint colors that you can combine and mix to make an endless variety of colors. So I have some paint left over from previous projects. Having leftovers makes additional projects super easy. Just grab the paint and get to work. I stored this paint in a plastic Chips Ahoy canister. Simply place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the canister and then place the lid on. This keeps for quite some time. I recently found out that BDSFP makes paint bottles. These are on my list!

I recently found out that BDSFP makes paint bottles.

So much more professional looking and beyond practical for both storage and use. These are on my list!

Get Ready to Paint your Metal Garden Decor Lantern

As always, prep your piece. In this case I checked the surface of the lantern for mars, damage, and rust. Fortunately, the rust was mostly surface rust so I didn’t even have to sand. There was a bit of rust but it was smooth and not flaking.

My choice of paint for most projects is Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint. This paint was designed for use on salvaged and antique or vintage items and works on all surfaces. Restoring or upcycling a metal lantern fits right into BDSFP’s wheelhouse.

I washed the lantern in warm soapy water and allowed it to dry thoroughly. Then I wiped it down with TSP which preps the surface for paint and removes dust and oils.

I applied one liberal coat of paint to the lantern.

After 3 hours, I applied another coat.

I allowed that to dry overnight and sealed the lantern with Crab Coat, which is BDSFP’s marine grade sealer for outdoor projects.

Finishing Touches for a Metal Decor Garden Lantern

You can see that this lantern has a small round metal holder for a candle.

I could remove that but decided just to cut a piece of luan to cover the circular spot.

This way, I can use it for a candle in the future. But for now, I painted the wood to match and set it over the circle.

Eventually, I will probably set a plant in the lantern.

The vertical dividers limit the size of a pot or planter. So I will have to find a planter that is just the right size. For now, I am using the lantern to display some fresh cut florals from my garden.

She is going to look great in the garden or on the deck or on the patio or even by the pool.

But, for now, I am loving her as a centerpiece on the deck…

Where I can enjoy the view everyday after work.

PS…after I took the pictures, I added some highlights via drybrush to give the metal garden decor lantern some character.

Is a project ever really finished?

Thrift Store Decor Team Projects

Domestically Speaking – Laundry Pod Storage

My Repurposed Life – Small Vintage Mirror Makeover

Petticoat Junktion – Spray Paint Clay Pots

Shop At Blu That’s ME! Thanks for visiting!

It’s Prime Day so I couldn’t resist the chance to add some of my favorite finds. If you make a purchase through my link (any purchase), I get a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps support my small blog which can be quite costly to maintain. Every little bit helps! Thank you friends!

The post Updated Metal Garden Decor Lantern appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I found this Duncan Fyffe table at a local thrift store a few years ago. 

It was $5.  There was some damage to the top including chipped veneer and some surface knicks and scratches.  The brass caps from the tips of the legs were missing.  The entire edge from one leg tip was completely missing.  But for $5, I was confident that I could get some use out of this once pristine beauty.  So I paid the $5, cleaned her up, and gave her a polish with Old English.  She actually sat in my living room for several years with that damaged leg positioned in the back so no one could see it. 

Eventually, I upgraded to another side table so she has been sitting in the garage waiting for some attention. I always have a hard time parting with things that have brought me joy.  It’s time to give her a new look and a new home.

Today is Thrift Store Décor Team Wednesday! 

Nine of my creative and thrifty friends share a new project on the second Wednesday of every month!  At the end of this post, you will find the other 9 fabulous and thrifty projects for this month.

Step One -Thrift Store Painted Side Table

Since this thrift store side table was parked in my garage for a few years, I started by giving her a good bath with my go to Murphy’s Oil Soap.  As with all of my paint projects, I the wiped the entire table down with TSP to remove any residual dirt, grime, and oils.

My paint of choice is Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint.  I love this paint primarily for its coverage. The fantastic color options are a huge bonus.  BDFSP is unique because it comes pre-mixed in 16 pre-mixed colors.  From these colors, you can create so many different incredible variations of color.  So, in essence, your investment is minimal and your color choices pretty much unlimited.  For this project, I am using I Need A Bandage (red) and Clean Canvas (pure white) to create the fabulous springy color of Watermelon.

At the end of this post, I am including my affiliate link for 20% off of the website prices.

Here is the process:

• Clean the project piece with warm soapy water.  My cleaning product of choice is Murphy’s Oil Soap.
• Wipe the project piece down with TSP to remove residual dirt and oils.
• Sand, if desired.
• Note: Sanding is not necessary with BDSFP unless you want to remove any imperfections in the wood. On many drawers for older furniture pieces, there are mars or spin marks from loose hardware, knobs and handles.  A light sanding can often remove these marks.
• Wipe again with TSP solution.
• Apply one coat of paint.  Allow to dry.
• Apply a second coat.  Allow to dry.
• Distress, if desired. Note: For a distressed look, sand edges or normal location of wear marks. Follow up with another wipe down with TSP.
• Dust with a brush or wipe with a tack cloth to remove sanding dust and debris.
• Apply one coat of sealer. I used BDSFP Top Dog in your choice of finishes.  Allow to dry.
• Spply a second coat of sealer and allow to dry overnight.
• Install hardware.
• Enjoy you newly refurbished furniture.

For the missing brass tips on the ends of the table legs, I simply used gold paint the area where the tips would be placed. 

Several coats of gold will make the tips appear more authentic like the brass covers are in place.  This wasn’t a big concern for me so I simply applied 2 coats of gold.

Perfect Paint for a Thrift Store Vintage Side Table

I have to sing the praise of BDSFP.  Their paints are designed for antique and vintage pieces so the paint coverage is excellent.  The paint is designed to apply without sanding the surface of your work piece. Additionally, there is no need to prime before painting and the vibrant colors really pop.  Usually, two coats suffice to cover the previous finish.

Here is the finish after one coat:

Since my plan was to distress the table after painting, a second coat was fine. For a more matte and solid appearance, depending on the base color of your piece, you may need a third coat. But, BDSFP is quite thick and covers exceptionally well.

To distress, I simply hand sanded the edges and a few other spots around the drum of the table and on the pedestal and legs.

To add some interest to the table top and to help disguise its age and the wear, I created a rustic finish after sanding by dragging some of the Clear Canvas across surface of the table top. I dipped a rag in some java gel stain and ran it around the edge of the table top to fill in any scratches. I wiped of the excess. Once I achieved the look I was happy with, I sealed the table top and the entire table with Show Dog.

I am quite happy with the new look of this classic old table.

The watermelon color is just what we need around our home to help hurry spring along.

I will enjoy it for a few weeks and help her find a new home. This painted side table would be great at the beach, don’t you think?

Here is my affiliate link should you want to try Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint for your self. Use THIS LINK to shop for paint. And use code SHOPATBLU for 20% off.

I am quite excited about being able to use the recipes to create variations of the 16 primary colors.  Equally exciting it that I don’t need to purchase new cans of exact colors.  Instead, I can use the paints I have on hand to create fabulous colors using their tried and true recipes. And the best part of this recipe process is that it is super easy! Most recipes are a 2:1 or 1:1:1 recipes, Just measure and mix. It’s that easy!

Doesn’t this make you want to go out an paint a side table?

My first BDSFP project was this garden shelf unit.

My second project was Pop’s desk.

I can’t wait to use all of the paint colors utilized in these 3 projects to create upcycled decor in a beautiful rainbow of spring colors. I counted 9 recipes that I can use with the 5 colors that I have on hand.

As promised, here are the projects for this month from the fabulous Thrift Store Decor Team! Enjoy!

Upcycled Glass Chandelier  My Repurposed Life

Pallet Herb Garden My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Old Coffee Pot Upcycled As A Flower Pot  Organized Clutter

Chicken Wall Decor Idea Petticoat Junktion

How to Update an Old Mirror Domestically Speaking

St. Patrick’s Day Wreath  Sadie Seasongoods

Thrift Store Upcycle Idea for Spring  Reinvented Deleware

Whitewashing Bookends Our Southern Home

Thrift Store Painted Side Table Shop At Blu (That’s me! You are here!)

The post Thrift Store Painted Side Table appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Our deck has full sun all Alabama summer long.  So the stain needs to be as light as possible to help keep the deck cool.  I selected semi-transparent since you know I am a woods girl and I must see some wood!  So we went with Harbor Gray.

Here is a test spot from the sample.  This is one coat on dry wood after the stain had dried.  

It’s going to rain tomorrow.  Actually, we are under a severe weather watch.  But that didn’t stop me from getting 2 coats on one section of the deck today!  I simply moved all of the furniture (much of it a recent new splurge) to the outside edge of the deck.  I decided to stain the area closest to the house first.

Since the deck was new construction last July, I thought I could skip the step where you clean the deck.  But there were some spots from heavier traffic (coffee every morning) and the birds also assisted by christening the new area. 

So, I hosed off the area and used soapy water to clean especially soiled areas.  If your deck is extremely dirty or previously stained or painted, it is recommended that you pressure wash the area.

Of course I am using my Homeright Super Max spray gun.  Stain can be applied with a brush, roller, or gun.  I opted for the gun, of course, since it’s one of my favorite tools.  The gun comes with several spray tips to use depending on the product you are applying.  I used the blue tip assembly because it is designed for stain.

I taped and blocked off the edge of the siding and the railings to prevent overspray onto the siding. 

I’m using Behr and according to their instructions, you can allow the first coat to dry for 2 hours and apply the second coat.  48 hours is required to cure.  So this deck will rest for 2 days.  Then I will move the furniture to the stained side and repeat the application to complete the upper deck.  Later, we will stain the underside and create a covered patio area.

After applying the stain with the sprayer, I used a paint brush and a long handled brush to even out the stain and ensure smooth and even coverage.  This process, on half of the upper deck, took about 3 hours.  I applied one coat,  allowed that to dry for 2 hours and applied a second coat.  I completed one half of the upper deck, the top step landing and half of the upper stairs.  

Tomorrow is a severe weather day so I will resume, hopefully on Wednesday with the second half of the upper deck and the outside of the upper deck railings and sides.  

Here is the deck so far.

I will post another update once the rest of the upper deck has been completely stained.

Below are my affiliate links for tools used in this projects.  If you make a purchase using my links, I received a small commission with no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting my blog!

TOOLS USED IN THIS PROJECT

MY RECENT POSTS

SHOP THE LOOK

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Have you ever used paint markers? I recently attended the Haven Conference in Atlanta.  A DIY and Blogging conference, Haven is know for it’s fabulous SWAG (Stuff We All Get).  This year, Colorshot gave away paint markers.  Check out these happy colors:

Choosing a Project for my Paint Markers

I have quite a bit of clutter that has accumulated in my kitchen as I’ve been repotting many of my indoor plants recently.  I decided to create a bright and cheery two tier table tray with these beautiful colors.  I think we will enjoy the burst of color especially with all of the rain we have had here recently in Alabama.

Haven Inspirational Projects

This little craft project was distributed at Haven.  You will need the following supplies:

• Two baking pans. I used a small cake pan and a pizza tray.  Both are available at the dollar store. 
• A small candlestick or other object to glue between the two pans to construct the 2 tier tray. 
• A can of spray paint in your choice of color
• A of quick drying glue like crazy glue.  In a pinch you could use a hot glue gun.

I gave the little trays two quick coats of bright yellow.  After allowing them to dry overnight, I grabbed my new paint markers in the wonderfully bright, fun colors.  The tips were quite thick with a chiseled edge for multiple stroke sizes.  They were very easy to use and very easy to prime.

Be Creative!  Go Wild!

I used my paint markers to doodle random designs around the pans.  I just started with a nice circle around the outside of each pan.

Next I drew a few large flowers and then randomly drew others of varying size and color.

I used the green to fill in stems and leaves adding additional leaves to fill in empty space. I also used the paint markers to paint the wooden candle holder random colors.  Just have fun with this process!  

Two Tier Assembly

The last step was to center the candlestick on the bottom tray.  Next, I glued it in place and then repeated to secure the smaller pan on the top of the candlestick.  

This was an easy project. I can use this little tiered tray for plants in my kitchen or possible for supplies in my office.  Colorshot paint markers‘ colors are vivid and happy which is sure to brighten any corner. 

Thanks Colorshot for these vibrant paint markers that fed my creativity!

 
                

The post A Quick and Easy Decor Storage Project with Colorshot Paint Markers appeared first on Shop at Blu.

ETI has been in business since 1969 and has set the standard for high gloss resin surfaces.  You can check out their website and products here.  When I heard about their products, my mind immediately went to faux marble!  I absolutely love marble but it is so expensive.  I checked out their projects on their website and indeed there were faux marble tables.  I grabbed a project piece from my project pile at my store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment, and got started.

ETI provided this product free in exchange for my participation in this month’s Fab Furniture Flipping Contest.  This post does contain affiliate links.

I selected a basic coffee table for my project.  We get alot of these types of coffee and side tables in my store.  We often paint them for a more contemporary look as cherry and mahogany are not so popular right now.    Here is the before photo:

My plan was to use the resin to create a faux white marble top.  The product came with great instructions.  The company website also has videos and instructions for many projects, including faux marble tops.  Since I wanted to tint my resin, I called the 800 number to inquire as to they types and quantity of paints or pigments to use for tinting.  The tech, Michelle, was so very helpful and suggested against using white as my base color as the resin, like all resins, will yellow over time.  So I decided against white and settled on a gray.

I painted the coffee table with gray paint and allowed it to dry. 

I followed the instructions for mixing the resin.  I used 3 batches and moved quickly to complete the application within the appropriate drying time.  Once the gray was completely applied, I added some white.  I am happy with result for my first attempt at marbling!

I can’t wait to try some other furniture tops with this product.  I would love to do a kitchen or bathroom vanity counter!  So many possibilities!

This project was sponsored by Envirotex as part of The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest, a monthly contest where bloggers revamp a furniture piece using products provided by a sponsor.  Our theme for this month was “Showstopping TOPS”!

If you are a blogger who tinkers in furniture upcycling and are interested in participating in future contests, inquire by sending an email to info@eveyscreations.com.

We are lucky to have the following wonderful hosts:

And this month we have a guest host as well.  Check out Sheri of Hazel and Gold Designs.  She also used Envirotex Lite on a fabulous project.  

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I selected Ruby (2 panels) and a Pipa kit (4 pieces).  They are much more substantial than I had expected.  They actually resemble a trellis or actual piece of wall art!  Oh the possibilities!

My original thought was to reinvigorate a small waterfall chest.  I envisioned the designs on the drawers.  But when the product arrived, my vision switched to wonderful mirrors behind the designs.  Or how about dressing up a plain jane dresser?

I  decided to go with a super simple piece of furniture.  I searched through my store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment, for the plainest and most boring item in the store.  Here is what I found:

This super boring legal filing cabinet would be great for added storage in any room.  All she needs is a little bling, some TLC…and some overlays!

I decided to go bold and use a bright coral to really make this baby special.  Since the filing cabinet is made of metal I selected Rustoleum as my paint of choice.  Two quick coats of spray paint and I was ready for the overlays.  I opted to leave the overlays white to ensure a nice contrast with the bright coral.

 I was anxious to use my overlays but was not sure about a pattern.  So I played around with a few.  Practice makes perfect, right??!

Which is your favorite?  Mine is below.  

What is wonderful about O’verlays is that they cut easily with a sharp blade.  I used a standard razor knife and a straight ruler as a guide.  After scoring the piece I needed to trim, it snapped cleanly apart.  I used a piece of fine sandpaper to sand the edges.  I was able to piece the overlay into a custom fit for my file cabinet.

Next step is to install the overlays.  Per manufacturer’s instructions, the best adhesive to use is either Liquid Nails or Loctite.  I chose Loctite since I had some on hand.  I mixed the epoxy per instructions and used a toothpick to apply a small amount.  I carefully placed the overlays in place and waited 10 minutes for it to dry.

I decided that she needed to be framed in white to make the piece more appealing.  Here she is:

I had a lot of fun staging this beauty.  I’m really loving this color!

These overlays were so very easy to use…from cutting them to fit to applying them.  The most difficult part was selecting one design from their vast array of choices!  I can’t wait to use the other overlays that they sent to me!  Stay tuned for that project.

I received these products from O’verlays as a participant in The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest for April.  O’verlays sent me these fabulous products for free to use in this contest.  Contest winners will receive a prize package compliments of O’verlays.  

The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest is a monthly contest in which 20-30 bloggers each transforms a piece of furniture using products provided by that month’s sponsor.  The sponsor provides a prize package for the winner.  

This month’s theme is “Cut n Paste with O’verlays”!  Our host is Scottie from Saved by Scottie.  Hop on over to her blog to see the fabulous piece she created using O’verlays.

If you are a blogger and are interested in participating in this contest, contact info@fabfurnitureflippincontest.com.  I can’t tell you how much fun this monthly contest is…from trying new products and networking with sponsors to forging friendships with blogger buddies.  

The post Using Overlays to Transform Furniture appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Here is the chair in its original condition:

I did a little light sanding to smooth out and deeper scratches or imperfections.  I used a lower grit sandpaper since that’s what was handy.  But a finer grit will result in a much smoother appearance.  It’s amazing how a little sandpaper can increase the quality of  a quick upcycle project

Since the chair was metal, I used Rustoleum spray paint.  It works very well and comes in tons of colors.  Rustoleum is my go to if there is any rust on the object to be painted.

As always with spray paint, be careful to keep your can moving while applying the paint to ensure no drips or pooling of paint.  Rustoleum makes these handy little gizmos that lends some ease in handling and controlling your application of spray paint.  Here is my affiliate link to the Comfort Grip.  I find this tool useful when using the spray paint for more than a simple dab or short spray.  Sounds funny, but it reduces the strain on your trigger finger AND keeps your fingers from being painted.  Lord knows we painters get enough paint on us!

To add some fun to the chair, I taped off some areas to make grain sack stripes.  I used (affiliate link) Frogtape to mark my lines and then grabbed the Rustoleum again but in a more grain sack friendly color.

And here is the final chair:

This was a quick and easy way to spruce up old folding chairs!  Give it a try!

The post Quick upcycle project #2 at The Blue Building Antiques appeared first on Shop at Blu.

You might remember that last October was our first huge vintage show when we participated in The Market on Chapel Hill.  You can read about the show HERE.  This was so much fun!  We met so many wonderful folks.  Since that market was in Montgomery Alabama, many of our shopping friends stop by to visit us at The Blue Building Antiques in Alabaster, AL.  We enjoyed the event so much that we will be doing several other shows this year starting with Vintage Market Days in Mobile AL over St. Patrick’s Day weekend.  I will tell you more about that event later.

The Philly Home and Garden Show was Friday, February 17  through Sunday,  February 19, 217 .  We made these 24 inch Farmhouse Decor Clocks at the Make It Take It station.  We did 3 classes of 15, one each day.

We were super excited to have two fabulous sponsors.  HomeRight sent us Finish Max Paint Sprayers to demo and give away.  We had four participants go home with new paint sprayers!  Everyone had the chance to try using this lightweight and easy to use paint sprayer!  Folks were absolutely loving the spray shelters as well!  The HomeRight spray shelter comes in two sizes to accomodate large or small projects!

Thanks to HomeRight we will also be giving away a new HomeRight Finish Max paint sprayer at the end of this post!  See the Rafflecopter to enter.

Our second sponsor was Plaid Enterprises, you might know their products…Folk Art and Apple Barrel paint!  Plaid graciously supplied us with stencils, paint, brushes, and stencil glue for all of the classes!  They have a seemingly endless supply of craft items to fill your needs.  Let me just say that their stencil glue was the bomb!

Our first class was Friday Feb 17 at 4:00 PM.  I have to admit that I was a little nervous.  I’ve never done a class at a big event.  I had some wonderful helpers in 3 of my best buds from high school.  Meet Lisa, Mickey and Susan!

Here are some of our wonderful class participants hard at work:

Saturday brought a whole new crew of helpers.  Here are Shelly, Germaine and Lisa, more of my wonderful friends from grade school and high school.

Some candid shots from Saturdays class (photo credit to Shelly):

And lastly, here are pictures from our Sunday class.  Special thanks to my grade school friend, Dana, and my 3 cousins Maureen, Kathleen,  and Michele who were incredibly wonderful helpers!

And of course, my number one helper was in rare form.  He kept the funnel cake booth in business for 3 days!

I kept him very busy!  Pop picked all of the winners for the HomeRight giveaways!

The absolute highlight of the show for me was meeting Jeff Lewis from BRAVO’s Flippin’ Out!  

Gage must have sensed how horrible I am at selfies so he took charge! Thank God!

What a phenomenal event this was!  Once again, a huge thank you to HomeRight and Plaid Enterprises for providing the wonderful tools and giveaways for this show.  Please take a minute to check out their websites and their wonderful products!  If you are a DIY addict like me, these two companies have the products to make you happy and your life easier!

And for our grand finale, we are giving away a HomeRight Finish Max Paint Sprayer!  Enter starting March 4 through March 20, 2017 via the Rafflecopter below. Winner will be announced on March 21st.

We extended the giveaway through April 8.  And the winner was Kelly W!  She had claimed her prize and promises to post some picks of her projects!

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Here is a link (affiliate) should you wish to purchase your own Finish Max!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Philly Home and Garden Show Farmhouse Decor Clock appeared first on Shop at Blu.