Jewelry Organizer inside my Armoire

I have more jewelry than I have adequate storage for.  I finally decided to create a storage solution.  I already have an antique armoire in my bedroom.  While all of the shelves are filled with my clothes (which is why you won't see a picture of the inside!), the inside of the armoire doors were a blank slate.  I went to Home Depot and browsed for ideas.  As I rounded the corner of the hardware aisle, I saw these 12" metal sheets, and I thought EUREKA! MAGNETS!  So here's the scoop on how I made a magnetic jewelry organizer inside my armoire.

My Armoire...future jewelry organizer!

First, I drilled holes in the sheet metal.

Next, I drilled a very small hole in the armoire, using the pre-drilled sheet metal as a guide.

I screwed the metal into the cabinet.

Metal installed

Screws are now covered with
 pretty jewel-toned magnets.

I covered the ugly screws with magnets
from Walmart's office supply aisle.

I added hung my jewelry with magnetic bookmarks from Walmart.  I added magnetic metal boxes to store earrings.

I used the existing bar in the armoire to hold longer necklaces and bracelets.

 I repeated the process on the other inside door, so I have twice the storage now!

Live, Learn, Laugh, Love, Life - A plaque makeover

Now that I've completed my shed makeover (guest posted today at My Repurposed Life), I have been looking for fun things to hang on my blank fence next to the shed.  While driving back from my Saturday running club, I hit the breaks for a garage sale because I saw this propped up against a treadmill:

I picked it up for $5, and brought it home to paint.

First, I primed it with Zinsser and my paint sprayer.

 Next, I spray painted it with Rustoleum Satin outdoor spray paint in a sage green.

Blended colors for each letter

Then, I painted each of the letters in a different blended color.  I'm a fan of Donna Dewsburry's one stroke painting technique, so I used her method of loading the paint brush with two colors to blend two colors for each word.

Loading 2 paint colors onto the brush

After dipping the corner of the brush into each paint color,
I work the paint into the brush by  moving it back and forth in the paint.

Scruffy brush used to create faux moss.

Next, I added "moss" around the edges using a flat headed "scruffy" brush loaded with yellow and green paint, then "pounced" around all the edges of the plaque.

Live Learn Laugh Love Life - Simple rules to live by!

Here's the finished product!

I need your help!  Should I add an additional layer of varnish or glazing to add a patina?  Or...should I leave well enough alone?  Let me know what you think!

Coincidentally, Cottage and Vine also did a great makeover of this same plaque - check out her version!

Bamboo Chairs are Painted Green Apple

I few months ago, I found 6 of these these bamboo chairs on Craig's list.  I knew immediately that they were just the thing to go with my yet-to-be-made Vintage Door table.

6 Bamboo Chairs found on Craig's list

The finish on the chairs was pretty bad, so I cleaned and stripped the flaky finish off with DAP's T.S.P. Substitute.  This stuff works GREAT!

Next, I primed the chairs using a paint spray gun and Zinzer primer.

Next, I spray painted the chairs using Rust-Oleum's Painter's Touch Ultra Cover spray paint in Green Apple Satin.  As I mentioned in my Bird Cage turned Planter post, this is absolutely the best spray paint.  It covers much better than other spray paint so you need fewer coats and less paint.

Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover - Green Apple 

I always paint the bottom of furniture first.

Painting the bottom of all 6 bamboo chairs.

And...here's the finished product.  All there is left now is to cut the seats and make cushions!  ...and then the Vintage Door Table...and the fire pit...and the rolling bar...and the custom storage cabinet....and...the rest of my Dream Backyard Plan.

Let me know what you think!

My Green Apple painted bamboo chairs

Shed Makeover Reveal - Guest Post at My Repurposed Life

I'm soooo excited to let you know I've been invited to guest post at My Repurposed Life.  Join me on June 28th as I guest post on one of my favorite blogger's sites!

Shed "BEFORE" makeover.  See the "AFTER" in my shed makeover big reveal
on June 28th at myrepurposedlife.net. 

Remember this old shed?  Here is the "Before" picture that I posted in April.  Making over this shed was the first phase of my backyard makeover. I'm happy to announce that I've completed my shed makeover, and it looks fantastic!  Don't miss the big Shed Makover Reveal on June 28th in my guest post at My Repurposed Life.

 Gail at My Repurposed Life makes amazing things from other people's junk and roadside rescues.  I encourage all my crafty readers to check out her site!

On June 28th, I'm guest posting on myrepurposedlife.net!

T-Shirt Makeover into Tank Top (How To)

Original Shirt: pre-makeover

Once a year I volunteer at a fabulous event called "The Taste of Pinellas", which raises funds to support All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I look forward to this event every year because of the outstanding food from local restaurants and fantastic entertainment (bands have included Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Josh Turner, Joe Nichols, Big & Rich).

What I don't love is the volunteer t-shirts - the art is adorable, but they're "unisex" t-shirts.  Why do they call them "unisex"? They are really just Men's t-shirts that women also wear.  They are boxy and unflattering.  So...every year, I get out my scissors and re-design them!  Every year at the event, both friends and random strangers stop me and ask me how I made my shirt, so I've decided to post a "how to".

Lay your favorite tank top over your tshirt.
Mark the outline of your tank top on the front and back of your tshirt
- this will serve as your pattern for cutting.
 I use a fabric marking pencil because the marks wash out.
Note that the tank top is smaller than the Tshirt under the arms,
so just continue the line that you started to gently slope out to the arm holes (see below).

Cut along the lines that you made from your tank top to form  your new tshirt.
At this point, I always try the shirt on to see if I want to make adjustments to the cut.

Take an old Tshirt (I saved the one from the previous year)
and cut it into strips that are  about 4" long and roughly  3/4" wide.

Begin tying the strips along the straps of your new tank top.

Cut small holes 1/2 " from the edge along the neckline of your tank,
then thread your  fabric strips through each hole and knot. 

Repeat along the arm hole in the front.  Continue this process around the neckline in the back too.  I don't typically do this around the armholes in the back.

Tank top in progress.  The armholes still need to be completed in the front.

Voila!  Cute new tank top from a boxy Men's tshirt!  

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Old Birdcage turned New Hanging Planter

I bought this old birdcage a few years ago in an antique shop during a trip to Boston.  I took it out of storage this weekend and decided to make a hanging planter with it.

First, I painted it "Green Apple" with Rustoleum Painter's Touch.  I must tell you -- This is THE BEST spray paint.  It usually only takes one coat when other spray paint takes 2-3 coats.  It is higher priced, but you use less - well worth it!

First, I painted it "Green Apple".

After Spray Paint

Next, I added a Coconut Basket liner to cover the bottom.

Coconut basket liner cut to fit the bottom.

Then I added sphangum moss around the edges to hold in the soil.

I put some soil in the middle, then planted a tall purple butterfly plant in the middle. Around the outside, I planted trailing plants on their side so that they grow through the cage.  Added more sphangum moss on the sides and soil on top.  Then I mulched the top with more sphangum moss, and watered!

Finished Birdhouse Planter....now, where to hang it?