Easiest furniture redo ever

About eight years ago, I decided I needed to replace my dining room furniture. The china cabinet and table were purchased back in 1982, soon after we were married. We used the table practically every day and it was showing plenty of wear. It didn't take long in my search to discover that china cabinets were a thing of the past. They had been replaced with low buffet - type liquor cabinets. After all, I don't think new brides are interested in using fine china. I used mine to display my teacup collection ( which was all the rage back then) and some pieces from my grandmother. Maybe I could just find a new table in light oak? Nope, everything in style was dark, nothing would match... now what?

 I re-evaluated my china cabinet, which was still in great shape and the style was plain enough and decided to refinish it dark and buy a new table. 

Now the search began for how to do that with the least effort. I had refinished a few pieces before...I remembered the endless sanding, the mess, the strong smell...

Then I found this article at Monica's blog!

She stated that you could successfully refinish a project without all the sanding and smell. Her directions were very easy to follow and plenty of the comments on her post were helpful.

https://monicawantsit.com/staining-oak-cabinets-espresso-color/

I decided to take it on. In hindsight, here are a few key things to remember:

1.  I followed her instructions to the "T", no shortcuts. Yes, there are precise waiting periods between coats but they pay off in the end.  
2. Using a tube sock instead of a brush was so much better! You can use your fingers to get into corners or any ornate details in the wood.  
3.  Use the product she used General Finishes... no substitutes. There are plenty of wood shades to choose from. I chose the Java shade Monica used. I only bought a quart and when I was finished, there was over half a can left. I did several other pieces before the can was empty. It really stretches! I found it at a local furniture store but I've also since purchased this brand from Amazon.
4. IMPORTANT: This product is only for stain over stain. I don't believe it would work over paint.

This is the dining room set when it was purchased. Light oak with a very high gloss. I lightly sanded the piece for 15 minutes to remove some gloss as instructed. If you are redoing kitchen cabinets you will need to thoroughly clean them with a degreaser. No need for heavy sanding. This is a very easy product to work with. It's a gel that sits on top and doesn't need to soak into the wood. You do not wipe it off.

   After putting on thin rubber gloves, I used my hubby's old tube socks. They will reach up to your elbows and you'll be glad of that. lol

 Dip into the stain and apply. I referred back to Monica's instruction many, many times to be sure I was following exactly.

 Don't be discouraged at how the first coat looks, It's all going to work out...trust me.

Finished off with the General Finishes poly as suggested...

I used the same hardware because they were plain and not outdated. I gave them two coats of Rustoleum oil rubbed bronze spray paint.

Now, to purchase a table. There were plenty in a dark shade to choose from...

 This is the table I chose! It's a perfect match! You would never believe that they weren't purchased together.

 It's been eight years and it still looks like new. No wearing off, no fading, and the finish is scratch-resistant.

 Again, here's the link:

https://monicawantsit.com/staining-oak-cabinets-espresso-color/


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  Image-in-ing

Quick and Easy Window Lights

Are you tired of the time and work it takes to hang Christmas lights in your windows? Not to mention the mess with tape or hooks?
 I guess I sound like a tv commercial lol!!
But I found a fast and easy way to get the job done.

First, I bought two white adjustable spring tension rods for each window... for less than $2.00 each.

Then for each window, I looped the lights around the rods and placed one at the top and on at the bottom. I used a 100 light string for the window above and placed them in a zigzag pattern. Adjust the tension of the rods for a snug fit.

When the blinds are let down, the rods are hidden, inside and out!

Outside view

Here's where I'll be sharing:
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday  * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Waste not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday * the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday  * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Sweet Inspirations *  Friday Finds * Foodie Friday *  Photo Friday * Foodie Friday and Everything Else * Friday Features * Party Palooza *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters *  Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *  Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * What's for Dinner * Sunday Crafters-noon  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday *

Sheets to Shower Curtains

I love to re-create with sheets!

Think about it.The cost of fabric has skyrocketed in the last few years. All the fabric chain stores have closed in our area except one... creating a monopoly. Cotton blends that used to sell for $2.99 a yard there are now seven and eight dollars!

That's why I use bed sheets. Large pieces of fabric, plenty of patterns to choose from, and you can find them marked down or on sale really inexpensive.

I made this one for spring!

I posted the directions when I made a burgundy and gold one for fall.
Click the link below:
http://justsimplesomethings.blogspot.com/2012/11/800-shower-curtain-and-valance.html

I've made shower curtains, valances, table runners, dust ruffles, window curtains, tablecloths...and the list goes on.

I added a new piece of diy framed art!

Here's where I'll be sharing:

 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday * You're gonna love it Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday *the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday * Wordless Wednesday * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Friday Finds * Photo Friday * Friday Features * Party Palooza* Floral Friday Fotos  * What To Do Weekends * Peace, love Link up Fridays *  Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *  Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Nifty Thrifty Sunday *

Irish Spring Deer Repellent

Because we live five minutes from a county park, I have a real problem with deer getting in my flower bed. They have acres and acres of every bush imaginable to munch on and yet they'll climb down a steep embankment at the back of our yard to get to my flowers. Grrrr...

I tried this at $12 a bottle...

and and it worked okay but you have to reapply after every rain so it was getting to be expensive.

Then I found a homemade recipe which was basically the same thing.
Chopped garlic - $1.00
crushed red pepper - $1.00
 water
I was able to get the items inexpensively at the dollar store which was a bonus.
 I put the mixture in a large glass jug with a lid and sat it out in the sun. The longer it sits the more potent it is! After couple days, I poured the liquid through a fine strainer and put the liquid in a spray bottle. Even though this was a cheaper alternative, I still had to constantly reapply it.

Then a friend told me about Irish Spring soap. You just cut the bars into fourths and skewer each piece onto dowel rods. I had my husband to drill some holes into the soap so that it wouldn't crack, and it worked nicely. ( the dowel rods I got were 3/8 inch diameter and I got three 12 inch pieces out of each rod.)

They look like green lollipops!!

It's been six weeks now and it appears to be working.

Cheap, easy and an extra bonus is even with plenty of rain here, it takes a long time to melt!

Here's a tip:
To keep your gardening tools sharp, store them in a old bucket, filled with sand and some motor oil. I did this last winter and now my tools are rust free and well oiled!

Here's where I'll be sharing:

Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Sundays at Home * Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday * You're gonna love it Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday *the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday * Wordless Wednesday * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Friday Finds * Photo Friday * Friday Features * Floral Friday Fotos  * What To Do Weekends * Happiness is Homemade * Saturday Sparks *

Cheap diy Artwork

If you're like me, you get bored with the same bathroom decor...just a change of shower curtain and towels can freshen everything up a bit. I decided to switch to blue before Christmas so that I could use some new snowman towels I had purchased. Once the holidays were over and the decorations were put away, I needed something blue for the wall.

I often pick up frames for a couple dollars at the thrift store:

 1 wood frame from the Salvation Army  - $1.00 (discard the glass)

 blue paint that I already had.

 1 sheet of  pattern scrapbook paper - $.50

I had a beige mat from another frame and I painted it white using water base craft paint. - $.50

3 die cut flowers using my bigshot for card making, but you could purchase flowers at your local craft store...

and  some easy - peasy assembling = cheap diy artwork!

Here's where I'll be sharing:

Nifty Thrifty Sunday  Amaze Me Monday  Mix it up Monday  Make it Pretty Monday  Busy Monday  Keep it simple Monday Tasty Tuesday  Inspire me Tuesday
Talk of the Town   Thrifty and Vintage Finds   Before and After Wednesday
You Link it, We Make it   Wordless Wednesday   Create it Thursday  
Full plate Thursday    Throwback Thursday   The Pin Junkie
Anything blue Friday   Photo Friday   Foodie Friday   What To Do Weekends