Desk Makeover With French Wreath Graphic

Hubby picked up this desk for me. It was a Craigslist find. I wasn't sure what exactly I was going to do with it. I only knew that it was abused and needed love. :)

I began by sanding the top down to the bare wood. It wasn't hard. The finish was practically begging to come off. I didn't sand out all the imperfections though. I like them. Next, I primed/painted the bottom portion of the desk (hardware, too!), then sanded the edges for a rough/chippy look. Finally, I stained the bottom (over the paint), wiping it away to leave behind an antique sheen.

On top, I did a white wash of watered-down latex paint. When it was dry, I also stained over that. It gives the top that driftwood look.Then I traced the graphic on and painted it. 

Thank you Graphics Fairy (see link in sidebar).

 

Here it is with the left side "distressed" so you can see the difference.

 

I think it turned out gorgeous. Could be used as a desk, vanity or even a TV stand! Lots of shabby-chic, cottage loveliness!

Adventurers Suitcase

I've seen so many cute little painted suitcases on Pinterest, and I finally decided to take a crack at it. Unfortunately, I don't have any chalk paint, so I used primer and latex/acrylic.

This old guy was sitting around the thrift store just waiting for a home, so I snagged him up. After painting him gray, I added the words and painted the hardware.

I think this guy turned out very cute and is ready to find a new home!

Etsy Update: Shabby Alabaster Autumn

Here are a few more items I added to my Etsy shop this week. They all look like they match, but it wasn't planned. Completely random. I really LOVE making old items new again! And I added a touch of autumn white to get myself into the fall decorating mood. Enjoy!

Family & Adventurer Wood SIGNS

Today I finally finished two excellent wood signs I've been working on for AGES! They are made from reclaimed pallet wood: sanded, stained, hand-painted and sealed with LOVE. 

 

Garden Gate Doors

It was our town junk day (a lot of my stories start like this). It was rainy, and I wasn't really sure I wanted to run around sifting through soggy, moldy garbage for treasures, but the allure of free stuff was just too strong.

As I drove up and down the streets, occasionally slowing down to examine things more closely, I came upon a house where someone was throwing out LOTS of old wood. It was weathered and split and broken and PERFECT. I didn't know what I would use it for, but I knew it had potential. So, with a little elbow grease (and mud and wet and ICKY) I got it loaded into my van.

And then.... nothing. It sat and sat and sat for a couple months. I even tried to sell it at a craft fair and a yard sale. Nobody bought it.

Then I saw something online: it was a cute little garden gate, complete with old rusty hardware, that someone had painted a sign on! I fell in love with the idea and got to work! With help from amazing, super-Hubby, I was able to make a few Garden Gate Doors of my own. Now I'm addicted. I LOVE these! Hope you do, too.

I found this key at a thrift store and just KNEW I would use it someday.

The hardware for this door was picked up at a flea market. Isn't it PERFECT?!

As an author, I am in LOVE with BOOKS! So, a bookshelf  "door" is a must.
This one is a work in progress. Still have to add the hardware.

When Hubby showed me this door, I knew it was MINE. It's hanging in my dining room.
The weathered wood is naturally perfect.
And the elegant corbels lend a bit of class to this old door.

The next generation! I just stained these two doors and with a little help from Photoshop,
I'm envisioning what they might look like with "Love" and "Family" painted on them. What do you think?

Antique Dresser MAKEOVER

I was surfing Craigslist when I saw an ad for an amazing wooden radio cabinet. I knew I just had to have it!

I talked hubby into driving two hours with me to go get it. When we arrived at the store where it was being sold, I LOVED it and bought it. Then I started looking around and wow! There were LOTS of items in that store that I could have come home with! But I didn't. I was very restrained. I only bought a few books, some small hardware pieces and THIS!

 

You would have done the same. Trust me. The beautiful moldings, the pretty curves and character, character, character! This antique wood dresser with its dovetailed drawers and awesome hardware was mine. It had just been waiting for me to come and buy it and make it into a shabby chic masterpiece! I got to work sanding, priming, painting, sanding some more and glazing with a dark walnut stain. Here's the result. The hardest part was selling it!

This shabby chic dresser turned out beautiful! Elegant lines, pretty moldings and graceful curves. LOVE.

Yes, I painted the hardware. I used to leave it natural or replace or spray paint it on lots of my other pieces, but
then I saw someone else paint it and realized how incredibly charming it looked!

Garden Gate Doors

Garden Gate Doors by What's On My Porch

I am a junk-junkie. So when I saw a stack of vintage wood on the curbside I thought, "I can do something with that!"

"Welcome" Garden Gate Door by What's On My Porch - Find me on Etsy.

A couple months later, the wood was still on my porch. I knew it had potential, I just didn't know what. So, I began using the individual boards to make cute little Welcome signs. But I still didn't know what to do with the larger pieces of tongue-and-groove board. Then I found a beautiful garden gate that someone had painted words on and I KNEW!

I put Hubby to work cutting the boards into gate shapes while I scoured the known world for cool, old hardware. Then I chose a background color, a design and got painting! These Garden Gate Doors are the result. I am addicted to making these cute wooden doors!

If you like them, check out my ETSY SHOP or FACEBOOK PAGE and get one for yourself! 

Garden Gate Doors by What's On My Porch - Find me on Etsy.