Add Color To Your Decor

2011 Spring Inspiration

This is my new outdoor Spring Inspiration.

My old 10 speed has found a new purpose in life. This bike I dug out of my parents garage a few months ago when I was inspired by a friends back yard decor. This bike was once my prize possession as I peddled around the neighborhood thinking I was a realy cool kid. It has been stored in my parents garage, shed and then back to the garage and many times over the years thinking about takeing it to the Good Will. I stripped it down, removing all the un-necessary items like the breakes, and the chain. I then painted it a School Buss Yellow leaving the seat and wheels plain. I added the basket of flowers to the handle bars (wicker garbage basket from Ross, $3.99) and then a small can of flowers below the seat (coffee can from garbage at work, washed and painted). I have a few more ideas to follow once the weather warns up. Enjoy!!

Refinished Chair

I found this solid maple chair at the Goodwill for $9.99, a perfect Saturday afternoon much needed project, so lets get started...see below for step by step "How To".

1. You will need the following items, you may use your own materials or method you don't need to follow exactly.

-Some sort of paint or stain stripper.

-Eye protection wear

-Chemical resistant rubber gloves

-Mask

-Sand paper or steel wool

-scrub brush or tooth brush

-scapper or spatula

-An old rag (discard after use)

&

-A bucket of soap and cold water

(Please make sure you are working in a well ventilated area, like the outdoors.)

This is what I used, it's a spray on stripper. Other options available beside the spray on method (used for small projects). 2. Spray or if you are usuing a non spray... brush on the stripper product. Please read the instructionsons the back of your product to see how long to wait before removing stain or paint. All stripping products may differ. Mine took 15 min to do it's job after the product was applied. The stain or paint will start to bubble and left. 3. Using a scrapper or spatula and going with the grain of the wood, scrap off the stain or paint and discard into a paper bag. May need to reapply product in areas the paint or stain is tuff to remove.

4. Extra help- using a scrub brush or tooth brush will loosen and remove stain in areas that have alot of detail (see above left).

5. You may also us steel wool or sand paper to help remove stain or paint in tuff area or to help smooth out ruff areas.

6. Using Cold water and soap remove excess product residue and wipe areas clean.

7. Spray paint or stain? I chose an Ivory/Satin spray paint (two coats).

8. After Paint has dried, using a sanding block ruff up edges to give it a rustic or antique look. You may ruff up edges and areas as much as you want depending on the look you are going for.

Ta Da!

How to turn a Lunch Sack into a Gift Sack

This is a fun little project that will transform an ordinary brown lunch sack into a cute gift sack. All you need is a lunch sack, 1 piece of your favorite 12x12 scrapbooking paper, scissors, tacky glue, gluestick or adhesive tape, single hole punch, ribbon and other embelishments.

1. Cut about 3 inches off the top of the sack. 2. Fold the flap on the bottom of the sack down so you have a flat surface. 3. Cut the scapbooking paper to fit each side of the lunch sack. On one side cut the paper about 2 inches longer shown in the bottom right side photo.
4. Glue, or use adhesive tape and secure the paper to each side.

5. On the longer side fold the paper over the sack.

6. With scissors or paper edgers cut along the end of the flap leaving a little over an inch or more which ever you desire or looks best..

7. Using your embelishments decorate or design the front of the sack for any occasion.

8. Fold the flap over the top and punch two holes going all the way through .

9. Optional: with extra scrapbook paper make a card or gift tag.

10. Thread the ribbon through each hole so the tie is at the front. Attach your gift tag and tie a bow to close.

Fill with goodies, candy, jewelry or soap and lotions.

Have fun with your project!!