Project Nursery:Quick & Easy Aqua End Table Makeover

The power of spray paint never ceases to amaze me. Case in point; this quick little vintage second-hand table makeover we recently completed for Baby B's nursery.

 

 

A few months ago I shared this $30 Craig's List find on my social media sites & asked if I should keep it white or go bold by painting it either orange or aqua?

 

 

And aqua it was!

 

 

To be honest the votes were all over the place & for quite some time I had settled on leaving it white as some had suggested. Yawn.

Then after we added our made-over dresser/changing table I started to feel like between that, the crib, and the end table the room was looking too white. B-O-R-I-N-G.

We really needed a POP of color and that my friends is how we ended up with an aqua side table.......

 

 

 

The color is Aqua by Rust-oleum.

 

 

I really love the fun & whimsical touch it adds to the room!

 

Hard to believe but we are about 97% done with this room.

Can't wait to share the reveal in the near future!

Sharing with friends here:
Uncommon Designs

 

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Old Dresser Makeover: How to Paint Laminate Furniture

Task number 1,999 on our to-do list is finally done! Last time we spoke {geez was it really two weeks since my last post?} I shared this little green booger of a dresser we scored off of Craig's List.

You can read all about my plans here on how I wanted to utilize it as a changer/dresser for Baby B's nursery. Two lessons I learned from this lil' project of ours.

1. Never shop off of Craig's List while high on pregnancy brain fog.
2. How to paint laminate furniture.

So apparently I misread the CL listing {see lesson 1 above} because I was under the impression that this was a solid wood dresser I had bargained for. Come to find out it wasn't.

Thank goodness a little on-line guidance & inspiration was able to save this synthetic bad boy.

Come to find out painting laminate is really not that difficult.

Besides your brush and paint color of choice all you need is to pick yourself up some of this
Zinsser Primer & Sealer.
The can read that it sticks to all surfaces with out the need for sanding first.
No sanding? Sold!

The hubz took over this project so I could avoid the fumes
{after all pregnancy has already killed off some of my brain cells}.
He used two coats of the primer and then the number of coats of regular paint will vary depending on what color your furniture is to begin with and also the final color you are choosing to paint it.
Since our piece was a dark green & we were aiming for a stark white dresser it took approximately 5-6 coats of paint before I felt satisfied with the coverage.

My favorite part about the dresser of course are the aqua-blue polka dotted knobs I found for 50% off at Hobby Lobby.

I think the knobs definitely helped bring that "baby vibe" to the dresser yet at the same time it's not overwhelmingly babyish or anything to where he'll outgrow it too soon!

The globe was a $4 find at Goodwill a few weeks back.
Finally, my year long globe hunting paid off!

 So there you have it, another check mark on that to-do list!
Oh how I LURVVE seeing those check marks.

PS. You can check out my other nursery projects here:
Thrift Store Chandelier Makeover
Dream Big Little One Nursery Wall Printables

Sharing here:
Under the Table & Dreaming
DIY Showoff
Nifty Thrifty Things
Homemaker on a Dime
The Gunny Sack
Sugar Bee Crafts
Embracing Change
Ginger Snap Crafts
Just Us Four
The Frugal Girls
Glitter Glue & Paint

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Dear Dresser, It's Because I Have Faith In You: Project Nursery Thrifty Finds

Remember that time we had that ugly fireplace that almost drove me to the nut house?

I know, I know, I had to repress those bad memories too.

So I know what you're thinking then.

How can someone so anti-hunter green allow THIS THING any where near their house?

 

Let me tell ya it wasn't easy.

But like a moth to a flame I just couldn't resist purchasing this cough gem of a dresser cough.

Like Rhianna to Chris Brown, I had faith in this bad boy.

Or it could have just been that I was Craig's List drunk from searching for a dresser for the nursery EVERY SINGLE DARN DAY for the past four months.

 

I was determined to use a dresser in Baby B's room not only for organizing his diapers and onesies but to also serve as his changing table. I wanted something second-hand to makeover and that would extend beyond the length of an average size changing pad to allow for space for wipes and what not.

That way everything is conveniently within reach when he pees on me.

(See I already got this mother of boy thing down pat).

 

I was thrilled when this dresser popped up on CL last weekend mostly because I was starting to convince myself Baby B would enter this world without a dresser waiting from him.

GASP!I mean what kind of mother would I be making this boy go dresser-less?

 

Needless to say I have BIG dreams for this green-eye monster.

How's this for a hint?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the finished project!!

 

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DIY Home Fragrance {Repeat Post Because I Am Lazy & I Met a Man on Craig's List}

Sorry to interrupt our regular broadcasting with this blast from the past post but I spent the evening with a man I met on Craig's List last night. That's right, who knew I'd find my dream luva right there in the sales ads. Before you go & get all judgy-judgy on me I'm referring to the new {well, new to me} vintage sideboard I purchased for our little living room makeover. Eek! I love "him". I know the piece is a "he" based on the beat down he gave to the hubby. Poor guy he accompanies me on these Craig's List rendezvous just incase I meet up with some chester who decides to nap me & turn me into their very own life size doll {if you're a fan of Criminal Minds then you'll understand my paranoia cautiousness} & then he goes and pulls a muscle in his back. Talk about world's best played guilt trip {because really whose man likes to spend their evenings driving all around kingdom come{aka Chicagoland} tracking down some piece of furniture?}

So needless to say because I was too lazy busy last night to put together my Spark Plug Series for today you get to check out this repeat post. Actually, this was posted when I first started blogging and besides the two kind commenters I got I'm pretty sure only my mom saw it, so win-win this most likely is new to you!

It’s clear to see why the home fragrance industry reels in big bucks every year.  Who doesn’t love a good smelling home? Real estate experts even claim the smell of your la casa can increase or decrease the value of your property.  What can I say? We love our scents! I have to admit though it pains me to see how pricey candles and reed diffusers can be sometimes.  Plus, nowadays you hear so much about how these chemical-based air fresheners aren’t good for the earth or us anyways. The great news is making your own reed diffuser is so easy and you don’t have to go broke doing it!

Supplies

Diffuser reeds {I found mine at Michael’s}

1 small container or vase

Essential oils from any local health food or craft store

½ cup of water

Vodka {Disclaimer: No crafts were harmed in the making of this project - as far as the crafter…. that’s another story}

Directions

Mix 4-5 drops of your essential oil into the half-cup of water. Add 2 drops of vodka to the water. The vodka serves as an emulsifier and helps keep the water and oil mixed.  Pour the mix into your container and add your reeds.  Similiar to the store bought diffusers it does take a few days for the reeds to absorb the oil and release its scent.  Flip reeds every now and then to refresh your fragrance.

The fun part about making your own reed diffuser is that there are a variety of scents you can create from essential oils by mixing and matching.  I happen to use a Bergamot and Yuzi Fruit oil found at Michael’s that is both citrus and summery. To top it off since I already had the vase at home this puppy only cost me $4 to put together and there’s still tons of leftover oil for future refills or extra diffusers for other rooms.

What's your favorite way to keep your home fresh and good smelling?

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