Shabby Chic Cabinet Make Over

This week I felt like this!!!

WHY???

Compared with last week's success with transfers, I am hopelessly incompetent this week...LOL

Several Oopsies, rescue missions and mop up operations left my nerves hanging on a thread!!!

What with all my oopsies, cleaning house, cooking, listing items for sale, shipping and doing the post office run (I sold the French provincial end table the same day it got listed), I felt like a computer processing multiple inputs at the same time!!!

Anyhoo! I was hoping to finish my coffee table re-do to show you. This gal is now covered with a cloth 'cos I can't bear to look at the latest transfer FLOP....Grin...

I did manage to finish my cabinet at least, this was after yet another transfer effort turned pear shaped and unable to sleep, mind racing, I got up at 3am to do a decoupage rescue mission instead.

Now I can't find the before picture...oh lawdie...let me check on my other memory card! Found it!!!!

Here she is after a few coats of my fave moody blue colour!!! Before I discovered chalk paint!!!

Here she is finally in her new guise!!!

I distressed the heck out of her, added some mahogany stain, screwed in some brass drawer pulls, door knobs and key plates I had left over from other projects. The 3am decoupage was done with the same night poem;excuse the Pun, I used for my Glamour girl end table and the scraggly edges I did with some sheet music.

To the top I added my mid-century canisters, an old crock that holds teaspoons, a blue and white jug with blooms from my garden, my chalkboard, cheese dome, my Rooster milking stool and a yardage of French, red stripe linen , I am wanting to make into tea towels....and a little green heart adorns one of the knobs.

  

I came, I saw, I shot....Hi-Ya!!!!

e-voke...to create a -new!

French Provincial End Table Make Over

I forgot to take a before picture again, always diving stright into the make over process...lol. This was another treasure picked up in Hermanus. It had an outdated shiny, dark brown colour. Actually this table was sold twice. Only when I got home, I noticed the sold sticker...ouch!!!

I used the same transfer method as my Chalk paint Paris end table.

I gave this gal a few coats of my home made chalk paint (no primer needed despite the shiny surface Woo...Hoo). I used a colour called French Chatreusse which is a beautiful matt old white colour. Then I began the antique shabby finish by sanding along all the edges to give her that time worn look!! I am using a sponge sanding block which gives a brilliant natural finish!!

Then it was ready for my amazing French Ville De Saint Denis graphic which I found at

 The Graphics Fairy. You can search for any graphic your little heart desires and you will be spoilt for choice. That's how I found the gorgeous rooster for my Milking Stool.

I also used some mahogany wood stain and to my suprise the transfer took on a sepia appearance...I danced my Happy dance!!!

Finally I gave this gal a coat of clear varnish to protect her new look.

Now she says I am French and proud of it!!!!

e-voke...to create a -new!

Antiqued chalk paint end table - Paris graphic image

This week I am loving earth tones. Muted greens, greys, cement, stone...love it!

Another Hermanus junky find. I really found some fun stuff on our trip there! I don't have a very clear shot of the before, so I am jumping right in and showing you the finished table!! This darling has lovely curvy legs and a scrolly top!!

I really have to take better pictures...lol!!

Like the rooster milking stool, I used the colour called Cement Wash by Plascon mixed with plaster of paris for that chalky paint effect! I then transferred the Paris graphic using the Modge Podge method! I grabbed this graphic from Karen The Graphics Fairy.

I distressed the table in all the right places, and then rubbed in mahogany wood stain for the antiqued effect!

e-voke...to create a -new!

Antiqued chalk paint end table - French ephemera graphic image

This week I am loving earth tones. Muted greens, greys, cement, stone...love it!

This was yet another one of my junky Hermanus finds! I love the scrolly detail and the cut outs on the side!!

Here is the finished table!

Sorry it did'nt photograph too well. I am still getting to know my new Canon camera!

I used a paint colour called City Fog by Plascon, a lovely muted grey. I mixed the paint with plaster of paris in powdered form to get the chalky appearance. I distressed the table in all places where it would naturally become worn over time. I transferred an image that was part of an 1890's invoice for a French Corset maker from The Graphics Fairy!! To finish it off, I used some wood stain in Mahogany and rubbed this all over to create that antiqued effect......and there ya go!!

e-voke...to create a -new!

Little' est Milking Stool antiqued with Rooster graphic

Was she used to milk Bessie on the farm?

Another junky Hermanus find....Cutest!

Here she is before - plain Jane and downright sad!

Wow! Look at me now!

I went to work on the milking stool using a colour called Cement Wash by Plascon mixed with plaster of paris for that chalky paint effect! I then transferred this adorable colourful rooster using the Modge Podge method! This graphic is by Karen The Graphics Fairy. I am having so much fun using her stunning images and its free!

Anyhoo! I distressed this little stool in all the right places, added some ebony stain to those adorable pins and then mahogany wood stain for the antiqued effect!

Do you love her now!

I completed more great make overs using my chalk paint. I will post those later - right now I need some shut eye!

Blessings

Sumaya!

e-voke...to create a -new!

Antiqued Muted Green End Table with Glamour Girl Image

This week I am loving earth tones. Muted greens, greys, cement, stone...love it!

I wanted to try the chalk paint that is so popular now, but not available in South Africa.

So what's a girl to do?

Make her own chalk paint of course!

I went searching the net and stumbled across the talented Sherry's blog No Minimalist Here. I tried the plaster of paris method and I am so impressed with the result. Here is my first chalk paint 'Master piece' Hope you agree!

 I found this end table when I went junking in Hermanus and I love its octagonal shape but not the dark brown, boring colour.

 Here it is after I went to work on it!

This is a beautiful muted green colour called, Antique Linen by Plascon which I mixed with plaster of  paris in powdered form. I distressed the table in all places where it would naturally become worn over time. I transferred an image of the Glamour Girl beauty found on The Graphics Fairy. The transfer did not turn out as planned, so I had to dig deep and decided to frame her with a graphic of a wonderful poem entitled "Night" that is done in the loveliest penmanship handwriting - also by the Graphics Fairy! I then used some burnt umber to darken the edges using a moist cloth to blend it in and give it an uneven edge. Finally I used some wood stain in Mahogany and rubbed this all over to create that antiqued effect......Voila!

Where you stumble, there you might find your treasure!

e-voke...to create a -new!

Give thanks

Well, it is such a blessing when you can pass on one of your creations knowing that it will be well loved, and will create tons of new memories.

So it was double delight when I heard that my upcycled kiddie's chair was bought by a children's photographer. Anyone who works with little ones gets my vote!

So hop over to www.leandrephotographyblog.co.za to see her amazing work. Leandre shoots on location making it a fun and enjoyable session for both parent and tot. Leandre's style and unique images of kids make her a sought after children's photographer.

She truely captures the innocence and playfulness of youth. Just look at this adorable pic of the sweetest little girl perched on the chair -  there are lots more to drool over on Leandre's blog. So do pay her blog a visit. She will be delighted to welcome you!!!

Meet Miss A

 

e-voke...to create a -new!

Shabby chic distressed kiddie's stepping stool makeover

What an adorable little stepping stool. Just imagine the joy it gave some little tot. When I found it, it was covered in layers of orangy-brown stain. Can you spot it in this pic?

I wanted to give it a fresher look, so I sanded it back and applied some primer. Then I gave it a few layers of my moody blue colour. I then used an amazing graphic of a French furniture company ad  which I found at the The Graphics Fairy. I used the modge podge method to transfer the image to the little stool. I find that I get better results when I let it sit overnight. So come morning I could'nt wait to see the result, so I got to work removing the paper. This takes time & patience folks!

When I was happy that all of the paper had come off, the little stool was ready for its shabby chic distressed look. I hand sanded all the edges and areas on the top. Finally I gave it a clear coat to protect its new look! Wow look at me now! I am saweet and I know it:)

And here is my little Einstein!!!!!



Ghanaan



e-voke...to create a -new!

French inspired lady's writing desk makeover

Remember this old lady's writing desk I found during last week's treasure hunt? The top of the table is veneer which had quite a few dings. I first tried to repair it with wood putty, but I did not like the result.

Then I remembered that I had digital images of 1918 French documents and I knew it would be perfect for the top of this table. I sanded back the rest of the table and slapped on some all purpose primer. When the primer was dry, I gave this gal a few coats of moody blue colour. When the paint was dry, I started the decoupage of the table top using my 1918 French documents.

When I reviewed my handy work, I did'nt quite like the straight perfect lines (give me imperfect anyday!) so I tore some of the paper into strips, making sure I was getting a tattered edge. I then applied the tattered strips around the edges of the table top. I love the result!

Now, this gal was ready for some "distressment". I shaved some of the paint off in areas concentrating on the edges of the legs. I then remembered that I had an acanthus leaf applique, I attached it to the front with some 'No more nails' adhesive, then I gave it the same moody blue colour. Finally I applied antique glaze, rubbing off any excess as I went along. Now she is perfect ((*_*))

e-voke...to create a -new!

Just a lazy Saturday!

I have no finished projects to share with you today:(.....had a hectic week at the office and although the inspiration was bubbling, the old bones just would not play along....LOL. But I do have some terrific news to share with you. After a long drought, hubby caught his first beeg fish....YAY!!!! He is in Struisbaai for the weekend and very excited with his catch!

Struisbaai is a coastal village boasting with the longest continuous stretch of white sand coastline in the Southern Hemisphere. It is an old, quiant fishing village still relatively untouched. Holiday makers mainly flock to Struisbaai for the water sport, long stretch of white sandy beach and of course fishing for Steenbras, Bellman and Cob.



The smile tells it all!



Little whitewashed fishermen's house

 

Lighthouse

Harbour

e-voke...to create a -new!