Kitchen Table Makeover!

Thanksgiving is a few days away, and I'm trying to spruce up my home, to get ready for company. My kitchen table is an eye sore, to put it mildly! The chairs are upholstered with what was once white fabric. The fabric is now brownish gray, dirty and stained. It is very embarrassing to have people come in and see it this way. Even if I clean it, the stains are still there. What to do?! I do not sew or upholster, but I do paint!!


This project was done in two days, completely using paint only!!

Here are the supplies that I used:

1. Black Fabric paint 4 bottles @ $6 ea =$24
2. Metallic Glaze paint 1 jar @ $6
3. Spray paint Espresso Stain finish 4 cans @ $4 ea =12
4. Natural Sea Sponge
5. Kitchen Sponge
6. Soft bristle chip paintbrush
7. Screw driver

Total cost of supplies = $42

Steps by Step:
1. With a Philips screw driver, I disassembled the cushions (seats and backs) from metal frames and removed glass top from base. Wiped down all frames to remove any surface dirt.
2. Took all the metal frames outside in an open space and spray painted all frames. This spray paint worked great! One coat only!

3. While the frames dried, I cleaned all of the cushions with warm water and kitchen sponge. I removed all surface dirt. Allowed cushions, a few hours, to dry. It's ok to paint on if they are still slightly damp.
4. Using a soft bristle chip brush, I painted all cushions with fabric paint. One generous coat was all that was needed to cover the white fabric. Allowed to dry overnight.
5. Next day, I applied, with a sea sponge, metallic glaze to all frames. Allowed glaze to dry to touch (A few minutes) and reattached cushions to chairs. Put glass back on base and done!
6. Wait a few days before sitting on chairs. It will be ready just in time for company!:)

This table was a hand me down from my sister-in-law, so it was free initially. I feel like I have a brand new set!!

Mosaic Monday!

Some of you may think I'm cracking up for doing a collage of sidewalk cracks! You may be right. I love my cracked mosaic! I took these pictures this morning on my Creatively Fit walk! I looked down and there they were in all their glory!



See more beautiful mosaic at Little Red House hosted by Mary!

Being Thankful! -In Chalk it Up! style:)

I wrote "WE" on the chalkboard, that hangs above my computer, because it is there to remind my family to think about what "WE" are thankful for...

I am thankful for...
1. My family
2. My friends
3. My Home
4. My health and the health of family and friends
5. The memories of people that I hold dear, who are not here with me today, but will be forever in my heart.
6. My husband getting laid off from his job last February
7. Losing my other blog "Art Spectrum" last summer
8. The time I had with hubby when he lost his job
9. Hubby getting a new and better job
10.My new and improved blog
11.Chalkboards
12.My art
13.My Chalk it Up! followers
14.All the beautiful gifts of nature

And the list goes on and on!

The biggest thing that I learned, this year, is to be thankful for things that appear to be hardships or misfortunes. In those hardships, lie opportunities and possibilities,and a chance to learn and grow, and renew ones faith in God. It was during those times that I had to work really hard at thinking positive. I challenged myself to spend five minutes everyday writing a list of the things that I was thankful for at that moment. This was key, for me, in thinking positive! The outcome of that positive thinking was a stronger marriage, and a happier life!
When you are focused on what you are thankful for it is hard to be unhappy. There is always something to be thankful for...even if it is just the single breath of air that you are inhaling at this very moment.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for you!
Cindy

I ♥ Faces "Autumn Beauty" Challenge

This weeks I ♥ Faces challenge is Autumn Beauty! In Florida that is a tall order to fill. This is a picture of Noah, my Autumn baby, from two years ago, age six. As you can see, by his attire, it was a hot day. I love his hair and freckles in this photo and the contrast between the orange and blue.



See more Autumn faces and fun at I heart faces!

Mosaic Monday-Welcome to my backyard!

Welcome to my backyard! I took these pictures this morning. The air was cool and the sun was shining. I have so much work to do in my yard to make it the dream space that I imagine.

Here are some close-ups of the elements that I like in my backyard. We have a tangerine tree in the corner toward the front. It is bursting with sweet fruit this year. Some are ready to be picked, most still have a week or two to go before they are fully ripe. If you were to visit me, I would invite you into my sunny secret backyard garden and offer you a sweet tangerine!

Do you see Lucy? She's waiting to greet you!:)



See more beautiful Mosaics at Little Red House

Another Small Painting

I did another small painting today. That makes two paintings for this week! This is another painting inspired by my Creatively Fit walk day one.



6"x6" acrylic on canvas sheet I will be adding this painting and the other one that I did this week, to my etsy shop Art Spectrum.

It is always so hard for me to get going with a painting but when I finish I'm always glad I painted.

Have a great weekend!
Cindy

A Painting and ME!:)

Last week I bought a desk at Habitat for Humanity Resale store. It cost $59 and was a really nice desk. Now I feel like a have a place to organize my papers, make appointment and pay my bills. The past couple of days I have been making to do lists and crossing off all of my to dos as I do them. I found that this somewhat cleared my head and left room for painting! So today I did a small painting. This painting is of one of the pictures from my first day of my Creatively Fit walks.
I'm not thrilled with the results. Feeling rather rusty, it was hard to get into the groove of painting. I may revisit this one later to fix what is not working.


6"x6" acrylic on unstretched canvas(this canvas will be adhered to a 1" thick piece of wood.)


Feeling a little daring, I thought I'd come out of the shadows and take some pictures of myself:) I don't particularly like the way I look in pictures, but I think these turned out ok.