Tray Chic Chevron

This past weekend I worked on a little decor project, it really came out of my need to test out frog tape after a little exterior painting disaster 2 years ago involving regular painters tape and my shutters. Let's just say a whole lotta paint seeped underneath the tape and it didn't have the crisp look I was after. Every time I embark on a new painting project, hubby always has a look of concern and reminds me about those darn shutters! I promised him it was a one time deal and after seeing how my little painting project turned out with the frog tape recently, he's a believe in my painting and paint prep skills again. Hurray!

As far as our shutters go, we've been saving up so that we could pay cash to have our home painted. Thankfully we finally have a painter scheduled to come this week to paint not only the shutters but also the whole exterior of our house, so I'll finally be free from that bad painting memory. Might I add we're definitely due for one, our house is over 50 years old and I think the last time someone painted this house was probably 30+ years ago-eek! Anyway, back to this weekend's paint project...

If you've been a reader of this blog for a while, you might remember the prequel to this post titled Tray Chic where I took an espresso color serving tray that I received as a bridal shower gift and transformed it into something coffee-table worthy. I've been pretty smitten with everything "chevron" for a while and got an idea to take my pretty but plain tray to another level AND test out that frog tape in the process without committing to another painting mishap on the walls. I'm really thrilled with how it turned out.

Click on the Tray Chic post to see what I was starting with from Day 1. Here is the tray after I painted it the same color as the walls in our living room, which I'm calling my before pic.

BEFORE

Here is the tray after carefully measuring and taping each chevron out with my frog tape (I later added some tape to the inside edges so I'd have a clean line all the way around.

STEP 1

Here's the tray below after just one coat of satin white paint that I used from a tiny sample can from a previous touch up project in our house.

STEP 2

Finally, here is the after, 3 coats of paint later:

AFTER

Each application dried really quickly so I was able to remove the tape just 4 hours after the last coat. Here is how it currently looks in my living room.

I haven't posted a lot of photos from our home in the past but here's a larger view of  it in the living room space which is still a work in progress. Hubby bought and inherited 99% of the furniture we own well before we met, it's mixed with some vintage pieces from his grandparents (which I was opposed to at first but now actually like because of the potential) so I'm working with what we've got which is an over-sized, but super comfy red sofa. *winking* My plans for this room will include adding some new pillows, drapery panels, a new area rug and some new wall art along with painting the side tables and adding new hardware. :)

Want to know a little secret? I'm planning to add another splash of chevron love to our living room. Stay tuned, I'll be posting it once the project is completed.

Who else has a heart for chevron? What have you created lately? Link up below and show off your latest creations and transformations, I'd love to pop by and check them out!

Feeling a Little Crafty!

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How has your week been so far? Lately I've been feeling really crafty but my dear friend time has not been on my side. There are a few things I'm hoping to make this month which are actually pretty easy projects, I just need a few spare hours to dedicate to getting them done. This image above is of an advent calendar that I really want to make. Isn't it elegant?

I did take a moment to do a quick change out of the hurricane vase on our tiny kitchen table in October. I usually fill it with fresh flowers or this shell orb. To give it a quick makeover I added a wheat sheath I trimmed down with a small white pumpkin nearby and kept the color palette the same since we live in coastal FL. But with Christmas upon is, it's time to switch it up yet again as well as the place mats and napkins too.

Karen from Strictly Simple Style wrote this wonderful post a few months ago about DIY cashmere cable knit pillows made from thrift store sweaters! I've been wanting to make one for a couple years now and given the price that Potterybarn commands, I think I'll stick to making my own and Target offers one for around $20 but I'm not a fan of the material or color selected.  I was so impressed with Karen's that I'm going to hunt down a thrift store sweater, keeping my fingers crossed that there are some in the right color and size.

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Here is a pic of the last pillow I made with an existing down insert and a cheetah print fabric remnant for 75% off that I thought was fun and added a bit of personality to the bedscape. My challenge was an invisible zipper, and it turned out really well for a first attempt it now lives in the guest bedroom snuggled between two solid silk pillows from Tar-jay.

I was thinking back to some crafts/decor that I worked on in the past and realized that it's also time for me to paint some older furniture pieces in our home. We inherited a few from P's grandparents that I once disliked but now have a new excitement for as I envision how I will transform them with paint and new hardware. He was hesitant at first to alter them, but he's finally on board and ready for a change too. I'll post the details once I get that ball rolling.

I love recovering and repainting older pieces to give them new life and personality. Below is a little foot stool that hubby's grandfather made many years ago, and office chair that that I purchased off Craigslist for $30 and recovered, both are in the guest bedroom which also doubles as my office.

{Click HERE to see the original foot stool post and HERE to see the full office chair makeover.}

Today, I'm going to pick up some red harvest color roses and pop them into this new little living room centerpiece that I'm creating with old glass bottles and small vases which are hidden inside a basket that I picked up from a yard sale recently. It looks like it would be perfect for holding silverware on a picnic table in the backyard but the compartments are perfect for holding just about anything. Once filled, my goal is that it will appear as a large, lush and compact arrangement of roses where the dividers and glass containers will be fully hidden.

I love perusing craft and home decor projects via blogs and the web. I live for creating and Before & After pics! I know you all are a creative bunch so I thought I'd create a little linky party (my second one ever) so you could show off your latest creations or anything at all that you've made.

I cannot wait to see what YOU have been working on lately. Anything from a simple centerpiece, a new wreath, gifts you're making for family, a holiday mantle, a rehab furniture project or even a new recipe you've tried out. Please link up! :)



Warmly,