Ok...so I admit. I have spent a couple of nights, after checking in on my daughter as she sleeps, sitting in her rocker, admiring this little reading corner. I just love these shelves!!!

​They were simple to make and cost very little. This was actually my first time working my jigsaw so there was a learning curve and I really had to sand the corners to get a smooth finish. I started out with 1/4" plywood. I wanted a larger cloud shape to be approximately 22" long and the smaller cloud (for the front) to be 16" long. To get good circles I used a Pyrex mixing bowl as a guide.

Once I got the basic shape I fiddled with it slightly to get the look that I wanted.  Once I was satisfied, I got out my Ryobi jigsaw and cut out my shape.

I recently had a custom work request from a customer who wanted one of my trays in a distressed mint finish.  Now, distressed​ can mean different things to different people so I set out making two different trays.  Both mint green.  Both distressed.  However, two entirely different looks. 

TECHNIQUE 1:
​After I assembled the first tray I simply painted the tray in the mint green chalk paint that I had mixed together.

***You can find detailed instructions on how to make this easy tray here: ​http://www.sawdustchicks.com/home/decorative-wood-tray

​To make this paint I added mint green acrylic paint to white chalk paint.  Easy enough, right?

From here, I used my sander and just roughed up the finish to give it a subtle distressing.

TECHNIQUE 2:  Vaseline

So...I wanted to try something else to see if I could give it a more in-your-face​ distressing.  Before I assembled my base I randomly stained the boards.  Once this dried, I assembled the base and then smeared a very thin layer of Vaseline over each of the areas that I stained. 

Next, I painted over the whole base with the mint green chalk paint.  Once this dried, I took a paper towel and wiped the Vaseline areas off.

Now I did have to clean it up a bit with additional paint and light sanding.  But I was supper happy with how the second technique turned out.

​​Here's how it turned out!​

I really love both trays, but if I'm honest, I'd choose the second one...Which one's your favorite?

We all have them...It doesn't make how much we try to hide them...They stare back at us each time we look in the mirror. 

They make us cringe every time we look in the mirror...You know what I'm talking about.

​Those ugly "builder-grade" bathroom mirrors.

So, what if I told you that we could cover them up once and for all?  Shut up.  What if I told you we could cover them up with less than 1 hour worth of work and for under $20?   No Way.

​Yes.  Way...

In the amount of time it took to read that we could have been half-way done...Not really, but pretty close.  So, let's do this.

​STEP 1:  Cutting
​I needed a frame to cover my 37"x40" mirror.  I decided to make it simple on my corners and do straight cuts.  So I cut two 1x4s at 37" and two 1x4s at 33".

STEP 2:  Build Frame
I attached the boards together using wood glue and pocket holes.  The pocket holes hides the screws and makes the joint super strong.

STEP 3:  Finishing
Stain.  Paint.  Whatever you want to do.  In this case I stained the frame in Rust Oleum Kona.  (You will need to stain both sides as you will be able to see a sliver of reflection through the mirror once it's attached.)

​After this I added one coat of Varanthane 3X Polyuerethane.  This stuff is great because one coat is the same as three so (let's do the math) it cuts your time down quite a bit.  I gave it a light sanding with a high grit sanding blocks.  This makes your finish nice and smooth.  ​

STEP 4:  Attach to mirror. 
​I didn't want anything messy or something that I'd need to YouTube how to use.  So I simply used 3M Command Strips along the frame and attached... Voila!  I love this option because it's easy, inexpensive and not permanent. 

Less than an hour total of work, under $6 in wood and $12 in 3M Command Strips and I had this.  Not too shabby!

This next project was really a culmination of three things:

1. 1x3 overload:  I've had a ton of 1x3's hanging around since I got a bit "slat-happy" making Wells' bed.  So, I'm constantly thinking of how I can use them
2. Kitchen Table:  I love the Hobby Lobby wood box I made (so much I made two!) that now sits on my kitchen table.  However, I've been looking to change it up a bit...
3. Ryobi Brad Nailer:  This has been on my wish list for quite some time and I finally purchased one.  I've been itching to really try it out.

So, when you add these things together you get this:

CUT LIST:

• Four 1x3 @ 18"
• Two 1x2 @ 10"
• Two 1x2 @ 16.5"

First I glued the 1x3 together and clamped them overnight. 

Next, using my Ryobi Brad Nailer, I connected the 1x2's to the platform I put together.  I used 1-1/2 inch brad nails.  I could have gotten away with smaller ones though.  

Once the box was put together I stained it Rust Oleum Kona. 

 I then painted a rough coat of Rust Oleum Aged Linen Chalk Paint on it.  I have to admit I almost regretted this step as the Kona stain gave it such a beautiful color.  Once the chalk paint dried, which it does very quickly, I took a sanding block over the whole thing to smooth it out and give it a distressed look.  I finished with a quick coat of satin finish polyurethane.

I finished it off with vintage looking handles I found at Hobby Lobby. 

Super easy and quick...Took about an hour to complete this.  I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy all the decorating options this gives me.  And I think Brett may too...He's actually the one who put this setup together as I was debating a few things!

Time for the boring wall above our bed in the master bedroom to go away.  I still hold on to the dream of having a king size bed with a new frame with a cozy down comforter, lots of big fluffy pillows that you just sink into and say "ahhhh" as you drift off into blissful sleep....hmmm.....hello?  I'm getting sidetracked....where was I?  Oh yes, decor in the bedroom...so I never found anything that I wanted to commit money to...because of the dream.  The big, king size dream!  But, I finally figured out what I wanted to do and it'll cost me less than $10!  Now, I can commit to that!  
​
Here's the final product...Guys, this was also my first time doing a miter cut!  If I can do it, you do it too!

Once I had all pieces glued together I sanded all the edges and stained them with Rust Oleum Kona.  ​

Once the stain dried I distressed it a bit with my sander and then applied a clear top coat. 
I attached a clasp on the backs for hanging and that's it!  Easy, right?  I told you!
​
Now, this room is beginning to look more complete!

Remember the shelves I installed earlier?  Well, since I didn't think ahead I didn't have any pictures on how I made the brackets for this.  I just finished installing a second pair of shelves and was able to capture step by step how to get the industrial looking brackets.

I purchased 1" pipe fittings at Home Depot.  I bought the bracket, 10" pipe and cap...total of four each.  Also, get four 1-1/2 inch long black #10 wood screws. Make sure that these screw fit into your holes, nice and flush.

I then assembled them and spray painted them with Rust Oleum Multicolor Textured paint in Aged Iron. After this dried I spray painted them in a flat black.

Super easy, right?

The tricky part is hanging these bad boys. It's best if you can get the north and south hole in to a stud. That way you don't have to worry about using wall anchors, hitting electrical lines or drilling 1/4" holes into your HVAC duct work...I mean, not that anyone would do that right? And not while their husband was gone watching a football game? Or while their young children were playing nearby as sparks flew out of the hole? I mean, really...WHO WOULD DO THAT?!?

*This girl did...watch where you're drilling holes, people! Avoid outlets and make sure you know how to use a stud finder! My husband likes to point out that I know how to use a stud finder...Yes, honey...I get it...You're the stud...

**Next blog post? How to patch drywall holes!

I'm super excited and so honored to be guest blogging over at Simply Lovely Lumber! Head over and check out my post explaining my popular herringbone console table. While you're there, browse a bit..Steph has so many great DIY tips and projects as well recipes, kids' crafts and household organization tips!

I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but arrows are sort of a thing now.  As is chalk paint.  So, makes sense to play with both, right?!?

First off...chalk paint.  Chalk paint is the best!  It allows for you to do so many things with it.  Seriously, the possibilities are endless...You can paint, distress, layer, stain and paint, wax...and it's so easy to do because you don't have to be perfect with each stroke, like you do painting.

At first I was a little intimidated with all the options so I started slow and easy!  I took several scrap wood pieces that I had laying around.  I had to do a little cutting to get the angles that I needed but for the most part, the pieces I had were perfect.

Next, I stained these a dark walnut.  After these dried, I painted them with one layer of Rust Oleum Chalk paint in White Linen.  Once this dried I took a 80 grit sanding block and gently sanded each piece all over.

I honestly had no idea what it would look like...To my surprise the finish came out to look exactly like old windows that I have from my parents' old barn.  These windows are over 80 years old and have endured Michigan weather, farm animals, a fire...80 years worth of wear and tear.  So to match the finish almost perfectly was pretty amazing...That's what I mean.  This stuff is awesome!

So once my excitement over the finish subsided a bit I went about attaching these pieces together.  It would have been easier with a brad nail gun but since that's still on my wish list* I connected these with wood glue...The arrow seems to be sturdy enough but I'm not throwing it about carelessly either.

The wonderful thing (or not so wonderful) about using scrap wood pieces is that sometimes things can be uneven...So, in order for the arrow to sit level it has to be pointing left.  Shhh...no one will even know!
 
*I have since purchased a Ryobi Brad Nailer and my life has changed...seriously...CHA-ANGED!

Lesson:  measure, measure, measure - I feel like I've learned this lesson before!

Let's finish this table! 

As I'm looking at the table all I keep seeing are all the different variations you can do...You can raise the bottom connectors, add a lower shelf, do more of an overhang with the too, make it longer...so many things!

And let's not get started on paint options!  You can stain, paint, distress, use milk paint, chalk paint...Like I said, so many options.

Once I sanded everything down, I decided to stain the top Rust Oleum Kona.  I painted the legs a neutral cream color.  I used a distressing technique that I saw from the Shanty-2-Chic ladies using Vaseline.

So once I stained the top I added stain to several edges of the legs. 

Once this dried, I rubbed a thin layer of Vaseline on those edges and then proceeded to paint all of the legs a neutral cream color.  I had to add three coats of this to really cover the stain underneath.

When the paint dried I took a sanding pad and lightly sanded the areas where I put the Vaseline.  The Vaseline prevented the paint from sticking to the areas so the paint easily wiped away leaving the stain to come through.  This gave the piece a really cool distressed look with very little effort!

The final step was to add polyurethane to top.  Since this will be a table in our bathroom that I'll want to wipe easily I added three coats of this to give it a really smooth surface.

Table done!  And I love it!  Now to keep the little ones from playing around with it!