Monday, August 22, 2011

Before & Afters and Other Little Projects

I've been working hard the last two weekends trying to get some projects done. My to-do list was piling up and I was starting to get overwhelmed. I'm so excited to show you what I've been doing!!!!!!

I don't have a before picture of any of these chairs, but I finally finished them to match our newly refinished farm table. I painted them, stenciled on numbers, heavily distressed them, and then used dark walnut stain for an antique glaze. 








Anderson using his chair for the first time.


My husband spotted this at Salvation Army and grabbed it for me. I was flipping through a Pottery Barn catalog recently while thinking about this shelf and what I was going to do with it.

I had a light bulb moment where I knew I wanted to add a back to it and some burlap fabric. Literally 5 seconds after I had this thought, I flipped the page in the PB catalog and saw this picture! I couldn't believe it. It was exactly what I had been thinking!

Here's what mine looks like now. I painted mine white because the wood was very dated looking.


Remember this antique sap bucket?

It's now the trashcan in our bathroom. 



These mirrors:


Now look like this:
I accidentally broke the big mirror.....oops!



This broken off box lid

Was made into a cool little sign. Can you tell I have Fall on the brain? :)

I made this star out of wood shims and painted it white.

And finally, I threw together this small vignette so that the hymnal page wreath I made is the main focus. 

These are my husband's relatives



Please let me know if you are interested in seeing tutorials on any of these projects! I would love to share them. More before & afters coming soon!!!!

I'm linking to the parties listed HERE and to:



50 comments:

  1. These all look amazing! Love the shabby chic quality to them and burlap is my favorite!
    Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party.. can't wait to see what you share next.
    I am your newest follower!

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  2. You've done a great job on all of it! Obviously, you are very creative and talented. I stopped by from Debbiedoo's and am a new follower. I look forward to more of your projects.

    Stop by and say hi when you can ~

    Pat

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  3. Great post! Could you please link back to Masterpiece Monday, at Boogieboard Cottage? Have a great week, Mary :O)

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  4. All great projects. Isn't it nice to scratch things off your list? Love the chairs!

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  5. oh my your projects are spectacular.
    I will be honored if you will share it with our readers in our linking party at
    http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/08/11-million-visitors-with-new-london-eye.html
    Thank you,
    Maggie
    http://passionatelyartistic.com

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  6. Melissa,

    Thanks for coming and linking up at "Sundae Shake Up"! I love the vintage white color you have chosen to paint up your stuff!! I would like to know how you have made the paint look even more vintage by adding the black/gray to it. So I could possibly try it out on my wooden furniture too.

    Jacque @ Jacque's Soda Parlor
    thesodaparlor.blogspot.com

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  7. WOWEE...what awesome little and big projects. Love the chair! Thanks for joining my newbie party, always a pleasure to see what you are up to.

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  8. Awesome!Can you do a tutorial on the apple cider sign? Love it! Also the star is such a great idea!

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  9. How do you do it with having that sweet little one with you? He's a cutie! Love all your projects you have certainly been busy, love those chairs and how you distressed them!

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  10. As always, what a great post dear Melissa! You're so talented, I can't believe such great distressing, the chair is fabulous!... and your little boy is gorgeous! I need to have a little boy grandson! You've been a busy gal, you have so many projects, it looks like fun, can't wait to see them all! I will soon post my guest bathroom with my new towels from your generous give away, a cloch I won and a book, I've been one lucky chick lately!! Have a terrific week my sweet friend. Lots of hugs.
    FABBY

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  11. so pretty! love the numbered chairs and the frames!

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  12. love the chairs and your sweet trash can, but everything is wonderful!

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  13. Love the box top and the garbage bucket! Awesome finds, and cool transformations. Would love to see how they look all set-up! Thanks for sharing :)

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  14. Melissa,

    I've got some pretty exciting news for you. I have awarded you the "Versatile Blogger Award". Please stop by my blog to snatch it up and wear it proud on your blog! You deserve it! Congrats!

    Jacque @ Jacque's Soda Parlor
    thesodaparlor.blogspot.com

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  15. Wow, you have been busy, love what you did with that shelf!
    Tracey

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  16. Your projects turned out really well. Lovely chairs. Thanks for adding your link to Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays.

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  17. Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and asking me to join your great linky party. I did! Love your projects, your creative, good job!

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  18. The shelf took vision and was an amazing transformation.

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  19. Wow have you been busy! I especially love the chairs...thank you for linking up to Open House Party. I really appreciate it! Come back next week. :o)

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  20. Very pretty. I love the shabby white look. Thanks for sharing. Karie

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  21. These are awesome! You did a great job refinishing all of them!

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  22. Oh my goodness, you have been busy! I love number stencils on projects, Im going to have to find something to try that on. Love you blog too, just found it.

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  23. ooh. i love the shelf with thr burlap behind it. such a cute project!!

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  24. All of your b & a's are super cute and sweet looking! I love them.
    Hugs, Cindy

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  25. Wow, what an amazing collection of ideas and pictures. You should definitely post tutorials...pretty please!!!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  26. Hi, stopping by from Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop. Love what you did with the shelves. I just have to get over to our Goodwill more often!
    XoXoXo
    Joy

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  27. You have been a busy bee! Congrats on finishing these projects! Love the chairs and the burlap backed shelf. I need to find more domes so I can display phots like you did...hope you don't mind me snagging your idea!
    xoxo
    *hugs*deb

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  28. Wow what a great job. I love all of it especially the burlap, my fav fabric.

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  29. Wow! Love everything! The burlap behind those baby shelves are cute and I love the table and chairs!

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  30. You've got some great projects here! Your burlap-backed cubby is an inspiration to me. I pinned it for future reference. :)

    I'm a new follower from Freckled Laundry. ~Rachel

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  31. Wow, you have been busy! Lots of fun and pretty projects here! thanks for joining TTF and have a fun weekend!

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  32. All great projects, but using the lid for a sign was truly inspired- wonderful!

    Jami @ AnOregonCottage.com

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  33. VERY pretty! Loved it all, and I recently made a (sheet music) wreath, and I had sooo much fun! Love the "shape" of yours more though...LOL

    Visiting from Bunny Jean's Wed Bunny Hop Linky Party today,
    ~Suzanne in NW Illinois

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  34. That looks great! I really like the finish you did on the white paint. I saw your linky on Serenity Now and wanted to say hi!

    ~Kristi

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  35. Holy Cow! LOVE all of your projects! I love the shadow box that you used burlap on . . . what did you use for the back? I have a smaller shelf that is missing the back and I'd like to do something fun with it. I too saw that PB shelf and love it -- yours looks great in white!

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  36. These are sooo awesome! I love the numbers on the chairs! Thanks for sharing!

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  37. Holy Cow! You have been a busy girl. Your projects are all very nice. I love the shelving unit and the chair. I would love to try the book page wreath or maybe a tree topper for CMas. Thanks for linking to Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  38. Ooooh...I love all of these. They would be a perfect addition for my Shabby Shares Saturday link party. I would love for you to share this post at http://rustic-crafts.com :)

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  39. You have been very busy! Your projects all turned out great!

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  40. Thanks Melissa so much for linking up to Saturday Social! Funny - I was just on your blog the other day looking through all of these projects! I love the trash can, chairs and especially the cider sign!

    xoxo

    Jenn @ Social Salutations

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  41. Melissa,

    I love all that is shabby and this post is fabulously shabby! Well done! Thank you so much for linking up at Savvy HomeMade Monday. We are partying again and I hope you will stop by! :)

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  42. Wow, so many wonderful ideas. Really love that PB inspired piece. the white looks wonderful on those chairs. Really brings everything together! so glad you linked up to VIF, xo Debra

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  43. Who needs pottery barn right? I say this as I'm buying a rug from them for our kitchen, but don't tell anybody:) I love the storage shelves that you did (well I love everything but you've got to single out one in a comment right!) and think you're fantastic.

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  44. I loved ALL of these. The shelf is the best according to me!

    We have a link-up party going on - Tea Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner. I would really appreciate if you'd link up some of your awesome posts there. Hope to see you at the party.

    http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/tea-time-thursdays-4.html

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  45. Love how this turned out. BRAVO!

    I wanted to let you know that I've got a great giveaway that ends Friday. It's for $100 to wallquotes.com, and trust me they've got something I know you'll love!

    Stop by and enter ASAP. I'd love to see what you would do with their products! See you soon!

    Artie
    http://niagaranovice.blogspot.com

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  46. These are all beautiful!!! Well done!! Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  47. So many great projects. Love the way the shelf/cubby turned out. It looks so updated with painted and with a back. The chairs look great too.

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