Month: May 2015

DIY Chalkboard Art

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I recently tried to convince my husband to paint an entire wall of our dining area with black chalkboard paint. He didn’t quite have the same vision I had, so he asked me to hang a chalkboard until we could come to an agreement.

I agreed. After all, I’ve had a giant frame in storage that’s been waiting to be used for years. I bought it at a garage sale for around $10 which was a steal…but how do you fill such a large frame without spending a fortune? The chalkboard was the perfect solution.

If I hadn’t already had the frame, what I really would have wanted is a rustic wood frame. However, since this was likely temporary, I wanted to make this as easy and inexpensive as possible.

The problem: the frame was gold. Really gold. I debated on what to paint it. Silver? Weathered white? Blue? I haven’t committed to a color scheme in our new home yet, so I went with a safe, muted silver. I spray painted it with Krylon Brushed Metallic paint. I had planned to rub wax or wood stain to bring out the details, but I didn’t love that effect on the test areas so I just left it silver for now.

For the actual chalkboard,  we bought a piece of thin plywood and I sanded it with a hand sander until it was really smooth. After cleaning it with a lint-free cloth, I painted four thin coats of Rust-Oleum Chalk Paint in black, using a foam roller. I sanded lightly between layers when necessary and removed all the dust with a lint-free cloth. When the paint was completely dry, I rubbed entire board with a large piece of sidewalk chalk to cure it, and then rubbed it with a lint-free cloth to erase it.

DIY Chalkboard Art with Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint | Five Marigolds

DIY Chalkboard Art | Five Marigolds

You can wipe it clean with a damp cloth for a clean crisp look, or with a dry cloth, which I prefer, for a true, messy chalkboard look.

So far, our family loves this addition to our home. We post fun quotes and verses, and the children love to use it for creating their own art, as well.

DIY Chalkboard Art using Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint | Five Marigolds

DIY Chalkboard Wall Art using Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint | Five Marigolds

In addition to being shared on the fabulous blogs to the right, this post was also shared on Stone Gable Blog.

 

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Proverbs 31 Canvas Wall Art for Girl Room

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DIY Large Wall Art + verses for the bedroom

When we moved into our new home, we dedicated it with bible verses for each room of the house. I’ve been dreaming of this Proverbs 31 canvas wall art  for Eve’s bedroom for some time now, but when I recently realized I already had the materials, I got moving.

I had a thrift store canvas that I’d previously tried (and failed) to artistically repurpose, so I painted it using a paint sample I already had on hand. Besides the price, the best part of repurposing a canvas is that you get fabulous texture under your new creation.

I used my Silhouette SD to cut the verse onto clear contact paper. I make so many mistakes that I’ve found this to be a cost saving way to use the Silhouette. I used a slightly imperfect font that would give me grace should the painting not go as I hoped.

Proverbs 31 canvas art | Five Marigolds

After spending way too long placing the many pieces of contact paper on the canvas and lining it up just so, I spray painted it with my favorite Rust-Oleum metallic gold spray paint.

I was worried it would get under the contact paper. but as long as I made sure the paper was adhering around the letters I had absolutely no trouble.

To build the frame, I used a similar technique as with Dub’s  big kid room wall gallery, but I used wood that wasn’t quite as deep, since I wanted this particular frame flush with the art.

I used Minwax stain in Early American, which is lighter IRL and gives it the right amount of color and rustic vibe.

Proverbs 31 Canvas Art using clear contact paper and Silhouette SD. Stain is Minwax Early American. | Five Marigolds

I debated (and am still debating) taking a tiny bit of wood stain on a rag and dry rubbing the canvas for a subtle shabby chic look.

I’ve also considered dry rubbing a tiny bit of the white paint over the frame very lightly for the same reason. But, at this point I’m afraid to ruin it!

Proverbs 31 Canvas art | Five Marigolds

I’m so happy with how this Proverbs 31 canvas wall art  turned out. I love the contrast of metallic gold and ivory against the rustic frame, and the sweet reminder my little girl will wake up to each day.

I’m already dreaming of how I might create a variation for Belle’s room 🙂

Additional bible verses that would be great for the girls’ bedrooms include:

God is with her; she will not fail. Psalm 46:5

He fills my life with good things. Psalm 103:5

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 134:14

He calls me beautiful one. Song of Solomon 2:10

She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10

Proverbs 31 Canvas wall Art.. | Five Marigolds

Details:

  • Lamp – Anthropologie (old)
  • Curtains – Simply Shabby Chic
  • Quilt – Handmade by grandma 🙂
  • Paint color – Behr Seed Pearl

Interested in more upcycled DIY Wall art? Check out my other projects here:

DIY Canvas Wall Art for Baby Nursery: I Love You Through and Through | Five Marigolds

I Love You Through & Through Paired Canvases

DIY Engineer Prints for Big Boy Room | FIve Marigolds

Framed Engineer Prints Wall Gallery

Industrial Boy's Bedroom Design. | Five Marigolds

Monogrammed Pallet Art

DIY Chalkboard Art with Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint | Five Marigolds

DIY Chalkboard using Garage Sale Frame

 

Review: Target Brookline Counter Stools

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When I was shopping for stools for our new home, I wanted something that looked sophisticated, yet was comfortable and fairly inexpensive. I found what I was looking for in Target’s Brookline Counter Stools in Sandstone. But, buying furniture online is tough, and there weren’t many helpful reviews on this particular product – so I’m sharing mine here.

Target Brookline Stools Review | Five Marigolds

Price – The major reason I bought these stools was the price. They were the most inexpensive upholstered stools I could find that were available at counter height.

Target Brookline Stools Review | Five Marigolds

Color – Online, it was difficult to tell what I’d really be getting, but I’m happy with the neutral, slightly greige color to these stools.

Target Brookline Stools Review | Five Marigolds

Comfort – There is really no way to test these stools out. They have samples of 1-2 colors at my local target, but you can’t take them off the shelf to sit on them. So this was a gamble, too.  Overall, these are reasonably comfortable stools, with a nice cushion on the seat and back.

Durability – With three kids ages 2 through 7, I needed these to be fairly durable. I knew choosing a neutral upholstered chair would be a test on even the highest quality furniture, which is why I chose the least expensive stools that fit the style I was going for. That way, even if we destroy these, I reasoned I would learn my lesson with less to lose. My husband put these chairs together quickly and easily. If he found that one wobbled, he simply adjusted it until it was level. We then taped off the wood legs and I sprayed  two coats of Scotchgard over the next several hours.

Getting it done: I used painter tape and a garbage bag to protect the wood legs from the Scotchgard.

Getting it done: I used painter tape and a garbage bag to protect the wood legs from the Scotchgard.

The kids sit on these stools for breakfast, drawing and doing homework, but we don’t eat all of our meals here. However, they have had their fair share of food smears from sticky hands, and so far they’ve wiped clean every time, even if it takes a little fabric cleaner for the extra ground-in, dried messes.

Overall, we’ve been happy with these chairs. I hope this review helps anyone else who is on the hunt for new stools for their home!


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