How To: *Rustic Window* Using Dollar Store Picture Frames!

I was shopping at my local antique flea markets last week and I kept stumbling across old windows. I loved how they looked. Thoughts of serenity in my dream cottage away from it all kept coming to mind. I felt a timeless comfort whenever I looked at one. I knew I had to have one, but they were so pricey!  I couldn't justify spending that much. Not to mention they were so incredibly heavy - talk about a fear of a "you break it, you buy it!" situation. In today's tutorial I present to you my cost-effective solution to the aforementioned home decor dilemma...And did I mention I found all my materials at the Dollar Store??! $60-200 dollars for the original OR $4 for something that looks just as good? I'll let you be the judge ;)

You will need the following materials:

4 - 5x7 picture frames from the Dollar Store

duck tape

super glue

white acrylic paint
sponge brush
light grit sandpaper

 

Take your frames & discard the backings. You can also place the glass frames off to the side.

Connect your frames together on the back with duck tape. Make sure the tape is not visible from the front. (**I did three across here because initially I thought I was going to do a 3x2 window. I later changed my mind and did a 2x2 window instead.)

Flip over and apply super glue to the places you applied duck tape, as shown.

Now time to paint it. When the superglue has completely dried, apply 1-2 coats of white acrylic paint. Distress with sandpaper for more of a tattered, worn look.

Return the glass pieces back to each frame and Voilà! - you now have your makeshift rustic window!

I placed mine behind these refinished, antique glass bottles I found at a flea market. As you can see, the window adds depth & dimension to the glass bottles.

vs.

What I love about this tutorial is that you can customize it to whatever your vision is - bigger, smaller, taller, different paint finishes/colors - and it won't break the bank! :)

Distressing - 4 Ways: How-to Make Anything Look Antique

I love distressing because it is a simple yet very effective way to change, revive, and re-purpose your home decor. Distressing is a technique used to achieve that antique finish that's very on-trend right now. In today's tutorial I show you 4 easy & inexpensive ways to achieve this. Let get started!

#1 Jewelry Box

I've had this ever since I was 10 years old. Lets do something about that horrid cherry oak finish, shall we?

Before

You will need the following materials:

Small sponge brush applicator

One sheet paper towel

Using your sponge applicator, apply 2-3 coats of Thunder Gray, allowing at least an hour drying time between each coat. Next, lightly dab your sponge into the white paint and start creating random strokes, as shown in the images below. After each stroke, wipe away the excess with a paper towel.

It should look something like this. The white is pleasing to the eye in the way that it doesn't take away from the gray.

Next, take your 150 grit sand paper & scuff away!

I toned down the harshness of the white strokes I made by sanding them down to appear softer. The gray, white, & Cherry oak peaking through adds dimension and that vintage-feel we were going for.

Put it on a stained, distressed shelf & you are done!

#2 Vanity Storage

How about we spice up that makeup vanity of yours?

You will need the following materials:

Small sponge brush applicator, white acrylic paint, rubbing alcohol, cotton ball, 3 mason jars - preferably different sizes

 Clean your mason jars with soap and water - wipe them down to dry. Then, take your cotton ball & rub alcohol on the outside of each jar. This will ensure that all dirt and oils have been wiped away so that the paint will adhere to the glass surface. When the alcohol has dried, apply 2 coats of your white paint.

One coat

Two coats

Distress with sandpaper, add some twine, and you are done!

Placing it next to your antique jewelry box really ties the look together ;)

Before | After

#3 Antique Mason Jar
I know what you're saying - "Didn't you just show us this with your vanity storage!" BUT!! >> this goes a step beyond the typical mason jar painting tutorials that you see everywhere on Pinterest. **This is different in the way that we layer 3 different paints to add texture, dimension, and that "antique authenticity".

Using your sponge applicator, apply the following paints in this order allowing each coat to dry (should only take about an hour):
1). 2 coats of Oyster Beige

2). 2 coats of Thunder Gray

3). As with the technique used with painting the jewelry box, lightly dab your sponge into the white paint and start creating random strokes. After each stroke, wipe away the excess with a paper towel.

When everything is dry & you have applied enough white paint strokes to your liking, begin sanding. **As you sand, you will begin to see Oyster Beige peak through Thunder Gray. This in combination with the white blended throughout is what gives it dimension (as oppose to just using one color, which makes it look flat). I find that this method is the best way to truly make something look antique.

#4 Cottage-Inspired Distressing
I was looking at my shelf at the bottom of my staircase & there was something about it that was no longer pleasing to my eye - things were clashing instead of complimenting each other. Here's a before pic:

The silver bucket & birdcage took away from the light I was trying to bring into the room. If you find that something is off with the color of your decor - paint it! It's the easiest & cheapest solution. I liked the birdcage & didn't want to paint it. So I moved it to my bedroom where more brown/beige hues fit the primary color scheme of the room. I replaced it with this:

Apply Oyster Beige, Thunder Gray, with hints of White in exactly the same way described in the Antique Mason Jar tutorial above. Then distress with sandpaper.

Next is the bucket. If you are interested in how I arranged the foliage & flowers, you can find that in my previous tutorial here >> http://jessicarosehomedecor.blogspot.com/2015/04/easy-cheap-cottage-inspired-diy-lilac-flower-pot.html

For this, all you need to do is apply two coats of your white paint, distress, replace your lilacs with babies breath, and done!

Soft & Bright

I hope you guys liked all 4 of these tutorials! Please leave your questions, comments, and your antique DIY's below! :)

DIY Garden Series: Repurposed Pallet in 6 EASY STEPS!

Last summer I acquired 3 pallets from a pave-stone order & have been dying to use them in my garden. There's definitely a hype around recycling old wood pallets at the moment. You've all seen them - the numerous Pinterest tutorials on how to go about re-purposing a pallet into many, many things. So for the past year I have been Pinterest-pinning like crazy anything pallet-related. However, none of the tutorials were very helpful. I found that my pallet was different from most, specifically the way the back was structured - to hold heavy duty things. If you find that you also do not have an ordinary, standard-built pallet as portrayed in most other tutorials, I hope this tutorial helps you :) This is also perfect for utilizing the most amount of space in a small backyard!

I plan on using the first pallet as a herb garden, the second for cascading vines, & the third for succulents. I will post updated photos when growth actually occurs, but I didn't want to wait till then to get this tutorial up knowing my green-thumb gardeners will be seeking out this tutorial right about now! So without further ado, lets jump right in!

You will need the following materials:

Safety goggles - wear throughout the entire project!!!

Gloves - wear throughout the entire project!!!

Hand saw - use caution!!!

Hammer - use caution!!!

3-1x5 Cedar Planks (Cedar is moderately rot-resistant & very inexpensive)

Nails:

Step One: Using a hammer, remove every other panel.

 

Front - Before

Front - After

 Step Two: Remove the 2nd and 4th panels. Also remove the middle beams using a saw.

Back - Before

Back - After

Step Three: Take the panels that you discarded in the previous step and place as shown in the 2 images below. If you could not salvage any panels, using a 1x5 cedar plank & trimming it to fit the corresponding area will work just as well.

Step Four: Now for the bases. Since I ran out of scrap wood, I trimmed & used 3-1x5 cedar planks to act as the base for each row.

Secure each base to the pallet by driving a nail through each side, as shown:

Can you see the nail-head? :)

Step Five: There will inevitably be some gaps within each row of the pallet. Since you don't want any soil to fall through, stuff these gaps with plant liner. Tiny gapes are find & don't need to be stuffed since there does need to be some drainage. You can use landscaping fabric, but I find that plant liner looks the most natural & earthy.

Step Six: Choose your herbs, fill each row with potting soil, sow your seeds, and the waiting game begins!

Link me to pictures of any pallets you've repurposed & comment below telling me if you found this tutorial useful :) Happy gardening!