DIY with Blue Velvet Chair

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Roeshel

I’m a big fan of Roeshel and her work over here at The DIY Showoff – and I regularly crash her link parties – so I’m thrilled to be visiting as a guest blogger today and showcasing my latest before/after DIY project. My name is Mike, short for Michael, and I love to recycle, repurpose, and relove.

A few weeks ago I posted a Sneak Peek of several ~~junk pieces~~ treasures that I had picked up over the weekend – with plans swirling around in my head. I’ve since used the hubcaps to start my outside Happy Hubcap Wall Garden, the old planks of wood are waiting patiently to see what new life I have in store for them, and I finally finished a DIY refurbish for the funky little chandelier of my dreams.

We moved into our “1970s and I need a total renovation to bring me into this century” house nearly 3 years ago – and our first attempt at a dining room light was simply to use the small pink glass chandelier that came with the house. It just didn’t fit the space, so that little cutie was moved to my daughter’s room and you’ll get peek at that in a future showoff of her redesigned little space. Then, I picked up a ~~“I need a lot of work”~~ 12-armed brass lamp fixture with “great potential” at the thrift store…which then hung in our dining room for the past 2 years…untouched and without lamp shades. When my hubby started to express his concern that our 12-armed lamp was not environmentally friendly (bless the Swedes for their green living), I officially started the hunt for the ideal lamp to hang over our family meals and fill the central hub of our home with light. That’s when I stumbled across my funky little glass bauble diva online and was hoping-hoping-hoping that it hadn’t been sold yet. Thank you Lady Luck!

So, here she is in all her before and after glory. I call her Lulu (and I hope that I’m not the only one that names my projects).

Look at how a little paint and TLC helps her shine!

If you would like to see the full deconstruct-reconstruct for Lulu, hop on over to my place at Blue Velvet Chair for more images that document a new life for this little diva.

Hope to see you soon!
Michael
Blue Velvet Chair

SPA TREATMENT & Sweet Spring Giveaway

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Roeshel

Hello DIY SHOWOFF READERS!
I am Cheri from Its So Very Cheri.

It is a pleasure to be here.
Thank you so much for having me.

I adore Roeshel–her style and grace are a special treat.

I am blessed to call her a friend.

Thanks for having me Roeshel!

I will tell you a little about me-In case you have never been to my site:

I am married and have 4 great kiddos.

I home school as well.

We currently live in SW Florida but we are from the Midwest and consider it home.

I have a fun party that starts each Sunday – it is open all week long.

DIY — LOVE LOVE LOVE DIY projects.

(I am one of the gals on the DIY Club too.)

Today I am going to show you a project I worked on for a bathroom theme that I came up with.

{The bathroom is not completed yet-it’s a work in progress.}

My husband is in school to become a nurse anesthesis and I thought a Vintage Apothecary Spa theme would be fun and relaxing. So where to begin–that was the question of the day.

PROJECT NUMBER 1–I decided that we needed a SPA SIGN.

It needed big bold lettering.

It needed cool hooks to hang a SPA BAG.

Every SPA sign needs a SPA BAG right?

It needed to look vintage, shabby and chic.

I love how it turned out. Head on over to The DIY Club for the full tutorial on how to make this cool signage.

We also have a coupon code (on the side bar) for 40% off custom lettering at Say It On The Wall over at the DIY Club.

To recreate this project you will need:

DecoArt Raw Umber and White Paint
I ordered my hooks from Rockler
They have amazing products. These hooks were only $6.29 each.
I ordered my SPA vinyl from Say It On The Wall
It is a SPECIAL ORDER head over to for a special deal on this vinyl
(Look for the SPA Button on the side bar)
a paint brush
A sanding bug or some sand paper
a little spakling
a recepticle for your paint–an old bowl will do
water
2 x 4
1 x 4
wood trim
saw
clamps

Rags

I also made a SPA bag for our essential spa items. I will be posting that at Its So Very Cheri on Wednesday.

I am working on more projects for the bathroom so stay tuned.
I am also working on the kitchen and living room makeover too-just call me crazy.

I hope you will come on over and check out Its So Very Cheri.

Be sure to check out my TAPE Party!
It starts March 13-31.

Thanks so much for having me today. I hope you love the SPA Sign.

It is always fun checking out what is going on here at the DIY SHOWOFF so it is an extra special treat to be a guest.

Special Giveaway from It’s So Very Cheri!

This cute little faux zinc vintage bird is perfect for updating your spring vignette!

How to win?

1 entry = Comment below your plans for your first DIY project this spring? Getting outdoors to spray paint or tend to flowers? Decorate for Easter and spring? Spring cleaning? Excited for the long days and warmer temps?

1 entry = Visit It’s So Very Cheri and become a follower. Come back and comment that you are!

Giveaway starts today 3/8 and ends Friday 3/11 at midnight EST.

Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced shortly after.

Please include your email address if you can’t be reached via link to your blog.

Good luck!

Guest Post…Custom Crock & DIY Project Parade

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Roeshel

I‘m so honored to have Holly from 504 Main guest blogging today. She is awesome! If you’re not a follower at 504 Main, please stop over and say hi! Here she is…

Hey there!

I am so very tickled to be here at The DIY Show Off. Can I have a little “I’m in awe” moment, please…when I began blogging a year ago, Roeshel’s blog was one of the first DIY blogs I followed and linked up to for her Fall Festival {I was scared}, and she was do darn nice. So maybe my hubby has to blame Roeshel for my DIY craziness! Anyway, while Roeshel is off Country Living it up, I am here to blog it up!

Now, on with the show…I am Holly, and 504 Main is my place where I entertain, cook, create. I have a vintagey, beat up, discarded, slightly French, yet totally American aesthetic {confused? Me too sometimes!}. I like what I like! I LOVE repurposed crafting, creating and DIYing. I prefer to use unusual materials to create beautiful projects, like my screen wreath or my biscuit table.

Today, I am going to share a tutorial I did over at my place awhile back for The DIY Club. I am always looking for fun, new DIY projects. I have tackled my kitchen recently {that was part DIY and part hire someone to DIY}, and am working hard to accessorize it like it deserves…like I deserve..I have waited a long time!

My “old” kitchen had a not-so-cheap-stainless steel utensil holder that turned out to be a dud – too small and it cracked – perhaps it was not really stainless steel! I was on the hunt for a nice big crock to put those utensils in, but couldn’t find one that was not $50.00 or with some design on it that did not suit me…then it hit me…duh! Make my own!…Or at least buy a plain one and make it better!

Seriously, it seems like a lot of steps, but don’t let it scare you…it is not that bad! After you do it once, you’ll see and be hooked on this process like I am! You get a professional looking finish – it is awesome!
***********

Bon Appetit Crock
Click HERE for printable pdf crock tutorial

Supplies

-Image {from Olive Rue}

-Waterslide decal paper {available online or in some art stores…email me for info} – there are a few brands. I am trying out a new one soon.

-Crock, white {purchased at a kitchen store}

-Bowl with lukewarm water

-Oven
-Decal squeegee and/or paper towel

DIY It! Bon Appetit Crock

1 – Print image onto waterslide decal paper – if your image has words, you will want to print a mirror image of the design.

NOTE: For the process and paper I used, the background turns a vintagey tea stained color in the curing/baking process, so I added an oval border {super simple to do in almost any program}. There is another method to using waterslide decals to avoid this, but I like this look. Again, I just purchased a new brand of paper and will report back!

2 – Let image dry for at least 15 minutes {this drying time varies based on the paper and method used, consult paper directions}, so that the ink does not run. I let mine dry for a few hours.

3 – Cut image out – either closely around border or closely around the image itself.

4 – Determine placement or image and prepare crock {or whatever you are transferring the image to}.

5 – Add lukewarm water to a bowl, large enough for the cut image to be submerged.

6 – Place image in water for approximately 1 minute. The image will immediately curl…gently uncurl.

7 – After removing paper, position the decal in the correct place on the crock {with the words reading correctly}.
8 – Blot the image with a soft towel and smooth out {or if you have the proper squeegee, use that} to
remove air bubbles {This step is important…my first go around I thought I had it and…nope – lots of air bubbles!}
9 – You may want to use a hair dryer to assist in adhering the decal to the piece and removing those remaining air bubbles too.
10 – Let piece air dry for 1 hour*
11 – Set oven to 200 F and bake piece for 1 hour.
12 – Set oven to 300 F and bake piece for 1 more hour.
13 – Set oven to 350 F and bake piece for 1 more hour.
14 – Set oven to 400 F and bake piece for 15 minutes.
15 – Remove from oven and let cool – the image will be shiny and the background will have the light patina coloration.
16 – wipe piece {being careful of the image} with a damp sponge to remove excessive adhesive {it is brown – you will see it.}

*The new paper I have purchased, it supposed to be clear and does not require baking process. YOU MUST READ ALL DIRECTIONS FOR THE BRAND OF WATERSLIDE DECALS YOU PURCHASE.

If you start playing with waterslide decals, you will be hooked. I recently added one to an old window and, man oh man do I have a list of projects for this craft!

Thanks for listening! I for one, cannot wait to hear about Roeshel’s adventures!

Come on by and say “Hi” at 504 Main.

~*~*~

SHOW IT OFF! What did you DIY lately?

If you’d like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:

You must use the button above and link to this post to share the linky love.
Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.
Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
If you notice your link has disappeared – please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today with a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

*A special thanks to Holly at 504 Main and Jennifer at tatertots & jello for their help this weekend. I’m back from the Country Living Fair. What a fun time – loved meeting some blog friends, seeing so much creativity , making new friends and can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Now I’ve received heart breaking news about my dad. Please keep my dad and family in your thoughts and prayers and thank you to the girls at the DIY Club from the bottom of my heart for being so patient and understanding and helpful during this time. ~Roeshel

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Category Archives: Guest Blogger

DIY with Blue Velvet Chair

SPA TREATMENT & Sweet Spring Giveaway

Guest Post…Custom Crock & DIY Project Parade