Step Stool Makeover

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Roeshel

Scoop up a step stool at the flea market, yard sales or thrift stores and give it a makeover. Thinking ahead, sweet grand baby is going to need a step stool to reach the bathroom sink to wash his little hands. This wooden flea market treasure is perfect. And of course I can’t resist the opportunity to take it from blah to cute with a little paint and FrogTape®.

Materials I used:

wooden foot stool (sanded and wiped clean)
FrogTape and scissors
vinyl decal
paint (I used Valspar Sea Kiss in a satin finish) and paintbrush
spray lacquer

What I did:

1. I convinced Mr. DIY to do the sanding for me. He’s much faster at that task than I. He simply sanded away the varnish leaving me a clean blank slate.

2. Then I wiped away the saw dust with a damp cloth.

3. Next I applied my vinyl decal to the top, burnished it and pulled away the transfer paper.

4. I taped off stripes using FrogTape Multi-Surface. Since the sides aren’t 90 degree angles, here is what I did: Tore off a piece of FrogTape longer than needed. I placed it in a straight line (I just eye-balled it) and folded the edges over on the ends. Using my thumbnail (or credit card), I rubbed the FrogTape on the corner. Then I gently lifted it up and using scissors, cut along the ‘white’ line. Replace and burnish tape. Repeat on each of the four sides, two rows of stripes.

5. Paint a coat. Let dry. Paint a second coat.

6. While paint is still wet, carefully remove FrogTape and vinyl decal. Then allow paint to dry over night.

7. Optional: sand edges for a distressed look.

8. Apply two light even coats of spray lacquer, allowing dry time between each coat according to instructions on the can.

Ta-da! A cute addition to the bathroom sink for little ones.

*I received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTape® products. All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience.

Industrial Milk Can turned Side Table

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Roeshel

I’ve had old industrial milk can laying around, collecting dust (cobwebs too) just waiting for a fun DIY and repurposing it for a fun side table to add some charm to the patio seemed like just the right idea.

Materials I used:

found industrial milk can
black paint + primer in one
FrogTape® MultiSurface
round wicker-like tray (also found…thrift store, I think)

What I did:

I like the distressed/dinged up paint finish but it needed a little pizazz. I gave it a good cleaning, then using FrogTape, I added some bold stripes.

A spider crawled out of that hole too! Yikes! Once that was taken care of, using my thumbnail, I burnished the edges of the FrogTape to ensure crisp clean stripes.

I applied two coats of black paint. Paint. Dry. Paint.

Right after I applied the second coat, while the paint was still wet, I carefully removed the FrogTape then let the paint dry.

Secure a tray using whatever method you find best (glue and clamps, screws, etc.), (a round wooden table top or an old clock would be cool too) and ta-da! A fun side table for our patio:

I added in some coordinating accent pillows and I have a fun new look to a usually neutral area. The old industrial milk can is a great conversation starter too.

LOVE IT! Have you added any fun elements to your outdoor areas this summer?

*I received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTape® products. All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience.

Outdoor Bistro Set Before and After

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Roeshel

With summer right around the corner, it’s time to spruce up outdoor seating areas. The oil rubbed bronze of this bistro set matched everything nicely but it’s just so brown and tired.

Before: