DIY: Lamp Make-over

Hey y’all! I’m so happy to share this next project that has been on my to do list for the past two months!

I bought a lamp base a few months ago at one of my favorite thrift stores. I immediately fell in love with the nice curves, you will see what I mean in a minute. The shape seemed really versatile and I thought I’d be able to find a lampshade to match. That proved really difficult! But I think am sure that happened because I’m so picky. Finally I found a 40% off coupon for world market and decided to score one! After that, it took me two months to finally spray paint the base to match the shade! I’ll stop yapping now and share my new and improved lamp!

I really loved the yellow. It just wasn’t shiny enough for me and fell in love with the blue spray paint I used for my failed chalkboard. I think it makes the lamp look a little more modern and has enough gloss to make it look new!

Alas! Here it is! I decided to put it in a little forgotten area of my living room. Along with one of my favorite little owls, also scored during one of my thrift store trips with my sisters, and a picture of me and my little sister, her best friend and my best friend out on legendary 6th street. I love the frame! It’s super sparkly but really tough to photograph.

Here is the original picture. Yes, it’s a little blurry, but I love it. I think it’s funny you can see my cast a little at the bottom 🙂 It was such a fun night and I am glad that I found a frame and a place to see it everyday!

Here are a few close ups of my little owl. I have no idea where it is originally from, glad I scored it for a dolla, holla! I think it’s so cute! And I have a thing for owls, picked up 3 on that one trip with my sisters. They are enablers and show me every owl they run in to 🙂 I love that they do that!

Here it all is one more time. Such a proud momma of this new lamp! Another example of why I love spray paint! It makes it so easy to change things up. I can decide on a different shade in a few months and spray paint this base a different color to match it!

Anyhoo, hope y’all enjoyed my newest little project. I hope everyone has a good weekend! I know I will! Celebrating a birthday and taking a mini road trip with my little sister! Talk to y’all next week!

DIY: Chalkboard FAIL

About a week ago I talked about wanting to jump on the chalkboard paint bandwagon and decided to try it out once I found the perfect frame. Luckily I had a frame to work with, thanks to my mom 🙂 and decided to give the process a shot! And FAIL! Well, everything turned out great, until the final most important step….the glass broke while I was placing it back into the frame. That’s ok, good first try! Anyhoo, I took a bunch of shots of the process and am choosing to share them here despite the unfortunate demise 🙂

This is the picture and frame I chose to cover up. It was a lovely gift from my mom 🙂 unfortunately, the picture was not my style, but I thought the frame was beautiful and did not want to let it go to waste. Maybe the glass breaking was my fault for not appreciating my mothers gift! I kid, I am trying not to be hard on myself, I know my mother just wants to help me decorate 🙂

I decided on using chalkboard spray paint after reading a bunch of great reviews! And decided on a light blue color for the frame, to make the leafy designs POP!

Those are the snapshots of the process! Super easy! I am getting a little obsessed with spray painting. I need to remind myself: just because I can prime and spray paint everything, doesn’t mean I should. Anyhoo, I definitely recommend chalkboard spray paint, just make sure to keep the coats light.

And here it is! Ta-da! Three mini-chalkboard daggers inside a huge frame!

A close-up of the broken pieces. I am just glad it was a clean break, and I did not have to worry about a big clean up. Although it is a little frustrating, considering I traveled all around Austin and Google searching for the specific, anti-dust, calcium carbonate containing chalk the spray paint called for. I am just glad I purchased it and it is ready for my next attempt!

I want to leave you with a close up shot, sans daggers, to brag about how beautiful this frame turned out! I have a few ideas for the frame to make sure I use it. I hope those will come true soon!

All in all, this was a fairly easy project. I am sure I will tackle it again soon and I hope I can share its successful conquest after this weekend. Although, stormy weather is forecast all weekend! If my balcony/spray-paint studio is dry, be prepared for a Chalkboard success!