Shabby Chic China Cabinet

Mom found this beautiful china cabinet and immediately I wanted to get my hands on this thing and shabby chic it up!  The front has glass on it, not a mirror, although it does look like a mirror.

 The back of it was really messed up so I decided to just cut a new piece of wood for the back.

First thing, sand it.  So, I used my electric sander to knock off the sheen so the paint would stick to it.  Then primer.  I just used a basic white primer.

Once I let the primer dry for a couple of hours, I started the process of painting it.  I used a seafoam green color to paint it with.

 After applying the green, I mixed the green with some water and used a sponge to rub off some of the paint for the shabby look.  Other spots I used a light grit sand paper, but I was really going for a light/dark look for this piece.

After I got the look that I wanted, I applied my favorite sealer, which darkened it a bit just like I envisioned.

After I sealed it, my mom and I headed to our favorite store, Hobby Lobby, and found this really pretty designed fabric.  We came back home, hubby cut the wood to replace the back for me and I sprayed a glue adhesive to the wood and had mom help me stretch it across the back.  I let that dry for a few hours and then attached it to the back of the china cabinet.  Done!

Here is the finished product!  I just love this shabby chic look.  I want to do my whole house like this.  One day... maybe... if I ever get the time to do it.  :-)

To Tha Moon Alice... To Tha Moon!!!

Remember The Honeymooners?  I loved that show.  Everything was so basic and it was a no frills kind of show.  Jackie Gleason in the character of Ralph Kramden just cracks me up.  Alice was his wife and he used to tell her "To da moon Alice to da moon!"  I wish that comedy was still like that.  Clean and downright pants-wetting funny.  They don't make em like that anymore.

I just can't help but to think of the Honeymooners every time I say "The Moon."  I guess I am just crazy like that.  So... The Moon...  My mom and I talked about doing this for a while and finally, one day, we just did it.  I mean, life is short and I, for one, am not one for looking back and having regrets in life.  At least I tried, right?  So, one day, my mom and I just decided to get us a little 10x10 spot at The Blue Moon Antique Mall... which is not really an "antique" mall at all.  I mean, there are lots of antiques in this place, but it's mainly an indoor flea market with some really neat stuff in there for sale.  I have bought several things from there and the people there are really nice, so I figured, why not?

So there it is... The Blue Moon.  We call it "going to the Moon."  So, when I reference "The Moon" this is the place that I am talking about.  :-)  It's been some hard work, but fun work.  I have really enjoyed working with my mom on these projects, goin' junkin' on the weekends, and just spending some good quality mother/daughter time together.  We are both new to this whole refinishing, repurposing, reusing thing, but I have to say that there are SO MANY inspiring blogs and "how to's" out there on the web.  I have put a few of my favs over there on the right side of the page so you can check them out.  

My mom and I go to "The Moon" and do what we needed to get us a spot and they told us that we had to come up with a name. "A name???"  My mom and I just looked at each other.  We didn't think about that.  So, we are standing there throwing out ideas and we came up with "Simply MarValUs."  

Why MarValUs???  Well, My mom's name is Martha, my name is Valerie, together we are "us" and we make things just Simply MarValUs.  Lol!  We thought that it was catchy, and actually, quite genius!

So there it is.... Well, this was about a week ago so it looks kinda bare right now.  We are working on some kind of carpet to go down and we have more in there now.  Guess I need to update it.  ;-)  You get the gist though.

Project #1: Patio Areas

The inspiration for this project was the bright yellow sunflower bench.  This is what really did it for me.  Once I got it home and sat down, it was quite obvious that the rest of my patio really did pale in comparison to my bright yellow sunflower bench.  Back to Lowe's I go.  The bug done went and bit me after that... I was almost finished with everything when I realized that I didn't do a "before" pic of the different pieces that I re-did.  Not new to blogging, not new to crafty DIY projects, just doing the two together, lol!

I really should take more "before" pics... 

After knocking off the loose paint with a sanding block, I mixed a teal colored paint with water and used a sponge to apply it lightly over all areas of the window.  

Here I just washed the table and disassembled it.  I used outdoor spray paint that I found at Lowe's. Pretty simple! 

The little girl was made from a resin material and her bells were metal. I just cleaned it up and sprayed it with outdoor spray paint that I used on the table and the stools.  The bench legs were concrete and I just washed them and painted those with some left over household paint that I had from my daughter's room.  Use what you have, right?  The 2x4's that I used for the seat were just cleaned and painted with another household color that I had on hand left over from my kitchen.  I painted it on and them wiped it down with a clean cloth which turned out kinda neat.  The concrete plaque I have had for years... I watered down some paint that I had on hand and lightly sponged it on to bring out the words and pictures on the plaque.  Turned out nice I think.  

This was a fun project... now for the next one...  Hummm, what to do, what to do???