Have you ever wondered what to do with an old sewing cabinet, Sweet Friends?  Old Furniture, like sewing cabinets, record cabinets, old chests intrigue me.  I love taking something old and repurposing it into something new.  Today on the blog I am sharing with you about my “Sewing Cabinet Turned Desk Transformation!”  I shared a video on the transformation months back, but I thought i’d give you the full tutorial here today.

Watch the video here on You Tube:

Although I really loved the look of the Sewing Cabinet, in order to turn it into a desk it need to be painted.  My sewing cabinet did not come with a machine, so when I opened up the cabinet there was a big hole.  I used a piece of wood and some Dixie Belle Mud to fill in the whole.  Unfortunately, I was not able to stain the wood to match the cabinet and that’s when I turned to paint.

If you’ve been following me for more than a minute, you know I’m kind of a paint fanatic anyways. 

Pinterest Inspiration

I created a Pinterest Board when I was deciding on the transformation of the sewing cabinet that you can check out here.  Pinterest shows many ideas for a Sewing Cabinet Transformation.  A few  ideas are: beverages bars, ice chests, plant stands, and bedside tables.  Those were all great ideas but, I needed a new desk for our home.

Sewing Cabinet Transformation

The video shows the struggles I encountered painting the sewing cabinet.  I ran into the stain bleeding through my paint which is never a fun scenario on a makeover.  In the video I also tell a silly story.  

I’m recently divorced and enjoy dating every so often.  Sometimes the date plans don’t go as you expect and that’s what happened when I was working on the Sewing Cabinet Turned Desk Transformation.  Kinda coincidental, huh!

If you like my dating stories, you should check out the “Bad Date Furniture Make-over!’ That’s another one of my silly dating stories.

Here is the tutorial on how to transform a Vintage Sewing Cabinet into a Desk.

Materials needed for the Vintage Sewing Cabinet turned Desk Transformation.

• Old Sewing Cabinet
• DIY Paint and Brushes
• Dixie Belle Mud
• Dixies Belle Boss Stain Blocker
• Plywood

Links to the products used can be found at the bottom of the post.

Instructions for the Vintage Sewing Cabinet turned Desk Transformation.

Step one: Remove the sewing machine from the cabinet, if it’s not already missing.

Step two: Put a piece of plywood where the sewing machine sat – you may need to drill or glue this into the space.

Step three: Use Dixie Belle Mud around the edges of the plywood if there are gaps.

Step four: Use a stain blocker on the wood surfaces if needed.

Step five: Paint the wood surfaces. I used DIY Paint in the colors of White Swan, Crinolin and Sandy Blonde to create a one of a kind look.

Step six: Seal the wood surfaces. I used DIY Paint Big Top and applied two coats. It is a matte sealer and provides a durable finish.

A side observation: On this transformation, I struggled with bleed through. The stains from the cabinet bleed through my paint to create a splotchy look. I used Dixie Belle Boss Stain Blocker over and over to eliminate the bleed through. Watch my video and learn more about preventing bleed through.

The Sewing Cabinet Turned Desk Transformation provides a great space for writing, computer work or as bedside table. I’m sure you’ve noticed it’s been all over my home.

Do you have any dating stories???

I hope I’ve inspired you to take an old piece of furniture and make it functional again. Now go out there and Create Something.

Cynthia

DISCLOSURE

Many of the links on this blog are affiliate links. CreateWithCynthia.com receives a small commission when certain items are purchased, but the price is the same for you. Thank you for your help in supporting my little space on the internet.

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I love flowers, Sweet Friends. In fact, if I could wear flowers in my hair every day I probably would. I love having flowers in my home, so much so, I do at times, settle for faux. Are you a flower lover?

I love real flowers and faux flowers and I love incorporating them into my home decor. In today’s post I am going to show you one way to add flowers into your home decor.

Trash to Treasure Furniture Makeover!

Trash to treasure furniture makeover’s are my favorite and this dresser was such a mess. The picture above really doesn’t give the mess justice, but if you can imagine an old wood dresser that has been alive for probably 50 years, I am sure you understand what I mean.

Incorporating painted flowers on a dresser is the perfect way to include flowers in your home. Bringing flowers in from the garden is always bliss but if you don’t have a garden you may need to find other solutions.

Now, in years past when our home had a huge garden I spent most of my time out there. I’d plant sunflowers and peonies and dahlia’s and iris’s and morning glories and flowers in every color of the rainbow. I really love planting bulbs, as watching them emerge from the ground is always a fun and surprising thing.

With this furniture makeover, I originally painted it a two toned look where I left the drawers the wood color. I loved how it looked but then.

Then I got inspired by Josie and Sally, the Iron Orchid Designs Sisters to take it a step further.

You can watch how I completed this project on my You Tube Channel here.

Sallie and Josie inspired me with a project that they worked on. I thought that the dresser would look so beautiful with a vase full of flowers on the front of it.

On this project I used Iron Orchid Designs Air Dry Clay, Decor Stamps and Decor Transfers to create an image that looked like a vase full of flowers. I also used DIY Paint on the project. Here is the dresser at TreasureFest last year.

I hope this project has inspired you to go out and create something you love. Make it a Great Week!

The post Trash to Treasure Furniture Makeover and Adding Flowers into your Home Decor! appeared first on Create With Cynthia.

Do you avoid having people over because you don’t like how your home looks??? I felt that way until I did my Dining Room Makeover and you can read about it here.

Furniture Makeover DIY!

Do you feel like furniture makeovers are just way too much work and too much time???

Are you living on a budget and not able to go out and purchase expensive furniture???

So, what is it that’s holding you back from doing a furniture makeover? Leave a comment below and let me know?

You can read my post, “Creating a Feature Wall for my Home and a Story About FEAR” here. Keep in mind we have probably all been resistant to start a project at some point because of an Emotion that is holding us back.

What You Need to do a Furniture Makeover!

Today, I want to help you put aside any concerns around doing a furniture makeover.

Perhaps you just don’t know what you need, or where to start?

So, if your feeling that way. I totally understand, because, I’ve been there. I got ya Sweet Friend!

Today I am going to give you the quick and dirty of what you need to do a furniture make-over. And you probably have most of it in your home, besides the paint)!

10 Things you need to do a Furniture Makeover:

(and most you probably have laying around the house)

1. Drop Cloth or Blanket.  I picked up my Drop Cloth on Amazon and I’ll include the link below. In the past I’ve used old curtains or towels. The important thing is to protect your surrounding areas, and not make a mess.
2. Cleaner – If I don’t currently have any of my favorite furniture cleaners on hand then I usually will just grab something from the kitchen. Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner works great and I usually have it on hand because each month I receive non perishable type of groceries through Grove Collaborative. Here is the link to sign up. My favorite cleaner to use on my furniture makeovers is A Maker’s Studio Furniture and Cabinetry Cleaner. It really cuts through the grime on an old piece of furniture.
3. Sand Paper/ Sanding Block – An Orbital Sander is nice to have and I have linked my favorite below, but it is not necessary. I usually choose 200 grit sanding blocks below. But a paper bag can act as Sand Paper to smooth out a surface.
4. Paint – if you use an ‘all in one paint’, you won’t need a primer.  Check out some of my previous videos and blog posts on the products that I like to use.  I sell my Favorite Paints on my website; Debi’s Design Diary DIY Paint, A Maker’s Studio Rescue and Restore Paint and Sweet Pickin’s Milk Paint.  Some Paints even have a Top Coat/ Sealer in them, which allows you to skip #5.
5. Finishing Product; Top Coat, Sealer, Glaze or Wax – Debi’s Design Diary Diy Paint is one of my favorite paint products to use but it does not include the sealer in the paint. A Maker’s Studio Rescue and Restore paint does have a sealer in the paint, so two to three coats of it and your furniture makeover is be complete. Sweet Pickens Milk Paint also carry top coats and waxes and I love all of them. I won’t bore you with all of the details and paint brands, but it is probably the one thing that your money will be best spent on. Total Aside: If you are painting a dark piece of stained wood a light color, you may want to use a stain blocker. 
6. Brushes – If you have the money to invest in good brushes, I would suggest making the investment. You can shop my website for good paint brushes. That being said, there are many projects I’ve done with just a Dollar Store paint brush and the end result was beautiful.
7. Tools – Screw Drivers are usually needed on furniture makeovers so that you can remove the hardware. You may also need a hammer, drill, wood glue, clamps, etc. depending upon whether or not the piece needs some fixes. Sometimes I like to leave the hardware on and paint over it, but it’s also nice to remove the hardware, clean, paint and or replace it.
8. Beautifying Products – Products that add a “One of a Kind” element I call Beautifying Products. They are optional and are like make-up for your face. I carry a variety online at CreateWithCynthiaShop.com including Stamps, Moulds, Air Dry Clay, Decor Transfers and Stencils.
9. Time – Don’t give yourself too much time to work on a project. Be realistic about how long it should take you. Three to five days is pretty realistic in my opinion. If you give yourself too much time, you may get caught up in second guessing yourself. Remember, your project might go through a yucky phase like I explain in the Feature Wall Video. I’m merely speaking from experience. My video, The Buffet Makeover JRV Approved is another perfect example. Check it out here.
10. Desire – If you made it this far, thank you for reading and being a loyal subscriber. If you still don’t have a desire to do a Furniture Makeover, I get it! But if you look around your home and have projects you want to tackle, I hope I have inspired you to create with me.

When tackling projects that seem unattainable, the rewards can be larger than you expect.

Just like Debi of Debi’s Design Diary says, 

“I believe creativity is like a muscle and as you push against the resistance and the fear, you get stronger. I want to encourage you to keep building your creative muscle.”

I’m hosting craft workshops in my store space in Redwood City, California, if you need some inspiration and motivation to get started. You can read about them here.

Now go out there and create something beautiful.

Cynthia

Here are some of my favorite products to use on Furniture Makeovers:

Drop Cloth: 

Orbital Sander:

5 piece paint scraper:

Clorox disinfecting wipes:

Blue Shop Towels:

Sanding Sponge:

3M Tack Cloth:

HomeRight Heavy Duty Paint Sprayer:

Many of the links on this blog are affiliate links. CreateWithCynthia.com receives a small commission when certain items are purchased, but the price is the same for you. CreateWithCynthia.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to certain companies.

The post What You Need to Start a Furniture Makeover! appeared first on Create With Cynthia.

This project is definitely a Trash to Treasure. I took an old Art Easel and turned it into a Welcome Home Sign. I also wanted to let you know that A Maker’s Studio Chalk Art in the color I Reckon is ON SALE!!! Follow this link to make a purchase.

DIY Sign – Welcome Home!

I took an old art easel that was sitting in my storage unit and recreated it into a “Welcome Sign.” What Trash to Treasure are you working on this week? Leave me a comment and let me know.

I remember the days when Luke and Troy would scribble on the easel. Here’s a cute drawing that Luke did and Troy creating on an easel at a museum.

Total aside: somehow, through all my photos I could not find Luke or Troy at the actual easel.

Trash to Treasure – Art Easel turned Welcome Home Sign!

When I heard that A Maker’s Studio was having a SALE THIS WEEK on Chalk Art in the color I Reckon, I knew it would be the perfect project.

Check out my new video and don’t forget to subscribe to my channel. I’d love it if you shared the video with your friends.

Below is the paint and products that I used on this project. You can also shop at my space in Redwood City or online at CreateWithCynthiaShop.com.

• A Maker’s Studio: https://amakersstudio.com/#a_aid=813550
• A Maker’s Studio Chalk Art in I Reckon: https://amakersstudio.com/products/i-reckon-chalkart?variant=18969376751712
• A Maker’s Studio Welcome Stencil: https://amakersstudio.com/collections/mesh-stencils/products/mesh-stencil-welcome-8-5×11
• A Maker’s Studio Home Stencil: https://amakersstudio.com/collections/mesh-stencils/products/mesh-stencil-home-12×24

• DIY Paint – https://create-with-cynthia.myshopify.com/collections/diy-paint
• DIY Top Coat –  https://create-with-cynthia.myshopify.com/collections/diy-paint/products/diy-big-top-top-coat
• DIY Paint Brush – https://create-with-cynthia.myshopify.com/collections/diy-paint/products/diy-paint-brush-the-blending-brush

I hope this inspires you to go out and Create Something Beautiful!

Make it a great day!

Cynthia

The post Welcome Home Sign DIY appeared first on Create With Cynthia.

Rocking Chair Furniture Makeover!

I love ice cream and this project reminded me of ice cream because DIY Paint “Dark and Decrepit” looks just like Hershey’s Chocolate Sauce.

For this project I used the following Debi’s Design Diary, DIY Paint products:

To finish the Rocking Chair, I sealed it with two coats of Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover in Matte Clear.

Here is the Before and After on the Rocking Chair Furniture Makeover.

Dark and Decrepit takes Wood to a whole new level.  I hope I have inspired you to try it out.

Make it a great day!

Cynthia

The post Rocking Chair Furniture Makeover! appeared first on Create With Cynthia.

Feature Wall / Staging Wall!

You can watch the video about this project here:

Fear and how to push through it!

I have a confession!

I start ALOT of projects that I never finish!  Does this happen to you?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Fear and insecurity are huge for most people.  I try and remedy the Fear and insecurity in my head by staying close to my tribe and leaning on them for encouragement, love and support.  And, I read a lot of Self-Help books.  My recent read has been by Brene Brown, “Dare to Lead”.  If you haven’t read her book I’d highly recommend it.  You can pick up a copy at the link here.

In my post “Bad Days Happen!” and you can read that post here I referred to another of Brene’s books, “Braving The Wilderness” which you can purchase here.

Don’t let Fear and Insecurity stop you from following your dreams!

Now go out there and create something beautiful!

Make it a great day!

Cynthia

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