Hi there Sweet Friends, this week flew by. Thursday came and went and I never hit publish on my post. I missed y’all. But I am back today with my 5 Favorites!

I love a good upcycle and I bet you do too! Today, I’ve got 5 of my favorite upcycling, refurbishing, makeover projects that I want to show off.

5 Upcycling Projects for the Home!

I hope these projects inspire you to shop inexpensively and add some pizazz with paint and paint products and brighten up your home.

Are you ready to see 5 Upcycling Projects for the Home? Grab a cup of coffee and let’s get started.

Project #1 Old Ladder Turned Bathroom Storage

My bathroom was in need of storage. There was a spot in the bathroom that was small, and I tried a small dresser and even a shelf. I felt like I wasn’t utilizing the space to it’s fullest advantage. Of course, Pinterest inspired me to use an old ladder for storage. I picked up this old wood ladder years ago. After painting the ladder, adding a few hooks and nailing in some baskets, I had the perfect storage solution for my bathroom.

Project #2 Upcycled Wine Box into a Magazine Tray Table

Wine boxes are great to upcycle. They are made of durable wood, easily paintable and come in a variety of sizes. For this project I was looking to create a Magazine Tray Table to sit next to my sofa. This project was super simple and it is perfect for a variety of spaces in my home.

When I’m not using the Wine Box Turned Magazine Table next to my sofa, it sits by my desk and holds my favorite magazines and books.

Project #3 DIY Pet Bed

Old Drawers with some cute little legs make the perfect Pet Beds. You could also use Wine Boxes, but for the beds below I used drawers. I was struggling with my pups hanging out on the sofa and hoped their new beds would lure them off the couch.

It worked….kinda. For these beds, I personalized them with my pets names; Oreo and Sofy. Are you a pet lover?

Project #4 Floral Mirror

Do you like to bring flowers into your home? Have you thought of enhancing an old mirror with a floral transfer. Iron Orchid Designs has a nice selection of decor transfers that will enhance any mirror.

Project 5: Old Shutters Turned Shelf

I’m a little obsessed with shutters. I love all that would and there are so many different ways that you can decorate with a shutter.

For this shutter, I decided to create a table. I added a shelf, a couple of table legs and of course some paint. I think it turned out super cute. What do you think?

I hope I’ve inspired you to go and check out your local Thrift or Second Hand Store and find some items to upcycle. Just remember, someones trash is another person’s treasure.

Now go out there and Create Something.

Cynthia

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Restoring an old Wood Dresser is always a thrill, Sweet Friends.  This Wood Dresser is so pretty, but it was very damaged on one side. A can of paint was the solution to a problem dresser that almost became landfill. This Wood Dresser Makeover was done for Blue Line Pizza in Burlingame.

Furniture Makeover!

I’m always asked, “Why do you always paint everything?” It really is an easy answer, “Painting old wood furniture preserves the wood.”  

There are a few benefits to using Chalk Paint on a Furniture Makeover. Chalk paint can be applied to any surface. There is no priming or sanding need. Chalk paint is also very easy to distress. Try it, you might like it!  For this project I used DIY Chalk Paint and A Maker’s Studio Matte Sealer.

I found this wood dresser on Facebook Marketplace and instantly fell in love with it. The price was right for a furniture flip project that I was asked to do from Blue Line Pizza. I loved the piece in wood, but the side of the dresser (which I forgot to take a picture of) was a mess.  The wood was peeling and very rough to the touch. You can also see some of the wear and tear it withstood on the front of the dresser.

I really loved the bottom spindle legs and the detailing under the bottom drawer on this dresser. I considered changing out the knobs on the dresser but my client was interested in a different look.

Blue Line Pizza in Burlingame was my client for this project. They had an old dresser they were using as a hostess station, but they needed a new one.  I asked the manager’s what color they were looking for and they said Red.

If you’d like to see the dresser I did for Blue Line Pizza in San Carlos you can read about it here.

For this project I used Debi’s Design Diary Chalk Paint in Marquee, because I had some on hand.  I do enjoy using the chalk paint because it can be easily distressed without using sand paper or a sander.  True Chalk Paint takes about 30 days to completely dry and harden and therefore distressing it with water is super easy.  

I finished this dresser with two coats of sealer to ensure a good durable finish. With most chalk paints it is necessary to seal or wax for a finished look.

As you know, I am a Maker Boss with A Maker’s Studio and prefer to use their products.  At times, it’s just easier to use paint that you already have.  I used the A Maker’s Studio Matte Sealer to finish the dresser.

When I sent a picture off the completed dresser to the manager at Blue Line Pizza in Burlingame, her response was, “I Love It!”  I was so excited to deliver it.

Another furniture makeover complete. This project took a couple days and was super easy.

Now go out there and Create Something!

Cynthia

The post Before & After Wood Dresser Makeover! appeared first on Create With Cynthia.

This week is all about Furniture Makeovers, Sweet Friends. With all the crazy and bizarre things happening in our world, I needed something to distract myself. Furniture Makeovers are a great way to get distracted. Today, I’m sharing my “Five Tips for Using Wax on Painted Furniture!”

If you are new here, Welcome to Create With Cynthia! I love creating DIY Home Decor projects with a seasonal flair and refurbishing vintage furniture pieces. I hope you’ll subscribe and follow me on Instagram and Facebook. You can also subscribe to my You Tube channel and get notified as I upload videos weekly.

Tips for Using Wax on Painted Furniture!

For this furniture makeover I made a short video. Check out my video on You Tube here.

Furniture Makeovers make me happy and any kind of happiness that can come my way is what I’m looking for these days. #shelterinplaceblues

I won’t deny it, I’ve got a bit of the “Shelter in Place Blues!” I’m doing all the right things to stay positive, but I’m craving normalcy. How are you all feeling? Leave me a comment and say hello. I’d love to support you whether you’ve got the blues or not!

Enough of that blues talk, let’s get into this furniture makeover talk. Tuesday was all about an Old Sewing Cabinet that I turned into a desk and today is all about two Vintage Nightstands that I painted. It’s always a toss up…..Wax or a Top Coat? Of course, you can even chose an Oil Wax or a Bees Wax or a Glaze. For this project I chose wax and the results were amazing.

On the Sewing Cabinet I used a Top Coat/Sealer. On these nightstands I am using Wax. I get the same question all the time, “How do you chose between using Wax or a Sealer?” I wrote about this last year in “Wax or Sealer for Chalk Paint.”

Basically, the answer to the question is, “What look are you going for?” Whether you use Wax or a Sealer the final result will be different. It’s really just about preference.

Tips for Using Wax on Painted Furniture!

Here are Five Tips when Using Wax on Painted Furniture.

These tips on using wax on painted furniture won’t necessarily help you make the decision about Wax or a Sealer, but it will guide you if you chose wax.

Tip #1: Applying Wax will change the color of the paint. When you apply a Wax or a Sealer to a painted piece of furniture it changes the color. You can see in the photo below how the color changed. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just something to keep in mind. The lighter colored nightstand does not have wax.

Tip #2: Invest in a good Wax Brush: I have found that if I use the correct brush on the project, I will get a better outcome.

Tip #3: Wipe on and Wipe off. When applying wax, you want to apply a layer of wax and then wipe it off. You are really not wiping the wax off you are just working it into the piece.

Tip #4: Two to three coats of wax is best. One coat of Wax (or Sealer for that matter) is just not enough. The more wax you apply in layers the better durability your piece will have.

Tip #5: Always start with clear wax, if you are using colored waxes. These days, you can find white wax, dark wax, black wax and even colored waxes. You can make your own colored wax by adding a pinch of paint color to your wax. Nonetheless starting with clear wax will allow you to manipulate the colored wax to your liking.

Using wax on painted furniture is a topic that I like to discuss. You can check out some of my other posts “Flipping Furniture Makeover on Barstools” and “Easy to Make Floral Serving Tray.” I hope these tips assist you in your furniture makeover. Don’t forget to follow the links below for all of your paint and paint product needs.

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. 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 amazon.com.

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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.

The post Ideas for an Old Sewing Cabinet? appeared first on Create With Cynthia.

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.

This week is all about Father’s Day, because before you know it, June will be here. May is half way over, Sweet Friends! Can you believe it!

Do-It-Yourself Wine Charms!

Are you looking for a one of a kind gift idea? Wine Charms are such a cute addition to wine glasses! During these days of social distancing and germs being such a high concern, wine charms are the perfect way to ensure you pick up the correct glass. Wine Charms paired with some wine glasses and a bottle of bubbly is the perfect gift for any occasion. I am sure your Dad will love it.

DIY Wine Charms!

Wine charms are so easy and fun to make and I am going to show you how. On this project I am using products I sell at my online store, Create With Cynthia Shop. You can visit my online store here.

Clay is so fun to work with and I have made many things with clay like this Mermaid Mobile and this Angel Art and this Furniture Makeover.

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THE WINE CHARMS WITH CLAY AND MOULDS:

• Air Dry Clay
• Decor Moulds
• DIY Paint
• Putty Knife
• Wine Charms
• Paint Brushes

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CREATE WINE CHARMS WITH CLAY AND MOULDS.

Step one: After you have gathered your supplies, start by seasoning your mould with Corn Starch. Use an old paint brush and spread corn starch inside the mould. Shake out any excess.

Step two: Use your scraper to cut a piece of clay from the chunk of Air Dry Clay. 

Step three: Roll clay into a ball and press into the mould.

Step four: Use scrapper and remove excess clay from mould. The micro rim will assist in ensuring a flat surface on the back of the mould.

Step five: Once you have pressed clay inside mould, turn mould upside down and let gravity remove the clay from the mould.

Step six: Once your moulds are created and before each mould has dried stick the charm into mould to create a hole. You can also use a toothpick.

Step seven: Paint your moulds. I removed the charm prior to painting

Step eight: Seal your paint with a top coat or wax.

Step nine: Put wine charms back into moulds and adorn your glassware.

Learn How to Make Wine Charms!

Now, if you’d like to watch this tutorial on You Tube, you can check out my video, “Bird Wine Charms DIY!”

Don’t forget to Share this video, Subscribe to my Channel as I upload new videos each Monday and Wednesday!

You can also check out my “Five Tips to Using Air Dry Clay!”

Looking for gift ideas for the upcoming Father’s Day holiday. Is your Dad a Wine Lover. Consider creating handmade wine charms and pairing that with any of the items below.

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.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this easy and simple DIY project, now go out there and Create Something.

Cynthia

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