Vaselifts!

Hey guys! I've got a couple fun pieces I've been busy with this week and will be showing you by Friday, but I thought I'd stop in really quick to show you some quick and creative ideas for your vases!

We've got so many things blooming around our yard, both welcome, and less welcome...

(Shire is cleaning up on the clovers. She thinks they're beautiful and I find her beautiful sitting outside picking them.)

 I've been going through every last clear glass vase that I have. We have shelves and cabinets and boxes that look like this:

I thought it would be fun to do a little makeover with some of our vases, especially since quite a few are holding nothing more than bloomin' weeds...

My supplies for this project were nothing more than a stash of Washi tape and my favorite little girl ever. It was a fun little project for her and she got to use full reign of her artistic freedom with where and how she wanted to lay each piece of tape, (which I ripped off the rolls and just stuck onto the edge of the table).

Finished products!

Over the 4th of July we had the pleasure of a visit from my sis-in-law and her family. She brought me one of her own creations - a simple clear glass vase which she wound rubber bands around and spray painted! After the spray paint dried she unwound the rubber bands and this was the swirly masterpiece.

I love how the light from the window comes through the clear glass swirls created by the rubber bands! So fun and easy!

So, nothing ground breaking - but a couple very creative, very quick vaselifts for you to try at home for displaying your own blooms, (or weeds).

Off to finish up a few pieces which I hope to have up here by Friday! Thanks for stopping by!

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

Patriotic mason jar dessert

Happy 4th of July!

*Made some of these for dessert tonight!*

Ingredients:

Bisquick, (and whatever the box recipe for shortcakes calls for)

Pint of strawberries

Pint of blueberries

Coolwhip, (or vanilla yogurt)

Directions:

Make your shortcakes following the recipe on the Bisquick box. 

Mash your strawberries in a bowl or large cup, leaving a few chunky ones. 

Pour a portion of strawberries into your Mason jar. Add a shortcake. Top with a handful of blueberries, (I left mine whole). Finish with a dallop of Coolwhip or vanilla yogurt. EASY!

Any clear glass or cup would do. I just happen to have a box of Mason jars leftover from a friend's wedding and am enjoying finding ways to use them!

Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful 4th of July!

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

Unfinished refinished dresser

Hi there! Is anyone else in the Northern Virginia area wondering how 4th of July festivities will pan out with all this rain we've had? I can't remember the last time we had a blue sky from dawn to dusk...or maybe it just feels that way since I've been trying to occupy 3 toddlers inside for what feels like an eternity. Yesterday we moved our play to the garage to wait out yet another afternoon storm.

Thank you for the adorable little Adirondack chairs, Mom!

Despite the cloudy and rainy skies there have been a few fun silver linings this week, including finishing an awesome statement piece for our living room! When we decided to move my Mom's old tiger oak dresser up to Shire's room, we needed a replacement on that ~70" slice of wall. When I jumped on Craigslist and found this, I was sold!

Before

Taking a cue from my favorite home decor store, Restoration Hardware, who has caught my eye with their raw, unfinished looks, I removed the shiny finish and stain along the top edge of this piece as well as the drawers, using 60grit sandpaper in my electric vibrating sander. The end result was this splendid, rustic wood grain that makes those metal drawer pulls really jump out!

This was one of those pieces that made my heart beat a little faster as I neared the end of the process and saw my style coming to life in what was once an ordinary 6-drawer dresser. It's such a pleasure to bring inspiration to a tangible reality.

Low down:

-removed all drawers

-sanded the top edge with 60grit sandpaper then blue taped

-painted the body of the piece in Old White by ASCP - 2 coats

-removed the hardware from the drawers and sanded those with 60grit sandpaper

-Lightly distressed the body of the piece using a medium grit sanding sponge

-Re-attached the hardware and replaced the drawers

To answer a couple styling questions I've received:

-All the slip covered seating in our living room is from IKEA's Ektorp collection, (two chairs are Ektorp - Jennylund)

-Geometric metallic mirror from HomeGoods - love the contrast with this dresser!

Thank you for reading and have a fun and safe 4th of July, America!

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.