Video tutorial #1! {Chalk painting a chair}

Hi guys! Last week I finally jumped on the video tutorial train and cooked up a couple how-to videos! I've had a lot of interest from the sweetest clients and friends to organize a chalk painting workshop. With summer schedules being so difficult to juggle I decided to put together a couple video tutorials instead to help get those visual learners started.

For my first tutorial I decided to paint a chair. Chairs are one of the most common pieces to refinish as they are found all over the place, often quite cheap, and are easy to throw in the back of the car. However, they are also one of the trickiest pieces, in my opinion! There are so many angles to cover on a chair; getting even coverage can be difficult and tedious. But through a couple simple techniques, painting chairs doesn't have to be so painstaking!

I hope this video, and the ones that follow, are helpful and easy to follow. Please, please, please send feedback!!! I'd love to know how I can improve my tutorials. And I also want to hear what you'd like to see! If there's a specific area of refinishing that you'd like to get some visual guidance with, (or even a specific type of piece you'd like to watch getting painted), let me know! Following this video I have one coming up for waxing a chair, (and it's much shorter).

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea

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

Mid-century vanity

Hi friends and happy Friday! I've got a couple of items I'm so excited to share with you today, but first things first...

My youngest, Mason. He's three, free and wild at heart. This view, when I ducked out to call my kids in for lunch yesterday, absolutely made - my - day. Afterall, why have kids if not for a few laughs now and then?! :)

Moving on, (to more appealing things - I hope). A few weeks ago I posted this photo from the thrift store on Instagram and Facebook, unsure whether to purchase or not. 

This mid-century era vanity was in fabulous condition, but it's matching mirror was no where to be found and the whole thing looked a little 'Jetsons' to me. But it was so intriguing I ended up sitting on it, literally, for about 10 minutes. Thanks to those who happened to be on Instagram and Facebook at that moment  and encouraging the purchase, I brought it home with no reservations!

The first step in this makeover was finding out what was underneath the stain. The stain on the drawers, especially, was showing a little wear, so I just took my sander and removed the stain in about 15 minutes using 100 grit sandpaper.

How awesome is that wood grain! And so much easier to see without the orange-y stain!!

Then I painted the entire body of the piece in Old White by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and sprayed the hardware gold. 

All spiffed up and new again!

The piece does happen to have a matching seat, which would be easy to recover.

$295, (bench included)
SOLD

Enjoy a wonderful weekend, friends. Thank you so much for stopping by!

~Chelsea

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

A whimsical snap of color {Tissue-paper pompom tutorial}

Hi guys! Stopping by with a quick, spur of the moment tutorial today. I've been making tissue-paper pompoms for a few years now, (the first went above Mason's crib over 3 years ago), but I don't think I've ever shared a tutorial on here. Tissue-paper pompoms are such a quirky fun touch to add to a child's room, party, shower, wedding, or even the casual backyard barbecue. And why not?! There's a plethora of tissue paper colors and patterns options out there, not to mention the material itself is so inexpensive. While there are a handful of tissue-paper pompom kits available, (I know Martha Stewart has a line, as well as PaperSource), there's no need to spend the extra $ on a kit when they are SO easy to make on your own, (and this way, you won't be stuck with the limited options that the prepackaged kits have to offer).

I recently made some tissue-paper pompoms after Shire requested some touches of blue and green in her room. Since she doesn't make a lot of requests, I wanted to do my best to come through for her without spending $ on a whole room makeover. (I happened to find aqua sheets at Target on clearance for under $5, and the blue Mexican blanket was a happy purchase from P.S. I Adore You- company link here)

To secure the addition of blue and green in her room, I mixed a few blue and green tissue paper pompoms above her wardrobe. I promise, these are SUPER easy to make!

1. First you need some tissue paper. These are rather youthful, but there are some beautifully sophisticated tissue paper options out there if you want something more grown-up. 

 2. Pick which colors you want to use for one pompom and lay them out, alternating the colors.

3. Then line the pieces of tissue paper up evenly, one on top of the other.

4. Fold the tissue paper accordion style, like when you used to make paper fans as a kid. Over and under.

5. Cut your edges however you want - rounded, pointed, or whatever you come up with!

6. Secure the middle of your folded tissue paper with staples or a paper clip.

7. Pull out the folds.

8. Gently separate the layers of tissue.

And you've got yourself a tissue-paper pompom!

These pompoms are such a simple thing but they add so much visual interest!

(For more photos of Shire's room, and our home, see our full Home Tour)

As always, if you happen to try this one please send photos so I can share on here, OR you can use the hashtag #chelseasgarage  if you use Instagram!

Tomorrow I've got something extra special for you; a 'first' for Chelsea's Garage that I'm really excited to share!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

~Chelsea

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