farmhouse friday { 8 }

This is a sweet brick farmhouse in my parents' valley.  I had to keep with the black and white tradition, but that window trim is the sweetest blue! <3

diy { vinegar stain }

 

So I am sure you have seen the DIY vinegar stain ALL over Pinterest for a while now.  I have looked for tutorials.  And looked for other tutorials.  And found a wide variety of directions.  And I have done it a few times myself.  So I thought I would share this easy, affordable process and my experience with it.

Materials:

Wood to be stained

2-4 Tea Bags (optional= for darker color)

Vinegar (any kind)

Steel Wool  (finer is better, they say)

Gloves (or your hands will be stained for a week)

Cheap Brush

Two Mason Jars + a Lid

Plastic Wrap

Coffee Filter or Paper Towels

Fine Sand Paper (optional)

Clear Wax or Polyurethane (optional= for shine)

Directions:

1. The vinegar and steel wool need some time to become friends.  For a big batch, I put 3-4 “pillows” of steel wool into a large mason jar and fill it to the top of the steel wool with regular white vinegar.  Basically you need enough vinegar to coat whatever you want to stain (and it takes time so you want to be sure you have enough the first time around), you want to stuff that amount of vinegar pretty well with the steel wool.  The recipe does not have to be exact.  I use a mason jar, put plastic wrap lightly over the top and barely screw a lid ring on lightly over that so it can breathe.  It stinks so I put it outside for 24 (medium color) to 48 hours (very dark color).  There is going to be a chemical reaction inside the jar which creates pressure, and on my first attempt, it actually popped the lid off my Tupperware container and splattered dark stain all over my kitchen (washes off with scrubby sponge).  Once it gets going, you will see bubbles and hear fizzing much like carbonation bubbles.  The vinegar does not really change color like you might expect, so don’t be waiting for it to get dark in the jar.

2.  Optional, if you want darker color: This step can be completed ahead of time or just before staining.  Steep some tea bags and let the tea cool.  I steeped 3 tea bags in 2 cups water.  Adjust this for how much water you need to coat your project.  Toss the tea bags and simply brush the tea all over the wood you are going to stain.  Let dry.  This will not change the color of the wood, but later will aid the chemical reaction with the vinegar and the wood, creating a darker color during that process. 

3.  Pour the vinegar mixture through the coffee filter or paper towels to strain out any debris in the liquid.  Brush the stain onto your wood.  This is the fun part.  You don’t usually see an immediate color change, but it will start to gradually change and keep changing for a few hours.  Here is a shot of the change a few minutes in:

and here is a shot showing freshly applied stain at the top of the stack and about 30 minute-old stain at the bottom:

Don’t mind my messy kitchen!  If you look closely at the crate stack you can see that the top, fresh, stain is more grayish, while the middle is a little reddish and the older stain at the bottom is almost purplish.  This change happens as it dries.  After it is several hours dry, it returns to a regular brown.  If there is any reddish or purplish color left after it dries you can very lightly sand it to remove some of that residue.

One tip: since there isn’t an instant color change, be slow and careful to make sure you get every bit of the wood covered.  Otherwise, after you are into the project or even finished, places that you missed will show up.  This stain is more forgiving than regular stain because it is just vinegar and dries slower, allowing a more even finish.  But if you allow it to dry all the way and then try touchups, they will show.  Try to get it all the first time.  The beauty of this process is that once the vinegar is dry, it can be handled again and is not tacky like real stain.

4.  So here is what you have now, compared to raw wood:

You can either be done now (for an outdoor project I would leave it at this), or add a coat of wax or polyurethane for shine and protection.

I have not tried Polyurethane, but I know that other Pinners have.

I had Annie Sloan Clear Wax on hand so I added a coat of that to Mark’s adaptable frames.  You can see the dimension it adds to the wood grain, and the nice shine that it adds…

You can also see how dark and true brown it dried.  All my projects have been pine, ranging from common board, stain-grade plywood and cheap craft store crates, and they all are a very slightly different hue.  I did the tea wash on the adaptable frames (above) which is why they are darker, and skipped that step on the crates so they are lighter.  On the crates I sanded them lightly, especially hitting the corners and edges, and it really gave them a worn and cozy look.  I have not tried this, but here is a pin I found on achieving different colors with the stain.

One last tip: I have seen pinners use the mixture after two weeks (very dark), but you probably can’t keep this for projects too far in the future... 

Oh, also there were warnings about how serious this chemical reaction was and how you should wear gloves, eye protection and a mask and leave the mixture outside.  So I’ll go ahead and pass those along so I don’t get sued.  I did not wear a mask but I did work in a well ventilated area, and after the first kitchen mishap, I did let the mixture steep outside the other times. Tiny amounts of the steel wool dissolve in the vinegar (so I’ve read) and so I could imagine it would not feel good to get vinegar and steel dust in your eyes.  I will wear eye protection next time.

Cost for my initial supplies was about $10 and it made me about 4 good sized batches of stain.

 

So there you have it.  What do you think?  Is this process more or less daunting than store bought stain?

diy { another chalkboard globe }

 

I <3 globes. 

I haven’t gotten a new one in a long time… I must get thrifting and remedy that.  I want a whole collection of them.  So far I “only” have six. 

One of them has been in the kids’ rooms for as long as I’ve had it.  For Mark’s room refresh, I did a little work on it.  Then, as any globe-a-holic would, I stole it for myself.

But I had my reasons.

Have a look…

I was never totally happy with the globe for the kids’ rooms because it isn’t very colorful – I know it has some colors, but not the bright, vibrant hues I picture when I imagine a globe collection.  But I always kept it in their room in hopes of just that – a collection of globes.

Well the collection is slow going and my patience is lacking, so I decided to have my way with this one, as I’d had my chalkboard ways with one in the past.

The how-to:

I gently spread the bar that attaches to either end of the globe (it’s like a spring-loaded clamp), in order to remove the globe.  Then I bent and inserted the end of a metal hanger into the hole and hung the globe outside.  I cleaned the globe and applied a good coat of gray spray primer, and followed it with two good coats of black chalkboard spray paint.  I let that dry about 48 hours before I tried writing on it. 

In the meantime, I added two coats of Rust-Oleum antique bronze spray paint to the stand. 

I rubbed a chalky eraser all over the globe first to prime it.  Then, looking at another globe and following the mountain ridges on the chalkboard globe, I drew in the continents.  Some small islands may have been lost / forsaken during the makeover of this globe. 

 

Then I got going on Mark’s room.  When I hung up his adaptable art frames, and tried to layer in the refashioned globe in front of them, it was toooo much neutral/gray.  And the kids were already trying to spin it which it has never done gracefully, and were leaving oily, dark fingerprints all over it’s dusty chalkboard goodness...

That’s when I snatched it up and marched it down to my room.  And it lives with me now.  And now I love it. 

     

     

     

It just needs one thing…

words.

There’s a big ol’ Pacific Ocean just screaming for a message.  I can’t decide what to write.

I think right now the frontrunner is “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”  It would certainly be a much needed reminder for this worry wart.  That’s a gross expression when you write it.  :/

Anyway, what do you think?  What word or phrase would you write???

I have to go buy some more globes now.

 

PS: that crazy striped wall is killing me.  I liked it at first but it’s too busy.  Husband says this wall is a circus and the other walls in the room are too dark.  He wins.  Soothing Palladian Blue walls coming right up!  Well, whenever I get around to it. 

PPS:  click the links to read past blog posts about other items seen above: map-covered clipboard, multi-colored plank wall and Ashley Anne inspired shelves seen in my master bedroom reveal, bowl full of postcards, and the TNT stands for “Ty N Tasha” and also dynamite ;P… as for sources, the “&” is a print by the talented Katie Daisy from her Etsy shop the wheatfield, and most everything else is thrifted or heirlooms.  =)

diy { lego head }

 

When Mark saw this idea on Pinterest, he had to have one. 

I obliged.  He twisted my arm.  Nearly off.

 

It was very easy and it’s a fun “secret” place for the little man to hide his prized Lego Ninja guys. 

 

Supplies:

Red Vines Licorice container

spray primer

spray paint (mine is Rust-Oleum in Gloss Marigold)

black and white sheet vinyl

scissors

Instructions:

1. Clean and dry Red Vines Licorice container.

2. Prop the container (upside down) and lid over something so you can spray the outsides without the containers resting on the ground.  Spray on a coat of primer.  Follow according to instructions with two coats of gloss yellow.  Allow to dry thoroughly before handling and attempting next step.

3.  Black and white sheet vinyl adhesive can be purchased at most specialty craft stores by the foot.  I printed this image on printer paper and cut out the facial features, using them as stencils to cut out the shapes from the vinyl.  Then stuck the vinyl facial features onto the container.  Done!

 

It brings a nice pop of color to the dresser.  With those gray-on-brown adaptable frames, behind the white dresser… now I gotta work to get some color into this room!!  This board has a few more ideas for this room, mixed with ideas for later down the line.

Well, the boy had five days on vacation with Grandma, so this week it’s back to Homeschool!  I have a new schedule and I’m loving it.  It was nice to have the little lady to myself for a week, but now I’m ready for some structure again.  Bring it on, week! 

Blessings!

diy { adaptable art frames }

 

Hey y’all.  I wish I was Southern.

I photographed a project today!  Can you even believe it?  I have proof.

The big boy is transitioning into his big boy room upstairs… again.  It’s a long story.  And we’re trying to pull out all the stops this time.  It might involve plumbing shelving you’ve seen on Pinterest a million times.  Yeah.  And I waver between planning some crazy custom bed and pulling up craigslist for something ready to go.  No idea where that one will end up.  But we did get a piece of the room done recently.

DIY art frames that look great and are super easy to switch out artwork whenever my (or his) heart desires!

     

So here’s the lowdown…

This is the pin that inspired the DIY frames and the pin that inspired the pictures that I took of Mark’s favorite toys.

 

DIY adaptable artwork frames

Supplies:

Board(s) your desired size (mine was a 1x18x48” cut into 3 14x18” pieces)

6 clips

6 screws or nails to fit the hole in the clips

6 nail-less hanging brackets

Stain (or vinegar process)

Wax or Polyurethane if desired

Instructions:

1.  If you’re like me, kill two birds with one stone and have them cut your boards to size at the hardware store.  I love that option.

2.  Sand and stain your boards.  I sanded the corners for a softer look and then used a tea and vinegar process which you’ve seen all over Pinterest I’m sure.  Good directions  and photos are tricky to find… I plan to remedy that for you very soon.  You’re welcome.  I added a coat of Annie Sloan’s clear wax.  It helps bring out the wood grain and is easily wiped clean. 

         

3.  Mark the locations for your brackets on the back of the frame.  I think I did an inch from the top and three inches in from each side.  Hammer those little babies in.  I like this bracket because you don’t have to juggle hammer, brackets and nails while trying to keep them lined up.  The bracket itself just pounds into the board.

4.  Attach your clips.  I slipped a small black screw through one eye of the clip, and put a screw driver to it through the other eye of the clip, and was able to screw it to the board like that.  This process seemed more secure to me than gluing the clips on. 

5.  Hang your photos or artwork!!

 

These are pictures that I took of all Mark’s favorite toys.  I had him help me with Iron Man and Mater, and then I set up and photographed the Lego scene as a surprise.  We love how Ironman is standing alone and appears ready to take off.  They’re fun for now, and when the day comes for Mark to update them with new interests, it will be quick and easy. 

 

I have more to share in Mark’s room as well as Susie’s room!  I am excited to bring you more projects soon!

Blessings this week!