Transferring a Graphic onto Wood-Turning a $6 Investment into a Cute Piece

 

 

Since I started working a few years ago, my crafting has been limited, but recently I decided to use some new graphics (purchased on Etsy for $1) and transfer them onto a little dresser.

 

 

I started with this $5 garage sale find.  Sorry, I thought I took a good 'before' picture, but didn't...  But, you can probably figure that the drawers looked just like the rest of the piece.

 

 

We sanded down the entire piece.

 

 

 

 

 

I  took a mirror image of a laser copy (if you only have an ink jet printer, just take it to Kinko's or a similar place and get a copy made--they use laser copiers).  I printed off three copies-one for each drawer.

 

 I taped the graphic on each of the drawers.  I barely dabbed Citra-Solv on the paper.  (I found Citra-Solv at Whole Foods)  If you put too much Citra-Solv on, it'll smear.  I rubbed a piece of plastic very carefully over the graphic, but again, I tried not to smear it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I carefully lifted off the paper and let each drawer dry.

 

 

 

 

I put MinWax Pre-stain over the entire piece, as pine tends to get blochy if you don't.  After that dried, I applied a MinWax Natural Stain.

The original drawer pulls were wood.  I worked and worked to sand them down, but they stained up too dark.  I took some brass pulls and painted them black.

 

I've moved it in a couple of different places to see where I'm going to use it.  I think it turned out pretty cute! 

 

Thanks so much for your visit!

 

Pam

 

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

Elizabeth and Company

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House 

A Cute New Little Ladder and a Scale!

 

 

I found this little ladder at a garage sale for $3.  I certainly couldn't pass it up!  :)

 

 

I painted it a mint green, sanded the edges, put it on the porch and put a special birdhouse on it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When my Mom was sick several years ago, there was a guy selling birdhouses from his front yard.  Trips back and forth to the hospital had us going by that yard many times.  Well, we finally stopped and found out that if you were to take one, you'd just leave the money under the mat.  I love small towns!  :)  So, this one has weathered a lot of weather and brings a smile to my face when I come to the front door and see it. 

 

 

 

I found this scale on Craigslist.  I saw it for a few weeks, but it was listed for more than I wanted to spend.  Lucky for me, he dropped the price to an acceptable amount to me and I bought it. 

 

 

 

My husband took it apart, cleaned and cleaned and cleaned it, then painted it.  I'm very happy with it!

 

 

  

 

 

    

  

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow brings another garage sale Saturday.  :)  I'll be ready to find more treasures!

 

What fun things have you found lately?

 

 

Thanks for your visit!

 

 

Pam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

 



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  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

 

 

More Rusty and Dusty Treasures

Last Saturday I went to an indoor sale and found some great things that I blogged about HERE. 

 

I was thrilled when the guy said he'd be open again on Sunday.  (most places are not open on Sundays here)  I thought about a few things I'd seen on Saturday and was so happy to find them still available.  I must say, his prices were much better the second day!  :)

 

 

My favorite find was this old ice cream bucket.  I love the color, love that it has some writing on it and love the metal pieces on it.  It came with all of the heavy ice cream making stuff, but I plan to use it differently. 

 

A couple of years ago, my friend Heather and I were out shopping.  We found this fabulous birdhouse.  We hemmed and hawwed about it for quite awhile, but I was getting on a plane to go home and couldn't figure out how to get it home very easily and she wasn't sure if she was ready to make that investment.  Well, not long after, Heather's husband surprised her with the very same birdhouse to put in her GORGEOUS garden!  It looks amazing and I love that we were together when we found it the first time! 

 

 

So now my husband can work his magic on it and we will have a similar one in our yard.

 

 

 

 

I found this set of numbers in a cast iron holder.  I am excited to get them heated up and make some fun projects with them.

 

I find tons and tons of canning jars at garage sales here, but not blue ones with zinc lids.  Score!

I'll be sure to post when the birdhouse is done and if I find a fun project to burn some numbers into some wood!

 

Thanks for your visit!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:

 

Winter Garage Sale Scores

Generally there aren't a lot of garage sales here in the winter, and especially this year with so much snow, but yesterday I went to an indoor sale that was great!

The place was PACKED with stuff.  I had to walk through several times just to feel like I wasn't missing a ton of stuff.

I found this old can (I'm not sure if it was originally a milk can,  or maybe can for fireplace ashes?) I cleaned it up for a place right next to the fireplace.  It's very heavy and the lid fits really tight.

This old jar got a cleaning and a 'new' zinc lid.  I filled it with wine corks.  Apparently we're going to have to pick up the wine consumption to get this baby filled!  After a couple of other wine cork projects, our stash is lame.  :)

I love old coffee cans.  And they cleaned up nicely.

This wooden box was filled with gunk.  I cleaned it like crazy and even sanded out the inside.  I now feel like I can use it in the house.  I love old advertising boxes.

Here's all of the loot.  I am also excited about the two galvanized buckets that I will use outside this summer. 

I even went back today and got more stuff.  I'll share those finds later this week.  Oh how I love rusty, dusty treasure hunting! 

Thanks for your visit!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

Copper Pot Spiffed Up

Last weekend when I was out garage-saling, I found this copper tub.  I paid $10 for it.  To say I was excited is a little bit of an understatement.  :)

My husband started to clean it up.  Now, I'm torn here.  I LOVED the patina, but it was really dirty and I did want to use it in the house...  So I'm sure some of you will think we are completely crazy, but we cleaned it up. 

I used Bar Keepers Friend and a blue scrubby.  In the cracks and dents I used a toothbrush with Bar Keepers Friend sprinkled on it.

After it was all clean, I used a microfiber cloth and put Brasso on it.



Now I have a place in my laundry room for dirty towels.  I used to have an Ikea laundry basket, and like this 100% better!! 



I did not get to the lid yet.  It is made out of steel, so will now look quite different than the tub.

I may move it to the family room and put blankets in it.  Right now I'm loving it here.

Thanks for your visit!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties: