Message Center Chalkboard

So I have become overly OBSESSED with cabinet doors.

I can't get enough of them!!!

On a recent shopping trip to Ikea

---the best store in the whole wide world---

I found this beauty in the clearance area!

For $3.99 this baby was a STEAL!!!

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it!!! I primed it first to avoid any paint adhering issues.

As you can see, I am stingy with my primer lol!

At 3.34 a can, you have to try to stretch it out for as many projects as possible, so use it sparingly.

The purpose of the prime is simply to give a dull enough surface for paint to adhere. You could sand it but that is wayyyyy too much work for me, so I prime!

Picking the right paint was super simple!! I wanted a bold red! I chose Martha Stewart LadyBug and picked up a tintable tester at Home Depot!

$2.94

  

Chalkboard paint is the next best thing to sliced bread lol. I found this great bottle at Hobby Lobby for $3.99. I will have lots of great projects from this little bottle!!

I taped newspaper on the center of the cabinet door then painted the frame red. When it was completely dry, I removed the newspaper and painted the center.

When using chalkboard paint, you have to paint in one direction, let dry, then paint another layer in the opposite direction. It was super easy and dried really fast!!

I cut out the Message Center decal myself then adhered it to the top of the frame.

I sanded the edges to reveal some of the original black paint and white primer. 

I think it looks fabulous!!

Let's Break it down:

Cabinet Door.....$3.99

Chalkboard paint.....$3.99

MS red paint.....$2.94

Decal.....$Free (I made it myself)

Primer....$Free (already had from other projects)

Total Cost---$10.92

I have so much paint left over!! I know I will use the paint on other projects. I have seen these chalkboard message centers in stores for more than $30---so---I don't mind having all of the extra paint for lots of other goodies!!!

“I’m linking to Today’s Creative Blog”

Window Redo Complete

Earlier this week I set out on a MISSION to redo this mess!

I hated loved the curtains sooooo much and it was so upsetting to see them go (NOT!)

If you want to know more about my kitchen, I shared a story  here.

I had this stupid great idea to buy a window panel and make my own curtains.

The valances I wanted were $19.99 EACH and I needed two of them!

There was NO way I was spending 40 bucks on a set of valances.

After all.....I can sew!

WHAT was I thinking???

I had a fabulous idea to document my transformation of the panel into valances.
HA!

I cut the panel in half:

And didn't take a single other picture of the process!!!!

If you only knew the pain I went through!!!

The fruit of my labor is this:

I think they turned out pretty great despite the DRAMA I experienced making them lol!

I found a new home for hubby's root beer bottles and bought two super awesome smelling basil plants and pots.

Hobby Lobby had a WAY cool salt and pepper holder which I turned into my medicine holder!

and what you see is what I got!!!

Let's break it down:

Full size panel....$17.99

Basil plants (x2).....$6.66

Basil pots (x2).....$10.00

Medicine Holder.....$2.00

Napkin rings.....Free (already had them)

Cork Wreath.....Free (already had it)

Total....$36.65

Even though I faced some serious eyes bulging out of my head DRAMA with the valance I think it was worth it doing myself!

Here are my Lessons Learned:
1. If you are a novice at sewing, become familiar with the tension and stitch length settings BEFORE you sew lightweight, satin-like fabrics!!

2. Sometimes it's ok to spend $5 bucks on a pot when you find the perfect one! I am all for painting and decorating my own pots but these were too fab to pass up.

3. If you are going to turn panels into valances, make sure there are 2 panels in the package!!!! This is by far the most important lesson I learned. I had such a NIGHTMARE trying to match up the pockets and hems!!!

Oh what to do with this window???

We bought our house a few years ago and the kitchen was in need of some TLC!

It was OK at best and a little drab dated for our taste but the rest of the house was FABULOUS (for us that is)!

We were hit with a wonderful unfortunate situation with a water line, and the entire kitchen had to be gutted.

I wish I could say we did the kitchen ourselves with a super easy DIY project, but sadly, we are not that handy.

The pros did this for us:

If you look really close in both pics, there is a hideous gorgeous vineyard border at the top of the walls.

We literally tried every trick in the book to remove this stuff but it wasnt going anywhere.

I worked around it and we now have a wine themed kitchen!

We have a problem with window clutter. (shhhh!)

You can't see it in the pics above, but this is what the window looks like now:

I hate love the curtains! Don't you?

These came with the house and it is TIME they go!

Hubby decided he needs to brew his own root beer and my window sill is his storage for empty bottles.

It also serves as the medicine cabinet, box top collector, vinegar stand, coffee can dryer, yadda, yadda, yadda!

My mission this week is to redo this chaos and finish off the window to match the rest of the kitchen.

 I bought this panel:

It is just the panel. I will update you later this week when i am finished with the transformation.