I Painted the Fireplace Bricks

Hey there!  Well, we're still doing stuff over here at the Texas Blue Bungalow!

I think I may have mentioned before that all the paint colors were really dark here when we moved in.  We don't really care for the dark paints on every surface, so slowly I'm changing it.

The very first thing I changed was the fireplace surround.  It WAS painted black, now its a lovely shade of white!

I pulled out my trusty painting tarp and some paint I found in the shed and got to work.

First before starting, I dusted it all down and then ran the vacuum hose over the entire area for a clean painting surface.

It's hard to see, but I first taped off all the edges with some painter's tape so I didn't get white paint on anything I didn't want to.

These little angle brushes are my favorite for painting with.  It fits nicely in my hand and I can cut the paint almost exactly were I need it in tight places.  Also, everyone needs a paint key to open your paint cans!

I started on the inside section and then moved my way out.  Obviously its not done, but at this point I knew I was going to love it! It already looks 1000% better!

Since my hubs had to work late on a Saturday night, I did this little impromptu job after I got home from work.  It took no time at all to complete.  Mostly I just had to wait until the paint dried to add a second coat and keep three nosy cats out of the wet paint.  Black was a bit harder to cover up, so I kept having to touch up here and there when the paint would finally dry completely.

Isn't it fun how a little paint can change a whole room?  Since I already had everything I needed on hand, it was a FREE project for me.  Those are the BEST kind!

Do you ever grab a can of paint and just start painting?  Did you love the results? Let me know down below.

Visit me over on Instagram @texasbluebingalow for more views of this space!

If you loved this idea and want to save it for later, be sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board.  I have a Pinterest board set up just for all things related to home decor and its called Farmhouse Decor Ideas and I'm pinning something new every day. Won't you join me?

GREAT NEWS!  I now have an Amazon Storefront!  If you ever want to purchase anything I'm showing you here, you can pop over to my shop and see what I've picked out for you! Click right here to visit.

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

How to Makeover a $35 Couch with a Slip Cover

Hello there! I hope this day finds you happy and healthy!  We are hanging in over here!  I'm still going to work and the patient load is still very low.  In our area they are slowly opening up some businesses, but mostly its all still the same as it was.

Excuse my Easter decor, but I received this couch cover back around that time and I'm just now getting around to reviewing it for you.  Long story short, this couch cover is amazing!

We've had this couch for a while now.  It made it through the move with us and it's a pretty comfy couch, but it needed a little pick me up!  Ok look at it!  Would you have known that there was a couch cover on here if I didn't just tell you? Maybe not?  The cover is all one piece.  It reminds me of a fitted sheet with a few extra pockets for the arms.

This is how it comes to you.  Ours is a Subrtex in the size Large and the color Ivory.  There are lots of colors to choose from.

I'm not going to lie, I was a bit skeptical when I first  took it out of the shipping box.  Then I opened it up and it was the softest material, oh my goodness!  Then, I pulled it out of the package and thought to myself, "This is not going to work!"  But it did, perfectly too!

BEFORE:  This is our $35 bargain couch that I found on Facebook Market Place.  It was in excellent shape but really dirty when my husband brought it home.  He didn't think it was going to work out, but I told him I'd try and clean it up with our portable carpet cleaner.  I took the cushion covers off and through them in the washer and then cleaned the rest of the couch and pillows with the carpet cleaner.  It was like brand new when I finished about an hour later!

As you can see, it doesn't have a typical back on it, it has lots of big pillows for the back cushion.  This is the reason I thought this cover may not work.

You can also see the big beautiful pom pom throw over the arm and that big beautiful cat laying there too, right?  Our three cats think that arm that the throw is over is their scratching post! Grrrr!

P.S. This is why we spend $35 on couches!  We love our cats like children, but I don't know how to make them NOT scratch the furniture! And NO, we do not believe in removing their claws! That is cruel and unusual punishment! They are cats! Oh and YES, they have a scratching post which they do use as well.

Anyway, look!  It fits perfectly and you can barely even tell that there is a cover on it!  It is super comfy to sit on and it actually stays put no matter how wiggly you are on the couch!

PRO TIP:  To put the cover on, I started at the bottom front edge and worked my way up to the back.  Tucking and straightening as I went, first one side then the other. After you get the entire cover on, just straighten the seams up with the lines of your couch. EASY!  I put this cover on by myself, with no second person needed.

NOTE: The back of the couch does show, so if your couch doesn't sit against a wall like ours does, this style may not work for you.

Best of all, you can take the cover off and wash it.  I just throw it in the washer on the gentle cycle and tumble dry on low heat.  So, if you've been wanting to try a slip cover, this is a very affordable one to try.  We are really enjoying ours! CLICK HERE to get you one too!

If you missed reading my last post RIGHT HERE, pop over and check it out. I have a discount code for you!

If you loved this idea and want to save it for later, be sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board.  I have a Pinterest board set up just for all things crafty called Farm House Decor Ideas and all kinds of other fun stuff and, I'm pinning something new every day. Won't you join me?

GREAT NEWS!  I now have an Amazon Storefront!  If you ever want to purchase anything I'm showing you here, you can pop over to my shop and see what I've picked out for you! Click right here to visit. You can find this bedspread in the "For Our Home" section.

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

Vintage Bar Stool Gets Makeover

We've had this bar stool for so long. We found it at a yard sale for $2. The guy we bought it from had no idea why we'd even want it.  I guess some people don't see the potential for a makeover?  I love taking old beat up things and making them pretty again, its fun to me!

Of course some may say that by the looks of its makeover, I beat it up again, but now its fitting into my farmhouse decor a little better than in its former state.

Here's the poor old thing as we found it.  Well, it is cleaner than when we got it, but still, this is how she looked to begin with.

First thing I did was to remove the old seat cushion.  You will need a flat head screwdriver and a pair of pliers.  The staple gun is for when you recover the seat.

The stitching on this stool was so rotten that I was able to just rip off the vinyl with no tools needed.

The foam was not attached in any way so it just lifted out.  I saved it to the side for when I recovered the seat.

Its hard to see them here, but there were a million rusty staples to remove.  I just used my flat head screwdriver to lift them up.  Do you see that crack to the right?  That is NOT good!

Oh dear! This is a problem!  I was thinking to myself, "I sure hope I can fix this!"

Some of the staples didn't lift all the way out so I used my pliers to pull them out.

Meet my trusty friend Gorilla Glue!  If you follow me you know that my honey and I both love this glue, its awesome! :)

I applied a generous amount.....even to the floor obviously! I just swept and mopped prior to this project.  Who does that? ME, that's who! :(

I used our furniture clamps to hold the pieces together.  I was at least hopeful since this is particle board and its very porous and was probably going to accept the glue gladly!

I used the Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint in Rebel Yellow and their Best Dang Wax in Brown for my project.

I won this giant prize of goodies on Hometalk's Instagram Stories a while back.  I got to choose $150 worth of Dixie Belle goodies.  I ordered myself a whole bunch of fun is what I did.  I've got so many projects to do, so stay tuned!  THANK YOU Hometalk and Dixie Belle! :)

Using my handy chip brush, I painted the entire bottom of the stool.  Since I was doing this project on my nice clean kitchen floor, I decided to put down my canvas paint tarp just in case I decided to drip paint (which I did, lots because I'm a messy painter).

This paint dries really fast, but make sure your paint is dry and then using a dry, lint free cloth (I used an old dish cloth) apply your wax.  In some spots I got a little wild and just used a damp cloth to evenly distribute it better.

I distressed the stool on the places that I thought would normally get worn if it were being used.  I used a piece of 220 grit sand paper to distress it.  Be sure to use wipe all the dust off before the next step.

I used the Dixie Belle Clear Coat in Flat to seal all my hard work in and keep it protected.  This stuff is great!  I used a foam brush to apply it.

Now for the seat, I wanted something neutral, so I went with a 1/2 yard of muslin fabric that I picked up at WalMart.  I'm still debating on making a ruffle out of this fabric to go around the bottom edge of the stool.  What do you think?

To make my seat a bit more cushy looking I added a little bit of quilt batting.  I used three pieces to make it extra fluffy.  I may have gone a bit overboard, but I like it.

I cut a piece of muslin big enough to fold up and staple and then the batting is cut to fit just to the edges.  In hindsight I should have trimmed off the corners and made it more round BEFORE I got started stapling it on the stool.  Next time!

I folded the edge over to make it look more finished when I started stapling it on to the stool.  I used our handy Stanley hand stapler to attach all the fabrics to the stool.

I added this vintage piece of crocheted trim to the bottom edge just using pins for now to see if I liked it.  I still think I'm going to make a big ruffle for it.  Who knows! :)

If you loved this project and want to save it for later, be sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board.

Here are a few more projects where I used chalk paint:
 
Easy to Make Fancy Hand Lettered Sign 
Chalk Painted Picture Frame with Free Print 
$5 Bedside Table Makeover
Corner Cabinet to Cat Condo

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:

These lovely and FUN parties!
Between Naps on the Porch
The Dedicated House  - (I was featured)

Chalk Painted Picture Frame with Free Lavender Print

Remember this accent wall post right here were I shopped my own home to create this wall for FREE?  As I was putting away my Easter decor this year I wanted to add a little Spring vignette to the old phone chair in our bedroom so I went to my decor closet and starting shopping!

Farmhouse fresh coming right up!  I don't know about you, but when I decorate, I get something out, sit it down, step back, look, pick it back up, put something else down, step back, look.....etc. Continuing those steps until I'm happy with how it looks.  The above picture was the end results of changing these pieces around about forty times! lol!

At first the chunky wooden picture frame I picked out looked like this.  It just was not working with the whole vibe I was going for.  A little paint helps everything, right?

I grabbed a few items and proceeded to give the frame an update.  I found my calcium carbonat on Amazon.  It's the key ingredient to making your own chalk paint out of any kind of flat paint you might have on hand. I also grabbed some acrylic paint in antique white and a foam paint brush.

Here's the chalk paint recipe I use.  For this very small job, I did not measure.  I just squirted out a small amount of paint onto my plate and then sprinkled a tiny bit of powder and a few drops of water and I was mixing and painting in no time at all.

After I had my mixture to the right consistency, I grabbed my sponge brush and swiped some of the paint all over the frame.  I got a little heavy handed in some spots with the swiping so I grabbed a damp paper towel and wiped some of it off until I liked how it looked.

This is the end result.  I love it!  It's exactly the look I wanted.  I kinda wanted to chalk paint everything in my house that was a solid wood color! Ha, ha!  I didn't seal it, but I guess you could if you wanted to.

Now the best part!  The lavender print that Natalie over at My Vintage Porch is offering for FREE on her blog. Oh and guess what? This print is not the only one, she has another one that is perfect for summer!  Go get your free copies right here.  Thank you Natalie!

So, when you're on a budget and you need a little change to your decor, shop your own home and makeover an old item you've had that needs a little freshening up.  Before you know it, you'll have a brand new stash of decor to use!  Everything you see here in this little vignette (except the green candle) was either free or thrifted.  You CAN decorate very inexpensively if you want to.

If you want to see more of my Farmhouse Decor Ideas, click right here!

Here are a few more of my painting adventures:

$5 Bedside Table
Painting a Paneled Door with a Window 
Painting Our Laundry Room Cabinets 
Kithchen EAT Sign 
Holiday Ombre Pinecone Wreath 
Easy to Make Fancy Hand Lettered Sign
Flower Pot Makeover 

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:
These lovely and FUN parties!
Between Naps on the Porch
The Dedicated House  - (I was featured)

DIY Return Air Vent Grille

A decorative return air vent grille, why not?  Do you ever start a small task and it turns into a really large makeover job? Oh, just me, ok!? lol!  I decided to clean our return air vents and then this happened!  I gave the entire hallway a fresh coat of paint and then we made this vent grille to doll it up a bit.

I've had this idea pinned for ever, but now its finally come to our hallway in real life!

Remember here when I showed you How to Clean Your Return Air Vent?  If you haven't read that post, hop on over and see what could be lurking in your wall!  Anywho, this is what our vent used to look like, now let's get on to the new vent grille.

This is the decorative aluminum sheet we picked out.  When I saw the name of the design I got all excited because ya know...Clover House...cloverleaf...yeah, imma a weirdo!  Here's the link to it at Lowe's,  but as I was doing my research I found it on Amazon for a cheaper price with FREE shipping! Darn my luck sometimes, oh well!  This 2ft x 3ft sheet will make three (3) vent grilles which is what we have all in total! Perfect!

Let's make the frame now.  The overall size of our DIY grille is 12-1/2" x 24".  We used some 1 x 6 scrap wood that was cut down to a width of 1-1/2" wide pieces. Cut 2 @ 24" long and 2 @ 9-3/8" long.

We used our Kreg Jig Jr. to make the screw holes, these are called pocket holes.  This is not required, but it makes the grille lay flat to the wall this way.  The manual that comes with it gives specific instructions on how to use it. Its a very handy tool to have.

You'll need some wood glue and this Gorilla wood glue in my opinion, is the best and its a vital tool when wood working.  Getcha some!

Add a small amount of wood glue to the joints before screwing them together.  Be sure to wipe excess glue off before it dries.  We used a 1-1/2" long wood screw to hold each joint together.

My honey used an adjustable woodworking clamp to hold the frame together so it would stay straight while he got all the screws into the joints.

Next he smoothed out all the rough spots with our Black and Decker Mouse Sander, another handy tool for woodworking!  And a step I failed to document is that I filled in all the cracks and holes with DAP DryDex Spackling and nail hole filler.  This stuff goes on pink and dries white so you know when its ready for paint...so cool!

Next you'll need a pair of metal nippers.  Ours are old and plain, but they got the job done.  We used these to cut the aluminum sheet to size.

Lay your finished frame on the metal to get a measurement. Mark a line using a black sharpie.  Cut along your line using the metal nippers.  Lay the cut piece on the frame and trim as needed.  Grab your staple gun and attach the metal to the frame.

Now its all ready for paint.  I used a glossy white spray paint.  I applied three thin and even coats making sure to let them dry at least 30 minutes in between coats.

I ended up propping the whole thing up on top of an empty cat litter box so I could get to all the sides and edges.  After my third coat of paint, I let it dry over night to make sure it was good and cured before we handled it.

After I removed the original vent grate from the wall, this is what we were left with.  Please see my post about cleaning the vent area in the link up above.  You want to make sure the entire area is clean before proceeding.

The darkness of the old original sheet rock paper was really showing through our new vent grille.  I didn't care for it much, so I used some of my white trim paint (glossy) to paint all the visible areas of the vent opening.  I thought this type of paint would be easier to clean in the future.

Now its a little less "glowing" and I think it blends in better. 

Now for installing the new vent grille.  My honey held the cover up to the opening to align it were it needed to sit.

Next, using his drill and a small drill bit, he made a pilot whole on either side of the vent grille.  He drilled all the way through to the wall so he had a marked spot to add the wall anchor.

We added the plastic wall anchor because there was not a stud to hold the screw good and sturdy.

After a bit of touching up of the paint here and there as well as dabbing some white paint on the screw heads, it was all finished.  There it is, nice and pretty and showing off its lovely little clover grille! I think it turned out great!

I spy two doors that still need to be painted, but let's be honest, the whole room needs paint!! The other two vents to replace are in the room with the non-painted doors and the other one is in our room to the left.  All in good time though. *wink*

Before you go, I'm thinking about a little makeover for the kitchen.  Please take a look at my idea board right here.  Let me know if you have any favorites because I'm having a hard time choosing!

THIS JUST IN: Did you know you could use COUPONS on Amazon? Me either, but look right here for all your favorites and start saving, I am! :)

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:
These lovely and FUN parties!
Between Naps on the Porch
The Dedicated House  - (I was featured)