Hope Chest Re-do

Hope Chest DIY

Found this beauty for $30 on KSL. It's a vintage Lane hope chest from the 50's. This thing is HUGE and perfect for our lack of storage. I finished it off and it currently holds all of our extra blankets, and acts as dual purpose as a bench for extra seating in our front room.

I used a cool technique to transfer letters on to the chest without having to use an overhead projector. You print off the word on regular paper and flip it over. Rub chalk all over the back of the paper, making sure to cover all the letters. Tape that on to your furniture and trace with a ball point pen. When you take the paper off, it has a perfect outline of the word. I used a paint marker to go over the word and to fill in. 

The chalk easily wipes off. I then sanded the piece (including over the word) to make it look more aged, then sealed.

Finished!

Ruffle Pillow

My mom always is so thoughtful and always gives the most amazing, meaningful gifts that pull right at the heartstrings. She is the most giving person and will do everything she can to put a smile on someone's face. About a year ago, she remembered me saying that I really wanted to learn how to sew and be able to make the cute things I always remember her making throughout my whole life. I mean, the lady has some serious talent. She was even crowned "Miss Wool" in her high school days for making an entire outfit (and the best at that) out of WOOL. Sounds comfortable, right?

Well anyways, my mom bought me a SEWING MACHINE for my BIRTHDAY this year! Which is by FAR too extravagant of a gift but she claims that it makes her day to know that I love handmade stuff as much as she does, and that I have the want to learn. She says that it also helps that she nabbed it on an amazing discount. Which I can't argue with her on that one!

So my sewing skills are mediocre to say the least. I decided my first project would be pillows! They seem pretty easy yeah? I pinned an amazing tutorial that I found on Pinterest on how to create this ruffle pillow found on Jones Design Company blog. I used this same tutorial and made my two black pillows and the same idea for the ruffle on the white patterned pillow as well. She does an amazing job of giving a play-by-play on sewing ruffle pillows. 

If I can do it, you can do it! It turned out to be pretty easy! And they didn't cost me anything. I ended up using my old black curtain panels from Target and made pillows out them- and bonus! It's a thick, durable fabric, perfect for pillows that get a lot of use. I love upcycling!

Chevron Secretary Desk

I found this cute little desk at a yard sale right outside of my neighborhood. It is rare that you can find a great deal on a cute desk like this for a good price. I was obligated to snag it, right? I mean, this desk has two essential things. Its an ever-popular secretary AND just needed a little fixer up in a trendy gray and beige chevron print. What's not to love in that combo?

This didn't just come at such a great price by happenstance. It definitely needed some work done. I'm never one to shy away from a little elbow grease, and a girl always likes to get a little work done! The bottom drawer on this desk was cracked and had to be repaired with some wood glue. Also the tracks were off on every single drawer. The lid of the desk had some deep scratches that took a lot of buffing out but here is the result after 6 long hours, multiple trips to Hobby Lobby and Lowe's, and an internal battle when I finally decided to sell it to a great friend and sorority sister of mine, Rachelle.