Tuesday's Tip: Using a Stripper

For today's tip we are going to talk about stripping paint or a clear coat off a piece of furniture!

When is stripping a piece a better idea than sanding it?  

1. I use a stripper on a piece when I want it to go all the way down the the wood especially if you have a piece with a veneer on top.  Veneers can be very thin, if you accidentally sand through the veneer there is no fixing it without replacing the top.  
2. I will also use a stripper if the piece has many coats of paint. 
3.  If you are dealing with lead base paint it is a good idea to use a chemical stripper instead of sanding it, to reduce the lead being put into the air.

This is my go to stripper, it works fast! However use caution this stripper is very TOXIC, it will eat anything it touches make sure you follow the labeling on the product. 

 I bought this from Home Depot and it ran me about $25.  

I painted the top of this desk a few years ago and I used bleach on it...BAD idea as I bubbled the paint and ruined the finish.   OOPS...not a great idea...sometimes we have to learn the hard way right?

To strip this desk I painted on the stripper generously, you want it to be on there pretty thick.  After  the stripper has been applied allow it to sit for about 15 minutes, your paint will start to bubble and look like this. Some areas will bubble more than others that is normal.  

After about 15 minutes take your putty knife and start scrapping your paint off, make sure you scrap in the direction of your wood grain as to minimize any scratching to the wood.  I like to scrap my paint on to a paper plate so I can dispose of it all.

After you have scrapped all the loose paint and stripper off you may need to apply another coat of stripper.  Follow the same steps until all your paint is off.  After your paint is off you will still need to sand it as stripper doesn't always strip everything evenly!

TTFN

Brooke

Navy Blue Desk!

Hello, I feel like I have been gone forever.  I hope everyone had a fun safe Halloween.  I am a lover of  Halloween, having kids makes it even more fun.  My oldest daughter LOVES Holidays as much as I do so we make sure we celebrate to the fullest, which means we celebrate for a whole week!  Which includes early trick or treating at a local grocery store, dipping apples, decorating sugar cookies, making mummies and I am sure we squeezed a few more things in.  

No wonder I am so tired after holidays!  

My oldest daughter was a Peacock, my youngest was Sofia the First, and of course I had to wear my witch hat!! 

On to this fun desk I just finished!  This is my first attempt with Navy and I have to say I am loving it!  I loved seeing furniture in Navy but I have been a bit hesitant to do it myself.  I even bought a gallon of Symphony Blue by Benjamin Moore awhile back and it has sat in my garage until now.  

Here is a little peek at the before…not much a of show stopper huh??  

He was a little boring when I first got him but I loved the size, it is a cute little desk.  After I painted him all Navy it was still a bit too dull for my likings…...

And so I added some fun white stripes and turned my vintage faucet knobs into new drawer hardware.  I love the detail it added to the desk!! 

The insides of the drawers were a little gross so I added some chevron fabric to line the drawers.

I used the same fabric to cover this magnet board and added some Faucet knobs to hang things on!!

 This desk and Magnet board are for sale!  See the Furniture for Sale Tab for more details!

Happy Monday!!

Brooke

Furniture and Paint Party #21

A HUGE thank you to everyone who Linked up last week!!  We had RECORD numbers!!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Let's get another party started shall we??!!

Here is my Paint project for the week!  I am in love with this soft pink desk and if she doesn't sell I may just have to try again to find a spot for her!!

YOu can read the

Full Post here

I was so impressed by everyone's projects I had a really hard time narrowing features down this week.

I love this chair The Interior Frugalista reupholstered.  I bet you would never guess there used to be straw under there! 

I love The Weathered Door's furniture.  Reeves always refinishes with such a clean elegant feel!  Not to mention the beautiful blue color!

What is there not to love about Exquisitely Unremarkable's kitchen.  I love the red, and look at those beautiful chairs around the table!

I love grain sack lines and this dresser from Just a Girl and Her Blog is no exception, the stripes are even orange!

And last but NOT least this beautiful Vanity by {CreateInspire} I don't even have words for this piece except….BEAUTIFUL!!! 

 Here is my Paint Party Pinterest board, Check out all the Features from the Furniture & Paint Party!!

Please follow the rules for the link party, I promise to keep it short

1) Only Furniture and Paint Please!!

2) Link straight to your post not your blogs home page

3) Follow me somehow, I am not picky!

      

4) Link back to this party using my address or my button on the sidebar.  

                               If you don't link back I wont feature you.

5) I love to Feature your awesome work, I will pin all featured projects, and I also share a few on  my Facebook page each week!

6)Visit others, make new friends!!

7) Have fun, and THANK YOU for joining!

Easy Halloween Craft for All Ages….Mummy Tin Can

I can't believe tomorrow is Halloween! 

 I thought I would share with you this fun craft my daughter and I did together.  

This is a great craft for all ages it is quick and easy.

Tuesday's Tip: Painted Drawers

Old furniture often has it's own imperfections, some things are considered character and others well are kind of gross. For Example the inside of a drawer that has had who knows what in it?!  

I have an easy solution for you!

Paint your drawers, and if you want to go a bit further add a little character to them, like stripes!  Instead of an ugly disgusting drawer you now have a new drawer full of character!

It is PINK and FRENCH!!!

I originally bought this desk for myself, when I got it home and measured it for the area I wanted it to go in…it wouldn't fit.  It has sat and sat in my garage as I tired and tired to find a place for it and I failed.  I am so torn about selling this piece.  I LOVE it!  My mom even said it was her FAVORITE piece yet, and she doesn't always love painted furniture.

I guess I can't put it off any longer…so here she is….isn't she BEAUTIFUL!!!

Here is a reminder of what it looked like before….

Furniture and Paint Party #20

I can't believe it is time for this party already!  It seems like time is just flying by, it is almost Halloween and then the whirlwind of Holidays begins!  Although I do have to admit, I slightly like feeling out of control, for some odd reason my life can't be complete without having more on my plate than I can get through.  I may complain at times, more out of exhaustion, but it seems to keep my brain going and I love the sense of accomplishment!  Am I just crazy or what?!

Here is my Paint Project for the week,

A Beautiful Painted dresser and for a CUTE little girls!

I love the color she chose, it is always fun to experiment with bright colors every now and again!

Post here