DIY French Potting Table

 

 

My potting table began as a ordinary drop leaf table.  The top was cracked and glued, so I didn't feel bad about the reconstruction.

 

 

 

 

The first thing I did was remove the hinges from the under side of one leaf and attach them to the top.  You can place the hinge so it won't fold back and the leaf will stay upright.

 

 

 

 

I added a shelf for function and stability.  The shelf is held up by two spindles cut down from a couple of stair spindles I had left over from another project.  I screwed the spindles in from the bottom.

 

 

 

I added a board for the shelf which was screwed in from the back.  The shelf and spindle were stained dark to match the table and both were painted white.

I copied a graphic from The Graphics Fairy and stenciled it on.

 

 

And there you have it.  A French potting table from a broken drop leaf table.

I have to say that I am a little proud of myself.  This is the first building project I've done that didn't involve any stupid mistakes.  You know, like missing the spindle or shelf with the screw, stripping the screws, putting the hinges on the wrong way, making the shelf crooked, and I could go on and on.  Any or many of these things would normally happen to me. It was a good day for DIY!

I'll be sharing with the following parties.

The Graphics Fairy for Brag Mondays
 Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
Redoux Link Party
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
 Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Domestically Speaking for the Power of Paint party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
The 36th Avenue Party TimeNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday 
Shabby Art Boutique for Shabbilicious Friday Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite SpecialUnder the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Antique Sheet Music / Chalkboard Folding Screen

That's right, another aged paper project.  I just can't stop!

 

 

I found this antique screen at an estate sale. Love.

 

 

 

 

I applied the antique sheet music with starch.  I love the natural look of using starch as opposed to decoupage medium which is shiny.  Just dip the paper in a pan of starch and smooth it on.    If it is a table top or another surface that will need to be more protected, then I do top it with decoupage medium.

 

 

 

I also painted this pretty side table with my favorite color -  Valspar Weathered Glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 



The other side of the screen I made a chalkboard.  This would be so awesome with fancy chalkboard art, but as usual, I had to rush to get a picture and head to the antique mall.

 

 

 

I couldn't resist writing a French poem on a small section for a closeup of the flowers. 

 

 

Oh and did you notice my antique grain sacks on the stool.  My very first ones.  More projects to come with those. 

 

Now go visit these parties for more decorating ideas.

 

Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday

Burlap & Denim for Party on Mondays
Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays Treasures
Redoux Link Party
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Embracing Change for Creative Inspirations
Domestically Speaking for the Power of Paint party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
The 36th Avenue Party TimeNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Shabby Art Boutique for Shabbilicious Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Meg & Mum's for Saturday Splendour

Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

 

 

 

Aged Paper Projects

I love all kinds of aged paper - sheet music, book pages, labels, etc..  I'm not sure what it is, but when I see an aged, stained, paper anything, I'm drawn in.  Lots of my projects have been inspired by my love of antique paper.  I decided to put them all together in one post.

The first and most important project is making your own antique sheet music.  At the time I could not find any antique sheet music so I needed to make my own.  This was the perfect answer.  My favorite project used this antiquing method on paper grocery bags to cover a dress form.

                                   I used the same paper to back this stenciled window.

                 My most popular paper project was my French Graphic buckets and baskets.

                              I also antiqued this French label to revamp an old trunk.

                                      Of course I love to use  antique paper on furniture. 

                                                                    Book Page Table

                                                              Sheet Music Table

        
                                                             Sheet music lined drawer

Book pages and sheet music make great accent pieces, too.  I covered plywood to make this fireplace insert.

                                                                    Book Pages on Old Doors

     A Chalkboard Frame

 

                                                                      Dream Banner

Well I think that's all of them.  For now anyway.  I will be joining the following parties..


 The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl up
Redoux Link Party
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
 Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Domestically Speaking for the Power of Paint party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
The 36th Avenue Party TimeNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Christmas Sleds and Skates and My Christmas Booth

I have been very busy putting together some Christmas items for my booth.  I collected old sleds and skates at estate sales throughout the year.  This sled got a coat of red spray paint, a large burlap bow, and this upholstery webbing "Believe".

I saw a similar sled on Pinterest.  It was from the Dear Lillie blog.

 

The other sled got a coat of creamy white paint and and the number 25 that I stenciled.

 

 

 

These burlap bows were inspired by Restore Interiors.  There is a great video tutorial there.

 

 

The skates also got a burlap bow and "Noel".  These upholstery webbing tags were very easy to make.  I just stenciled the letters on with black paint and a small alphabet stencil that I purchased from Michaels.

 

 

And here it all is at my booth located in the Big Bend Antique Gallery in Maplewood, Missouri.

 

 

I made a bunch of signs from reclaimed wood.  I used a Martha Stewart script stencil for the lettering.

 

 

An old  red wagon got  a Merry Christmas stencil and bow.

A stenciled book bundle.

And buckets so cute for holding Christmas trees.

I hope you will visit the following parties.


 The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays Treasures
Redoux Link Party
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Domestically Speaking for the Power of Paint party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
The 36th Avenue Party TimeNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite SpecialUnder the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

My Country Cupboard

I have had a long time love affair with cupboards.  Wood or painted, pristine or falling apart, I love them.  My husband can certainly attest to this.  When he is forced to antique shop with me, he goes his way to look at books or anything that will keep him entertained while I go my way.  When we meet back up, I drag him around to ooh! and aah! at all the wonderful cupboards.  He does his best to be impressed.  Unfortunately all I ever do is ooh! and aah! because of the prices.  When I found this cupboard on Craigs list for a great price, I snatched it up. It was not painted, but I took care of that.

I filled the cupboard with my still growing collection of ironstone.  I definitely have room for more.  Darn it, I guess I will have to go shopping.

 

Tucked here and there in the cupboard are old recipes.   I bought an old recipe box at an estate sale.  I just love all the hand written recipes.  There were also recipes clipped from newspapers eighty years ago.

 

 

 

When I got home from the sale, I sat down and went through the entire box.  So much fun.

I guess handwritten recipes passed from friend to friend are now a thing of the past. 

Well, that's my country cupboard.  If I could, I think I would replace all the kitchen cabinets with cupboards.  I told you, I love them!

Please visit the following parties I will be joining


 Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays Treasures
Redoux Link Party
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday
Domestically Speaking for the Power of Paint party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
The 36th Avenue Party TimeNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite SpecialUnder the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

French Gray Desk

The combination of French gray and creamy white paint never disappoints.

 

 

I bought this desk at the auction.  No repairs needed just some paint for a fresh look.  My favorite kind of piece.

 

 

 

 

I painted the inside with the french gray and left the insert the stained wood.

 

 

 

 

 

I did have to do some work for the hardware.  One of the drawer pulls was missing so I replaced the one with a pair from Restore. There were no pulls on the door.  I guess you are suppose to open them with the key, but I didn't have it.  I drilled holes and added glass knobs from Hobby Lobby.

 

 

 

 

The final touch, a Paris address from The Graphics Fairy that I stenciled on the front.

 

 

 

 

As soon as I get a day off from my real job this will be going to the antique mall.  In the meantime, I'll be joining the following parties...

 

The Graphic Fairy for Brag Monday

 Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday
The Farmhouse Porch for Cowgirl Up
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesdays Treasures
Redoux Link Party
Knick of Time TuesdaySavvy Southern Style for Wow Us WednesdaysDIY by Design
Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday

Domestically Speaking for the Power of Paint party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday

The 36th Avenue Party TimeNo Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on ThursdayMy Romantic Home for Show and Tell FridayFrench Country Cottagefor Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday 
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
 Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase