Christmas Crafts, Op Shopping and Up-cycling

Anyone else enjoy getting their DIY Christmas Crafts done early?

I’ve had a few smaller projects going on in my workshop lately, and I’ve shared a couple over on my Instagram Stories (click my Christmas highlight in my profile).

I made a super easy rustic sign using one of my favourite methods of transferring graphics onto furniture or wood.

Supply List:

Supplies needed for this are listed in the video below, but I’ll list them here too for your convenience:

• pre-painted sign board (I used Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in two colours using a resist method – you can find that tutorial here)
• printed copy of the text you want printed on the sign (plain paper is fine, text right way around)
• carbon paper or graphite paper (Australians can find it here, for USA find it here)
• any ball point pen or stylus for tracing
• a Sharpie pen for filling in the lettering. (Australian source, USA source)
• fine grade sandpaper (optional)
• Tough Coat wipe on poly sealer (optional)

Here’s the tutorial:

If you enjoyed that tutorial, you’ll find a lot more over on my youtube channel – just hit the Subscribe button so you don’t miss any – if you hit the little “bell” icon, you’ll be sent a notification when I add another video.

My latest UpCycles

Also in the studio/workshop the last couple of weeks, I’ve had fun bringing home some op-shop finds and giving them a makeover. This little stool was a fabulous find and all I had to do to it was wash a little dirt off the fur!! Seriously – how cute and Pinterest-worthy is this stool (below). I’ve been having fun on my Instagram Stories showing you around op-shops here in my local area (usually on a Wednesday).

I also found this cute foot stool – it was covered in an old vinyl that looked a little worn and brittle, so I gave it a quick makeover.

All I did was remove the legs, gave them a bit of a sanding with my Sandi Hands gloves, and then rubbed some Stain & Finishing Oil in the Natural (clear). They came up beautifully. Next I removed the old vinyl and cut some linen/cotton canvas type fabric that was also an op shop find. I used the old piece as a pattern, sewed it up and stapled it on.

The other little detail we did to the legs, which you can’t really see when it’s finished, but the metal parts on the top of the legs, where they attach to the seat, were all tarnished and not pretty, so we painted them easily with Fusion’s Metallic Paint in Brushed Steel for a neater finish.

Well, I do hope you are enjoying the decorating this season! I’d love you to share any Christmas crafts you have going on – jump in to our Facebook Group and post your pics!

If you’ve just started subscribing to my blog this year, and didn’t see my Christmas videos last year, here is one of them again (BELOW), just for a bit of holiday fun – I changed up the lyrics a bit because I know some of my painting nerd friends can totally relate – haha!

Enjoy, friends … until next time.

x

Sharon.