A Pumpkin (or should I say, Pumpkins) Makeover

Transformation Tuesday - Post #2

 

Hey Y'all!  How's everybody been?  Can I just say, I have been crazy busy!  It's been a good busy... doing a few projects for the blog, putting the final touches on my fall décor, and scouting area antique and rummage stores for some exciting treasures!  And of course, there has been the not so fun stuff like cleaning and yard work. Oh well, somebody's got to do it, right?!?
 
White pumpkins are "so in" this year!  And featured in a ton of fall décor pins on Pinterest.  Jumping on that band wagon, I thought I'd share how I gave my orange and green pumpkins a makeover to fit into my neutral décor.  I'll also show you how to give your orange pumpkins a little something something....

 
First gather up a few supplies. 
 
Here is a list of the supplies I used:
 
Plastic Pumpkins
Krylon White Spray Paint (satin finish)
Krylon Brushed Nickel Spray Paint (satin finish)
Matte Acrylic Clear Coat
Valspar Antiquing Glaze
Sponge Brushes
Rags
 
Lay your pumpkins out and spray them with a couple of coats of paint.  Here I painted three pumpkins white and three pumpkins in the brushed nickel finish. 

 

 

After letting them dry completely, layer on a coat of the Valspar antiquing glaze. I used a sponge brush but an old rag or cheesecloth works well too.  Be sure to get it into all the little grooves. Allow it to dry for about 10 minutes before beginning to wipe or dab away the excess, leaving some of it in the grooves to give them definition.  (A little tip:  If the glaze is hard to remove, add a little baby oil to your rag.)

The glaze adds an aged look and lessens the starkness of the white and nickel finish. 

Once they are completely dry, spray them with the matte clear acrylic for durability. 

 

And here's a few pics of the finished product.....

 



 

They turned out beautifully and are just what I had in mind for my fall décor!

 

I also wanted to show you how, just by adding the antiquing glaze, this plastic orange pumpkin looks more realistic and the starkness of the orange disappears.  It gives it so much more character.

 

 

 

Have fun giving your pumpkins a makeover!  Happy Tuesday!

 



 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Vintage Inspired Painted Mason Jars 

Transformation Tuesday - Post #1

 

Hey All!  I hope y'all are having a great day!  I'm having one of those days where I just can't seem to concentrate because my mind and thoughts are going in a million different directions.  Do y'all ever have those kind of days? 

 

I mentioned in a prior post that I have been easing into fall and making a few changes here and there with some of the décor in our house.  For those that know me well, I make small changes here and there quite often.  (It's a  joke amongst my family and friends that I can pretty much transform anything with a can of spray paint.)  Anyway, getting to my point.  I got to thinking as I was working on some of these projects/changes that I should start a new series -  "Transformation Tuesday"  where I show you how I transform "stuff" whether it be with a can of spray paint or whatever.....  (In this case, it's the whatever!)

 

So here it is!  Post #1 in my Transformation Tuesday series......

 

 (picture via Pinterest)

While shopping a few antique stores, I found vintage inspired painted mason jars selling anywhere from $3.95 for the small 1/2 pint jars to $8.95 for the quart size jars.  Wow!  So to Pinterest I went and let me just say, there are a ton of tutorials out there for these.  So after reading through a lot of them, I came up with a method that I thought would work best for me, giving me the look I wanted, and using supplies that I already had on hand!

Here are the things you'll need:

Mason Jars (any size)

Chalkboard Paint (found at craft stores, Lowe's, or Walmart)

Acrylic Craft Paint  (found at craft stores or Walmart)

Clear Acrylic Spray - matte finish (found also at craft stores or Walmart)

Foam  Brushes

220 grit sand paper

Wax Paper (or anything to paint the jars on) 

 

 

Step One:  Grab your supplies and be sure your jars are thoroughly clean and dry. 

 

 

 

Step Two:  Protecting the painting surface with wax paper (in my case, I used a drop cloth), layer a coat of chalkboard paint on the outside of the jar with a foam brush.  (I painted the bottom and half way down the jar first.  Waited for them to dry, turned them over, and painted the other half and the rim.)   Let them dry overnight. 

 

 

Step Three:  Paint the outside of the jars with the acrylic paint.  (I used the same method as when I applied the chalkboard paint allowing adequate drying time between coats.)   It will take several coats; especially for the lighter colors.  Again, let them dry overnight.

 

 

Step Four:  Using the sandpaper, lightly sand over the raised letters and the rim.  (I sanded a few other small areas around the jar...it's entirely up to you.)

 

 

Step Five:  Carefully wipe off any sanding dust/residue.  Take them to a well ventilated area and spray them with several coats of the clear acrylic spray.  This will give the jars a protective coat and prevent the jars from chipping.

 

 

Step Six:  Enjoy!  You are all done!  You can pretty them up with raffia, jute string, lace, burlap, ribbon.....

 

  (To this one I added a mason jar soap dispenser kit found at Hobby Lobby for $4.99.  Of course, I used my 40% coupon bringing it to $2.99)

 

**** To care for your jars, wipe with a damp cloth.  Do not submerge them in water!****

 

These are so simple and budget friendly!  They can be used for so many things, with any décor,  and the color options are endless.   What great centerpieces they would be filled with fresh flowers for a wedding, bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, or just about any occasion! 

As always, I hope you found some inspiration and thanks for spending time with me!  Look for more posts coming soon in my "Transformation Tuesday" series!

 

Easing Into Fall Y'all......

 

Hey Friends!

How the heck are 'ya?  It feels like forever since I've blogged.  My life always gets a little crazier when my husband is home and he was home the entire month of August. I love it when he is home; however, it doesn't leave much time for crafty projects (or blogging).  Anyway, I hope to get back in the swing of things and share some fall inspiration over the next few weeks!

 

I love fall!  I love that the days are cooler (and far less humid)!  I love that the nights are crispier....perfect for bon fires, roasting marshmallows,  sweatshirts, a cup of hot coffee, and snuggling under a comfy throw.  I've been easing into fall ... making a few changes here and there with pillows, throws, and some neutral seasonal décor.  I'll be sharing some of that with you later!

 

Today, I thought I'd share with y'all what's been happening outside.  Being a true southern girl, I love incorporating mums, pumpkins, fall wreaths, and scarecrows in with a few vintage finds and diy projects.

 

 So welcome to our front porch.....

 

 The wagon has been around 10+ years....  It's seen it's better days but adds that vintage touch I always envision when decorating.   A few corn stalks tied together with twine, embellished with an orange burlap bow, and  a leaf garland makes for a great backdrop.