Repurposed Dresser. Paint without Sanding. Tutorial

Dresser Turned into a new Entertainment Center

Tutorial

 I have been repurposing dressers for years! My daughters dresser was a changing table, my craft room dresser hasn't had the top 3 drawers in it for over 3 years, and I even use dressers as buffet tables for birthday parties.

I plan on repainting my craft room dresser so keep an eye out for that post in the future.

I needed something to go beneath the living room TV but, for weeks, I couldn't find anything I liked. I found a dresser and decided it would work. Here is how I repurposed an old dresser into an entertainment system.

I found the dresser at an estate sale. It is a good piece but didn't match anything in my house.

  

I used these products:

Bulls Eye 1 2 3 Primer (no need to sand)

Behr Paint Color Sweet Molasses

MinWax Protective Coating (spray can)

Lets get started...

• Find a place to paint your item.
• Clean off dust and dirt. Let dry if needed.
• Protect your work area (ground) from paint spills with an old cloth or canvas.
• Remove all the drawers from your dresser.
• Take the hardware off your drawers with a screwdriver.
• Decide which drawer you want to turn into a shelf and take out the dresser drawer track (bracket) with a screwdriver.

 This was such a great dresser that was very sturdy. I did not need to do anything to the area I turned into a shelf, other than remove the drawer track, prime, and paint. If your shelf is not sturdy you will want to add some plywood for stability.

I was too lazy to paint the whole thing inside and out. I decided to just paint the visible areas.

• Paint with Primer. 2 coats.

• Paint with the color of your choice. 2 coats.

I painted the primer and color with a large & small roller. I did used a paint brush for the hard to reach areas. 

• Prime & Paint the drawers too

Go ahead and paint the drawer that you do not plan on using. Just in case you decide to turn it back into a dresser in the future. 

Keep your hardware the same, paint it, or buy new hardware.

I decided to paint my hardware silver.

Back to the dresser...

Let everything dry then spray paint a protective coating over it. Once it dries again drill a hole in the back. Where ever you decide to drill the hole make sure the item that you plan on sitting in front of it covers the unsightly hole. You do not want a hole starring at you every time you look at your entertainment center.

Drill the hole as low as possible and make sure it is big enough to fit all your cords through it. Our hole is 1 1/4 inch big.

 I waited a full 2 weeks before I sat anything on it. Okay I'm lying... I sat items on top of my, freshly painted and dried, dresser for the picture below. Then, I took everything off and I did not put anything on top of it for 2 weeks.

We have our DirecTV box and a black PlayStation that covers our hole perfectly.

I did this over a month ago and it is a wonderful piece. The top drawers store the monthly bills (easy access), house keys, pen & note pad. The middle side drawers store movies and PlayStation controllers & games. The bottom drawers store small blankets for movie nights :)

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How to make a Candy Bouquet in a wine glass

Wine Glass Candy Bouquet

Tutorials

I've showed you how to make a Candy Bouquet in a party cup, but several of you have asked how I made the Margarita Jolly Rancher Bouquet. I've made so many candy bouquets out of several different containers.

 I've made Candy Bouquets out of soup cans, margarita glasses, party cups, beer mugs, Coke Can, metal pails, boxes, sundae cups, coca-cola glasses,  Cheerleader Megaphone, and now a wine glass. I wish I had a picture of the beer mugs - so cute and a great gift for father's day. Maybe, I'll make another one soon.

This tutorial is very similar to the how to make a candy bouquet tutorial, but it is a little different.

Supplies you will need....

1. Wine Glass or Margarita Glass - I used a wine glass because I couldn't find a margarita glass at the dollar store this time around.
2. Styrofoam Ball- Pick a size that fits your glass. My ball is 3"
3. Jolly Rancher Candy - I bought a large bag. You will have left over candy. You can use a different candy if you want.
4. Glue Gun - Not pictured but I use a mini low heat glue gun.
5. Glue Sticks - Not pictured but they fit my glue gun.
6. Knife - to cut your styrofoam ball.

DIY Steps...

Place your styrofoam ball inside your glass and cut off the bottom half. You only want 1/4 of an inch of styrofoam ball inside your glass.

I only had to cut off 1/4 of my ball. Place your cut ball aside.

 Fill your glass with candy leaving 1/4 of an inch empty at the top.

 Place hot glue around the rim of your glass. Do this step and the next step fast so your hot glue does not cool down.

 Place your pre-cut Styrofoam ball inside your glass and firmly press.

 Hot glue your candy on the styrofoam ball starting from the bottom. Do this one row at a time, working your way to the top.

 Once you get your ball covered with candy you are finished, or you can add some curly string or a bow.

 Simple to make, fun to create, and a great gift to give.

I would love to see how yours turns out :)

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How to make a hanging Flower Ball. DIY Crafts. Tutorial

Hanging Flower Ball

Tutorials

This is called a Hanging Flower Ball, a Flower Ball, or when I got married 8.5 years ago we made one & called it a Kissing Ball. Whatever you call it it is so simple to make. You can change it up in so many ways.

I just love the colors of the flowers I used. To make your own....

You Will Need:

 Carnations - I used purple, blue, lime, and pink (24 total flowers)

Hot glue gun & glue sticks

Styrofoam Ball - I used a 4"

Ribbon - to hang

Hanging flower balls are so easy to make it only needs a picture tutorial.

 Step 1- Gather Supplies

Step 2 - Glue Flower Heads to Styrofoam

Step 3 - Cover Styrofoam Completely

Step 4 - Add Ribbon

Step 5- Add to your party for a cute hanging decoration...

Learn more about this Barbie Party HERE.

We've added this Flower Ball to Madison's bedroom. I'm ready to make more for the laundry room :)

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How to make an Easter Tutu Basket {Tutorial}.

Easter Tutu Basket

{Tutorials}

I get several emails every year asking how to make an Easter Tutu Basket. You may remember {this Easter Tutu Basket} I made a few years back. Today, I finally had some time to create a new Easter Tutu Basket and write a tutorial.

I made my basket from an old ice cream container...

You will need:

Scissors

1/2" ribbon and 3/8" ribbon (I used Satin)

2-4 spools of Tulle (6" x 25 yards) Picture is 6" x 100 yds. You will not need that much.

Measuring Tape

Ice Cream container or plastic Easter basket

Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Easter Tutu Basket Tutorial:

Gather your supplies and start cutting your tulle. I wanted my tutu to be 6" long, so I doubled it and cut it at 12" long.

You may be asking, "How much tulle do I use?".

Just measure around your basket in inches and that's how many knots you'll need. Then, times that by 4 and that is how many strands of tulle you will need to cut.

Example:

My basket is 30" around. I will need 30 knots. Each knot will contain 4 strands of tulle, so I will need to cut a total of  120 strands of tulle.

Simple enough right?

 After your tulle is all cut...

 gather 4 strands of tulle, line them up, and fold them in half.

Cut your ribbon 6" longer than you need. My basket was 30" so I cut my ribbon at 36".

 Tie a Larks Head Knot onto your ribbon, like the picture above.

 Do not tie your knots too tight. We want them to be 1" per knot. If you happen to make them tighter just use more knots at the end.

 All your knots should be added now.

Tie 2 small single knots in your ribbon. This will hold your tulle in place, so it doesn't move back and forth.

 With a hot glue gun, start gluing each knot to your basket.  Work your way all the way around.

 Tie your ribbon into a double/triple knot and cut away excess ribbon.

 You could stop here if you'd like, but I need that blue handle gone.

Start by tying 3 long strands of tulle at one side of the handle and wrap all three strands up and around your handle...

Glue your tulle as you work your way up and down. Now, your handle matches :)

 I used satin ribbon to cover the top trim of the basket. Just glue in place.

 Make 2 pretty satin bows and glue to each handle.

 Now, you have an unique one of a kind Easter basket. No one will ever know you use to eat ice cream out of it at 11 o'clock at night :)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you have some tulle left over you should make a matching Easter Egg Tutu Wreath {like this one}.

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DIY Painted Pine Cones. Mix with potpourri.

Painted Pine Cones

{Tutorial Thursday}

 I had some potpourri around the house that was brown and tan. I need it to match my living area more so I just painted a few pine cones that I found from outside and threw it in the mixture.

Simple! You should do it to :)

 Just buy some pinecones or go outside and look around. Get some spray paint and spay the pine cones with serveral thin layers of paint. Let the paint dry inbetween layers.

Once the pine cones are completely dry just mix it up with your scented potpourri.

 Now your potpourri will tie together with your other {home decor}

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Kids Edible Craft. Valentine Candy Melts.

Valentine's Day Lip Candy

{Tutorial Thursday}

My daughter and I made some candy lip suckers today just for fun.  It was a great craft that my 6-year-old could handle and loved to do. This is a must try for you and your kids.

You Will Need:

Change it up however you want.

I used...

 Red Candy Melts

XOXO & Lip Candy Mold

Plastic Sucker Sticks

Make N Mold Bottle

DIY Steps:

1. Fill your Make N Mold Bottle 3/4 full with Candy Melts.
2. Melt in Microwave following the instructions. I did 30 sec intervals.
3. Squeeze bottle and mix candy
4. Repeat until the candy melts smoothly
5. Place lid on bottle and squeeze candy into molds (let the kids do this)
6. Tap molds softly on counter tops to level the candy
7. Place in fridge until it hards
8. Pop out candies from mold (let the kids to this)
9. Add a sucker stick by placing a small dab of melted candy to the back on the stick. Let the candy harded to hold the stick in place.

SUPER EASY!

 Madison squeezing melted candy into the molds.

 Jaxson sneaking and eating candy melts from the bag :)

 Dont forget to tap it on the counter to level it out and to pop any air bubbles.

Take silly pictures just for fun or to use as cards for Valentine's Day like our post from {yesterday}.

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Tutorial: DIY Hair Bow Centerpiece made out of fabric

Fabric Hair Bow Centerpiece

Tutorials

Do you have left over fabric scraps that you do not know what to do with? Lets make a bow centerpiece.

Supplies:

You will need:

Fabric Scrap

Grosgrain Ribbon

Heat N Bond

Plastic Bottlecap (optional)

Scissors

Lighter

Pen

Iron

 Tutorial:

 Iron your Heat N Bond to the back side of your fabric.

 Place your plastic bottle cap (I used a water bottle cap) over the image you want and trace it with your pen.

Cut out circles

Peel off the heat n bond paper backing from your fabric.

Iron your fabric circle cutouts to your grosgrain ribbon.

Cut around your fabric leaving a ribbon trim. Then, heat seal the ends of your ribbon until it curls up right next to your fabric.

This is what it will look like when you are half way done heating your ribbon.

 Once the ribbon cools down it's almost like a hard plastic.

Glue your new centerpiece to your favorite bow :)

  Tada!! Adorable John Deere Fabric Bow Centerpieces

I hope this tutuorial inspired you to create!

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