Colorful Canvas Wall Art

I bought some 12x12 canvas packs at Big Lots before moving for the hubsters grad school.

I thought I would use them to modge podge decorative scrapbook paper on for a cute, cheap wall art.

While I was browsing paper selections at Micheals, I happened upon a cardstock lace pattern,

Similar to this one:

 I immediately knew exactly what I was going to do!

I painted the canvases bright solid colors to match my pillows and curtains.

Then I took the cardstock paper and placed it on top of one of the canvases

I used it as a stencil and painted black paint over it

(at first I tried spray painting the black, but then found I got cleaner lines if I just used a stencil brush and did it by hand)

It was exactly what I had envisioned!

I painted 5 canvases

5 different colors

with the same stencil

then hung them above my TV.

Here's an up close of one:

 

And the whole group:

I think they go well with my green TV stand! :)

(Yes, that is a picture of my family on the TV screen, I didn't put it there on purpose, it's the home screen on my husband's PS3 that he had on)

 This is the way I bring color into my rented, white walls house!

Being in this room makes me happy!

Do you need to add some color to your home?

Linking to:
Lil'Luna
Thrifty Decor Chick 
Tatertots and Jello 
I Heart Naptime 
Home Stories A to Z 
More the Merrier Monday
Domestically Speaking

An Apple a Day...

Renting can pose a challenge for decorating

If you read my "about me" section, you'll find that either my husband or myself, or both have been in school since we were married

We have moved 10 times 

and lived in 5 different states

in 7 & 1/2 years

I am SOOOO sick of WHITE WALLS!

I decided to use my furniture as a way to bring some much needed COLOR to my life and my family's.

So what did I do?

Painted our TV stand a green apple color!

This is the dresser we bought off craigslist before we moved:

 We loved the details and carvings on the drawers!

However, this piece is laminate (lesson learned, don't buy anything until you actually see it!)

There were a few areas that had to be fixed up,

we just used some wood putty:

 I also sanded the top just a little bit, to take off some of the shine so the paint would stick to it better

I was nervous about painting the laminate and after doing a lot of research finally decided to use:

Krylon's Fusion For Plastic spray paint

With this stuff, you don't need to prime it first

I sprayed everything but the drawers with black gloss.

The drawers had knobs that were attached 

Obviously, not the originals because

1) they were single knobs and there were 2 holes in the drawers, so it was off centered

2) they didn't match at all

I couldn't find any knobs that had the look I was going for

plus, it takes away from the details on the drawers

They open fine without them, so...

I filled in the holes with putty!

 I primed the drawers with 2 coats of Kilz

Then painted a couple coats of this:

It looked good (wish I had a picture) but the final step of glazing would bring the whole look together

I glazed the drawers black:

 

  

Ready for the big reveal?

How about another before picture first?

 

and AFTER:

It's honestly taken a bit of time to grow on me,

but I LOVE it now!

FYI: not having handles on it actually prevents my daughter from getting into it and pulling everything out!

I also love using a dresser as a TV stand, there is so much storage and it's all HIDDEN :)

Linking to:
Thrifty Decor Chick: Before & After Party
 Transformation Thursday at the Shabby Chic Cottage
Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff
Perfectly Imperfect: All Things Furniture
The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday 
 Restore Interiors
Primitive and Proper 
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
Simple Home Life
Chic on a Shoestring: Flaunt it Friday 
Finding Fabulous: Frugalicious Friday
Remodelaholics: Remodelaholic's Anonymous
Tatertots and Jello: Weekend Wrap-Up 
Fingerprints on the Fridge 
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop 
The DIY Showoff: Project Parade
Domestically Speaking: Power of Paint 
Workshop Wednesday 
Vintage Revivals