Monday, August 31, 2009



Here is my before-and-after for the Roadkill Rescue party by infarrantly creative:




"Wait," you say, "that isn't even finished! How lame!"

Well, savvy reader, there are two important tidbits which must be considered at this point. First, I will replace the "after" picture with the real "after" when the project is actually finished. Second, the contest didn't stipulate that the project had to be in hands-off finished mode in order to qualify. So, just in case life happens (HA!) and I don't get to paint more on my lazy susan today, I will still have a before-and-after to submit for the contest. After all, the new silver lazy susan already fits our style better than the fruity one did. Thank you, fruity-lazy-susan-giver, for providing me with a project to do! What an AWESOME gift!!! (seriously, no joke)

What? You think I should post another set of before-and-after makeover pictures that still fits the contest rules, just in case? Okay!



Ha! Yes, this makeover (on myself) technically fits all the stipulated rules of the contest. And hey, it's what I do! While I don't get to refinish furniture or refab yard sale finds on a regular basis, I do get to exercise a little creativity in making-over damaged skin and poor color choices. And it helps other women in the process — what a joy!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

How to Make-Over a Glass Lazy Susan, part 1
  1. Clean the styrofoam bits off the surface and rub with alcohol.

  2. Freak out about paint choices.

  3. Attempt to scuff surface with fine sandpaper.

  4. Do another alcohol rub.
  5. Get sandpaper grit all over forearms while leaning to reach keyboard to type steps 1-5.
  6. Put on Thoroughly Modern Millie soundtrack.
  7. Bite the bullet and mix Plaid Apple Barrel Colors Craft Paint in Pure Silver with DecoArt Multi-Purpose Sealer, then apply with a sponge brush.


  8. Repeat step 7, only more so.

  9. Enjoy the streaky effect.

  10. Wonder how flexible the "Let dry 1 hour" instruction is.
  11. Take 5 minutes to type steps 6-10, then touch the paint to see if it's dry.

  12. Attempt to fix fingerprint with brush; decide surface is dry enough for a second coat anyway.
  13. Make a mental note to do all future painting projects on a rotating stand.

  14. Wonder why paint won't stick to this one st*pid spot.

  15. Wonder if continually spinning the lazy susan as in the picture in step 13 would aid the drying process.
  16. Resist urge to touch second coat.
  17. Paint coat three with happily-opaque results.

  18. Realize you're leaning over your project to reach the keyboard; put on painting shirt.
  19. Mix more paint-n-sealer.
  20. Appreciate the freedom to wipe a drip of sealer right on your shirt...then hope it doesn't seep through onto nursing bra.
  21. Paint coat four.

  22. Debate what to paint on finished surface: swirls using dabs of paint and a static brush on a rotating surface? Taped-off geometric shapes? Freehand painted designs? A quote?
  23. Wonder whether just to use more sealer on top of finished piece or Anita's Water Clean-Up Polyurethane.
  24. Paint coat five. Resist urge to pour paint on top of surface and just spread it around.
  25. Hear baby wake up and cry. Push chair back to leave office. Hear toddler comfort baby with a shouted, "Perrin-Perrin-bo-berrin! Banana-fana-fo-ferrin!"
  26. Dip sleeve in paint on edge of surface by typing from new, pushed-back position.
  27. Attempt to fix dipped area.
  28. Fix attempted fix from step 27.

  29. Try to clean-up paint on edges by spinning the lazy susan against the brush, thereby creating a raised edge of paint on top of surface.
  30. Try wiping off new raised edge; spoil entire surface edge; fix new ickies with coat 5.1.
  31. Discover paint underneath surface of lazy susan (AKA stabilizing place to put fingers).

  32. Leave office to check on baby, show silver fingertips to toddler, and get mini dark chocolate Reese's cup. Close door to prevent kitty participation.
  33. Realize it has been the length of Monsters Inc. plus both shorts. Forgo chocolate and nurse baby.
End of Day One. Stay tuned!
Oooohhhh! I am SO excited!!!

One of the blogs I follow is so freaking awesome. It's called infarrantly creative, and it's by a red-haired Christian crafter! I log on to my Google Reader every day, just hoping she has posted something else — she's that awesome. Reading her blog is kind of like going to my happy place; I totally live vicariously through her über-crafty life.

So anyway, she's having a contest for her birthday (Monday) for her readers to "make-over" something they've found or received for free. I wanted to do it so badly, but I just couldn't justify spending the time when my house needs serious attention (not to mention my children and my business...oh, and my husband). However, Charlie and I decided that I could take 1 or 2 hours tonight to do it anyway, to juice up my creative-happiness so I'll have energy for the long tasks ahead. LOL

I even found something we'd received for Christmas 2008 that I'd intended to makeover, but never have (see ¶2). Pictures to come!