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Numbered Counter Stools
These stools are another curb find. I attempted to sell them at 2 different garage sales and there were no takers. After our last sale, I brought them into the house and my son loved being able to sit at the counter to “help” make dinner. Their original look didn’t match anything in our home, so I opted to give them a makeover to match our {dining table.} I also decided to jump aboard the numeral infatuation train my sister is conducting.
First, I sanded them and I sanded some more. Once I thought I might be done sanding, I sanded them one last time. Next, I primed the legs.
Then, I gave them two coats of latex paint. To keep the legs bright white, I draped the base of the stools with a plastic drop cloth.
After that, I stained the seat with Minwax Special Walnut.
Using the same technique Erin used in her {Numbered Wooden Crates,} I painted a 1 and a 2. Finally, I slapped 4 coats of Minwax Water Based Polycrylic on the seats. Yeah! Now they go with the rest of the kitchen!
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Pet Food Canister
While I was browsing the web the other night, I came across these awesome {pet food canisters} from Ballard Designs. They are super stylish and much cooler than a dog food bag to store Fido’s food in. I especially love that they have a lid to keep everything dry and fresh. I do not love the price tag. Ouch! $55-$59? For that price it would make more sense for us to leave the food in the bag or make our own version. Of course, I chose the latter of the two.
My first thought was to go see if I could snag one of those white food grade buckets from the grocery store, but unfortunately, I found out when I got there they no longer give/sell them to customers. So, I stopped at the thrift store on the way home and, luckily, found this popcorn tin for a buck fifty. Woot! I knew that it would work perfectly to make my Ballard Designs inspired pet food canister.
Next, after a little deliberation, I nixed the chevron pattern of my inspiration, even though I love it, and opted for stripes because they are so much easier to work with. Using painter’s tape, I taped off sections down the sides of the tin.
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Personalized Utensil Crock
Recently, while sitting at my kitchen table, staring at everything in sight and waiting for inspiration to hit, I saw my boring black utensil crock and asked myself “Self, how can I make that more interesting?” Then, answering myself, I said “I should write something on it. Oh, I know. My mom’s delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe.” After realizing I need more human interaction, I got to work.
I dragged my entire family with me to Jo Ann Fabrics to pick up one of these handy dandy oil based paint pens. Let me tell you, my husband Adam, is a trooper. My 3 year old was directing us though the store with his pretend Buzz Lightyear laser beam, while our youngest was kicking and screaming and absolutely refusing to ride in the shopping cart. Adam didn’t complain once.
Once we were home, and the kids were tucked in bed, I starting writing. I completely free handed the text. To make the letters appear more bold, I went over them twice and let the paint dry in between. There are a lot of mixed reviews about paint pens and I was not sure what type of experience I was in for. This pen is AWESOME! It wrote so smoothly and there was absolutely no mess to clean up.
This project took no time at all, except for the shopping portion, but for that, I only have myself to blame. I love the handwritten look and every time I am in the kitchen, it brings a smile to my face to see my mom’s recipe.
What does your utensil holder look like?
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How To Clean Your Make-up Brushes
How often do you clean your make-up brushes? You should clean them pretty often because they can harbor bacteria and dirt. Who wants that smeared on their face? If you use them daily, then you should really be cleaning them weekly.
First, put a small amount of shampoo in a dish or like I did, in the built-in soap dish area. Plug your drain and fill sink with a little cold water. Warm water can soften the glue that is holding your bristles in. And nobody wants to go through the process of cleaning your brushes if you are just going to have to toss them when you are finished.
Dip the end of your dirty brush in the water to wet it and then coat it with soap. Gently swirl it around on the edge of the sink or palm of your hand to remove the filth. Continue, until it is free of grime.
For your final rise, hold the make-up applicator under faucet, so the water is flowing the same direction as the hair. Holding it any other way can put stress on the shape of your bristles.
Lightly squeeze from the base to the edge, to remove any excess water.
Reshape and lay flat to dry or with end of brush hanging over the counter. Do not stand brush on end. This can cause water to settle in handle and you would be creating a wonderful environment for bacteria growth.
Now how ofter will you be cleaning your make-up brushes?