Trash to Treasure - Literally! My first re-upholstery - Love It

I did it!  I completed my first re-upholstery project!  And boy, was it a dozy. 

I had always wanted a dedicated game table.  A place to put puzzles together (especially in the winter), that wouldn't leave my dining room table a mess.  We bought this table new, several years ago, at a furniture store but I didn't like any of the chairs available so I waited.  Kind of a mistake, because later I didn't really have the money to go out and buy what I wanted new. 

Well  I got it in my head that I was going to find some chairs and just paint them some fun, funky colors and call it a day.  You can imagine my excitement when I found these a few days later.  I knew if I striped them down I could come close to staining them the same color.  And I think I did it.  What do you think? 

Can you believe that my game table chairs started out like this (see below)?

Eeeekkkk!  How nasty and horrible are those?  Smelly too.  Believe me, more than once did I think I'd made a mistake and should just get rid of them.

I love the modern curves of the chairs.  It's so unlike me (and Neil)to like a mid-century style.  But the more I looked at these the more I fell in love with them.  Can you see the lovely crayon marks on the wood, in the picture above?

Staples, staples and more staples.  I think it took me at least a day to remove the staples alone.  Man, I couldn't stand touching that stinky, dirty fabric.  Luckily it was night time when I picked them up or I may have changed my mind.  I thought it was a good idea to wear gloves while removing the fabric. But believe me after all the sanding, staining, sealing, new padding, fabric and foot pads, there is NOTHING OLD about these chairs.

The heat was so bad outside.  I keep saying if only it were fall instead of 100 degrees.  By the time I did the sealer coat I brought them inside to work on.  So not only was my kitchen/dining room in the middle of a remodel but I added my game table chairs to the mix.

I went through a pile of sandpaper on these to get them down to raw wood.  Then after I stained them I put on one coat of clear and sanded them again, let them dry, repeat 2 more times.  I'm such an impatient person, days of this drying and doing coat after coat was really tough for me.  The padding was the most expensive part of the makeover.  But that was where my my patience came in handy.  The foam was on sale for 50% off at Joanns the next week.

So with fabric and tools in hand I attempted my first ever re-upholstery project.

I was looking for a way to coordinate with my green/brown couch and yet add blue to the room for a light, beachier look.


So are you ready to see the completed project?  It's huge for me and I'm giddy with excitement.  Over the moon, crazy about the way they turned out.  It was all the new inspiration I needed.

 I love the way the fabric shows on the back side of the chairs.  Just the look I wanted.

I even made the trim to edge them out with.  To be honest with you the sanding was the worst for me.  Hate it but it was so worth it.

Oh' and I found a great tip to share with you.  I absolutely hate to wear gloves when doing projects like staining.  But whats worse is having stain on your hands for a week afterward.  But guess what?  That doesn't ever have to happen again. 

My tip of the year (which I found searching the Internet), is vegetable oil.  Yep, that's the one, plain old kitchen vegetable oil.  Once you've finish staining (for the day) just pour a good bit of vegetable oil in your hands and rub it in.  I then wiped it off with a few paper towels, then added some soap and washed really good.  That's it.  Clean hands!  Why am I just finding out about this?

Here's a breakdown on what the project cost me:

• 4 Chairs - Roadside Kill = Free
• Sandpaper = approximately $10.00
• Stain, already had from another project = $0.00
• Sealer, already had = $0.0
• Foam for bottoms and backs = $47.96 (after 50% off)
• Fabric = 2.5 yds @ $10.98 per yard = $27.45
• Cable Cord for Trim 2 packs @ $5.99 = $11.98
• More Staples (already had some) $2.50
• Pads for the bottom of chairs = approximately $5.00

That's a grand total of $104.89 for 4 chairs.  Not exactly free but not bad for 4 chairs that you could say are brand new from inside out now.  That's $26.23 per chair.  Where else would I find upholstered chairs for that price?

Well that's it.  My very first upholstery project.  I don't know what 'start out slow' means.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I think they look perfect with my new diy starfish/map art, don't you?  You can read more about that here. 

Now, I'm on the hunt for a credenza, dresser, buffet piece of furniture to redo for my bedroom.

Wish me luck, because it's got to be free too.

I selected this post to be featured on Blogs for Women. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

I've linked up to Sunday Showcase blog hop here:

Rockin', I Mean Rollin, err Walking in My New Heelys

I had a butt slapping funny video to share with y'all today, well for the last I don't know how long.  I tried everything to get that bugger downloaded.  And when I say everything, I mean hours and hours over 3 nights trying.  I've downloaded a video before so by the time my hair was so wrapped around my fingers from pulling it out that I couldn't type, I gave up.  The video Gods were against me and they were changing there minds.  But really you would have laughed your butts off.

I keep forgetting that I haven't done things like roller skated in about a half a' gazillion years, so when I got the chance to review a pair of Heely's, I was like heck yeah.  Those kids have nothing on me.  I'm gonna be zipping up and down grocery lanes.  Stay out my way ya'll.  Well my dreams and my reality are definitely two different things. But hey, if it wasn't for fear of broken bones, I'd still be rockin rollin' in those awesome shoes.  So what if I'm not rollin', I can still be cool, cause I don't have to have the rollers in.  And these look and feel great.  I know I'm going to be wearing them all winter long.

I really do think the Heely's would be a great form of exercise for kids and adults alike.  I can know they would work those muscles and the kids wouldn't even look at it as a workout, just pure fun.  The Heelys website offers great training videos too.  Just click here to see some AMAZING Heelys videos.

Disclosure:  I was given a pair of  Heelys to base my review on.  All opinions are my own honest reveiw.

OOPS - MY BAD - Wednesday Giveaway Party LInks

I just realized that I never hit the publish post button on this post yesterday. Yep, I left it in draft and there it was staring me in the face this morning, just mocking me.  Yesterday was a really hectic crazy day.  But just because of my bad that doesn't mean you can't still hop over there (I picture bunnies every time I say that) and enter some of these great giveaways.
Here's a list of the giveaway party links I've hooked up with today yesterday now.  Just click the button to stop by and see all the newest giveaways to enter.  Good Luck!!!

Mommy Digging Giveaway Wednesday Linky
 

Have a bright beautiful day ya'll!
OX's...Tracy :)

Betty Crocker Fun da-Middles - Cupcake Prize Pack Giveaway

I don't need a special occasion to make a treat but making a treat sure makes it feel like a special occasion.  And that's exactly what I did today.  I made cupcakes. And they were delicious, even if I have to say so myself.

With a sweet tooth like mine this package was like opening a Christmas present. 

Let's take a peek and see what's inside.  All pretty and pink.  The package included a non-stick muffin/cupcake tin, a package of Wilton cupcake papers, the cutest cupcake oven glove, some too cute note cards, and of course a box of Fun da-Middles.

These were so easy to make.  I took a few pictures while preparing them but the computer seemed to eat those when down loading.  Bad computer.

Besides the great taste, and yes they were really yummy, these are perfect to add to a kids (or an adult, if you're like me) lunch box or as a snack on the run.  There's no need to frost these, the sweet cream filling is in the middle.  No mess!!  I did frost half of mine but honestly these were plenty sweet enough without it.

Fun da-Middles combines the cake mix and filling pouch in one box.  They're available in three delicious flavors, Vanilla Cake with Creamy Chocolate Filling, Chocolate Cake with Creamy Vanilla Filling and Vanilla Cake with Creamy Vanilla Filling.

Are you ready to win your own Yummy Betty Crocker Cupcake Set?  I knew you were.

Here's what the winner will receive.

And just in case you can't wait to see if you win, you can print go here to download a printable coupon for $0.85 off new Betty Crocker Fun da-middles.

Now for the rules, cause you know there's always rules:

Mandatory Entry:  Tell me with all the fall holidays, football games, etc.  Do you plan on baking any cupcakes or what's your favorite dessert?

How about some extra entries?  Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each one, telling me what you did.  If it says 2 entries, please leave 2 comments.

• {1 extra entries} Become a follower of Cotton Pickin Cute.  If you are a follower just leave me a comment.
• {3 extra entries} Post a link back to this giveaway on your blog.
• {1 extra entry per tweet per day} Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with @cottonpickincute. (see button at the bottom of this post)
• Follow Tracysuz (that's me) on Twitter (see button at the bottom of this post)
• {1 extra entry per post per day}Share this giveaway on your facebook page.
• Like Cotton Pickin Cute on facebook (see button at the bottom of this post)

Be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win.  Please don't forget to leave a comment for each entry.

Giveaway ends on Sept 23th, the first day of Autumn, at 11:59pm EST.

Disclosure:  Betty Crocker Fun da-Middles have been provide by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark in exchange for my honest opinion.

911 - What Was Taken - What was Given

This is the date Americans will never forget. 

This is that anniversary of the day the terrorist strengthened our love for our country. 

This is the date that we remember in many ways. 

When I think of that day, I don't first think of the terrorist but of the renewed sense of love and respect we found for our country.  I look at all the coverage that was made of that horrible day and even though we shed tears we found purpose.  We stopped taking our freedom for granted.  We saw with renewed vision, all that we as Americans have to be grateful for. 

We stood side by side first in shock, then in determination to not cower to the Godless.

There is so much that could be said.  I won't lend words to those who deserve not a moment of this day.  

The true hero's of  9/11 are countless.  We remember those lost.  We pray for those who are here to miss them.  We remain ever grateful to those who serve and defend our country both at home and abroad.  Those who now serve or did serve in the military.  Those civilians who protect our land and citizens.

I am grateful that out of this tragedy came a renewed sense of faith.  A reminder of just how much we look to God at a time like this.  A reminder to be thankful for all we have.  To praise his name and to count our country blessed.

In a very simplistic view, it reminds me of Dr. Suess' "How the Grinch stole Christmas".

The terrorist stole what they could in a few short hours.  Lives were taken.  Other lives were changed for ever.  But in the end, looking at the bigger picture, they accomplished something they never expected.  They gave Americans a new sense of pride in our country.  A renewed sense of strength and of fellowship.  A renewed sense of faith in God.  They reminded us of just how much our country has been blessed by God and how much we need God.

I can't help but cry over the images I watch.  I also can't help but feel pride in the greatest country on earth.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

 

Authentic Style Series Blog Linky Party

What is the Authentic Style Series?

It's the opportunity to...

• Meet featured bloggers who have an authentic and unique style.
• Learn how those inspiring bloggers describe their own style.
• Reflect on how they inspire the style at WhisperWood Cottage.
• Share your own authentic spin on the featured blogger's style by linking up.

And Amy and Ron offer you all of this at Whisperwood Cottage.  I've been a follower (mostly silent, I know you can hardly believe that.) for a long time now.  You really have to go by and check out all the DIY projects they've done to their home.  It's really awe inspiring.  There blog has really grown and it's obvious why.  I know you'll enjoy Whisperwood Cottage as much as I do.

Make this weekend a great one.

OX's...Tracy :)

A Great Blog Hop and a Giveaway - Yippee!

Boy did I find a fun Friday hop to share with ya'll.  You don't want to miss this one.  But wait there's more.  Honey @ 2805 is also having a giveaway.  A $25 Gift Card to your choice of Amazon, Hobby Lobby or Home Depot!  How's that for a prize?  Just click the button above. 

***Warning*** You'll be there awhile.  There's 155 blog just waiting for you to hop over and visit.