Melissa's Flower Canvas Craft Party!

Craft time at Melissa's!  On Saturday, Krysten and I took a road trip up to Alexandria, VA to craft with Melissa and her friends and family.  We began our road trip, like any other road trip, with Chick-fil-a!  Then we were off.  We pre-planned to take a brief pit-stop at...

Two hours later, we were broke, but we sure did get a great selection of burlap ribbon and other embellishments for our upcoming "Hello" Wreaths craft party (April 12th, Artfully Yours in Williamsburg, 5pm!!!!)!

Along the way, we were hungry, and Krysten said, "I think there's a Wegman's up here somewhere!"  I started googling and mapping out how far away we were from Wegman's.  Low and behold, we were 5 minutes away!  I plugged our current location into the GPS and "Jane" said it would take us 15 minutes to get there....15 minutes??? Just a second ago (I know it wasn't 5 minutes ago) that it read "5 minutes!"  Why the change? 

 

 

 Because, we were passing by the exit to get to Wegman's!  No turning back now - we were on the other side of the barrier wall from the Wegman's exit.  There was no time to drive 7.5 minutes up to the next exit and 7.5 minutes back down to Wegman's just to hear the angels sing as we entered into the best grocery store of all grocery stores!!!  Plus, I knew Melissa would have some delicious food awaiting us!  She didn't disappoint either, although, I forgot to take a picture of our snacks!

When Krysten and I arrived at Melissa's, with Melissa's permission, we started rearranging her house so that everyone would be crafting in the same general area.  We covered the tables with drop cloths, set up our supplies, distributed the canvases and painting palettes and we were ready! 

 

 After everyone arrived, brief instructions were provided, then the ladies began picking out their paper and painting their canvases.  Wet canvases were laid out on the kitchen floor to dry, then we indulged in delicious spinach-artichoke dip, tortilla chips, veggies, fruit, cheese, and dessert.  We thought eating snacks and mingling was a great way to pass the time it took for the paint to dry (that is the worst part about crafting - waiting!). 

After our bellies were full, and our paint was dry, the creative juices were flowing.  Everyone took their time, cut out their flower petals, laid out their design, adjusted their design, and starting gluing and mod podging (I never knew it was called "Mod Podge."  I have always referred to it as "Modge Podge."). 

Although I love to craft, I get just as excited watching people craft and impressing themselves with what they are able to accomplish!  These ladies did a fantastic job on this craft.  I hope that they hang their masterpieces for everyone to see and enjoy!  Thank you so much for coming to our Craft Party, and a special thank you to Melissa for hosting!  We had so much fun spending time getting to know each and every one of you! 

 

**One of the things that we like to do is take a picture of everyone's finished pieces.  Some ladies had to leave before their Mod Podge could dry, but we wanted to capture them anyway.

 

 

 



Until next time,

Happy Crafting!



Hutch "The Beast" Makeover

Artfully Yours' Grand Opening is scheduled for April 12th!  I am so excited for Chelsea, Suzanne, and Justin (the "handyman")!  They have worked immensely hard to put their stamp on the 1920's house that they will fill with local artists' work, as well as host workshops, children's classes, and CRAFT PARTIES!  Krysten and I visited Chelsea a few weeks back and we took a tour of the shop. The carpets had already been ripped up, staples pulled, and things were coming together.  The walls were still yellow, but Chelsea was ready to cover those with anything other than YELLOW!  Just last week, we visited Chelsea again and were amazed at all the progress they had made.  All of the walls were white, the wooden floors were painted gray, and Justin, the handyman/boyfriend, was hanging a modern light fixture.  The transformation was amazing! 

So, Chelsea and Suzanne have established April 12th as their Grand Opening.  Although so much has been completed, there are many other projects to check off of the "to-do" list.  I wanted to provide as much help as I could, so I volunteered to take on "The Beast!"  The hutch was in need of a makeover. 

The night that Chelsea and Justin delivered it to my house, I removed the doors, filled the holes with wood putty, then I popped open my can of Annie Sloan Old White, and went to work on the first coat of paint (after cleaning it with a solution of Murphy's Oil Soap).   I added a little dab of water to the paint and began applying it with a chip brush.  After that coat was finished drying, I started on the second coat.

First coat of Annie Sloan Old White

 

 

The next day, Krysten came over and helped me apply the third coat.  We used our Annie Sloan paint brushes.  The paint went on super fast.  Three coats of paint is all we needed.  Then we had to wait for the paint to dry - this is a hard task for someone lacking patience (me)!

 

While that was drying, we started on the top portion of the hutch.  We painted our first layer on the outer portions, and then I taped off the back wall of the hutch so I could add some Provence to give the hutch a pop!

Finally!!! The paint was dry!  I waxed the top and sides with the Annie Sloan Clear Wax.  It went on like butter and off like...work!  Mr. Miyagi would be proud!  After I waxed the top and sides, I distressed the piece with 220 grit sand paper.  Once I was finished distressing, I rewaxed the piece.  On the front doors and drawer, I distressed, then waxed.  I am very pleased with how the bottom portion turned out! 

Tonight, I am going to tackle the second/third coat of Old White on the top portion as well as the second coat of Provence on the back wall.  Stay tuned!

Annie Sloan Dresser Project

Well, I did it!  I cracked open the can of "Old White" Annie Sloan paint and went to work.  My first project: Delaney's big girl dresser.  Before opening the paint, though, my partners in crime (Owen and Delaney) and I ventured to Ace Hardware (at 8:30 am) to pick up some final purchases (Murphy's Oil Soap, shellac, mineral spirits, sand paper, wood glue (a small piece of one of the corners chipped off - minor repair) and buffing cloths).  The guy there was very helpful, but asked what I was going to be doing with these items.  I whipped out my phone and showed him the Annie Sloan project that I wanted to imitate.  He told me to come back with a picture of my final product.

When we got home, Owen and Delaney helped me wash the dresser and all 10 of the drawers with a mixture of Murphy's Oil Soap and water.  We played outside while we waited for them to finish drying.  After they were finished drying, I shook my can of Old White and began applying the paint to the dresser.  My review:  I thought that the paint was very thick and dried very quickly.  I applied my paint in every which direction and wanted to go back and give it a linear finish, but before I could get back to the first part of the shoulder width area, the paint was already drying and I streaked the first part.  From then on, I tried my best to apply the paint in linear brush strokes.

Also, after much contemplation, I decided to abandon the idea of turquoise drawers.  Because I am going to use this dresser for clothes, I felt I needed drawer protectors so that the paint would not affect the clothes and vice versa, which defeats the purpose of painted drawers.  Maybe for another project!

For the second coat, I watered my paint down in a separate cup, with somewhere between a teaspoon and a tablespoon of water. The second time around, I felt like I got more coverage with the diluted paint.  After everything was covered for a second time, I took Owen to baseball practice, we came home and had a picnic, and then we checked on the dresser.  Everything was pretty much dry.  So, I started waxing with the Soft Clear Wax.  I was dreading this step because I have waxed my car before and I am not cut out to be a Karate Kid (wax on - wax off).  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The wax went on nicely and I was able to wax it off with minimal to moderate effort.  I continued waxing the dresser and all of the drawer fronts.

After everything was waxed, I distressed the edges of the dresser and drawer fronts with 220 grit sand paper.  I distressed the corners, edges, and around the handles.  After distressing, I rewaxed the distressed areas just for protective purposes.  If I hadn't distressed and waxed these areas, I'm sure the dresser would eventually look distressed after being in this house only a few days (we are bulls!).

Lastly, I put the handles back on.  However, I purchased this dresser from the CHKD Thrift Store and not all of the handles were included, so I might have to buy new handles, but for now, I am pleased with how this project turned out.

As I was painting my project, Krysten was down at her house painting her dresser that she picked up at the First Baptist Church Yard Sale.  She used "Duck Egg."  Krysten agreed that her paint dried entirely too fast, but then again, she was painting hers outside where the wind and sunshine aided in the drying process.  Krysten attempted the smooth modern finish, but abandoned that idea when the bumps and bruises of the piece were quite evident after being painted.  She says that she will distress it today.

When I use the Annie Sloan paint again, I will water it down when applying my first coat and I will apply in linear brush strokes from the start.  What can I paint next?

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Tonight was the night!  Krysten and I attended an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint class at Sisters Unique, located in City Center.  Joy was one of our instructors, and is also one of the "Sisters."  I mentioned that we were striving to be like she and her sister.  We shared our story about starting our own business and how we came up with our name, what our parties entail, and just our passion for crafting.  It was pretty cool talking to Joy and learning more about her store.  

Onto the paint, paintbrushes, techniques, etc.  This paint pretty much lived up to all of the hype I have seen on Youtube and read about on blogs.  A little does go a long way.  We took a tour of Sisters Unique and learned about washes and techniques that transform pieces from old, beat up, well loved dressers and tables to shabby chic masterpieces!  Take a look at two of my faves!!

 

We worked with some of the colors: Paloma (a purple), Graphite (very dark gray/black), Old White, Duck Egg (greenish), French Linen (gray) and Florence (turquoise). We learned to add texture with color and with brush strokes and we learned how to do washes with colors. We experimented with soft wax and dark wax.  Here are some examples:

 The left side is called the "Smooth Modern" technique with Florence.  The right side is the wash technique with French Linen as the base coat and Paloma as the wash, and clear wax on one side and dark wax on the other.

 The top is a "Rustic" finish using colors and sanding.  The bottom is the "Distressed" look with Graphite as the base color and Duck Egg as the top coat.  This is what I am proposing that we do with our bottom kitchen cabinets.  I don't think Albert, my husband, should care...right???  Should I do it and see if he notices?  Haha

 This is part of a picture frame that I distressed with Florence paint, wiping off some paint, sanding, and waxing with soft and dark wax.  

So...after the class, we all went shopping.  Smart Smart ladies.  Fresh off of our paint class we are let loose to roam back and forth in front of their wall of paint and paint supplies.  Well, with so many projects and ideas floating around in our heads, this is dangerous!  I'm sure you can imagine that Krysten and I had a hay day and we are coming home lighter than we left - well our wallets at least!

Stay tuned - I have a dresser that I am planning to paint with Old White, and as a punch, I am going to paint the inside of the drawers with Florence (remember - the turquoise color!!!!).  Check back next week!

Craft Night at Artfully Yours

This past Saturday, Krysten and I met Chelsea, the owner of Artfully Yours, an Art consignment shop in the Art District of Williamsburg, Virginia.  Chelsea gave us a tour of the 1920's house that she and her boyfriend,  Mom (Suzanne), and family and friends are renovating to accommodate her needs.  Chelsea will feature art from local artists as well as offer classes to include, but not limited to, photography, crocheting, kids classes, and CRAFT NIGHT!  That's right - Chelsea and SOTSS Crafts are partnering up to host Craft Night at Artfully Yours!  Don't worry, though!  We will continue our monthly Craft Nights at Krysten's for the time being.  Krysten and I think that Chelsea is very brave to follow her passion, and we are so excited to be a small part of Chelsea's dream!  

Also, I wanted to show you what Krysten surprised me with today - "Eat Craft Mingle" shirt made by Saundra with Diamond Life Designs!  She also designed her "Create" shirt.  I think they look AWESOME!  Thank you!

Eat - Craft - Mingle

We had such an amazing time, planning, prepping, eating, crafting, and mingling!  By the looks of it, our second craft party was a hit.  Take a look at some of the photos from the night.

 

 

I think that everyone did a great job - the creative juices were flowing!  Krysten and I have already started planning/prepping for our next craft party, which will be held on April 5th at 6pm.  We will be making thread art on reclaimed wood!