DIY Gold Elephant

Happy Monday!  These metallic toy animals have been making their way around the blogosphere and I couldn't pass up making one for our bookcase when I saw this gray toy elephant (Roll Tide!) in the checkout aisle at Joann's...

It seemed like an easy project (and it is!), so I scooped up my supplies and went to town!

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 plastic toy animal
• white primer spray paint
• metallic gold spray paint
• clear acrylic sealer

Instructions:

Begin by priming the toy on all sides.  I found it best to put the toy on its back and spray with primer.  Then once that has dried, turn the toy on one side, then the other and finally place it in the standing position making sure that it is dry in between movements.  Once you have done one coat of primer, repeat the previous steps with a second coat of primer.

Repeat the application process with the gold spray paint, doing two coats.

Repeat the application process with the clear acrylic sealer, doing just one coat.  Let it dry completely and you're done!

I'm sure this sweet little elephant will enjoy moving around the house every month when I compulsively redecorate.  He looks like the type that likes to travel.

Here's to hoping this week isn't as hectic as last week!

Before + After: Gossip Bench

As a wedding gift, my grandmother gave us this antique gossip bench she got at an antique auction near their South Georgia home.  I love the color of the wood and how unique this piece is - and not to mention how I will always think of my grandmother when I look at it.  The only thing that needed a little updating was the fabric on the seat.  It was a weird faux leather with a floral pattern.

This was an easy fix and a quick update!  I picked up some fabric from Joann's (that I was originally going to use on our dining room chairs - more on that later...) and went to work.  This is how the little darling looks now...

It's the perfect addition to this little corner in our house.  I'm sure I'll change up the fabric again at some point, but for now I'm really liking this pop of red ikat!  Here is a closer look at the fabric...

Recovering the seat of a chair or ottoman is an easy way to bring new life to a piece of furniture and it's cheap!

The DIY bug must have bit me this weekend because I did a few more projects around the house and can't wait to share them with y'all!  Have you guys been up to any fun DIY's?

Before + After Dining Table

In the midst of all of the wedding madness I was able to find some time to paint my

dining room table - finally!  So, here are some pictures detailing this sweet little

table's journey from ugly duckling to beautiful swan...Enjoy!

Here is the before...

(Don't mind the fact that I accidentally started taking photos of it after I had already primed the base)



Poor girl needed some help.

So, help her I did and transformed her into this pretty little lady...

So much better, right?  The color is the same as my coffee table - Martha

Stewart's Sharkey Gray.  I know there are several other pieces that I need to

work on, but I won't tackle that until after our honeymoon!

Have you tranformed a piece of furniture recently?

Before & After Coffee Table

It's been a while since I've done a before and after on anything.  But with moving into my

new home, there were several things that needed some updating!  Enter my coffee table.

I had originally painted this coffee table black, since I was told my old apartment would

have black appliances.  Wrong.  I had already painted this table black and then came to

find out that I had all white appliances.  So, when I moved into my new place I knew this

had to be one of the first items I transformed.  My little black coffee table went from this:

And with a little help from my trusty primer and sponge brush...

After one coat of primer and two coats of Martha Stewart Sharkey

Gray my sweet little coffee table once again looked sweet :)

I added a cute little glass knob, too!  For some sparkle!

I'm still getting everything situated in my place, but as soon as I feel like it's in order

I'll be posting pictures of the decorated spaces.  I hope for my sake that it's soon :)