A couple of months ago as I was running through my neighborhood, babies in tow in the good ‘ol Double BOB, I noticed a bunch of ‘junk’ left out for trash day.Β Β Among that trash pile, I spotted something I wanted…something I could envision using for my daughter’s first birthday…something I could fix up and make all pretty! I’m not sure why in the world I thought I needed a project???Β I mean, as it is I barely complete the most necessary daily tasks with two teens and two babies each day before plopping my weary self in bed each night! {Anyone with kids…can I get an AMEN?!?}Β Not to mention, I could already picture my handsome hubs rolling his eyes and laughing when he came home from work, all the while knowing there’s no stopping a mama when she sets her mind to something.Β {Just try us, right?!?!}Β SOOOOO, since it was confirmed that I NEEDED this piece-o-junk, I then-and-there heaved it up and steadied it on my jogging stroller and ran the couple miles back to my house.
I looked a little A LOT awkward.Β And you can bet your bottom dollar that in the next minutes that followed, I got multiple stares, two rolled down windows asking if I needed help, a couple of complete stops of cars to see what in the heck I was doing, and one “YOU GO GIRL!”Β Oh, Lordy be…I’m picturing myself now and laughing.
This was my little fixer/DIY project.Β It’s not about the chalk paint, not about the high chair.Β It’s about a DIY project that catches your eye, that sparks YOUR interest, that makes YOU smile.Β Just do it.Β We’re mamas.Β We got this, girls.Β {My only advice – Try to NOT be jogging while your creative ‘genius’ hits.}
So here is how it went.Β I started out with this….
Now, it’s best to break it up into four days…PERFECT for nap time or after those babies are in bed!Β You’ll need less than an hour each day!Β I’m no expert…but here’s what worked for me ::
Day 1
- Clean your project up with a wet rag.Β Get any nastiness off!
- Apply Annie Sloan chalk paint {NO PREP NECESSARY…YAAAAAAY!} in Antoinette Pink. {Obviously, you can choose the color and brand ofΒ your choice though.}Β And let it dry overnight. The tester size bottle was PLENTY for this project!Β Personally, I ordered from The Restored Home in Alvin.
Day 2
- Apply a very THIN layer of Annie Sloan Soft Wax with a wax brush.Β Wipe it down with cheesecloth until you can’t feel any ‘tacky’ spots and let it dry overnight.
Day 3
- Use a 100 grit sanding sponge to ‘rough up’ the edges if you’d like a ‘vintagy’ feel to it. {And yes, ‘vintagy’ is totally a word.Β Look it up.}
- Wipe it down to get all of the sanded grit off.
- Apply one more THIN layer of wax and wipe down with a cheesecloth.
Day 4
- Buff by rubbing with a cheesecloth in a circular method.
In the next few days, your project will develop somewhat of a sheen and become harder.
MOMMY DIY PROJECT COMPLETE!!!
I ended up with this… {We’re practicing for her birthday next month!}
I’d love to hear about your ‘creative moments’ or easy DIY projects.Β Better yet, if you have a blog link to a DIY project you think we’d love…leave it in the comments below!
Sarah did this exact project for Maggie’s first birthday! SOoooooo, soooo, soooo worth it!
http://blog.thelittlecrane.com/2012/10/maggies-first-birthday.html
awwwwww!!! love it!
Aww!! What an awesome project!! I love the way it turned out!!! Seems easy enough too!
i can only do “easy”, meg…hahaha!
That turned out SO cute!! I can’t wait to see the birthday pictures!
thanks, heather:)
Awesome job Misty! It looks perfect. I actually have an old kid-sized rocking chair that I want to do this with so your how-to will be put to good use very soon! I’m laughing at the thought of you running with that chair…stuff like that always seems to happen to me too! Love that I’m not the only one. Thanks for sharing your DIY project!
i wanna see the rocker when you finish, chelsea!!! too cute!
Love it, Misty! Great job! I only wish I had been there to see you balancing a high chair on the stroller and jogging down the street! The image cracks me up!
oh emily…you can only imagine. hahahaha! xo
LOVE IT! And especially love that you jogged home with it on top of the stroller!
we do what we gotta do, huh girls?!?!? π
This is adorable! Love it!
It’s perfect! I always keep an eye out for “junk” but haven’t had this moment yet. I will surely keep looking though!
LOVE this!!!! I was just handed down a high chair and will have to try this out!
It’s been almost a month since I first read this post, and I am STILL giggling thinking about you and that highchair!!! π
Beautiful. Well done, mama.
Who in their right mind would throw that treasure away?!? Good score and even greater diy!