I’ve received a lot of questions about the chalk paint colors I used on my corner cabinets, buffet and desk, so I thought I would share (plus I’m stalling a bit until I get my tutorials done!)  The corner cabinets are two coats of Louis Blue with an Old White interior and highlights.  I distressed the edges with sand paper and applied a clear wax, immediately followed by a dark brown wax.  I am going to warn you.  When you first apply Louis Blue, it looks bright.  It calms down when it dries , even more when it’s distressed and waxed and even more when the dark brown wax is applied.  The desk was dry brushed in a mixture of Paris Grey, Louis Blue and Old White with Old White highlights.  It was then distressed and followed by a clear wax, then dark wax.  I painted the buffet in one coat of Louis

Have you ever had a gift card on hand that you really don’t want to use?  Let’s say you get a gift card to Victoria’s Secret, which is great, but you are up to your eyeballs in home renovation and you could really, really use a Lowe’s gift card.  Gift Card Rescue to the rescue!  Simply swap or sell your unwanted gift cards AND you can buy gift cards at a discounted rate.  Pretty smart, huh? Well, I figured one of my readers would love a $100 credit with Gift Card Rescue to use on whatever gift card you want. Some of my top choices would be: My husband would want:  Interested?  Here’s how to play along: oneIf you would like to participate in this giveaway, visit Gift Card Rescue and leave a comment letting me know which gift card(s) you would buy with a $100 credit.  twoFor a second entry, follow

We’re not talking about eyebrows and furry upper lips, here.  No torture for beauty or blotchy skin.  Just beautifully finished furniture with the perfect amount of shine.  It took me a while to “get” waxes.  It seemed labor intensive and unnecessary.  I just didn’t know the right way to use it and use it to my advantage.  The down side to working with oil based products is the cleanup.  I don’t do mineral spirits.  I’m just scared of things that I can’t put down the drain.  So, I use a water-based, non-toxic product to wash the wax out of my brush.  I pour a small amount in a disposable bowl or cup… …swish the brush around in the solution for about a minute… …then shampoo the brush with soap and water.  If any oily residue remains, it goes for another dip in the Krud Kutter pool.  One final shampoo and

While at Blissdom, I had the pleasure of eating lunch one day with a bunch of the crafty girls including Lindsey, Jess, Lorie and Ruthanne.  We had the unfortunate experience of trying peanut butter and jelly bread pudding together, but it was otherwise a really nice meal and a great chance for me to mingle beyond the home/DIY blog girls. I had mentioned to Lindsey earlier that I really wanted a cute camera strap cover and asked if she made them.  She informed me that I wanted to buy one from Ruthanne.  Well, it just so happened that I sat next to her at that lunch.  I loved her work (and she’s pretty cool herself), so I ordered one right when I got back to my hotel room.  I’ve had my Nikon strap for about nine years and it’s fuzzy and, not surprisingly, it has paint on it.  I haul

I’d like to introduce you to Kalen DeRoo of Pumpkin Pie Designs. (By the way, isn’t Kalen DeRoo an awesome name?)  Pumpkin Pie Designs is one of my newest sponsors and Kalen is generously offering a giveaway to two of my readers. I’m a big fan of simple, silver jewelry and Kalen makes some killer stuff.  Everything from necklaces and cuffs to pet tags and baby spoons.    Want something? Kalen is giving two randomly chosen winners each a $50 gift certificate!  That way, the winners can have something custom made.   Here’s what you have to do to enter: One:  Simply leave a comment and you’re entered.   Two:  Visit Pumpkin Pie Designs and leave a comment letting me know what you would order with your $50 gift certificate. Three:   Follow Kalen’s blog Keeping Up with the DeRoos and leave a comment telling me you’ve done so.  The giveaway ends Sunday

 If you’re here for Furniture Feature Friday, it’s still going on below this post.  Feel free to link up any furniture pieces! When my business phone rings, it’s always exciting.  I’m a little dorky about it.  The phone rings and I run through the house yelling, “The Mustard Seed phone!!!”  It’s like the Bat Phone or something.  So, I look at the caller ID to see if it’s a publishing company or Nate Berkus or something like that.  Most of the time it’s one of my retail spaces calling about a price on something.  Last Tuesday, the caller ID simply read “South Carolina.”  A sweet voice with a southern drawl was on the other end.  “This is Barb Blair from Knack…”  She went on to tell me about herself and how she felt compelled to call me.  She apologized for the strangeness of the call, but for me, it really