Vintage End Table

i'm in the process of trying to make some life changing decisions...i'm having some issues that i am trying to work out with the business...i want to sell more...i want to make more money...its not that i'm greedy but i just think its time...

i think i spend more time online than anything i do...i'm constantly looking for ideas...pricing...facebook pages...anything that will help me build the business that i dream of everyday...

as some of you may know, i do have my own shop...the location stinks though...for the past few weeks i have been thinking about moving...i have even contacted someone that i will be talking to next week...this is a very big decision for me to make...i just have to think long and hard about it...

i have been holding off on new projects because of the possible move...i need to know what my clientele will be before i start painting new things...

i picked up this little table months ago...its been in the abyss with the rest of the junk i need to finish...i needed a quick project and i knew this wouldn't take long...

this isn't for everybody...i'm sure some people would look at this and say wow, that is just ugly...but i like it...the vintage look...straight from 1974...

yes i do know my photos stink...maybe when i start getting paid to blog then i will do better in that department...this is the after...a coat of old white by annie sloan...distressed and waxed...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Outdated Dresser

everytime i start a post i think, man i need to do better...i can not honestly say how long its been since i've posted...i didn't even want to look at the last date because i'm embarrassed...

i guess i just get so caught up in everything else that i have going on..sometimes things can be overwhelming...i have a lot on my plate so to speak...it has really taken a toll on me in the past 2 weeks...i often have the feeling of giving up...saying goodbye to the furniture resto business...i know i wouldn't be happy though...so i just go a few days without doing anything...

i picked up this dresser from a friend of mine that was selling on facebook....i got a very good deal on it because she was almost to the point of giving it away i think...just needed the room...the best part is that it was 2 pieces...i still have the mirror but haven't decided if i'm painting it...i was in such a hurry to get the bottom part done that i just put the mirror aside...

my kids have a way with me...they are always wanting me to paint something for them...i feel bad and give in...this for for the 11 year old...the one that didn't have enough room for her clothes...the one that promised to keep her room clean if i painted it for her...shall i post some pics? i mean pics of the dirty room...no, i won't because that will only double embarrass me....

here is the before...if you are wondering why it looks so crazy its because i took it standing up on the end...i couldn't get a good before...i started working on it with it standing up like this...

after! i love how it turned out...its amazing what paint can do to a piece...this was actually real wood...when i bought it, i was in such a hurry that i didn't even look at it...my son and his friend loaded it up and it sat in storage for a few months...i painted it with homemade chalk paint...its just basic white that has been distressed...the top is gloss black...the handles are also gloss black...of course my daughter is in love with it...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking up to:
Lizmarie Blog 

Painted Chair

i've wanted to paint a piece of furniture since the day i first saw it on pinterest...i think i've read very single post that i could find...after almost a year, i finally made up my mind..

i decided to use fabric medium to mix with my paint..the chair was only $10 so i didn't have much to lose...it also had a broken spring so if it didn't work then i wasn't out alot of money...i felt like this was the cheapest way to go

Before

i purchased my fabric medium from hobby lobby...i mixed it in with some paint that i already had..it was hard for me to decide on a color..i picked gray because i felt it would cover the color without alot of coats...

after

i used a small brush to apply the paint...i worked in very small areas so it would soak into the pattern...i didn't saturate it though...it almost covered with one coat...i only had to go back and touch up a few spots...

the wood was painted with homemade chalk paint...after it dried i distressed it lightly...

based on how the chair feels, i know that i didn't mix enough of the medium into the paint..its basically for looks though, so it shouldn't be a problem..i'm sure the cat will enjoy a new place to nap...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Stereo Cabinet

I had a friend ask me if i wanted this piece of furniture...dumb question, of course i wanted it..it was free! i was a little unsure at first though...she told me to just go by and pick it up from her garage...i almost regretted it...

before..she said it was an old stereo cabinet that had been gutted a long time ago...it traveled all the way from new york to georgia...

i decided to go ahead and prime it..i used an oil base primer because there were parts that were not real wood and i wanted it to hold up..i feel as if the oil base works best for non wood parts...i sanded the top all the way down to bare wood...it was very dry and soaked up the stain like crazy

i used some stain i had already..i wanted the top as dark as possible...the paint was from lowes that i was using  for another project...since the door was missing a fabric screen i just decided to add the chicken wire because i had it on hand...i'm not very handy with power tools so i knew cutting a piece of wood was out of the question

one more of the before and after...its one of my favorite pieces i've done...it has so many options...could be a buffet, side table, media console...the list goes on...it is for sale and can be seen at creating love and joy store at the rock, georgia

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:
Lolly Jane
Salt Tree
Kammys Korner
Sugar Bee Crafts
VMG206 

Painted Headboard

here is the headboard to the set i just bought for my daughter...

before...oops..almost forgot the before pic...yes, i paint in my house when the weather stinks...

finished...homemade white chalk paint...distressed and waxed...

close up shot...i also made the picture above the bed...

i took a yard sale frame and painted it...added chevron contact paper to the cardboard...attached a piece of vinyl to the glass...instant art...please note...my daughter helped with this project...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:

Night Stand

 i picked up a whole bedroom set for $60...it included a night stand, chest of drawers, dresser, headboard, and mattress set...its not the best quality, but for that price i couldn't pass it up...my daughter had been without a set since she moved in with me almost 5 years ago...even though i don't think i will be using the dresser, its so worth it...

here is is before...its just a cheap night stand...but very heavy and sturdy...

here is the finished piece...the weather has been awful in georgia the past few days...i used some old hardware i had just until i can finish the original ones...its too windy to spray paint...this is just white homemade chalk paint...i then distressed and waxed...my favorite way to paint...

i picked up this lamp base at a yard sale for $1...i think the lamp shade was from another lamp...i spray painted it all black...i wrapped some tulle around the top and attached a paparazzi hair clip to the top...(contact me if you are interested in paparazzi...very cute things for $5)

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:

Vintage Vanity

several months ago i picked up this cute little vanity...it got added to the list of other things to complete...its finally finished...

here it is before...missing 2 knobs on top drawers...part of it wasn't even painted...just a vintage rough piece...had to work hard to get the drawers to fit right...

i started stripping the top and drawers because i wanted to stain them...it wasn't in the best shape so i decided to just paint it...wasted some time on this step...

here is the finished piece...i painted it a color called mystique...its a creamy off white...distressed and waxed...added some cute knobs from hobby lobby

before and after...not a huge change...just better...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:
Kammys Korner
Liz Marie Blog 

Red End Table

i really need to do better on posting here..i'm just so busy right now that i don't make the time...i'm in the middle of trying to open a shop...its my dream to sell furniture and i'm so excited to finally be able to do it...i'm hoping that my dream will actually become a reality...being able to open a shop and selling the things you do are 2 different things...i want people to want my things...but what i want more is for this to succeed and provide for my family...i have a lot of determination right now and pursuing my dream is my top priority...

this is my latest piece...i just finished it about 30 minutes ago...

i should have taken a better pic before i started...i'm just so caught up in being busy and getting pieces done...the one on the bottom is the one i'm posting about

i added some dark stain on top...this is the beginning of priming

putting some bright red on...

finished! after some glaze and wax...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:

Paparazzi Jewelry

i just wanted to make the announcement that i have started selling Paparazzi Jewelry...everything is $5 plus tax...so many things to chose from...bracelets, necklaces with earrings, head bands, hair clips, earrings, and rings...if you are in my area, please feel free to contact me at the store or on facebook..i can do parties or set up appointments...

headband holder i made from an oatmeal can

thrift store tray painted and beans added to make ring holder

an example of what the jewelry looks like...i had so many compliments on this necklace!

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Angelic-Chest Of Drawers

if you follow me on facebook, you know that i name all of my furniture pieces...i recently started letting my followers name the pieces...

this has to be one of my favorite things i've done since i started painting...its a 4 drawer chest of drawers that i bought on facebook...

this is what it looked like before...an unwanted piece of furniture that the owner couldn't wait to get rid of...a chest of drawers that i couldn't wait to get!

here is a before of one of the drawers...as you can see, it had orange peeling on it...the paint job was awful...i knew that it would be a challenge..

the first drawer that i stripped and sanded...it took quite a bit of effort...more time than i wanted to spend...but i have been wanting to do this type of look for a long time...

the top after stripping and sanding...i like how it has the little pegs that go into the wood...

 finished...a nice 2 tone chest of drawers...i am so in love with this look! i normally don't spend so much time on a single piece but i really wanted to accomplish this...i'm trying to expand my portfolio to let people know what i can do...its very angelic..

if you are in the area and are interested in this piece, it will be for sale at Creating Love And Joy store...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:
Lizmarie Blog
One Artsy Mama
Be Different Act Normal
Funky Junk Interiors
Kammys Korner 

A Diamond In The Stuff
Craft O Maniac
Lovely Crafty Home 

Yellow End Table

i bought this piece thinking i might keep it..i am really loving the way it looks...

before..old and abused

after some stripping and sanding

another view

the color is cornbread...i mixed it into chalk paint, sanded, distressed...

comparison of before and after

whats a post without staging?? this piece will be for sale in my shop

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:
Kammys Korner
Someday Crafts
Liz Marie Blog 

Little Table

i went into my local thrift store looking for a picture frame for a project i was asked to do...as soon as i walked in the door i saw this cute little thing...i have been wanting something small to sit a plant on in my dining room...it was love at first sight

 before

after

not much to this makeover...i mixed up some white chalk paint...after it dried i did a little sanding...thats it..no wax...no glaze...very simple and quick...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Best of 2012

i thought and thought...i decided not to do this since my new blog was so "new"...i gave in...so here it is...the top 5 for the year...

#5 Vanity...One Hot Mess

296 views

not sure how this one made the list...i was just posting about how i messed up this piece and had to re-do it...i guess everyone wanted to see my screw up!

#4 Little Girls Side Table

327 views

I loved this piece! i had alot of fun with this one...i used home made chalk paint...i've always liked pink and i hoped someone else would too! 

#3 Broken Chair

496 views

just another example of how you can transform a piece of junk into something nice...i love sitting in this chair...and its still in one piece!

#3 Side Table

518 views

ok, so i loved this one too! my first stenciled piece...i think its so cute...

#1 Outdoor End Table

 624 views

the number one most viewed is this piece...kinda shocked though...even though i do like it, and it turned out perfect, its probably because i was linked up to another blog...which is good because it helped me get blog recognition...

thanks everybody...i had a good first 8 months using my new blog address...i have been rather slow in rebuilding this one but its getting there...i can't wait to share more of my ideas!

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley

Linking Up To:
One Artsy Mama 
My Repurposed Life 
Blissful And Domestic 
Twiggs Studio 
Rae Gun Ramblings 

The Skull

this post really has two meanings...by the end you will understand why i'm saying that...its about a painting/drawing/picture that my son gave me for christmas...i usually only post things that i've made or done on here...but i felt that this deserved a special spot on my blog...

i developed a fondness for skulls a long time ago...it was before they were really cool...before people were so into them...i have no idea why i like them so much...i'm just a normal girl, or at least i think so...others may beg to disagree...i like all kinds...big ones, scary ones, sugar skulls, girly ones with pink bows...so just imagine...christmas morning my son brings this out...

i'm sure that most people won't be so as excited as i was...i don't see this sort of thing on any of the blogs i follow...but hey, i do things different over here...

i always knew my son had talent...he picked up his first drum sticks when he was about 5 and started beating on a cardboard box...i have a picture of him...sitting there in his underwear and a t-shirt...he is 20 now...he has been playing ever since...i can't count how many broken sticks i've thrown away...or how many countless hours i've had to endure the noise...

 

i didn't realize he had this talent though...it wasn't until he was out of high school that i figured this out...

 

just a couple projects from school...one of his art classes....

 

he has attended several schools...trying to figure out what he wanted to do...right now he is really into art and music...i know its hard to make a living doing that...but, money isn't everything...happiness is...

i just want to say how proud i am of him for being so talented at music and art...not everyone is born that way...its a special gift.... 

here it is hanging up...this is a large piece..18 X 24...i purchased the frame from hobby lobby...one this size is very pricey...i was lucky enough to get it half price and i spray painted it black...(a little bit of a project after all)...

maybe its not all the rage in blogger land right now...but on my wall it is...and it will be on pinterest as soon as i publish this...

CREATING LOVE AND JOY

Ashley