Office Chair Makeover

Working on the website, I have been in our office a lot. While at the computer, I have realized that our cute, gold office chairs are not the most comfortable things in the world. They were fine for recreational computer use, but not for constant work use. I wanted to find an alternative, but cute office chairs can be so expensive. Not wanting to pay hundreds, I put it off. That is, until I was strolling through Target yesterday and stumbled upon a find:

Target Room Essentials Grey Linen Office Chair

I liked the grey upholstery, but it was still lacking a little something to work in our office. You probably guessed it...gold! Being only $69.99, I thought I'd give this baby a whirl and spray paint the legs gold. It was extremely simple and I love how it turned out.

As always, I use my favorite gold spray paint:

Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold

Only two pieces to spray paint!

I love how it turned out and it matches the other gold accents in our office:

Photos via me

Had to get a picture in with Teddy (he's extremely furry at the moment)! Now we can work on the computer a little more comfortably - good ergonomic thinking! I love what a can of $4 spray paint can do.

Lots of Love,

IKEA Hack - Bar Cart

A couple weeks ago I told you all about the utility cart I purchased at IKEA. Well this weekend, I finally got around to the redo! In case you missed the last post or don't remember what the basic cart looks like, here it is:

BYGEL Utility Cart - IKEA

It doesn't look bad or anything, I just wanted to give it some more character. I decided to stay simple and just go with the gold and white look. I figured I could then add some color with the items I put on the cart and I could change it up for different parties. Honestly, all you have to do is spray paint everything that is silver, including your screws. Don't forget, my go to spray paint for gold is Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold. I dressed it up fun to show on the blog, don't feel like you have to go all out for everyday...unless you want to! Always fun to have a little corner of party in your house.

Tada...

It has a nice drawer for storage - great place for extra cocktail napkins, koozies and straws! I also had some fun plastic silverware to put in there.

I found the cute liquor candies while in Florida at their World Market - if you live in a state where you can buy liquor at a grocery store, you should be able to find them.

It's amazing what a can of $3 spray paint can do! In total, this bar cart cost me less than $35 to make. Plus, the good new is that IKEA now has regular shipping rates. If you aren't near an IKEA or you get anxiety going there, you can order online and shipping looks to be around $10 (at least to my address). Leaves you with money to go buy cute wine and liquor to stock the cart with - Dustin just loved going on that liquor run...not!

Lots of Love,

Painted Globes

I've been working on some random projects lately and one of them is hand painting a globe. I saw the idea on Pinterest and I feel in love with it. The hardest part was tracking down a globe - seriously, I had to go to Toy'R'Us! I ended up going with a classic, regular sized globe (aka I went with the only option I could find). I painted the ocean areas a pretty sea green and then painted the continents black. I then practiced writing the continent and ocean names a million times before painting them on with gold leaf paint. I love the look of the gold lettering on top of the black continents - adds fancy character!

The base of the globe is plastic, so I tried to get creative with making it look pretty. I should have just spray painted like I originally thought, but I got ambitious. I decided to attempt gold leafing - like the actual gold leafing, not the paint on kind. Here are the needed items for gold leafing:

All purchased from Hobby Lobby

Let me tell you friends, do not first time attempt gold leafing on something plastic and weird shaped like a globe stand unless you are Martha Stewart herself! It was hard and it was frustrating - I'm just being honest. I'm excited to try it on something easier in the future, but it was a struggle. That stuff is fragile and doesn't do what you want it to. I also recommend the paint on adhesive because the spray is volatile. Luckily, I was able to fake it and get most of it covered. Then I used the wonderful and much more recommended gold leaf paint to go over it. Here are my pictures of attempting to gold leaf:

Such a pretty mess. I will make sure to share if I have any successful attempts using it on something less awkward!

Here is a sneak peak picture at the other globes I am working on. I was able to find a vintage globe on Ebay and a fun quirky globe at Hobby Lobby:

Photos via me

You can see more details as I progress on them. The vintage globe in the back still doesn't have a solid idea, so if you have any requests, let me know! (I promise the bases won't be such a cluster!) I will most likely be selling these two, I'll keep you posted.

Lots of Love,

Gold Flatware - China Place Setting

Last week I posted about the fun gold flatware options out there: Eat with Gold, and I told you all that I ordered the affordable flatware from Target. Well, it arrived today and I am beyond excited with how it looks! Seriously, Target you are my best friend when it comes to affordable luxuries. You have to check it out for yourself to believe me. I also am excited to share our gorgeous china place setting that we received as wedding gifts. We registered at The Plaid Giraffe (best place to register if you are local!) and I mixed dishes until I found the perfect combination. The new gold flatware completes it!

Napkin - Kim Seybert, Napkin Ring - L'Objet, Bowl - Annie Glass, Charger - Anna Weatherly, Dinner Plate - Simply Anna by Anna Weatherly, Salad Plate - Vieux Paris Green by Haviland, Painted Goblet - MacKenzie Childs, Green Goblet - Juliska, Wine Glass - Waterford (all of these pieces can be found at The Plaid Giraffe); Flatware - Target

Photos via me

Seriously, that flatware is from Target! If you register there, register for those beauties! Every time I pull out our china, I smile because it's so pretty. I love it's elegant and classic look, but it still has a touch of character with the polka dots and painted goblets. Oh, and yes, I do use my china! I have used for dinners with Dustin and remember, it was used at the Amy & Amy birthday party! Plus, I know I will continue to use it as the years go on. My grandma uses hers whenever we come over for a family dinner. I know some people think it can be frivolous, but who cares! Sometimes it is fun to have something gorgeous and frivolous. I'm ready to have another dinner party, so I can use the new gold flatware!

Love,

Gold Balloons

Miss Paige has her birthday tomorrow and we are having a fun dinner at one of her fav places to celebrate. I was in charge of decorations, so I decided to try a balloon design I had been wanting to do for a while. While roaming Pinterest, I found an idea to paint the bottom of a balloon with gold paint. It looked so fun and easy, I had to give it a try.

I went to Party City and purchased some white balloons with the high float helium (so they last longer)...

Then I got to work. I learned a lesson today and found a new product:
Lesson - Acrylic gold paint does not look good painted on balloons.
Favorite New Paint - Liquid Gold Leaf
I luckily already purchased the gold leaf paint for another project I am working on. Once I tried the gold paint, I knew it wasn't going to work. I started applying the gold leaf and viola! the look I was going for. It has a great shine to it and looks like a true gold. Seriously, it's my new craft staple!

While doing the project, I seriously thought it would be so fun to open up a balloon decorating business...probably wouldn't be the most profitable, but it would be fun!

Hopefully the balloons can add a pop of gold and character to our table tomorrow night! I was going for the fancy look ("I'm so fancy!") and the birthday girl better be feeling fancy. I made other cute things for the table and I can't wait to post pictures after the party to show  you all - if it turns out that is! Amy is baking a fancy torte, so you know that's going to be good! Can't wait to celebrate Paige turning another year older :)

Lots of Love,