Cute Little Bench

I found this cute little bench at an estate sale for $8.00.  I thought it was too cute to pass up and the price was right, so I bought it to use in the small area of gardening we have around the condo. 

I think this picture gives a better idea of the size.

We removed this overgrown evergreen bush in the front and replaced it with a Japanese Maple this past weekend.  So, this is kind of a double reveal post!

I didn’t want to leave the bench natural and I didn’t want to have to deal with peeling paint, so I got some white stain for exterior use, as well as a spray polyurethane that is also for indoor/outdoor use.  Well, the stain idea wasn’t working so well, so I wound up buying some exterior white paint at Ace {only $3.25 a quart because they are phasing out this particular Benjamin Moore brand}.

After two coats of paint dried, I applied the polyurethane.  I let it dry between coats but gave it three coats total.  This is a satin poly.

I think it has much more of a cottage look to it now and I like it sitting under the Japanese Maple, which I am also loving.  I am going to get a couple of mums and a perennial referred to as Palace Purple to encircle it.

They will be coming around to put down some fresh mulch soon, so that dirt will get covered with it and look much neater.  Once I get a real pumpkin, I’ll sit that on the bench for Fall.

Linking up with

Blissful Whites Wednesday at Timewashed

Treasure Hunt Thurs. at From My Front Porch To Yours

Be Inspired at Common Ground

 

Bedroom Changes

That should actually be bedrooms, plural.  The bed that was in our master bedroom is now in the guest bedroom ~ headboard and all.

We got a new bed for the master bedroom and once I get everything in place I’ll be sharing that with you.  Meanwhile, I need to find a white paint to repaint this headboard.

Old White {its present color} is not quite what I’m going for in this room and Pure White {both Annie Sloan chalk paints} is too white for what I want in here.  I want white but something not white white, if that makes sense.  Whatever color I decide on for the headboard will be the same color I use on the armoire that I’ve been wanting to paint in here for months now. So if you have any suggestions, my ears are open!

I also have a question for anyone who has painted over their chalk paint projects.  Can you paint right over the piece when it has been waxed?  Or, do I need to use something before painting?  This piece was painted in Old White two years ago and waxed with clear and dark wax at that time {if it matters}.  Thanks in advance for your suggestions and tips!

The Creative Home & Garden Hop

Welcome to The Creative Home & Garden Hop!  The Creative Home & Garden Hop is hosted by me and,

Mary from Back to the Basics and Mary’s Kitchen

Alison from Mumtopia

and Lisa Lynn from The Little Homestead On The Hill

That means that when you link up your posts each week, they will be viewed by even more people! Each host will be sharing her own picks for Featured Bloggers. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured and increases your exposure to new readers. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!

Susan at Sunflower Hugs scored a projector off of Craig’s List and put it to good use!

At Rivercrest Cottage saved over $300.00 by making her Craig’s List find wood desk chair into her Pottery Barn inspiration.

 

Don’t forget to visit the other co-hosts to see who they have featured.

If you were featured, feel free to grab the button and share it on your blog!

Now, on to your latest creations!

• Share up to 3 of your Creative Home and Garden posts. Etsy sellers are welcome to share here too.
• Please link back to the hop in your post. If you don’t take a couple of seconds to do this, you won’t be featured. You can grab our cute button or use a text link in your post. Thanks for sharing the hop with others!
• Pretty please, with cherries on top, go visit as many of the other bloggers posting as you can! The whole point of a hop is to build a community of like minded bloggers who share and support each other. We all love to hear from our visitors, so please leave thoughtful and kind comments when you visit!
• Link your posts once. Please do not link the same post you linked last week! Let’s keep it fresh and fun!
• By linking your posts here you are assuring us that all images and contents are your own, or you have permission to share them. You are also agreeing to let us share your post and images on social media and our blogs.
• Happy hopping!

I’m looking forward to seeing all your links!  You can also still enter for the Autumn Giveaway here!

Fall Urn

 Not totally thrilled with how this looks at the moment and it doesn’t help that I’ve been in a “blah” mood this week.  To my eye, it looks like someone just came along and upended a bag of leaves into my urn.  I will have to take some time and tweak it a bit, I think.

Here is a picture of our front door area that includes all three of the Fall projects I did this year. 

It was 91 degrees the day I put this together and they were letting the schools out early due to the heat.  I’m sure many of my neighbors were thinking I was suffering from heatstroke.

I keep telling myself that sometimes you have projects like this, where they don’t turn out quite like you were expecting them to.  Please tell me you’ve had one recently, too! 

 

Autumn Giveaway Alert

My co-host, Lisa Lynn, from The Creative Home & Garden Hop is hosting an Autumn Giveaway on her blog, Little Homestead On The Hill.  One of the giveaway items is one of my Harvest Time tea towels.

There are lots of other great prizes as well, so head on over and check it out!   I will also have more about it on Sunday for The Creative Home & Garden Hop.