The poly finally dried and my wicked awesome table is complete!

Sorta…

The table is done but there’s one small glitch.

You see, we ordered a new loveseat and it hasn’t arrived yet (booooooo) and the couch we currently have has a much higher back their our new loveseat so my pretty table looks too short.  But once my new, sleek loveseat arrives it will be beautiful.

Without further ado: how my rustic industrial sofa table was born.

I’ve been dreaming about making something out of plumbing pipe for some time now.  Every time we’d go to the home improvement store I’d play in the plumbing pipe aisle, making different legs for a table, brackets for a bookshelf, etc.  Then it finally hit me that a sofa table in our living room would be totally awesome because some other furniture changes in the room have made end tables unnecessary. (Oooohhh… cliff hanger)

First I measured the height of my loveseat (well actually it’s sister – the couch currently living in my family room) and found it to be about 31 inches high.  I Googled it and found out that sofa tables are traditionally 5 or so inches below the back of the sofa.  So I needed to get the height of my table to be approximately 26 inches give or take. Don’t you love my scientific approach?   I also measured the length of the love seat which was about 62 inches.

After a bunch of finagling and brainstorming, I came up with a super simple leg for my table. Here’s my shopping list:

(all my pipes are 1/2″ black unless noted)

4 floor flanges – I used galvanized since they were out of black
4 18″ long black steel pipes
4 6″ long nipples
4 Tee connectors
2 1/2″ nipples
4 caps

Total price: $42.00

Once I figured out all my pieces (ahem… by fully assembling one whole leg in the middle of the plumbing isle) I was good to go.

What I love about this project is that you can make it as simple or complex as you’d like. Add elbows and different connectors and get a totally different look to your table.  And one of my favorite parts: it can all be disassembled later if I want to do something different! Or we finally get to move and I need a different sized table.

The wood top on my table is a scrap piece of 1×8 from our garage and the wood stain we had as well, so they were free!

I washed my pipe in sudsy water because they were a bit grimy. Allow them to dry.

(DO NOT PUT THEM NEAR THE OUTPUT ON YOUR DRYER VENT AS OUR BEAUTIFUL PIPES WILL RUST FROM THE STEAM)

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(Not that I know from experience)

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(Sigh. Anyone have black spray paint?)

Once your pipe is completely dry you can start assembling the legs.

For me I screwed one of the 6″ nipples into the bottom of one of the T connectors. The 1/2″ nipple was then screwed into the side. Attach another T connector to the other end of the 1/2″ nipple and 6″ nipple to the bottom of that T connector. Hard to explain but the pictures will help hopefully.

Now it’s time to add the longer, in my case – 18″ long pipes and the flanges.

Admire your new table legs.  Oh wait… Forgot something.

You may want to add the caps to the exposed end of the 6″ nipple.

Now you can admire.

But not for too long because you need to repeat the process for the other leg.

Next up: the top!  You’ll want to cut the wood you plan on using for the table top. Since I just needed a skinny table I was able to use one board of scrap 1×8 that was 60″ long.  A planked top ala Ana White would be awesome if building a console or coffee table. The sky’s the limit!

Stain the wood to whatever color you wish. Wait for it to dry patiently. Or not.

Put on a couple of coats of polyurethane. Wait for it to dry patiently.

Once it is dry (finally) you are ready to add the legs to the table top (finally).

Determine where you want the legs.

Using screws, attach the flanges to the bottom of the table top.  Repeat with the other set of legs.

Admire your new sofa table.

Add some fun lamps and put your couch back in place. Wish you’re new loveseat would hurry up and get here… patiently.

Hope you liked my little tutorial of sorts! When my new loveseat arrives I’ll update and accessorize!

Check ya later,

Erin

Ask anyone who knows me and I am not known for my patience. Nope. Nada. Nuh-uh. And that’s the way the Good Lord made me. So understandably I get frustrated when I have a totally wicked awesome project that I’m dying to share and even more dying to have completed and it’s STILL NOT FINISHED!!!!

That’s right folks. Currently sitting in my frigid garage (pesky winter…) is a absolutely, positively gorgeous table (spoiler alert – there maybe a gorgeous thrift store find out there too!) all ready to be assembled and installed! Well it will be once the bloody polyurethane dries…

Impatiently yours,
Erin

Anyone still there?
{insert echo sounds here}

Just in case, hello.

I’m back (I’m like a bad penny that way) It’s been nearly a year since my last post. I have a very good excuse too.

No, my dog didn’t eat my homework. Did eat my blog password though…

Anywho. My excuse:

Bam!

This little guy kind of put a hold on my blog. And a hold on his mama’s heart too come to think of it.

This is Henry. He’s 3 months old now (say whaaaaa?!?) My pregnancy with him was hard work but he’s here and perfect and we just adore the absolute snot out of him.

But he does required much of mamas time and energy (and quite frankly my calories- this kid is a tank!) so don’t be expecting too much from me in the wicked awesome posts department.

Not to worry though. We did do a lot of work on the house over the past several months (sneak peak of one of our projects behind Henry’s giant noggin) and the work continues so I have plenty to share so keep checking back!

Check ya later, alligator!
Erin

Step 1: Go to Walmart or Petco or wherever and buy yourself a piece of fake coral for fish tanks. I got mine at Walmart for $3.98. As you can see, mine is pink.

Step 2: Locate your white spray paint from the 10,000 cans you have. I used Krylon Fusion for Plastics.

Step 3: Remove coral from package.


Step 4: Spray paint the bejesus out of the fake coral.

Then spray it some more.

Step 5: Let it dry.

Step 6: Stand back and enjoy.

What do you think? Easy right? I’m contemplating going back and getting more. They had a bunch of different sizes and types to choose from. Can’t you see a grouping of these sitting on a bookshelf? Ooh, perhaps with the beach inspired frame near by? Would be awesome!

I’ve seen fake coral like this for $20+ a piece at Pottery Barn! I’ll take my $4 version any day!

Hope you liked my little project!

Lots of love,
Erin

P.S. Sorry about the iPhone pictures. I’m currently in bed nursing a sore mouth after a visit from the dentist this afternoon.

{ gotta break out the power washer this weekend! }

And this….

And finally this….

Today we mowed the lawn (in March?!?), trimmed some hedges, put down a whole lotta new mulch and put some fun yellow flowers at the front door. Finger crossed for our upcoming showings!

Hope your enjoying the summer like weather on the first day of spring!

Lots of Love,
Erin

Hopefully, you have looked through my archives and were able to see my gorgeous monogrammed acrylic tray tutorial. If you haven’t yet, go now. Go ahead. I’ll wait…

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Back? Super cute, right?

I big pink, puffy heart it.

Anywho, I don’t know if you noticed in the background of one of my inspiration pictures there is this a really pretty picture frame with flowers on it.

{ image originally from Chic Cheap Nursery | edited by me }

Isn’t it just lovely? I had to make it. So I did. Yay!

I used an unfinished wood frame that I bought for $1 at Michaels, some plastic spoons from the dollar store, a ceramic tile to build my flower on, hot glue and a candle. Not pictured is the white spray paint I also used and a glass jem (like for fish tanks) I used for the center. Oh, and matches or a lighter for your candle.

I had seen all of the lovely melted spoon tutorials floating around Pinterest and thought that they looked very similar to the flowers on my inspiration frame. After reading several I just decided to go for it.

Step 1: Melt a spoon. To do this hold your spoon sort of close by not too close to the lit candle. Too close and you will 1) catch the spoon on fire, 2) melt a hole in your spoon or 3) get char marks on said spoon. It wasn’t too hard but it took me a couple to figure out how close was too close.

Make several so that when you go to assemble your flower you have plenty of petals to choose from.

Next, cut the bowl of the spoon off from the handle. I used my kitchen shears for this. Be warned: the pieces sort of fly all over the place.

Place a pretty big bead of hot glue in the center of your ceramic tile. This will be where you build your flower. Don’t worry, the flower will come off the tile really easily when we’re all done.

Working quickly before the glue dries completely, insert your petal into the hot glue. I played around with my petals before using the glue so I had an idea of what petal I wanted where. As you can see, I used 4 petals for my outer flower. I used another 4 petals for my inner flower. The inner flower petals fill the spaces left between the outer flower petals.

Then I glued a floral gem into the center of the inner flowers. This covers up an rough edges that may be in the center of your flower.

I repeating the process again to make a second flower. I also melted spoons to resemble leaves. Then I did a dry fit to make sure they fit on the frame and where I wanted the flowers to be placed.

Spray paint the frame white. Once dry, it’s time to add the “leaf” spoons. I left the handle longer on these spoons so they tucked nicely under the flower. Then I hot glued the flowers onto the frame. Then you’re done! Time to enjoy your new, gorgeous frame.

{ side view – I love the texture }

{ close up of the flower }

So what do you think? Do you love the texture as much as I do? Sigh. <;3

Lots of Love,

Erin

]]> http://lifeislikebowlfullofcherries.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/melted-spoon-flower-frame/feed/ 7 cherrymamaerin Melted Spoon Frame Tutorial Inspiration Frame Melted Spoon Frame Materials Make more petals than you need Cut the bowl of the spoon off from the handle Place bead of hot glue in the center of the ceramic tile Arrange your petals in the hot glue Glue a floral gem in the center of the flower Repeat previous steps to make another flower and some leaves. Spray paint the frame white So lovely Frame from the side - Love the texture Close up of the flower http://lifeislikebowlfullofcherries.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/pinterest-thursday-clothes-pin-frame/ http://lifeislikebowlfullofcherries.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/pinterest-thursday-clothes-pin-frame/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:17:44 +0000 cherrymamaerin http://lifeislikebowlfullofcherries.wordpress.com/?p=213 ]]>

I stumbled upon Steph from Crafting in the Rain‘s clothes pin picture frame through a linky party. I was immediately drawn to the awesome texture the clothes pins gave the frame. I knew I had to make one ASAP.

{ via Pinterest }

Steph dyed her clothes pins using black RIT dye. I didn’t have any and I wanted to make this project using things I already had. No problem. Spray paint to the rescue!

The project is pretty self explanitory. Get a frame and glue on the clothes pins. My frame had a nice wide face so it was perfect for this. I used 12 wooden spring clothes pins to cover my frame found in my laundry room. How many you will need will depend on your frame. I recommend a dry fit before gluing. I just slid them right off the spring mechanism.

First I spread the glue all over my frame. Don’t laugh but I used good ole fashioned Elmers for this. You could probably use whatever glue you wanted. Even hot glue but you would have to either work in warp speed or put a bead of glue, one pin, glue, one pin, etc. I wanted to be able to move my pins around a bit to get the fit right.

Arrange the clothespins on the frame flat side down. I really liked how Steph alternated the direction of the clothes pins so I did the same. The two small pieces? I used those as fillers in the interior corners. (Kind of hard to see)

Once you play with the arrangement and get it just right, let the frame dry.

Now it’s time for spray paint. I used a gloss brown spray paint I found in the basement.

I had a great time moving the frame around the house.

In our bedroom. In the family room. On the mantel (see anything familiar? ) But I think on our landing might be my favorite spot.

What do you think? Where should the frame live? Are you going to make your own? I’d love to see it!

Lots of Love,

Erin

Six years ago when my husband and I were about to get married, we were working on our gift registry. I had found these dishes at Pottery Barn from the Emma Dinnerware Collection I absolutely loved them but just couldn’t justify a third set of dishes. Both he and I already had solid white Corelle dishware that we were bringing to the marriage and had just registered for a gorgeous set of fine china. I didn’t feel right asking friends and family to buy us an “everyday” set of dishes that were actually more expensive than our fine china! So I admired the dishes from afar.

{ Emma Dinnerware Collection from Pottery Barn }

Until Tuesday that is. I was at my local Dollar Tree and strolling down the dishware aisle what should my wondering eyes appear? The Emma dinnerware! Or something INCREDIBLY close to them. Granted, the Dollar Tree versions don’t have all the salad plate and extra bowl or the extra platters and servingware but we’re not really fancy smancy people. Dinner plates and salad bowls are all we need.

My Dollar Tree only had 4 good plates and 4 good bowls (some had weird black spots- yes I went through every dish and bowl they had. ) Thus, a wild goose chase began.

I stopped by the other Dollar Tree in town (yes, there are two). There I got another 4 plates and 4 bowls. Then since we were headed up there I stopped at the Dollar Tree in my husband’s hometown but they had none left! Perhaps others have caught wind of the Emma dinnerware lookalikes. I was bummed. But luckily there was one more Dollar Tree close by that I could stop at. Hubby took the kids in my van and I took his car and on the way home I stopped there. Wow! I hit the motherlode! That store had a bunch of the plates and bowls so I got the 5 I needed. So for $26 bucks I got a set of 13 Emma lookalikes! That’s a little more than half the price of 4 bowls from Pottery Barn!!

{ aren’t they gorgeous? }

Now, you may be wondering why I bought 13. Well. A few reasons – 1) I’m Irish and superstitious and 13 has brought us good luck, 2) One extra in case something breaks and 3) I have 13 place settings of my fine china. Since my plan is to mix and match them with my fine china I wanted equal amounts. So now I have 26 place settings for things like holidays or special occasions. If we ever get a dining room capable of fitting 26 people that is. One can dream

Ready for more pictures?

So how about you? Got any amazing deals lately? Are you ready to throw the kids in the van and hi-tail it over to your Dollar Tree for the Emma lookalikes? If so, be prepared. It might be like Black Friday morning at the Dollar Tree.

Lots of Love,

Erin

I may have a new piece of decor in my kitchen.  I saw this gorgeous sign in the kitchen of Kelley at The Polished Pebble.  As soon as I saw it I had to make my own.

I started to looked for a way to transfer an inkjet print out to wood.  I found a tutorial for this at Green Wedding Shoes.  I thought I would give it a try.

First I got a scrap piece of wood and cut it down to the size I wanted.  I was a little overzealous and painted it before taking this picture. Whoops!

To give it a distressed look I brushed on waterdown black paint.  I added the non-watered version to the edges just like in the inspiration. Let it dry.

Now for the transfer part.  The tutorial I used told me to brush a thin coat of Elmer’s glue onto a piece of cardstock.  Once that had dried, I sent it through my printer.  I designed the lettering in Photoshop by just typing out the word lunch and then reversed the image so the transfer would work.  The black lines helped me to design the lettering to fit my board.  Once the design had printed I cut it out just inside the black lines.

Per the instructions, I brushed on a thin coat of Mod Podge onto the wood board. And then I put the print out facedown onto the wet Mod Podge.

Really press the print down into the wet Mod Podge and flatten it out getting rid of any air bubbles.  Make sure that your entire print is down in the Mod Podge. Then place a heavy object on your board and leave it for at least 8 hours. I left mine overnight.

The next day I ran the board and cardstock under warm water like the tutorial told me.  However, I was super impatient and started to pick the paper off.  I think that’s why I didn’t get the real nice transfer I was hoping for.  No worries.  I just filled in the letters with black craft paint.  I’m going to try this method again and hopefully I’ll actually follow the directions next time.

Then I went ahead and used my sandpaper to sand the edges and lightly sand over the lettering to distress the sign a bit more.  Here’s how it turned out:

{ in the window }

{ on the (very dirty) coffee maker }

{ sigh. love it }

So what do you think?  Do you love it as much as I do?  I’m going to give the transfer method another try.  Hopefully I’ll follow directions next time

Lots of Love,

Erin