Hi Everyone~
I know that it has been a few days, but I have been tolling away in the bathroom, so that I could have a shower in the house by the weekend! Mission accomplished... YES!!! Finally... I was two days short of going on 3... yes 3 weeks of not having a shower. I will definitely be posting pictures soon, but am soooo tired right now! I had to clean the house today and that was NO small feat. Luckily... I did start cleaning last week, so not as bad as it could of been! Will definitely be posting pics by the end of the week. My biggest dilemma right now is what feel I am going for in the bathroom. I want spa... and have bought 4 showers curtains and still don't know if I have the right one. I am going to IKEA tomorrow, so we will see what I turn up!! I am putting myself on a strict budget, as I have already dug enough in my pocket to get this bathroom done!! So with the bathroom done... I can now get back to posting on a regular basis!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
How to Pick the Right and Good Paintbrush
So I getting to the end of my bathroom renovation, so you know what that means PAINTING!! I saw this post on a blog called Today's Nest and just had to share it because I was literally in Lowe's last night trying to figure out what paintbrushes I needed to complete this project the quickest and most efficiently. Be sure to check out this blog because they have a TON of great posts!!
OK... so you have your paint color or stain and you walk over to the massive amount of paint brushes AND rollers available... do you just look and stare OR do you get caught up in all the great accessories that they have for painting. Corner pads, edge trimmers, paint pads, trim rollers... and the list can go on. Like I said I get caught up. I have a bag of materials I have to take back today because I got caught up last night.
But really after you've chosen the
right stain or paint, how do you choose the right tools for the job...
and does it even matter? Of course it does!
Anatomy of a brush
Handle – most importantly, choose one that fits well in your hand. Made of wood or plastic. Common types are:
or tin.
Bristles – where all the magic happens. The butt end of the bristles are held together in an epoxy setting inside the ferrule. The tip end holds and delivers the paint.
Plug – this handy part is nestled within the bristles to divide them and act as a reservoir for the liquid. It is typically made of wood or cardboard. Better brushes will have smaller, thinner ones.
Keepers – that plastic sleeve the brush is in. Hold on to it to store your brush after each use. It is perfectly sized and fits over the handle, too.
In the Bristles
Flagged (or split) ends on bristles allow them to better hold and spread paint. The result is more even painting with fewer brush strokes on the painted surface. A good quality brush will have a high percentage of flagged bristles.
Except those intended for precision painting, higher quality brushes will also have bristles of varying length.
Bristles of good quality brushes are tapered. Tapering allows the bristles to hold more paint.
Some common types are:
Types of brushes
Wall brush – use this one on walls, floors, and ceilings. Generally found in 3 to 5 inch versions, pick the one that suits you best.
Angle sash brush – use this one for more precise painting such as trim, sashes, and sills. It is perfect for cutting in corners. These most commonly come between 1 to 3 ½ inch varieties. 2 ½ inch seems to be favored by many painters.
Flat sash brush – use this one for wide trim and sashes. You will find this in a few sizes, but 3 inch is a good starting place.
More to consider
You don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive brush, but choose a good quality one that will last for many paint projects to come.
Avoid those brushes with bristles secured by glue. Look for epoxy settings.
Dipping your brush just halfway up the bristles is sufficient to load it with paint. If you dip it all the way to the ferrule you can cause damage, and at the very least, a clean-up nightmare.
To release excess paint, gently tap both flat sides of the brush on the inside of the paint can.
Break the habit of dragging the side along the inside of the can. This removes much of the paint that you just loaded.
Maintenance and care
Clean brushes immediately to avoid hardening.
Use a metal comb on wet bristles.
Clean oil based paints from brushes with solvent. Use water and mild detergent to clean latex based paints.
Keep brushes in the plastic sleeve (keepers) in which they were purchased. If you don’t have that any longer wrap brushes (with bristles flat) in aluminum foil.
Always store flat or suspended by the hole in the handle to keep bristles straight.
Soaking brushes in water can cause irreparable damage to the filament and/or epoxy setting and could cause the ferrule to rust.
Need to take a break? Keep a supply of plastic wrap around to cover your brushes and keep them from drying out.
And all those other accessories... they definitely help, but the good old paintbrush does the trick every time!!
- Beaver tail short handle – 2 inches long. It is good for maneuvering in tight, narrow places.
- Beaver tail handle – usually 4 inches long. It is the standard size for most projects.
- Sash handle – 6 ½ inches long. It is good for extra control when painting as it is easier to turn.
or tin.
Bristles – where all the magic happens. The butt end of the bristles are held together in an epoxy setting inside the ferrule. The tip end holds and delivers the paint.
Plug – this handy part is nestled within the bristles to divide them and act as a reservoir for the liquid. It is typically made of wood or cardboard. Better brushes will have smaller, thinner ones.
Keepers – that plastic sleeve the brush is in. Hold on to it to store your brush after each use. It is perfectly sized and fits over the handle, too.
In the Bristles
Flagged (or split) ends on bristles allow them to better hold and spread paint. The result is more even painting with fewer brush strokes on the painted surface. A good quality brush will have a high percentage of flagged bristles.
Except those intended for precision painting, higher quality brushes will also have bristles of varying length.
Bristles of good quality brushes are tapered. Tapering allows the bristles to hold more paint.
Some common types are:
- Natural hog bristles – best for oil-based paints. Don’t bother to use these bristles with anything other than oil-based paints. The naturalness of them makes them prone to holding water which ends badly.
- Nylon bristles – used for latex paints.
- Polyester – can be used for all paints with relative success.
Types of brushes
Wall brush – use this one on walls, floors, and ceilings. Generally found in 3 to 5 inch versions, pick the one that suits you best.
Angle sash brush – use this one for more precise painting such as trim, sashes, and sills. It is perfect for cutting in corners. These most commonly come between 1 to 3 ½ inch varieties. 2 ½ inch seems to be favored by many painters.
Flat sash brush – use this one for wide trim and sashes. You will find this in a few sizes, but 3 inch is a good starting place.
More to consider
You don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive brush, but choose a good quality one that will last for many paint projects to come.
Avoid those brushes with bristles secured by glue. Look for epoxy settings.
Dipping your brush just halfway up the bristles is sufficient to load it with paint. If you dip it all the way to the ferrule you can cause damage, and at the very least, a clean-up nightmare.
To release excess paint, gently tap both flat sides of the brush on the inside of the paint can.
Break the habit of dragging the side along the inside of the can. This removes much of the paint that you just loaded.
Maintenance and care
Clean brushes immediately to avoid hardening.
Use a metal comb on wet bristles.
Clean oil based paints from brushes with solvent. Use water and mild detergent to clean latex based paints.
Keep brushes in the plastic sleeve (keepers) in which they were purchased. If you don’t have that any longer wrap brushes (with bristles flat) in aluminum foil.
Always store flat or suspended by the hole in the handle to keep bristles straight.
Soaking brushes in water can cause irreparable damage to the filament and/or epoxy setting and could cause the ferrule to rust.
Need to take a break? Keep a supply of plastic wrap around to cover your brushes and keep them from drying out.
And all those other accessories... they definitely help, but the good old paintbrush does the trick every time!!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
How To Die Clear Glasses
Saw this idea on PINTEREST and knew that I would probably be doing this for the glasses I use in my bathroom, which is currently undergoing renovations!! Go take a look at the blog Craft Berry Bush and this was where I got the idea from.
Now let the FUN begin!
The jars I am using I got from Old Time Pottery in Surfside Beach, SC. If you have an Old Time Pottery go check out the store as they have a TON of items at GREAT times. My jars ranged from $1.49-$3.99.
You will need:
~ Clear Jar
~ Mode Podge or White Elmers' GLue
~ Paint Brush
~ Food Coloring
~ And last but not least PATIENCE
Now let the FUN begin!
The jars I am using I got from Old Time Pottery in Surfside Beach, SC. If you have an Old Time Pottery go check out the store as they have a TON of items at GREAT times. My jars ranged from $1.49-$3.99.
You will need:
~ Clear Jar
~ Mode Podge or White Elmers' GLue
~ Paint Brush
~ Food Coloring
~ And last but not least PATIENCE
Now let's begin... Mix 1 tsp of glue, 3 drops of food coloring and 1.5 tsp
of water. You might want to try different ratios and see what you
prefer though. Obviously the more food colouring the darker the jar will be. In
order to make a turquoise shade you will need two drops of blue and 1
drop of green.
In a small bowl, place the glue, food colouring and water. And mix together with a brush.
This amount is sufficient to cover three jars if you are using the brushing method.
Turn your jar upside down and using even strokes, brush onto the jar from bottom to top, being careful not to go over it too much or the glue will start to clump together. The streaks you see when the mixture is wet will ALMOST be invisible if done correctly. And this is where the patience comes in.
Be sure to seal the jar with a sealant, so that if you do use the jar as a vase all of your hard work will not come off!!
And now you have beautiful jars to display around your home. Me I am going to use mine in the bathroom!! I have ordered a TON of items of off Etsy... bath bombs, body scrubs, bath balls that fizz, bath salts. Yes I am getting a little over the top with having girly things in the bathroom and can't wait to see the products in the jars.
Be sure to share your pictures with me, so that I can show them on my blog! I would LOVE to see how they come out.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Easter Inspiration
With Easter this Sunday... thought I would share some inspiration pictures of what you could do for Easter decorations.!! ENJOY & HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY! One more day until the weekend.
The banner can be made by cutting ovals out of cardstock paper and then pasting on pre-formed letters. Have fun with decorating the eggs. And when Easter is over, just store for next year!!
Paper Pom Poms are EVERYWHERE!! Be sure to check out my earlier post on how to make these. They look great everywhere and are quick and inexpensive way to liven up a space. Want to create that backdrop? 1. Get 2 foam boards and tape them together. 2. Get some fabric you like and enough to cover the two boards. 3. Using fabric adhesive... spray onto board and lay fabric on top. 4. Pull fabric until smooth and secure on the back. Quick and easy!! Just be light on that spray adhesive. I learned this the hard way!!
More poms AND see those blue tinted glasses on the way... I will be putting up a post on how to make this lovely creation tomorrow, so be on the lookout!!
Orange and Pink anyone... these colors sure make a statement!! I love this color combination. See the jars on the left side of the photo... you can get these at the Dollar Store. Just decorate with some ribbon and there you go!! When creating and organizing make the Dollar Store one of your first stops! They have some of the best DIY and storage solutions!! Just get a can of spray and that's all you need!
Baby's Breath Bunny Wreath = LOVE!!
Buy a case of water and make the labels at home on your home computer. Will be putting up a template for water bottle labels next week!!
Peeps on a stick... Easter wouldn't be Easter without peeps!!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Bathroom Renovation - Part 2
My bathroom... where do I start!! I have learned the BIGGEST lesson about hiring contractors in the past few days.... DO YOUR RESEARCH!! The contractor (K-Tell Contracting... owner's name is Donnell) that I began with I ended having to let go, as he was trying to nickel and dime me because I am a young female. And on top of that he was completing work that I did not approve of and then was charging me for it!! Let me say there were a number of things that went wrong with this contractor and it was just a poor experience. I know for a fact that I will NEVER hire this contractor again. But on to brighter news...
That same day I let go of that contractor, I started looking to interview new contractors, as I was in(am still am) in desperate need of a bathroom with a shower. Having to call friends on a daily basis to get a shower is NO FUN!! Now I had to think... how do I find a trustworthy contractor that can get the job done in a timely fashion and for a decent price. I got smart and decided to use the resources that were available to me the internet and family. A great place to look for contractors is website called Angie's List. It does cost to access this site, but well worth the 8.25!! $3.25 a month and a one time fee of $5 to sign up. I was able to find multiple contractors on this site, reviewed pictures of their work as well, and was able to read reviews from others who have used their services. I ended up picking a new contractor that same day, but they could not start until Monday... it was Wednesday and I was going home on Friday, so waiting a few days would not make a big difference.
Well when the new contractor (Mr. Sims) saw the work the past contractor had done he just shook his head and said we will get you straight. We ended up tearing down some of the previous contractors work!! But it's all good. At least I know the bathroom will be right. At the moment I am still a ways from having a complete bathroom. I have NO bathroom floor... it got ripped down to the joists!!
My biggest gripe in this whole things is the amount of dust and dirt that is EVERYWHERE. I just look around and just shake my head. I want to start cleaning, but what's the point it will all just get dirty again. So I take alot of deep breaths and try not to look around me because if I do I will have an anxiety attack... lol!! My bathroom should be done by the end of the week and I am bringing in a cleaning company as soon as this renovation is done... I can't even tackle the level of dust and dirt that is going on in this house right now.
Hopefully everyone had a great weekend and a FAB Monday!!
That same day I let go of that contractor, I started looking to interview new contractors, as I was in(am still am) in desperate need of a bathroom with a shower. Having to call friends on a daily basis to get a shower is NO FUN!! Now I had to think... how do I find a trustworthy contractor that can get the job done in a timely fashion and for a decent price. I got smart and decided to use the resources that were available to me the internet and family. A great place to look for contractors is website called Angie's List. It does cost to access this site, but well worth the 8.25!! $3.25 a month and a one time fee of $5 to sign up. I was able to find multiple contractors on this site, reviewed pictures of their work as well, and was able to read reviews from others who have used their services. I ended up picking a new contractor that same day, but they could not start until Monday... it was Wednesday and I was going home on Friday, so waiting a few days would not make a big difference.
Well when the new contractor (Mr. Sims) saw the work the past contractor had done he just shook his head and said we will get you straight. We ended up tearing down some of the previous contractors work!! But it's all good. At least I know the bathroom will be right. At the moment I am still a ways from having a complete bathroom. I have NO bathroom floor... it got ripped down to the joists!!
My biggest gripe in this whole things is the amount of dust and dirt that is EVERYWHERE. I just look around and just shake my head. I want to start cleaning, but what's the point it will all just get dirty again. So I take alot of deep breaths and try not to look around me because if I do I will have an anxiety attack... lol!! My bathroom should be done by the end of the week and I am bringing in a cleaning company as soon as this renovation is done... I can't even tackle the level of dust and dirt that is going on in this house right now.
Hopefully everyone had a great weekend and a FAB Monday!!
Monday, April 2, 2012
More Pics of the Baby Shower
Here are some more pics of the baby shower that a guest sent to me yesterday!! Enjoy!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Bathroom Renovation - Part 1
Happy Monday All:
Sorry I have been absent these past few days. I am in the middle of a MAJOR bathroom renovation! Yeah and Boo... Plus and Minus!! There are so many ups and downs ALREADY to this project. The yeah... I get a new bathroom... the boo... I have to knock out a WHOLE bathroom! This reno consisted of a FULL GUT JOB!! So guess who thought she was going to have fun with a sledge hammer... ME! Fun... not at all! My house was built in 1964 and things just weren't built the same as they are in today's time. They were built to withstand everything and I think they just mixed stuff up to make thin-set. Because that thin-set wasn't so thin!! It was actually over an 1 inch thick... then it had wire behind that. Oh yeah remember there is a tile you have to bust as well. The kicker the WHOLE bathroom is tiled!! I thought it was only going to take 2-3 hours to demo the bathroom... WRONG... can you say 12 hours... yes you read that right 12 HOURS!! 12 hours of blood, sweat, and tears. Yes there was some blood, a lot of sweat, and I had a melt down when I got done with the bathroom this morning because my body... mostly my hands hurt so bad. And on top of that I got had about 6 hours of sleep in 2 days. So not really my prettiness moment.
Doing this demolition thought me a lot though. Withstanding pain and pushing through when all of really want to is quit... is really just mind over matter. This morning when I was staring at the floor that I needed to bust out... I really just wanted to call it quits. I had to take a few breaths, say a prayer and just go in! I took each area that I got done as an accomplishment and made small goals for myself. The prize for completing the goal... a break for lifting the sledge hammer! And when I was finally done at 6 am... all I could do was say THANK YOU... I MADE IT... AND I FINISHED!!
But let me just say I will NEVER bust out a bathroom that was built before 1980's and never had a reno before. Naw not going to do it!! If its after the 80's... I'm all in and I will take on any room that is mostly sheetrock.
So here are some pics of the before and during pics and will post some more during and after pics and let you know how this journey goes. I can already tell you cleanup doesn't look like its going to be much fun either!!
Doing this demolition thought me a lot though. Withstanding pain and pushing through when all of really want to is quit... is really just mind over matter. This morning when I was staring at the floor that I needed to bust out... I really just wanted to call it quits. I had to take a few breaths, say a prayer and just go in! I took each area that I got done as an accomplishment and made small goals for myself. The prize for completing the goal... a break for lifting the sledge hammer! And when I was finally done at 6 am... all I could do was say THANK YOU... I MADE IT... AND I FINISHED!!
But let me just say I will NEVER bust out a bathroom that was built before 1980's and never had a reno before. Naw not going to do it!! If its after the 80's... I'm all in and I will take on any room that is mostly sheetrock.
So here are some pics of the before and during pics and will post some more during and after pics and let you know how this journey goes. I can already tell you cleanup doesn't look like its going to be much fun either!!
The vanity area. That mirror was really low... it was like in my chest. This use to be my granny's house and she was 4'11 and she put the mirror up so just she could look in it. Because I sure can't.
The toilet area. This was the beginning of my demo!
The inside of the shower. NASTY!! So happy to see it gone!
The back of the bathtub. See the big crack?!
Got all the tile ripped out of this part. Tedious process as I had to make sure I didn't bust any pipes!! We already had one water issue going on.
See the wire... Yeah was still struggling and really didn't see the end in sight!!
I was actually able to get this wall to come out in one piece, BUT because of the weight we had to break it down because we just couldn't carry it. It would take an army to move it!!
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