Target tape

August is the month of birthdays around here and with so many birthdays to keep straight, I need a simple way to wrap gifts.  Target to the rescue.  They now offer several Kid Made Modern products and my favorite are the packages of printed tape for $6.99.  You get 9 rolls for this price, which I think is a deal.  The tape tears easily and adds a colorful punch to the wrapping paper.

yay August birthdays!

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New painting

Kyle on a couch.  3'x4' oil on canvas, puff paint, fabric

Detail shots:

What I'm reading

Source: bookchowdown.blogspot.com via Sheena on Pinterest

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  It's been a while since I laughed out loud during a read.  You'll find yourself laughing and crying several times throughout- but I promise you, it's not depressing.  Such a great book; please read it.

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Wood pallet table #2

I finished our second wood pallet coffee table!  I used the same process as our first - if you click the link you'll see my step-by-step images.

Not sure if this is its final resting place, but it works for now.  Pics from my phone:

My parents visit tomorrow !! so they'll be the first to rest their coffees.  

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Paint day

Wood Pallet update

On Friday I posted my wood pallet diy goals and today I have an update!  I worked all weekend and finished one coffee table.  Kyle contributed his drill skills and motivational one-liners saying at one point this was a "disaster it yourself" project instead of "do it yourself".  We persevered and I'm happy with the result.  Here's our process.

The before:


Notice there are two pallets.  I worked with the darker - and flatter - pallet first.  I sanded all day but still wasn't able to get it perfectly smooth.  A sand machine would have been nice, but oh well.  I then applied a couple coats of watered-down white paint (I didn't want it completely white).



Once the paint dried, I added several coats of polyurethane.  Then we attached a little height with more scrap wood.  We used liquid nails and screws for this step.



Next we put on the wheels.  Wheels were optional but we thought completely necessary because the weight of the table is quite heavy.  We purchased 4" wheels (with brakes).



The wheels were the last to go on.  Here is the end result:





It's definitely not perfect - it could use more sanding as there are some rough parts - but we are happy with it :).

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Wood Pallet DIY

Source: google.com via Sheena on Pinterest

I browse the "free" section of craigslist almost every day because I have my eye out for random housewares and furniture pieces.  Usually, the postings are a bust.  You'll see a lot of free firewood (um, it's 100 degrees outside) - BUT every now and then you'll find something of use.  Yesterday, a local warehouse set out 15 wooden pallets for the taking.  Have you seen the wooden pallet craze on pinterest?  Believe it or not, making something out of those crazy pieces of wood is on my list of things to do this summer.  So, my husband, Oscar doggus, and I drove out to the warehouse late last night and picked out 2 wooden pallets we thought would hold up nicely as a coffee table.  Now the reconstruction begins!!  I'm off to our local hardware store for sand paper - I don't have a sand machine, is that bad?

Here are a few ideas for the pallets I found on pinterest.  Like I said, we're making a coffee table (with wheels), but there are so many other options.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Sheena on Pinterest

Source: inspirationgreen.com via Sheena on Pinterest

Source: mnn.com via Sheena on Pinterest

Source: oberholtzer.tumblr.com via Sheena on Pinterest

Source: funkybeardecor.com via Sheena on Pinterest

Wish me luck,

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