Curbside Cast Out Becomes a Pretty Little Lady

by Grace

$30.00

3 Weeks

Medium

I found this chair abandoned and buried in the snow during our recent snow storm. I was sure that it was either broken or something was missing, but nope. Everything was in tact to my dismay

curbside cast out becomes a pretty little lady, chalk paint, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling

Since I have heard so much about chalk paint projects, I thought I would make this into my first chalk paint project ever. I wanted it to be perfect so I decided to give some serious stripping treatment as well. Sorry, you will hear a lot of "firsts' in this post, lol

I used Citristrip stripping gel I already had. What I didn't know was how many times I would end up repeating this process.

After 4 or 5 stripping, the rest would come off easily by cleaning up and sanding it down.

I put 2 coats of oil based primer to prevent bleeding through.

I wanted to see if I could use the seat insert this chair had, but somehow I couldn't work it out so I had to cut a seat top from a stash I had.

This is what I did for the seat cushion. I didn't have any foam nor did I want to go out and buy something again. I apparently had this think foam I could divide by peeling its thickness first. I used little pieces and then put the last layer to cover them all.

I quite honestly don't know what I was doing...but this is what I did to spray paint the middle of the bottom spindle. I used plastic wrap and painter's tape to target spray the area.

I found this fabric at Hobby Lobby. I used their 40% off coupon and I think I didn't even buy a full yard, maybe just 2/3?

This was also my first serious tack project. I read up here and there but ended up doing this. I had to see the center of the previous tack and tug the fabric at the same. It didn't turn out perfectly straight, mainly because I didn't know what I was doing. My hubby says he can't tell...but he is always sweet like that.

I rolled the bottom of the fabric underneath the chair, used a good old office stapler so that there wouldn't be any more trauma to the wood as there were so many tacks right above it already. That little tape is a little homage to my musicianship. I used a little tube craft glue of some sort to glue and hide the staples.

I am a musician who is taking a little time off after being a caregiver for 2.5 years. Now that my love is better, I am really enjoying all this DIY stuff. I will have to hurry and finish them up before I go back to teaching. :/

It is done. I did put a coat of soft wax like y'all tell me to do when it comes to using chalk paints. I had a hard time "distressing" the chair as I have never done any distressing before. This was another "first", lol. I think the pictures tell you that I went very mildly to say the least.

Here, now she is at home with a secretary desk a friend of mine gave me nearly 2 decades ago. I painted her white too...but didn't know about bleeding through so you can tell the drawers have become a bit yellowish.

Even though I said it took 3 weeks, my phone tells me that it took more than 4 weeks, mainly because of waiting for the stripping to be done properly and also I had to use some wood putty to repair some holes and what not.

I shall now move on to my next project.

Thank you for stopping by! :)

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5 comments

Hannah V on Apr 10, 2015
A pretty lady she is indeed! Great save.

1 Reply
- Grace on Apr 10, 2015
  @Hannah V Thank you Hannah! <3
  
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Chantelle Green on Apr 12, 2015
Great job on the chair. ...

1 Reply
- Grace on Apr 12, 2015
  Thank you so much. I am glad it is done. :)
  
  Like