Easy Painted Countertop

I had not been planning on painting my countertops, but after I finished painting the backsplash the counters were just screaming “please update me”! The countertops are laminate and they have seen better days. So, since painting the backsplash was successful, I did not think twice about painting the countertop too. I know, you’re probably thinking “she’s crazy…painting the backsplash and countertops!”, but I am happy with the result.

Now, I know there are hundreds of kits out there that you can buy to do this. But, for the sake of time and budget I decided to go with a technique I found on Pinterest using some plain ole acrylic paint. And, just fyi, I was not going for a granite look. I was going for more or less a quartz look.

Here’s what I did

Supplies used

• acrylic paints (various shades of grey)
• primer
• polycrylic sealer
• dish sponge
• foam roller
• stain/varnish brush
  

Step 1:

Prepped the countertop by taping edges with painter’s tape, wiping it down with rubbing alcohol, then sanding lightly

-I cleaned the sanding dust with a microfiber cloth

Step 2:

Painted the primer on using a foam roller, and a brush for the smaller areas

Step 3:

While the primer was drying, I played with patterns on a piece of paper until I was happy with one

-In the end, I did not end up using the darkest colored paint

Step 4:

Used the sponge to dab on each color in varied patterns

-After the third color, it looked a little blue, so I went back over with the darker color

Step 5:

Sanded lightly and sealed with polycrylic (I did 2 coats)

this is the satin finish while still wet (was kind of dull when dry)

*I initially used the satin finish polycrylic, but ended up getting the gloss finish.

And there you have it! I let the top coat dry for 24 hours, but I didn’t put anything on the counters for a few days just because I was nervous about ruining it. I ended up using my craft knife to cut along the edges of the painters tape so I wouldn’t peel up the polycrylic.

In total, I spent just under $40 because I got both finishes of polycrylic. If I had just gotten the gloss finish it would have cost just under $30. If I were to do this again, I would skip the stain brush and just get the foam roller because it applied the finish much more evenly.

I would love to know what updates your making to your home! Again, thanks and God bless.

Living Simply,

Mindy✿

Multipurpose Collapsible Organizer

Today I have a very quick post for you. As my list grows with projects to complete, I've decided to add a couple of additional posts each month to share some of my easier projects. These will be projects that can typically be completed in a hour or less. A lot less chit chat, just a few pictures and quick steps, so if you wanted to do this you could easily get it done the same day.

I am using this multipurpose organizer for my trunk because I needed something that could hold my reusable shopping bags (that I'm notorious for leaving at home) and those other miscellaneous items that always end up in the trunk.

Ok let's get started.

Step 1:

used hot glue to attach one side of each fabric bin to the other. I only used the glue along the edges.

These are the Dollar Tree fabric storage bins

Step 2: 

expanded the bins and went to organize my trunk

And that's it! A two step and $3 project. It doesn't get simpler that that. Now, your probably wondering why I'm calling this a multipurpose organizer. Well, after I opened it up, I had a thought that with a little finagling you could hang this vertically in a closet and use it as a hanging organizer! What I love about this is you can add as many bins as you want to fit your need.

In addition to the organizer, I want to share this simple first aid kit I put together to keep in the trunk. I have three kids, who are accident prone (they take after me). And, with both my girls in extracurricular activities this year I have to be prepared. 

Cost $7 for everything except the ice pack (which I had on hand)

As always, thanks and God bless!

Living Simply
Mindy ✿

PB inspired wall mirror

In the recent months, I’ve been trying to define my home décor style. And, after some thought, I’m calling it modern with a touch of rustic. I tend to lean toward clean lines, a somewhat minimalistic feel, with some natural textures and roughed up elements. Having said that, I created another YouTube inspired project (that is a copycat) of a PB (pottery barn) wall mirror. If you follow Diy crafters on YouTube, you may know what I’m talking about.

When I first saw this diy I wasn’t familiar with the PB piece that was being copied, but I knew I had the perfect spot for a wall mirror in my living room (which is screaming for some wall décor). So, I went on the PB website to check out their version, only to discover that they have multiple variations of tiled wall mirrors. I decided to make my own version of the Aiden accent wall mirror, because I had already gone to dollar tree and found mirrors. The store usually carries a mirror with a narrower frame, but I found these which worked out perfectly for my project.

Ok, now on to the steps I took…

Here are the supplies I used:

• White foam board
  

  
• 4 framed mirrors
• Hot glue
• Super glue
• Chalk paint (and a brush)

Step 1:

Removed all staples and hanging supports from back of frames

Step 2:

Removed cardboard backing and mirror, and painted along the inner edge and outside of frames 

-painting the inner edge will prevent the mirror from reflecting the black

-I used a dry brush technique(wiping most of the paint off before applying)  to create a weathered/distressed look

Step 3:

After all the frames were dry, I used hot glue (a small dot) in the corners of the frame to secure the mirror inside, then replaced all the cardboard backing

- I only used a tiny dot of hot glue so it wouldn't spread and reflect onto the mirror

Step 4:

Placed all 4 frames on the foam board, traced around the frames, and cut the board to fit

- I left about a 1/4 inch overhang on all sides

Step 5:

Secured the frames onto the foam board using crazy glue and hot glue

- I put the crazy glue on the frame, and the hot glue directly on the foam board

Now, I should be honest, I haven’t figured out how I’m going to hang this securely on the wall. If you have any thoughts on that, please leave me a comment. But, I am extremely happy with how it turned out! This was literally a $5 project since I only had to buy the foam board and mirrors. What do you think?

Thanks again, and God bless!

Living Simply,

Mindy✿

Outdoor Beach Themed Chandelier

Today I’m sharing a fun project that was inspired by YouTube. I’ve seen countless tutorials for Diy chandeliers, both for indoor and outdoor use. But I kept seeing a common theme, which was bling. Now, I’m not a very “blingy” girl. So, while the projects I came across were beautiful, they weren’t quite my style. So, I came up with something a little more toned down and that would complement the outdoor décor I had already created.

Just about all the supplies I used were from Dollar Tree, except for the jute rope (that you could find at the dollar store) which I had on hand. In addition to the rope, I used a hanging planter (which I spray painted white), hot glue, shells, and my string lights (which I repurposed for this project). 

Step 1:

secured the rope onto the inner ring of the plant hanger and looped it around 3 of the wire separations, creating a crisscross effect and secured the end with hot glue

I repeated this step 3 times

 – I didn’t measure the rope, just eyeballed it

Step 2:

removed the decorative balls from the string lights and strung 3 of them onto a piece of rope, which I looped around the planter frame (in the open spaces between the rope detail) and secured with a knot.

 - at this point I reinserted the lights into each ball

Step 3:

added decorative shells around the center ring, and secured with hot glue

- This covered up the knots from the rope holding the balls

Step 4:

moved the clips to the wire just above the inner ring, and shortened it so it would be less visible

 – I also attached the string light battery packs to the wire

Here it is hanging from my patio umbrella.

And there you have it. I hope that description made sense! Let me know what you think. I hope this inspired you to get your creative juices flowing. I would love to see what you come up with! Thanks, and God Bless!

Living Simply,

Mindy ✿

Tiny Space Craft Storage

I have always had a love for crafting and creating. But in the recent months, since starting these home projects, I have accumulated considerably more craft supplies. And while it is necessary to have these supplies on hand to complete projects, I don’t really have a dedicated “craft space”. Therefore, I had to get creative about storage. And I found the prefect space in the stairway to our basement.

To say this is not a pretty space would be an understatement. This project was purely for the sake of getting supplies put away and having a set home for these items. But, although it isn’t attractive, I am still happy with the turnout. I love identifying spaces that are usable in our cozy home. Plus, I found a way to do it on a very small budget!

Here is what I did…

Step 1: attached these wire wall hooks with the included screws. I only got three, but I have space to add on if needed.

Step 2: hung a variety of different sized baskets. I moved them around until I was satisfied with the placement.

Step 3: placed the items I wanted to organize in each basket.

And I was done!

This project cost $11, and all items (except the small blue bin from Walmart) were from Dollar Tree. Now, I could have gone crazy and spray painted all the baskets to match, but the basement is primarily used for storage and is not accessed by anyone other than myself and my husband. I am a firm believer of doing what works for you!

Do you have an overflow of things that you just have no place for? Maybe you can identify some “negative” space in your home and get creative about storage. Let me know what you come up with! Thanks, and God bless!

Living Simply,

Mindy✿

If you liked this, check out this post about my small entryway!

Easy Painted Backsplash

So, I must admit I was a little skeptical about how this project would turn out. I mean, painting tile…how would it ever work? But after considering other options to update this 1920’s backsplash, I decided paint was definitely the most inexpensive way to go. I just knew that this backsplash had to go, one way or another! And after reading through a few Pinterest posts I thought if other people have done it, why can’t I?

So, off to Home Depot I went, where a helpful employee directed me to get just a few supplies and gave me a confidence boost with his easygoing reaction to my plan. I will say; however, this project is time consuming and requires some prep work. So, if you are going to try this be prepared to set aside a day or two depending on how much area you are working with and/or if you plan on working straight through.

Any who, here is what I did.

Step 1: protected countertop and underside of cabinets with painters’ tape

Here I had already begun applying the primer

Step 2: sanded backsplash with 60 grit (course) sandpaper, being sure to wipe the dust off the tile. The Home Depot employee suggested a fine sander, but it didn’t seem to scuff the tile at all.

This step would not show up in a photo. 

Step 3: applied primer to tile. I worked in sections because the primer dries pretty quickly.

Step 4: sanded primed tile (after it was completely dry) with 120 grit (fine) sandpaper to ensure the paint would stick well.

Step 5: painted the tile with a white semi-gloss paint. One coat of the paint was enough for me. You may need more depending on the color of the tile.

Here are the supplies I used:

And that is it! It is unbelievable the difference this made to the backsplash. And for around $25, it feels like a brand-new kitchen! And I love that the pattern on the tile is still visible. What do you think? I hope you’ll be inspired to tackle an outdated space in your home! Until next time, thanks and God bless!

Living Simply,

Mindy✿