A DIY Faux Marble Mantel

I LOVE marble -

And....................I wanted a slab of marble for the faux fire place we built for the bedroom.

You know, that cheap frugal DIY one we built?
So I decided a cheap frugal DIY marble mantel would fit perfectly !

We bought a length of wood for 12.00 - had it cut to fit the mantel ( and unbelievably enough there was exactly - to the tee - to make another mantel for the living room gas fireplace - which I'll age and stain )
It's a nice thick chunk - perfect for this project !

I gave it a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Pure White - and then mixed a little Paris Grey with Graphite to create the " veins ": and simple painted them on the white - feathering some so that it was thicker in some areas
( with 2 different sizes of artist brushes - one pointy edge - and one flat edge )

The next photos are before I put polyurethane on it ..................but you can see it on the fireplace at least !

I don't have a tutorial because I was in such a hurry to get it done that I didn't stop to take photos - but if the truth be known it would be difficult to show through photos anyway - you'd kind of need a video I think.
( of which there are probably a million of them out there with far superior results !!! )

I just made my " veins " and brushed them out in places and left them in tact in others - the only important thing to remember when doing this is to bring your veins down onto the front and sides of your slabs for authenticity......................

Another mantel to decorate !  ( this was just thrown together to show you the finished product- the only thing I know that's staying is that wreath from Target ( 25.00 if anyone's interested ! )

And that's my final DIY project for 2014 lol !

Have a wonderful day everyone - I'm off to buy another one of these wreaths - I'm in love !

Oh and that perfect deer?
10.00 ( again Target )
You can see the tutorial for the actual fireplace HERE

Much love,
Me

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I Should be Mopping the Floor                                        Miss Mustard Seed
REMODELAHOLIC

Do that to me one more time...............................

That's what my furniture says to me -

I can never get enough of a girl like you ♪♫
Paint me, like you just did, oh baby  ♪♪
Do that to me once again   ♪♫♪

I don't usually post on the weekends and here I am posting on both days - there's just so much going on with that little guest room !

Last week I asked if I should keep the armoire in the little room - or a dresser - most of you voted for the armoire - so I decided to go with the dresser LMHO - but I did give it a quick makeover anyway - and I do mean quick - as in 20 minutes or so.
Paris Grey - the white was already on it ( when it was duck egg blue )

This thing is heavy - as in if this thing fell back it would have killed me instantly.  With just my legs sticking out like the wicked witch that I am..................
So heavy that I should have worn depends when we lifted the top piece off to move the bottom piece ( too much information I know )
So heavy - as in I may have popped a blood vessel or two and I can lift heavy things believe me.

My Son dropped in for a visit and I asked if he could help John take the top piece off ( again ) because it wasn't level
He did it himself !!!
Oh my God - I don't know how he did it

Mom says - Did you pee a little when you did that?
Gordie says - Ugghhh Mom - why would I pee?
Mom says - From the weight ?
Gordie says - That's gross - you're my MOTHER - don't talk like that
Mom says - Like what?  Sheesh - it's just pee
Gordie says - You should have worn Depends
Mom says - I know that.........................

But I digress - you didn't come by to hear about my bladder after all.

It's a very light coat of grey actually - some duck egg blue is peaking through here and there but I kind of like that
And I left the white parts as chippy as they were - cutting the painting time in half I'm sure

 It's in the hall landing - and it's ridiculously too big for the space but that's where it's staying until I get the office done - ( and God knows when that'll be - it's the last room to do upstairs and I'm not in the hurry that I should be )  I DO have the perfect spot for it in the reading room downstairs - but JOHN'S t.v. is in the way.

But it suits the space better then the duck egg would have

It can always go back to it sometime in the future - no big deal-ee-o - right?

I DO love the color - it just didn't fit

( I'm writing that because now that I'm looking at it - I'm afraid you're all going to say I shouldn't have touched it ) 

You can see the original 2 part posts on the first makeover HERE and HERE

I dry brushed a little gray on the 2 interior drawers as well - very little actually.

Paint me - like you just did  ♪

Oh baby................... 

Do that to me one more time  ♪♫♪

Now I officially have clothes in my bedroom - in both guest rooms and the upstairs landing

John says - Are you sure you have enough drawers

Suzan says - I could probably use just one more 

John says - I think there's a corner in the shed outside we could probably squeeze one more in 

John says - It's too much - there's dressers all over the bloody place 

John says - It's like living in a shop

Yaddy yaddy yadda

I'm thinking of secretly taping him - so you get the audio

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone - 

Hugs,

Me

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I can't get rid of it

Sometimes that happens - I buy a piece to do over and sell and then I
Just.  Can't.  Get.  Rid.  Of.  It.....................

This is probably the first time I've bought a piece that had the perfect wood top......................
I did nothing to it - not even wax - because it's that perfect - beautifully aged maple.

and it compliments the pure white ( Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Pure White )

I love that it's an understated piece - not fussy at all -
I only lightly distressed the drawers - I left the frame pristine

I didn't really have the space for it - at all - but once the slip covers arrived, I knew I had to find a place - so I tried different configurations - she ended up tucked into a corner - sorry dresser - this is NOT a time-out - I just have nowhere else to put you.

John says - well that's ridiculous - just sell it - what's the point of it being in the corner hidden away?

WHAT'S THE POINT???

The point IS that I like her ( her name's Mrs. Jones )
And we have a thing going on.....................we both know that it's wrong
but it's much too strong to let it go.................
And I need to keep her
And if the only place I can find for her is tucked into a corner - well - I know ( I know I know I know she'll be there )
And sometimes that's all that matters.

Until the next one comes around that I absolutely HAVE to keep - and then Mrs. Jones is out the door
I'm not very loyal to furniture
Just selfish.

And that's why she's staying exactly where she is ( for now )

Here she was before - seller's photo

She lived with one family since 1945 - so she isn't ready to be flying all over the place anyway - this was a huge adjustment for her as it is

I may not be loyal to furniture - but I certainly have a heart !!!

Have a wonderful day everyone !
Big hugs,
Me.

Sharing at these fabulous parties !
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Knick of Time ( best diy party )
I Should be Mopping the Floor

RUBY....................a dresser makeover

Meet Ruby 

You know her

Someone wrote a famous song about her once

You've painted up your knobs

and waxed and buffed your tinted drawers

Ruby are you contemplating running out the door ?

The shadows on the wall tells me the sun is going down

Oh Ruuuubbbby - don't take your love to town.

It wasn't me that started that whole crazy chalk paint fad

But I was proud to restore all the pieces that I had

and yes it's true that I'm not the girl I used to be

Oh Ruby ..........................there's still creative sparks in me

It's hard to love someone who gives furniture the " eyes "

And the wants and the needs of a dresser your age
Ruby I realize

But it won't be long I've heard them say

Till wood comes back around

Oh Ruby -
Don't take your love to town..................................

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Emperor's silk - clear and dark wax
Kenny Rogers inspired song..................
Just so you know that although she was quite a bit of work - this whole dresser took 1/2 tin of
Emperor's silk -  HALF A TIN !!!!!!!!!!
Incroyable !!! ( I feel like getting all bilingual on you today )

Now excuse me - she's leaving now 'cause I just heard the slamming of the door

the way I know I've heard it slam one hundred times before
and if I could move - I'd get my brush and paint her boring brown
oh Ruuuubbbyyyy -
for God Sakes TURN around ........................

I could have used Ruby Tuesday - since I actually painted her on Tuesday - either way it's all about her leaving me .....................

The lady is a tramp ( there you go - 3 songs in one post )
A perfect " Fall " color - because that's all I'm willing to do for Fall at this point lol
I'm NOT ready for it!
And I'll probably mention that in every single post until I am !

Have a wonderful day y'all !
I have some work to do on this beauty!

See you tomorrow - bright and early ♥
Much love,


Join me at these fabulous parties !

The Charm of Home                                French Country Cottage                Too much time on my hands
My Turn for Us                                       My Romantic Home                      The 36th Avenue
Remodelaholic                                        Funky Junk Interiors                      Life on Lakeshore Drive
It's Overflowing                                      I Should be Mopping the Floor      The Chicken Chick
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Remodelaholic                                       Uncommon Design