Dreaming of BEACHES!

It has been cold here far too long.. I am ready for nice warm beaches!

 

I decided to create my own beach with a sunset!  To start I have a shell almost the size of my hand that I found a the thrift store.First I paint the water in the shell using Dixie Belle Sea Glass Chalk Paint.  I let it dry a bit.  Then with Dixie Belle Swamp Mud Texture Medium I added a small sand beach...

 

The beach needed a beautiful coral sky lit by the setting sun, Dixie Belle Flamingo Chalk Paint was the perfect color.  To give the sky to effect I was looking for while the  Flamingo Chalk Paint was still wet I went over it with Dixie Belle Buttercream Chalk Paint.  I love the how this is turning out.  Next I add a little of  Dixie Belle Buttercream Chalk Paint to the Dixie Belle Sea Glass water for a small wave effect.    

 

Finally, I used the Dixie Belle Van Dyke Brown Glaze to paint the  Dixie Belle Swamp Mud Texture Medium for sandy color.

 

 

Right now I am sitting on the beach trying to decide what I will do here.  Comment and let me know what should happen with this peaceful beach!

Dixie Belle Wooden Crock Redo

The rusty and neglected call to me. They must be repurposed to a life of tangible value yet again...
This is why I have a growing stash of other's castoffs.
Time for a Christmas Season DIY redo:

I loved this wooden crock when I first spied it at a tag sale.

I mixed some Swamp Mud and a bit of Gulf chalk paint.

I scraped it across a snowflake stencil I created last year. 

**Remember NOT to wash the Swamp Mud into your plumbing. Wipe off with paper towels and dispose in trash.

Using a chip brush I covered the outside of the crock and lid with Fluff chalk paint... 

No perfection required, very forgiving products.

I let it dry and painted another coat.

Using a fine grit sandpaper I sanded back to some of the Gulf color on the snowflakes and distressed back to the wood in other areas.

Taking a dab of the clear paste wax I rubbed it in all over the painted areas and then buffed with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Finally a thin coat of the gold glaze over the wax coat adds just a bit of shimmer; it floats the glaze color.

So easy peasy and yet looks like you spent hours on it. Fill with cookies or other treats to give as a hostess gift or display on your table with greenery in a tablescape.

Let us know what DIY you have created this season, we'd love to see it.
Ciao for now,
-Trish Alger

ReDo old ornaments like new!

We have a video that shows how you can make Americana, old world, rustic touches for recycled decorating.  

Most of all, remember....

The magic of Christmas is in the eyes of children

OK, let's see how to make these wonderful ornaments...We all have those old ornaments that are dingy or battered from use and being packed away.  Here is a great recycle to keep them rather than throwing them away.

Think about unusual colors and how they will stand out on your tree or your front door decor.   Plum crazy, Gulf, and many more funs colors are waiting!  

Thanks for viewing.

Making Dixie Belle Ornaments

You do not even need a brush!

Create personalized ornaments for the family and your friends.   Add sparkle with glitters or make it homey with buttons and ribbons.  

Order your paints and accessories for so many projects!

Do you GOO?

There are so many uses for Dixie Belle products

This video uses Goo and Shine to create a gorgeous luminary

ENJOY

Stay tuned for ornaments made with 

Dixie Belle too!

Thrift Store Silver Platter into a Chalk Board

Thanks for joining me and  DIY Design Studio.   I have for you a quick upcycle project. 

I bet we have all seen these pretty (yet tarnished) silver serving trays at the thrift and antique shops, right?  They make great upcycled pieces.  Today, with the help of Dixie Belle Chalk Paints, I turned one into a cute little chalkboard for my kitchen.  It is the perfect size for a little grocery list. 

And, here is what I did.

 

I started with my silver tray after giving a good cleaning. 

I did not sand the piece first. 

That is the great part of Dixie Belle, in most cases no sanding needed for your first step.  

 Next, I applied two coasts of Apricot.  Then, a light dry brushed coat of Dried Sage. 

Then, I added another coat of Apricot to "hide" the Dried Sage.

I then gave it a little sanding with this easy to hold sanding sponge.

This reveals the layers of color down to the silver.

 I then, sealed it with Satin Clear Coat Sealer. 

Then, came 2 coats of chalkboard paint in the center.  

 Yay, it is finally dry. 

With chalkboard paint it is recommended to let it dry for 24 hours

before "conditioning" it and writing on it.  Shhhh,

I didn't quite wait that long and it seems fine.

 Here we have the "conditioning" part. 

This is basically like seasoning your cast iron skillet or crepe pain. 

You take a piece of chalk and lay it on its side and just color in the entire chalkboard area. 

Then, wipe clean with a paper towel.

 I love how it brought out all that great etching in the silver.

 Oooh  Aaah....

 And, here you have it...a cute little chalkboard that will hang in my

kitchen where everyone can add to our ever growing grocery store list.

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I hope you are inspired to grab a great thrift store find and get upcycling with Diy Design Studio and Dixie Belle Paints.

~Stephanie

Here is a list of supplies used for this project;
Silver Tray
Dixie Belle Paints and Sealer
Chip Brush
Sanding Sponges
Paper towel
Chalkboard paint
Chalk

Countdown to Christmas has begun!!!!

Use your DIXIE BELLE PAINTS to create your gift giving Christmas Ornaments.  I had these tiny star boxes in my stash that were just waiting for the perfect project.  I have turned them into little sea vignettes....

 

Using both the box and lids create twice as many little vignettes!

 

 

The little star boxes were painted with DIXIE BELLE Sea Glass Chalk Paint! 

 

Some of them have Washi Tape wrapped around the outside.

 

Small burlap squares make the perfect background.  

 

Dew Drops add a bit of sparkle!

 

Use tacky glue to attach embellishments

 

This box lid I left the back unpainted.

 

Others are painted inside and out!

 

Finally attach a twine hanger (to be added) 

 

Enjoy creating your own little ornaments...

 

These could be used all year round!