Hall Wall Stencil... Rubbed and Buffed!

Ok, so the hall wall stencil is DONE!  In case you're new to my blog, and have maybe missed a few of my previous posts.  I have become slightly addicted to Rub n' Buff.  This stuff seems to mainly be used for craft type projects but I saw a whole world of possibilities when I squeezed the first little blob from the tube.  I've been trying it on EVERYTHING.  I've said it before, and I'm gonna say it again...  if you aren't familiar with Rub n' Buff (I wasn't only a few short months ago) it's a metallic wax that comes in a tube, and it's AWESOME!  And no, I have not been coerced, poked, prodded, or bribed into saying so!  Here is my new hallway/entryway before and after I Rubbed and Buffed it to death.

Before,

(boring, yawn, I feel ya!)

After

 It's hard to capture it's true shine and sparkle in the pictures.  I took pictures at a couple of different angles and with different light in the room so you could get a better feel for it.

I took this last picture before I was finished doing the room, but it's got good shine so here it is a again.

I'm not exactly sure at this point how I'm going to furnish the space, but I'm thinking... I'll keep it pretty sparse.  I think the walls will do all the talking!  I'll post a pic. when I've got it all figured out.

Oh and here's a tip if you're going to be jumping on the Rub n' Buff train.  Wear latex gloves, and use a cloth to rub it on.  I found that an old t-shirt works best.   If you get this stuff under your nails, it's NOT pretty, and oooohhhh did I get this stuff under my nails!  I just picture myself going into the manicurist and having a little conversation that goes something like this... Hmmm? No it's not dirt.... really.... I SWEAR... What... no... I do bathe...really... I do!!  Not nice!  But if you do get it under your nails a little paint thinner or ACETONE nail polish remover with a whole lot of rubbing will take it off.

I found the stencil online at Stencils-Decals

Smiles!

~Renew Redo~

Linked:

Savvy Southern Style
Restore Interiors
DIY by Design

Nailhead Trim Desk... Before And After

Hip hip hooray!  My Rub n' Buff came in the mail today! Just in time for the weekend.  So, I should have plenty of time to get my wall stencil finished up.  In the meantime, here is a before and after using nailhead trim.  I've had this desk for a while. Some time ago, I added marble and granite tiles to the top in a diamond formation.  I didn't really do a "how to" post for that, but all I did was use 12" x 12" marble tiles in the middle and then cut a few granite tiles with a wet saw to go around the edges.  I glued it down, so no grout or grout lines.  I haven't had any problems with the tiles coming up, so... so far, so good, and it's been a long time.  Now I've added a nailhead trim design to the front.  Take a look!

Before

And here it is now.

I used the same stencil on the desk that I'm using for my walls.  I just taped it to the front of the desk where I wanted my design to go.

I used the nailhead trim strips.  Well it's not really strips.  It's just one really long strip, and then you cut it to the length you need.  It's more like faux nailhead trim, but it pretty much looks the same.  This was a HUGE time saver!  The cool thing about using this kind of nailhead trim is that it's bendable.  You can bend it inside the stencil area to get your shape and then nail it in.  But you have to be careful with this stuff because it will cut your little fingers!

I used my plier/wire cutters to cut the strips and then, the most important thing (besides the hammer), is to have a tin punch tool on hand.  The way the nailhead strip works is that every few nailheads there is a little hole in the middle and you use an individual nailhead (that comes with the strip) there to secure it to whatever you are using it on.  The thing is, when you cut it to the length you need, there isn't always a hole at the end.  So the tin punch tool works like a charm to add one.  It also helps to make a pre-hole in the wood if the wood you are working on is really hard.  The nailheads will bend if you hit them at an angle!  Major pain in the butt!  Making a pre-hole helps to avoid that.

So there you have it!  Easy-peasy!

Smiles!

~Renew Redo~

Before and After, Paint and Rub n' Buff

Hello all!  Surprise, surprise, I'm still playing around with my Rub n' Buff wax.  Well, I guess I should say, was still playing around with it.  I just ran out, so I am waiting for more to arrive.  Here is another quick 'before and after' using my Rub n' Buff wax and paint.  My DIY'd storage unit got a makeover.  Here it was before (Click here to see the original post for how it was put together. Excuse the pictures, they were before I got my new camera.)

Before

Here it is now.

I used Rub n' Buff colors, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf, and European Gold, on the back in random stripes.  It was applied over white paint.

Then I used a mixture of the three colors to highlight the mouldings.

Look what else I have in the works!  A wall stencil... yep... with Rub n' Buff.  This stuff looks amazing on the walls.  It glistens as the light moves around over it throughout the day.  Here is a sneak peak.  I'll post the full reveal as soon as it's finished.  (As soon as my Rub n' Buff gets here!)

Smiles!

~Renew Redo~

Rub n' Buff House Plants...Christmas Decorations

Two posts in one day!! Wowzers!!  Here is another quick little DIY, perfect for Christmas time.   I thought I would go ahead and post about it now since Christmas is just around the corner.  Don't worry the other furniture projects are on the way.  Is there anything you can't use Rub n' Buff for?  I mean really this stuff works on eveything it seems.  Even plants!  I just put a dab on my finger and rubbed it onto these little leaves and voila!

Before

After

Aren't they pretty?

I thought they would look great as Christmas decorations!

You could even use them as place holders for the table!

You could add them into flower arrangements too.  Add some gold or silver to your roses!!

So what do you think?

Smiles!

~Renew Redo~



Linked:
Savvy Southern Style
The Lettered Cottage

DIY - Thanksgiving Decorations - Paper Leaves Garland

I love doing little projects that give instant gratification.  I love these little paper leaves.  They are quick and easy to make and you can use them for tons of things.  I made a beaded leaf garland first for my mantel.  You can use these to wrap around your candles with raffia, or use as place holders at the dinner table.  They look very festive wherever you use them.

First I printed off this Maple Leaf for my guide.  (Just click on the leaf, if you want to print it.)

Then I cut out the leaf, folded it in half, and traced around it on the paper I was using for my leaves.  I used a parchment paper because it is heavier and makes for sturdier leaves.  I also used some sheet music for a few leaves to create some contrast.

After I cut out all of  my leaves, I used "Liquid Leaf" Brass color, and painted all the parchment paper leaves. You can use spray paint too. I left the sheet music leaves unpainted.

While my leaves were drying, I started to make my string of beads.  I used green, gold, and few red glass beads for my string.  The Liquid Leaf dries really quick so by the time I had a short string of beads, my leaves were dry.  Then I just strung the leaves between the beads every so often, alternating the gold parchment paper leaves and the white sheet music leaves.

I used green apples, green moss covered stones, pine cones, and a lot of glass and candles to create the rest of the mantel display.  Easy, simple, and pretty!  But then I decided to use acrylic paint in orange, red, and yellow to add more color to my leaves.

Smiles!

~Renew Redo~