Tie-Dye Fun

My mom picked up a set of director's chairs from Savers the other day specifically for me to redo. Isn't that sweet?! She knows me all too well.  But in my excitement to get started, I failed to take a good before picture. I really should know better. The best I can show you is this:

So you can't really see the top of the chair, and you can just see part of a leg from the other chair... These two chairs are twins and are in great shape, unlike my previous director chair makeover. These twins just need a little funkifying. And I have a tie-dye kit, picked up when on major-markdown, in my arsenal of redo supplies just waiting to be used.

It has been a long time since I have tie-dyed anything. I had fun twisting the fabric into knots, not knowing what the finished look would be. But I think I was the only one having fun. Paris was upset that I was not playing with her and the squeaky squirrel:

Next I added the dye to the fabric. And even with gloves, my fingertips turned a pretty purple color. Then I covered the dyed knots in plastic wrap to let them set overnight.

The next day I unwrapped the knots and cut the rubber bands. The patterns are defined and bright. I love it!

However, after washing in hot water like the directions called for, the fabric looks muted. It isn't bad, just not as good as pre-wash. And since the fabric looks a little pale, I think the wood on the chairs needs to be a bright color now. Enter a little blue spray paint. Fast forward past the boring dry time and here are the twins in their new funky-state:

So that's my free and fun tie-dye director chair makeover. Super easy too! Anybody have any great tips for tie-dyeing? How do you keep the pattern bold and bright?

$3 Side Table Makeover

That title makes me happy - $3 for a total side table makeover?! Yes please! And the finished table will probably make you smile too...especially if you are a girl that loves fuchsia-pink and zebra print, like me. As you probably know, I have this strange addiction to thrift stores. I visit them all once a week. And it is a super time for me when I find something cheap in need of a little love. I am always up for the challenge. So, this time it was a $3 side table just screaming for a makeover.

First I lightly sanded the surface so the new paint would stick. Then I painted the legs a bright pink color. The paint was actually a sample bottle I had stored away in the garage, waiting on the perfect project to use it on. And this seemed to be the perfect table for some punchy pink legs.

After two quick coats of pink paint, I used some polyurethane on the legs to protect them. And this poly was free since it was left over from the hardwood floor refinishing project. Bonus points. Then I had to wait an entire day while the poly dried. I hate waiting! Oh - notice my furniture makeover area. It is two large tote tops in the guest bedroom floor. The weather had been ridiculous around here lately and I wasn't waiting on it any longer to get sunny outside. So I improvise and make do with what is on hand.

Final touch to the table was some zebra fabric for the top. This fabric was also free since it is the left over from another project. (The lime green lamp which I have yet to show finished pictures of.) I covered the top of the table just like you do for any other project - line up the fabric and then staple in place on the underside, making sure the fabric is tight. Then I gave the fabric a good dose of Mod Podge to make it more durable.

Done. One three dollar table, a few supplies already on hand, and a little time. This table is so much fun now!