diy: paint dipped cabinet update

hello, blog friends!

here's an update to my paint dipped wooden cabinet.  after wavering whether to paint it in one solid color or maintain the dip-dyed effect, i finally decided to choose the former.  i wanted this monstrous cabinet to blend in with the orange wall rather than take center stage since it is located in a very narrow hallway - which also explains the weird angles of pictures, by the way.

paint dipped native baskets tutorial here.

thanks to this minor transformation because it finally gave me a kick of motivation to improve this boring part of our house.  on the cheap, of course!

diy: chic coasters from old leather bag

here's a secret....i'm in dire need of coasters because i'd been using newspapers, fabric scraps, and ugly pot holders for quite a while now.  the frugal in me, however, won't let me spend any amount for something which i could easily make for next to nothing.  luckily, i have plenty of heavily flawed leather bags that are waiting for a project like this.

for the materials, you will be needing old leather bag, templates (i used circular plastic jar cover), pen, and scissors.

trace your pattern.

cut.

apply leather conditioner for added protection and to bring out all the lovely grains.

done! i'm digging the rustic, worn-in look!

hello, why not in metallic?  ka-pow!

thrifting: japan surplus 04/25/2015

i visited the nearest japan surplus shop along molino road today.  i wasn't really expecting to find anything special, but to my surprise, i hit the thrifting jackpot.  i picked these gorgeous wooden bowls and breakfast wooden tray for a lot less than the retail price.

the first thing that caught my eyes was this one-of-a-kind wooden breakfast tray.  i super adore the vintage appeal on this one.  the handles are made of antiqued solid brass and already developed a beautiful rich patina.  i believe this is a "new" old stock because the sticker tag was still attached on the bottom.

next that got me jumping up and down were these 11-inch wooden bowls.  it was like law of attraction working its magic because i had been wanting these wooden bowls for sooooo long.  if money wasn't much of an issue, i would have purchased a similar-looking item listed at lazada philippines for 1,300 pesos.  mine has a much, much friendlier price of 100 pesos a piece though.

mail day: acacia wooden plates

i had been lusting over these beautifully grained acacia wooden plates for months and months, but they were out of stock at lazada philippines.  so, the moment i received a notification on their availability, i excitedly clicked the buy button.  shipping time took forever though.

i love how versatile these acacia plates are.  you can use these natural beauties as food-safe dishware for sushi, nuts, cheese, and what have you.  you can even use them as decorative holders for large-sized candles, deco balls, or luxury soaps.

taking care of them is actually pretty easy, too.  you can simply hand-wash them with soap and water, and then once a week, apply food-grade mineral oil or virgin coconut oil.  another lovely product handcrafted right here in our country.

ready to purchase?  get them here: http://www.lazada.com.ph/wooden-square-plate-12-299544.html

ps:  this is a sponsored post. thanks guys.

diy: paint dipped cabinet

i am pretty much addicted to dip-dyeing at the moment.  i got the "dip-dye itch" if you will, and i just have to scratch it.  for my next diy project, i gave our bulky wooden cabinet a much-needed facelift.  one part traditional, one part modern.

this sorry cabinet needs a little dose of fun.

materials.

tape for guide.

old rags and towels as drop cloth alternatives.

remove cabinet handles.

paint as usual.  i didn't use any wood primer as i was too lazy to buy new materials.  well, big mistake!  it took me three coats and multiple touch-ups to achieve the look that i'm going for.  drying time was surprisingly fast though.

ta-dah!  goodbye, boring large piece of wood!

ps: check out the re-do here!

shops to inspire: this is not ikea

photo credit: this is not ikea
link: http://www.thisisnotikea.com/wordpress/

diy: dip-dyed laundry basket

since i am super happy with the last custom dip-dyed project, i decided to do it again.  i used leftover golden metallic spray paint to cover the entire basket, and then i created a diagonal paint dipped effect for extra oomph.  scroll down for steps.

old laundry basket.  there were plenty of minor cracks and loose weaves, so i had to repair those first with super glue.

spray painted with bosny kt gold effekt in copper gold.

masking tape for guide.

ready for paint.

golden and gorgeous!  who says laundry baskets should be boring?