Bathroom and Kitchen Remodels with Gel Stain!

General Finishes Java Gel Stain. $30 for a quart on Amazon. (Not an affiliate link) We had just enough to do our downstairs bathroom, upstairs main bathroom, and the kitchen. With a little left for touch ups. A little goes a Loooong way!
It says you don't have to sand (if you don't sand do very thin layers until its the darkness you want.)
Use a old t-shirt, old sock, or something similar and wear rubber gloves (you can get a box of surgical gloves or cheaper ones at Sams club, Costco, probably even Walmart, probably Ace Hardware,etc)
We found it took a lot longer to dry if we used thicker layers and we decided to sand the kitchen ones just until the top finish was off. It cut the drying in half by sanding a little. (80 grit sand paper and a hand sander made it quick work!) It soaks into the wood more when sanded. We did 1 thin layer on the back and on the front we did a thin rubbed in layer then used a foam craft brush for the 2nd layer so it looked more even.  I think if you rub in each layer really well,letting each layer dry completely (not sticky at all) and do very thin layers you can get away with not sanding.

 Kitchen BEFORE

(Boring and dated, yuck!)

AFTER!!

So inviting, modern, and beautiful!

After a couple weeks here is my feedback on the durability:

It's absolutely amazing! 

I'm never using paint again! 

I did not use a top coat because it has a beautiful Satin finish already and it says you don't need a top coat so I decided to test it out in the bathrooms and kitchen. 

So far I have seen 

NO SCRATCHING,

No CHIPPING,

MESSES ARE EASILY WIPED OFF,

NOT AFFECTED BY OIL OR WATER!

I even had two cabinets that scratch against each other every time they open and close and I haven't seen a single chip or scratch yet! Once the paint dries and sets it's extremely durable! 

Note: We took off the pads/rubber things that make it so they don't bang shut and got new black pads for the back once we finished. They were only a few dollars at the hardware store. I'm sure Walmart would be even cheaper. I had enough for everything. 

We also got some pulls on Amazon.

The crystal looking knobs HERE

And kitchen and bathroom pulls HERE

I also got some silver knobs for the bathroom we didn't redo HERE

If you want the more modern look you can do these pulls: HERE

We picked up a updated $10 faucet for the bathroom upstairs as well at Walmart. 

My decor on my shelf was from things I'd collected over the years. The words we got as a wedding present, the shaving stuff we inherited from my husbands grandpa, the glass serving cup I get a 4 packs at the Dollar Tree for $1 (I love them!) And the little cup was an old candle holder I cleaned out. The jar is just a old jam jar.

Any other thing you'd like to know where I got them please let me know! I will be happy to share my secrets!

*UPDATE* I recently found this link about this lady who used milk paint and a top coat on her cabinets and didn't have to sand or prime! Might be a good option for you if you want a lighter color. She used General Finishes Milk Paint and Top Coat. Prob won't save as much as I did but it was still a good option if you're after ease. Here's her blog link here

(NO AFFILIATE LINKS)

Game Controller Wall Art Printables!

I figured I'd add a few guy printables to the list! 

FREE Game Controller 

Wall Art Printables!

Click on the image you want to download and print. 

It is on standard Letter size paper for easy printing and framing!

Game Controller-Multi Color

 Game Controller-Grey and Red

 Game Controller-Red and Blue

Game Controller-Play On

Simple Fall Decor

I love Fall! Have I mentioned that before? :)
Here are a few simple Fall Decor ideas for you! Some you may have or can make or find easily.

 One of the easiest Autumn Decor ideas is of course pumpkins and gords! These were like $3 at Walmart and they had all different kinds. You could let your kids draw on them if you want:)

 You could whip up a cute chevron table runner! Or buy one. Here's one here and a bunch here

And I have a tutorial coming soon for these cute bumpkin bags!!

Get some foam gords at the local craft store and put them in a glass cup or jar. A mason jar or a big glass one with a lid would be fun!

Simple decor on a corner shelf. Check after Halloween for great deals on decor!

If you have the talent of being a good seamstress you could try your hand at making a cute applique quilt like this and put on banister, hang on the wall, or put on the back of your couch.

You can make or buy a cute wreath and hang on door,wall or mantel. There are many ideas for simple DIY wreaths on Pinterest!

Make or buy some simple cloth napkins or a table cloth. Again, check for sales!

Window clings can be used all over the house! Not just for windows but doors, the fridge, microwave,etc. If you have a silhouette or cricut machine you could cut some cute ones out of vinyl. 

Chair Covers

Removable Vinyl Chair Covers made by Becky over at I Dream of Quilting

 My daughter testing out the new covers!

Becky just whipped these out in like less than 30 mins! Cut, sew, and go!

Rag Quilt/Rug Tutorial

I have mentioned before how brilliant my Mother is! She recently got featured on someone's blog for this tutorial and I thought I should at least feature my own Mother for heaven's sake! Anyway, my Mom is an awesome Quilter, organizer, cook, seamstress, etc. Usually I start a project and my mother ends up finishing it because I get too frustrated (I'm kind of a perfectionist). I design she sews:) I usually take all the pictures too. And I'm her computer tech if something goes wrong. Anyway, she's awesome! And this is her brilliant idea she came up with for a rag quilt/rug! It's so easy even someone like me, who didn't inherit my mothers sewing talent, can do easily! It's pretty hard to mess up. So here is just one of my mother's many talents:

Rag Quilt Tutorial

By: Becky Groll 

over at I Dream of Quilting

 P.S. Those are my kiddos crawling all over the project! You will prob. see them in alot of pictures because they love to be in the middle of everything:)

Go check out all my mothers lovely ideas and projects over at I Dream of Quilting