I just wanted to give a quick {{WELCOME}} to anyone stopping by from Studio 5! It was such an amazing day and I am so excited about sharing our car painted furniture with all of YOU! For anyone wanting to get ahold of me for more info, please contact me on my facebook page! www.facebook.com/navybeanlane
Wow! I Can’t believe it’s been 2 months since my last post! I have been keeping super busy and am so excited to let you all know that I am now a part of an awesome Facebook group called Reclaim-ologists and Other Crafty Chicks! Have you heard of them?? They are a virtual boutique with over 20 different Utah crafters that all sell some pretty amazing crafts, furniture, and antiques on the page! I am so so honored and excited to be among some amazing talent and have been posting new things weekly for sale (hence the staying busy … on top of trying to enjoy summer with the four kidlets!) Please, please take a minute to go over and give us a like! I will love you forever, muah!!!
Enjoy your holiday and I will be back soon to show you what I have been working on!
Kristin
Happy Memorial Day! We have been working a lot in the yard this weekend and are getting closer to finishing up the sprinklers in our front yard flower beds! (I’m pretty sure that was supposed to be my Mother’s day present at least one of the 6 years we have lived here … ha!) We have also been having fun spending time with family, going out to eat, and having a campfire (smores … yum!) in the backyard. The weather has been perfect and we are really just soaking it all up!
I also finished up this gem that I have been slowly working on for the past year! Remember way back in March of 2012 my mom and I started redoing her house?? Well, we found what we think was an old shoe shiners bench during our all day thrifting marathon and picked it up with the intent of turning into their new entertainment center.
I am beyond giddy with the results and am kind of wishing it was mine!
Just to refresh your memory, this is how she looked when we picked it up back in March 2012. Pretty, right?!
Then it sat … for months, until we decided to get working. We removed the old top and added some pine 1 x 2’s to beef it up and get it ready for a new top. I swear the kids love helping!
Before adding the new top I did a few alternating layers of a white and gray wash on the base. (Sorry, I didn’t get any pics!)
Once the painting was done we added the top which was just pine 1X5’s capped on each end with a 1X3. To hide the screws we countersunk them and then added 1/2” wood plugs. I love the extra bit of character that they add!
We found that even after choosing the straightest boards we could find, the top was still going to need some major sanding to smooth it all out. Thank goodness for electric sanders! I sanded the crap out of that thing until it was smooooth and then it was time for a little distressing! I just used whatever I could find around the garage; a hammer (both sides), a screw, a drill bit.
After sanding, distressing, and staining, this is what the top looked like.
Once the top was on and stained I felt like the base needed a little more character, so I took the electric sander to it and exposed a little of the wood underneath the white wash.
Here is is after sanding.
Then I mixed up a glaze and applied it with a cheapo brush.
Here is how it looked with the stain/glaze brushed on.
And then after wiping it back off. It’s not a huge difference, but it just adds one more layer and a little more depth.
Here is the whole thing after sanding (but before glazing) and adding some new feet. After this step we added a small piece of trim right under the new top to cover a few gaps and finish off the look.
The final step was to seal it. We used Varathane polyurethane in a satin finish.
And just because I can’t get enough … here are a few more shots of the finished product!
Now I’m off to enjoy what’s left of this glorious, long Memorial weekend! I hope you are too!
Kristin
Hey everyone! Although I wish I had a fabulous DIY post to share with you today, I have reverted back to my old ways of starting something then starting something else before finishing said first something … grrr. Right now I am in the middle of about a million projects (at least that’s what it feels like!), and am really trying to wrap a few things up.
In my defense, I have had a numb right arm (finding out through talking with my mom that we have an annoying genetic issue (pressure palsy) that causes numbness in the arms and fingers and can last for months), so I had to halt progress for a bit while my arm healed. Things like sanding and painting were pretty much impossible for a couple weeks, but I’m glad to say it’s feeling a lot better and am back in business!
On a totally different note, I was so so excited to see that a couple of my cakes were featured along with 14 others at Disney Spoonful by Steph at Somewhat Simple. How awesome is that?!? I submitted both my Princess and Baseball Diamond cakes and they were both chosen! Lately I have been slacking in the cake department and not feeling the excitement that I usually do so this is just what I needed to get me motivated again!
And last but not least, it is FINALLY warming up around here! It’s supposed to be in the 70’s this weekend (WOOT WOOT!!!) and I can. not. wait. to get working in the yard! We have done a bit here and there in between rainy and cold days but I’m ready to get my hands dirty and get some things under control!
Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine!
Kristin
Hey everyone! I just wanted to drop in and let you know that I am guest posting over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia today! I feel like it is such an amazing opportunity and have met another really awesome blogging friend (also named Kristin 
Kristin’s blog is full of inspiration and ideas on how to make your home beautiful and practical all on a budget! I love it and read it often and know you will too so go give her some love and check it out!
Now I’m off to do some closet reorganization!
Kristin
Good Morning! It’s Spring Break here and we are going to be spending a lot of time outside working in the yard (I can’t wait …. seriously it’s one of my favorite things!) and hopefully a lot less time on the computer. But before I head out I thought I would share the progress on Mason’s room. It’s been super slow progress but we’re getting there!
Since it’s been so long since I’ve updated his room, here is a picture of what we started with.
We painted and switched out the furniture. (Remember, this used to be Daxon’s room and then they did a switcheroo.)
Added some fun chevron fabric to lengthen the curtains and a memo wall.
And here’s how it looks today. If you follow along on Facebook or Pinterest then you may recognize a couple of the changes. We found his new dresser on KSL (a local classified website), covered his lampshade and added a super fun picture wall. I drool!
I mean seriously, giant pictures of my favorite eight year old, framed in rustic pine frames that didn’t break the bank! And bonus … they even graduate in stain color from dark to light. Like I said, I drool!
I had the pictures printed off at Staples (they are engineer prints which only come in black and white on thin paper) for $13 bucks for four 24x36 pictures. Can’t beat that! Then I mounted them with spay adhesive on some 1/8” panel board for stability (you really could use anything, we just had some laying around and figured it would work). Once they were mounted on the panel board, I thought it would be nice to protect them with a finish of some sort, so I sprayed one of the pictures with a spray poly. DO NOT DO THIS!!! It totally bubbled the picture. So, I just left the rest alone and figured they were cheap enough that they could be replaced as needed.
For the frames I used this tutorial from Young House Love. They were fairly simple and to make and way cheaper than going out and buying four huge frames.
Once they were built, stained, and poly-ed, it was time to attach the pictures to the frames by nailing them right into the back of the frames. Easy Peasy!
I then attached the hanging hardware. I used two large picture hangers per picture and nailed them right into the top of each frame.
I ended up having to bend the picture hangers a bit before nailing them on because if not they were flush with the panel board and wouldn’t be able to catch the screw when I hung them.
Once they were ready to hang I traced each frame onto some brown paper, making sure to mark on each paper exactly where the nail goes. Then I taped the papers up on the wall exactly where I wanted the pictures hung and nailed a small nail into each spot that I has previously marked.
Then, I took one sheet of paper down at a time (leaving the nails in the wall). If I was hanging something light I could have just hung them at this point, but I chose to use wall anchors so that my pictures were nice and sturdy. I then took the nails out and installed the wall anchors in their place and then hung the frames.
I couldn’t be happier with the results and may have sat on the bed and stared at them for, um … awhile after I was done!
And just because I seem to stay motivated with a list, here is a list of things to still be done! Heaven help me finish this up soon!
Mason’s Room
Paint
lengthen curtains
new dresser
memo wall
plank the desk wall
desk/chair
accessories
headboard
Trophy Organization
Desk Lighting
Art/Pictures on wall
*Bed skirt
*Cover Lamp Shade
Kristin
I redid this butcher block island for a client and am giddy with the results!
The before …
And after! (A little styling never hurts either, right!?)
For the top I wanted a hand rubbed finish opposed to a manufactured finish so I decided to give Tung Oil a go. Have you used it? This was my first time and most definitely won’t be my last. I LOVE how it turned out, and after five coats it’s got to stand up to wear and tear!
The Process
Prep – Clean and sand
Prime – Zinsser Oil Base
Paint – Benjamin Moore Aura (White Dove),
then Poly with Varathane brand in Satin
Top – Sanded and then stained with 2 coats of Minwax (Dark Walnut)
and finished off with 5 coats of Tung Oil
I don’t know if it’s just the warm up in the temps or what but I have got the itch. (Not that itch … ha ha ) The furniture redo itch! I have bought a few things to refinish this week and will be posting on Facebook anything that’s up for grabs so be sure to follow along!
Thanks for reading!
Kristin
If you follow along on Instagram or Facebook you may have seen a sneak peek or two at the doll bunk beds that we made for Navi’s birthday. (follow along on Instagram! @navybeanlane for random updates and sneak peeks of my latest projects!) And when I say we, it was a total collaboration with Kasey’s Grandpa building them, Kasey painting them, and me sewing all the bedding.
I am so so happy with the outcome!
We decided to go with Benjamin Moore White Dove for the paint, 1- because we had extra from a previous cabinet job (can’t beat free paint!), and 2- because I wanted it to go with whatever changes happen in her room over the years so white was the natural choice.
The bedding was made out of Navi’s old receiving blankets and the fabric for the pillows was cut from her old crib sheet. I love how it gives another life to her baby linens and also ties into her room perfectly!
I absolutely love the sentimental meaning in that Navi used to sleep on the very sheet that her babies now do! Gah! I just want to eat her up … why oh why do they have to grow up?
Back to the bunk bed … I got the plans from Ana White. Have you checked out her site? She is AMAZING! The bed is made to fit an American Girl doll, so it’s a pretty good size. Often times Navi will double or triple them up and have 4-6 doll sleeping comfortably! :) There is also a tutorial on her sight for the bedding and pillows. Don’t be scared to make it … if I can do it, then trust me so can you!
Navi loves to give her babies kisses and tuck them into their new beds and I love watching her be a little mama! Really, how is she this big!?!
Anyone doing any DIY this weekend? I will be working on wrapping up a couple of projects for Mason’s room that I can’t wait to show you next week! (And yes, I’m aware that my goal was to be DONE by the first of March … for some reason or another things always seem to take longer than I expect around here! Oh well, such is life!)
Kristin
Wow! The weekend went be sooo fast! We didn’t do a ton, just piddled around working on a few random projects, but it was so nice to have Kasey home ALL weekend (that rarely happens!) with nothing that had to be done! I love those kind of weekends!
I did work on the blog a bit. Did you notice? I had been wanting to clean up my sidebar a bit and add a few social media buttons. I will just say that I probably spent 3-4 hours working on them, and still have not been able to get the email button to work 
I am always looking for ways to improve this little blog and may one day have to hire someone, but for now I am liking the updates!
Thanks to all the readers that take time to, well … read! I really do appreciate it and love love love reading and responding to your comments! Don’t hesitate to connect with me through Facebook and Pinterest too! And if you aren’t a follower yet, I would love for you to become one! (Just click on the button on my sidebar that says join this site)
Have a great week!
Kristin
I had so much fun making Navi’s princess cake that I thought I would share a simple tutorial on how to do it! The best thing about this cake is that it’s super quick and easy and can be customized to go with your party!
The cake part was my twist on a cake a found on Pinterest. Bird on a Cake gives a great tutorial on how to make the frosting “petals”. It’s actually a lot easier than it looks! Give it a try! Her cake was all white, but I wanted Navi’s to be pink (per her request) and decided on a whim to add the yellow in for a little more interest.
I also saw a “tulle cake stand” on Pinterest here. I fell in love and knew it would be perfect for Navi’s princess cake!
First, you will need a cake stand. Any old cake stand will do since it will be covered with tulle (and the cake). I wanted my cake to sit up a bit higher than it would by itself so I simply found a bowl and turned it upside down. Then I took the cake stand and taped it onto the bowl with clear packing tape.
Then it’s time to attach the tulle. I used four different colors of tulle; a light and dark pink and a light and dark creamy yellow (1/2 yard of each color), so a total of 2 yards of tulle. If you want the skirt to be fuller, simply add more tulle!
Cut your tulle into about 10 inch wide strips. The length of your piece will depend on how tall your cake stand is. Just make sure it’s long enough to hang down and hide the cake stand. My initial length before folding it over was 19 inches.
Then, fold the top of your piece over but not quite in half. I folded about 1/3 of the way down. You want to make another layer of tulle without having to cut another piece. Make sense?
Then you will gather the top together with you fingers. You want your sections to be bunched together at the top … this will create the “skirt look”. If you skip this step it will just look like flat pieces of tulle hanging from your cake. No bueno!
Once you have a section gathered, you simply tape it to the top edge of your cake stand. Then start over with a new piece of tulle and keep going around the cake stand until it is full. Make sure to slightly overlap each piece to keep your skirt nice and full!
This is what the top of your cake stand will look like once you have finished taping all the tulle on. (FYI – I used strong packing tape to be sure that curious little fingers didn’t pull the skirt off while oohing and aahhing!)
Once all the tulle is taped on and secure your skirt is done! Instead of putting the cake directly on the tape and tulle, I placed a round cardboard cake plate down and then the cake on top. You can find pre cut round cake boards at Wal–mart or JoAnn’s or most party stores. Or you can do like I did and cut one out of a piece of cardboard.
After frosting the cake I finished it off with a crown a few wand candles! This is for sure up there as one of my all time favorite cakes! So cute and easy!!
I thinks it’s safe to say that it was a hit with the princess! You can’t beat that smile!
Now, go get your cake on!
Kristin
