How to Build a DIY Computer desk from ScratchHey friends! As you all know, my whole purpose of this blog is to provide you resources for affordable homemaking without breaking the bank. In today’s post, we are going to learn how to make a DIY computer desk. #Homemaking should be easy and stress-free. A couple with any budget should be able to establish a beautiful home of their dreams. DIY Computer Desk Custom DesignI want to keep it real simple, as the room we were going to put this computer desk has a weird shape. Therefore, to be something simple with a custom measurement will check all the boxes. My husband really nailed it when he showed me a simple design in Google Drive using minimum material for under $50. As you all know, any furniture item can hurt your budget for the month. ![]() Other DIY Projects DIY Removable Wallpaper Installation Bushra’s Lifestyle is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Material to Build Your DeskHere is what we purchased from Lowes:
![]() It measures 3/4: x 24″ x 48″.
![]() Required ToolsThese are very handy tools for any woodworking project. We have not purchased them at once. However, my husband loaded up his workshop with all the phenomenal tools over time. You don’t have to buy every tool I show you here, although they indeed make life easy. Just go with what is the most needed.
All the above tools are extremely useful if you do DIY projects on a regular basis. Otherwise, just to make a DIY computer desk, you can get by without having them as you can use a hammer and long nails with wood glue. This DIY project is easy and anyone can do it. Don’t get scared, as I provided you both options with and without fancy tools. If making your home beautiful on affordable bases is your passion, then there are so many ways to make it possible. My goal is to provide you with the resources! Things To Consider Before You StartHere is a little criterion I have set for me. I follow this whenever I have to do any DIY project. 1- Difficulty Of The ProjectThis is something you should consider for your very first DIY projects. Since my husband has been doing wooding working for us now for the last 5 years, he is at an advanced level. However, this DIY computer desk has an easy difficulty level. 2- Ergonomically CorrectErgonomics are something you should never ignore. We made this desk for my brother and he is little over 6 feet tall. A small desk was not going to cut it. Especially with his long legs. If you want to not have any physical discomfort, you better pay attention to ergonomics. 3- Custom Dimensions:Most of the store-bought furniture doesn’t come with the custom dimension you want to fit in your desired location. I checked around to see if I could buy a desk to go in the weird shape of the boy’s room I have, but either they were too big or too small. It left me with only the DIY option. 4- Cost-EffectiveThe other big thing with DIY projects is that you almost always save money. In my personal opinion, 90% of the time you save money with DIY projects. Your work also makes you proud, and this computer desk only cost me less than $50 with our DIY skills. And we already had all the tools, which made things easier. Keep DECC in mind and using these four-component you can create any DIY project to simply nail it. Simple DIY Computer Desk Tutorial StepsStep 1: Cut The Wood For The LegsTo make the legs, cut them to the plan I provided above. You need to cut 4 2″ x 4″ pieces for the verticle parts of the legs with a miter saw or any saw you have available. You can also have someone cut according to your measurements at Lowes or Home Depot. ![]() Step 2: Drill Pocket Holes With A Kreg JigThe next step is to drill holes with a Kreg Jig. This little tool is stunning. Without it, you’d have to screw in from the sides or use nails, which wouldn’t look good. With a Kreg Jig, the screws are put in at an angle, and if you put them underneath, they won’t be visible! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Step 3: Screw The Wood TogetherYou are going to need this handy chart to decide which screw is the best for your project. ![]() ![]() They are super cheap but awfully helpful. Notice the pocket holes are facing out! ![]() Make two of them. one for each side of the table to hold the top ![]() ![]() My husband cut some scrap wood (to rest the middle support on while connecting) as a simple measuring guide. This way, both sides will be the same height. Step 4: Attach The Top For Your DIY Computer Desk![]() Place the legs on the floor and place your top wood on it. We used the top as it is without cutting or altering it. Just put a few brad nails or small nails to hold in place temporarily. ![]() Step 5: Cut the EdgesNow it’s time to finalize your DIY computer desk project. Cut the 1″ x 3″ long wood according to the size using the chart above to attach it to the edges. It will give this computer desk a good and clean look. You can also have the wood cut in the store as well. DIY projects are an easy way to add charm to your home and a crucial part of affordable homemaking ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Exact Tools We Used For This ProjectI am just listing them in case you like to buy anything. We added to our workshop over the years and bought these tools from time to time. They are perfect for any level of DIY’ers. Kreg Jig with Kreg Clamp This Kreg screw kit is good as it gives you all the sizes you’ll possibly need to start. PIN IT![]() ![]() Now It’s Your Turn!Download the plan above or print it to start building you own. You can adjust your measurements according to your space. Hope you like it, and once you make it, come share it on ourFB page with thousands of other followers! The post DIY Computer Desk Under $50 appeared first on Bushra's Lifestyle. from https://bushraslifestyle.com/diy-computer-desk/
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Kitchen gadgets you can’t live without. Aren’t you curious to know what they are? What’s up lovely friends? Anything new and exciting? It’s pretty hot over here, and it makes one want to stay home most of the time…If you love to cook staying home is easy, right? Speaking of cooking, today’s post is all about the best and must-have kitchen gadgets that I carefully picked for you! Cooking Teachers & Kitchen GadgetsMy mother-in-law is a cooking teacher and a great cook. She always says, “You should never compromise over quality”. Oh Man, her kitchen is even prettier than mine… she has all kinds of kitchen gadgets! I am always impressed with her stuff. A few gadgets here might be stolen from her kitchen’s gadget recommendations. In the future, I will interview her and do a post about her favourite gadgets only. I promise, you will not be disappointed as she has a great taste. You can’t be a cooking teacher if you don’t have great kitchen gadgets in your kitchen, right? Moms Also Recommend These Kitchen GadgetsMy mother is also the best cook on earth. Her food has high demand in my husband’s friends circles. When I eat at work I mostly eat in my office, and after that when I see patients, they always say “Oh, it smells so good here”. You will see some of the gadgets I have for my mother and she uses them every day. She also has a wishlist to get some more for herself. Bushra’s Lifestyle is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Here is The List Of The Best Kitchen Gadgets1- KitchenAid KSM155GBAZ 5-Qt. Artisan Design Series with Glass BowlThe Kitchen Aid brand is pretty reliable to pretty much all of us. Their products last long. This is a well-constructed mixer and comes with easy controls. Its stand out feature is a glass bowl which is a show stopper in the kitchen. Somehow. glass has always flattered me in the kitchen. This gadget will totally transform your kitchen! If you are hooked to baking, then this mixer is a must-have. It looks very elegant and classy. Having it certainly uplifts your status as a cook and will make you an authentic pie crust maker. Key Features:
Comes with the burnished metal flat beater, burnished metal dough hook, and wire whip. It’s abit pricey but the quality is awesome You can create endless menu and culinary treats with its extra accessories This one is a littleless expensive, but this would be my second choice for a lower budget. Related Posts: 10 best products to make your home clutter-free How to invest in the best cookware sets 2-Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls SetWe all know that every kitchen needs mixing bowls, hence we have to add them in our list, and this is a cute little set. This quality stainless steel bowl set looks great and pretty. You gotta have pretty stuff in the kitchen. After all, you need to please your eyes as well with everything. Key Features:
3-Instant Pot Smart WiFi 6 Quart Multi-use Electric CookerThis little instant pot-electric cooker has way too many benefits to offer. It’s insanely helpful and a huge time saver in your cooking life. It wears many hats, as you can use it as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, or porridge cooker. Oh man, that’s quite a few ways to cook! What do you guys think? Wait, it’s not done yet.. you can also use it as a yogurt maker, cake maker, saute/searing, and steamer! This is a necessity in the kitchen- a must have! This thing is phenominal. Key Features:
I can go on and on praising this thing, I completely love this device! It can replace up to 8 kitchen appliances. Can you imagine that? Here are 47-plus instant pot recipes for you guys to try! 4- Keurig K475 Single-Serve K-Sup Pod Coffee MakerKeurig is one of the gadgets my husband can’t survive without. He has many other gadgets to go along with it as well. It is one of the best brands. This Coffee maker comes with 6 K-Cup pods and a water handle, plus 2 filters to help your beverages taste the best. Key Features:
You would love it every single day as we have been using the Keurig brand for the last 7 years. 5- COSORI 5.8Qt Electric Hot Air Fryer – One Of The Neat Kitchen GadgetsI discovered it when I visited one of my friends and she reheated up Samosas in it. They were as crispy as if you fried them the first time. I was instantly sold on it. Its built-in digital touch screen menu offers 11 cooking presets including, Steak, French fries, Vegetables, Root Vegetables, Bread, Desserts, Poultry, Seafood, Shrimp, Bacon, Frozen Foods, Preheat. Just tap and go! Key Features:
It’s hard to find bad reviews for this product. Google-land has a lot of great things to say! 6- KOIOS Juicer, High Juice YieldIf you love healthy drinks and homemade natural juices, then you need to get one of these. It will give you a lot more juice with fewer fruits or vegetables. Overall, no regret if you purchase this. Key Features:
7- KitchenAid KSB1575ER 5-Speed Diamond Blender One of My Favorite Kitchen GadgetsWho doesn’t love smoothies? Nothing can be better than a homemade smoothy… yum… now I need to go and make one before I finish this post! This little blender has everything you need to make a delicious and tasty drink. It looks great on your countertop. Key Features:
8- Blackbirdlee Microwave Oven Egg Maker, Chicken ShapeThis is one of the kid’s favorites gadgets that we have. We have a little larger one that this as we can cook six eggs at a time. It’s very helpful in the morning and provides you with freshly boiled eggs. Key Features:
9- Mueller Austria V-Pro Multi Blade Adjustable Mandoline Cheese/Vegetable Slicerthis is one of the niftiest little kitchen gadgets I have ever used. For me, this product gets a big thumbs up as I have been using it for the last 13 years in my kitchen. It works like magic. It cuts everything very fast. This one stands up or sits on a bowl, A ton of different slicing grating inserts. Key Features:
You are going to fall in love with this product, once you use it for a week! 10- DALSTRONG Knife Set BlockIf you don’t desire to have a sharp and finest set of knives in the kitchen, then don’t claim yourself as a cooking lover. They are great tools to give a final shape to your meal. The reason I picked this set is craftsmanship. It’s so beautifully made with German HC steel. However, since it’s pricy so I do have included a less pricey version below as well to suit low and high budgets Key Features:
Here is what included in the set
A great bang for your buck! The more affordable version is this one. I wanted to give you an option according to your budget. This is the one I have been using currently and it works just fine. It’s not that fancy though. PIN IT![]() Questions For you1-What is your favoirite gadget? I would love to hear your thoughts 2-Which one have you already used before? 3-Which one do you think can be a big time saver? 4- Do you prefer to spend more money on better quality by investing in some great products? The post 10 Best Kitchen Gadgets You Can’t Live Without appeared first on Bushra's Lifestyle. from https://bushraslifestyle.com/best-kitchen-gadgets/ This post about fine motor skills is brought to you by Dr. Kathryn Garforth. She has a passion for helping individuals with special needs reach their fullest potential! She has both the professional expertise in special education and a personal understanding, as an individual with a learning disability, to help individuals and their families succeed. When she isn’t working with clients or blogging, she is chasing her own three children and spending time in her garden. If you would like to know when Dr. Garforth has a new post, follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GarforthEducation/ I know this post is not related to my niche, but it’s important to me as I have a little girl with down syndrome and I am very keen to learn anything which could improve my daughter’s skill levels. I wish the same for the other parents of disabled children. Hence, once in a blue moon, I love to publish something relevant to this. Read our story about down syndrome Let’s Learn About Fine Motor SkillsIn today’s digital world it is straightforward to sit your child in front of a screen, as a distraction to them, to give you a few moments to yourself or a chance to cross something off of that never-ending to-do list you have. Unfortunately, while this keeps them quiet and busy, it does not do much for developing their fine motor skills. The Definition Of Fine Motor SkillsFine motor skills refer to the small movements that are made using the small muscles in your hands, wrists, and fingers (Technically, they are also involved in the movement of your toes, lips, and tongue, but that is for another conversation). Causes Of Poor Fine Motor SkillsPoor fine motor skills can be caused by many reasons, including low muscle tone, poor hand-eye coordination (insufficient visual-motor control), poor posture, poor core strength, and dysgraphia. One significant factor in the overall decrease in fine motor skills among the general population is due to a change in how young children typically spend their days. Their development is very important for everyday tasks, like getting dressed and ready for school, plus numerous events throughout the school day. If you want to learn more about what fine motor skills you can do with your child in the spring, I will include a link at the bottom to check out relevant posts from my blog. Fine Motor Skill ActivitiesMost kids I know don’t like to be told what to do, especially when it is something that is ‘good for them’. In order for a child to buy-in to repeatedly practicing a skill, it has to be fun and not seem like something they are forced to do. Luckily, there are many activities that promote fine motor skills that children can do and they don’t even realize they are working on them. Some activities that young children love to do that also work on their fine motor skills, including cutting paper with scissors, stacking blocks, playing with bead mazes, coloring, and more. In my house, one of our favorite activities is to play with Play-Doh and there are many ways you can encourage fine motor skill development while playing with it. Fine Motor Skills And Play-DohOne of my favorite ways to work on fine motor skills is by bringing out our box of Play-Doh and accessories to let the kids play (As the hand muscles develop, I like to so some of these activities with plasticine, because it provides more resistance). It allows them to be creative, works on their fine motor skills, it keeps them quiet, and will usually give me at least 45 minutes to get a few things done. In this post, I will share some great ways you can use Play-Doh (or plasticine) and easily accessible objects. You may already have some of these objects in your home, and if you don’t, you can find most of them at your local dollar store. 1- Pretending You Are Running A BakeryChildren love to play make-believe. Growing up, I can remember pretending to run a bakery with my siblings when we were playing with Play-Doh. We would make cookies, doughnuts, and pizza for our Mom to enjoy. When running a bakery, it is very important to make sure you have all the right tools. Using tools like rolling pins, cookie cutters. and spatulas can really help the fine muscles in the hands develop. Using a rolling pin to flatten the Play-Doh helps strengthen the hands and fingers. Using cookie cutters to make the dough into shapes encourages the use of the pincer grasp (This is using your thumb and pointer finger. The name “pincer grasp” always makes me think of a crab pinching with its front claws). After making the shapes with the cookie cutters, peeling away the excess dough also encourages the pincer grasp. Finally, use a spatula to display the cookies nicely as if they are in a display case. The spatula helps with hand strength and improves wrist motion. 2- Beading Practice With Play-DohI have seen this activity done using several different materials based on what you have on hand and what level your child is at. It is straightforward, you stick something into the Play-Doh that will stand up on its own and then thread beads onto it. What I really like about this activity is that it is easier for children to do than lacing beads onto a string. Since the ‘thread’ is standing up on its own, the child does not have to worry about holding it still while trying to thread the ‘bead’ onto it. In the picture below my daughter was using spaghetti noodles to thread penne pasta onto. You could also use pipe cleaners, toothpicks, shish kabob skewers, and straws as the thread. Beads, cereal, pasta, candy, rolled up balls of play-dough and cut up straws can be used for beads. If you want to challenge your child a little more, you can ask them to create a pattern with the different colors. 3- Pushing beads and gems into play dough.If you go into the craft section of your local dollar store, you should have no problem finding beads, jewels, stones and gems to add to your Play-Doh accessories collection. Having your children add these items into Play-Doh with either their thumbs or one of their fingers helps build up the small muscles in their fingers and hands. I like using the flower beads pictured below because when a child pushes the flower in with their bent thumb, they work on their thumb’s web space (the fleshy part between the thumb and the index finger). This is needed to hold a pencil in a tripod grasp with the thumb, index, and middle finger. Once they have pushed the beads in, they can make an ‘okay’ sign with their thumb and index finger and pinch them out. Pinching the beads and then pulling them out gives the opportunity for the child to retract (pull back) their fingers. 4- Playing With Kitchen Utensils And Play-DohMy children love to raid the drawers in my kitchen to find different things to use while they are playing with Play-Doh. There are so many kitchen utensils that are fun to use when playing with Play-Doh aside from the commonly used rolling pin and cookie cutters. Some of these include a garlic press, a potato masher, a pastry cutter, a cheese grater, a strainer, a pizza cutter, a whisk, and scissors. Using these tools can help various muscles in the hand. You are welcome to use the tools in your kitchen, but I would suggest washing them right away afterward because it is never fun trying to get the dried Play-Doh off them. Another option would be to go out and buy a set especially for Play-Doh from a yard sale, thrift store, or a dollar store. ![]() 5- Play-Doh MatsThe mats are lots of fun and can provide inspiration for when your child is not sure what to make. I printed off several Play-Doh mats I have found from different blogs and laminated them for extra durability. Older children may prefer to use plasticine so they can add more details. As you can see below, my toddler loves to use jewels and gems to decorate the Play-Doh on the mat. I ask my older children to make patterns when they decorate. We have even found Play-Doh mats that come with accessories you can cut out. I cut them out, laminate them, and then glue them onto toothpicks so they can be stuck into the Play-Doh. Hand-Eye Coordination With Play-Doh* As an added bonus, using Play-Doh also helps with hand-eye coordination and activities that require using both hands at one time. It can assist with bilateral coordination. Play-Doh Recipe
![]() Place all the ingredients in a large saucepan on high heat and continuously stir until the substance completely wraps around spoon in a soft, malleable glob. Plasticine Recipe
Mix together all the ingredients in a bowl until combined. Related Posts:Spring Activities for fine motor skill Winter Activities for fine motor skills Helpful Toys To Improve Fine Motor Skills.1- Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog, Sensory Fine Motor ToyThis fun toy is very helpful to build your little one’s fine motor skills. It says for 18 months, but you can use it for up to a 3-year old child. The spikes are made of rubber and come in different colors. Your child can put them in and out of the holes in the hedgehog. Learning resources is a great brand to with This toy does not only help to build fine motor skills, but it also helps kids to learn about colors. An affordable toy to provide great learning skills. Once your child is done playing, you can store all your spikes inside of the hedgehog so, they don’t get lost. 2- Melissa & Doug Wooden Latches BoardThis is one of the best toys you can buy for your child. It helps develop fine motor skills and improves so many other skills, such as gross motor skills in children. It’s ages 3 and up, but easily could be used all the way for children up to 5. Kids enjoy it and build dexterity as they navigate latches that hook, snap, click and slide. 3- Learning Resources Super Sorting Pie, Fine Motor ToyIt comes with number and patterns to a total of 68 Pieces. Good for up to five years of age. It helps children to learn early number skills, patterning, problem-solving, visual processing, and much more. Your child will be in love with this toy from head to toe. 4- BleuZoo Rainbow Counting Bears + Activity eBookComes with 60 bears, 6 matching cups, 2 tweezers, and a container. Kids love this awesome set. They can spend hours counting, sorting, matching, and playing with it. The bears are designed to teach color recognition, sorting, fine motor skills, math, hand-eye coordination, and numbers. They work great with early childhood STEM and Montessori programs. 5-Skoolzy Nuts and Bolts Fine Motor Skills Toddler ToysAnother great toy for kids to develop multiple skills. Comes with 24 pieces with 4 different shapes and 6 rainbow colors. Kids make their fine motor muscles strong by screwing and unscrewing the large plastic nuts and bolts. Pin It![]() I Hope you like this wonderful and full of a knowledge blog post by Dr. Kathryn. Please, show her some love by leaving a comment below and visiting her site! The post How To Develop Fine Motor Skills In Children appeared first on Bushra's Lifestyle. from https://bushraslifestyle.com/fine-motor-skills/ How To Paint Furniture with Chalk PaintHello, lovely friends! Here I am again! Sharing my tips and tricks on how to chalk paint furniture – plus a chalk paint recipe… I am excited about the chalk paint recipe, as it is so easy to make and will save you tons of money. You all know how much chalk-painted furniture is in fashion these days…so we are gonna talk all about it!!!! If you have never chalk-painted furniture with chalk paint before, take advantage of my 10 years of furniture painting experience. By the end of the post, you will definitely be ready to finish your first chalk paint project. I promise! Why Is Chalk Paint Better For Furniture?Well, first off let me tell you a bit about chalk paint…It may be a hot trend right now, but chalk paint has been around for centuries… so has chalk painted furniture. Chalk painted furniture goes well with farmhouse, country, or eclectic decor style and it’s easy to paint with. Hence, all the DIYers like it. It helps your project to get done faster and saves you tons of time to keep your life straight. ![]() Do You Have To Sand Furniture Before Using Chalk Paint?This is the most commonly asked question, and I remember myself asking this question years ago when I was new to furniture painting. My question was always something like this… “Why use Chalk Paint Vs Regular Paint on Furniture?“ The big difference between chalk painting and latex paint (regular paint) is that you don’t have to prep your piece..for example, you can totally paint a piece of furniture with chalk paint without sanding or priming and it will look amazing. I don’t even bother using two coats…On some pieces, one coat is more than enough. Just clean your piece and go paint over the surface no matter what condition your piece is in…it’s just amazing! I have been painting furniture since 2010 and chalk paint is my favorite paint among all others. It has a forgiving nature that makes it a favorite for everyone once you start using it. ![]() ![]() Shall We Start The Step By Step Chalk Paint Furniture Tutorial Now?Bushra’s Lifestyle is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Choose Your First Piece Of FurnitureIf you are going to dirty your hands with chalk paint for the first time in life, then I would highly recommend using a small piece of furniture… not so pretty and without so many curves. I would say go for a small table but without any dent or chips so you can feel comfortable and save yourself some steps such as sanding, filling, etc. Once you have your piece of furniture that you’re going to chalk paint, follow these steps below to be a pro in chalk painting!!!! Step 1- Select Your PaintThe very first thing is to pick or select your paint. 10 years ago when I started painting furniture, chalk paint was super expensive at that time. Anni Sloan’s chalk paint was the go-to choice for everyone. Well, it has changed over the years, although Anni Sloan’s chalk paint is still the best choice. However, there are a lot of other brands that are in the market these days and I like Behr paint as it’s very affordable. Here is the list of chalk paint brands I have used over the years and gladly recommend them as well. I never thought of starting a blog, so I don’t have pictures for every project I have done in my house.
![]() Step 2- Put Your Supplies TogetherAfter you pick your paint, the next step is to put your essential supplies together…I have put a very detailed supplies list in my how to paint a dresser post, check that out right here. Here is the list you need to get going….
Paint Brush Vs RollerA lot of people say it’s a personal choice if you want to use a roller with chalk paint. Well friends, my opinion, it should not be about personal rather about the professional finish. ![]() In the past, I have asked professional furniture painters several times that question and the answer was “using a brush over the roller is always better”. Start with a brush then see if you need a roller on a piece of furniture you are painting with chalk paint. However, a brush gives you much better finishes than the roller could ever give. ![]() I also use a few different brushes for small nooks and curves to spread the paint evenly all over the piece I am working on. The other brand I like is “Purdy“, and I have to admit that their brushes are great as well. I have a stock of them at my home. I save all my supplies in an extra dresser, so anytime I need anything, I know where to go, including my paint sample. A word of wisdom, Please don’t ever buy non-branded cheap brushes, as you will regret it later. I’m telling you this based on my personal experience. It’s better off getting these nice recommended brushes. Step 3- Prepare The Piece Of FurnitureThe piece I picked for today’s demonstration is these cute set of nightstands, I scored at a thrift store. I am a bit sad, guys because that thrift store no longer exists. Honestly, chalk paint totally changed the look of these old set of nightstands. ![]() Don’t paint a piece of furniture that has an awful smell… Paint is not a substitute for an odor eliminator… You would just waste your time. So, make sure that if you buy furniture from the thrift store it doesn’t come with a bad, hard-to-stand the odor. A Short Personal StoryI once had a small dresser which was extremely pretty and I got it for $2, I was wondering why someone would get rid of it. It was very stinky but I was determined to paint it. I had no idea what kind of smell it was, but guys, the paint didn’t help one bit. Neither did vinegar which I use for everything. Finally, I cleaned it with ammonia and I got rid of some of the smell but not all of it. I ended up putting it on the curb as I was too embarrassed to donate it. Removing The HardwareIf there is any hardware on your furniture, remove it before you even start cleaning by using an appropriate tool. A free tip for you, put all your hardware at a safe place. I would say put it in a plastic baggie so you don’t’ lose it later. I, however, never use baggie’s as I put them in my storage dresser where I save all my paint supplies and extra hardware like this. ![]() CleaningAs I always say, cleaning is a crucial step. This is where I pay a lot of attention. BTW, I always take before pictures of my pieces ever since I started blogging, but before, not so much! You don’t have to, it’s an optional step.. LOL! Now that the hardware is off, it’s time to look around to see if you have any stickers that need to come off. If any sticker does need to come off, use Goo Gone and the adhesive will be gone within seconds. Or, use a mixer of water, vinegar and a few drops of dawn soap. Spray it and let it sit for a few minutes. It will come right off. ![]() Next, wipe it off any dust your piece is collecting using dusting brush. Don’t spray water on dust, it doesn’t help. If your furniture is extremely messy then TSP is the way to go, but if it looks clean, then Dawn soap and warm water will get the job done. I barely have used TSP, but I always keep it handy. You never know. ![]() Good cleaning will give you the best results with better adhesion. It’s crucial! FillingThis step depends upon your needs. As I said above, if you are painting the first time, pick a decent piece of furniture in order to perform a confident job. Once you are a pro, then you are good to paint anything. If your furniture has a lot of dents and chips, you then need to fill them by using wood filler. I like the Minwax brand. I use a putty knife to apply my filler. ![]() Sanding As NeededAfter you fill the dents and chips, you need to sand these areas by using 60-120 or 100-200 grit sandpaper according to your needs. However, you don’t need to sand the whole piece, just the required areas. Work-space For Chalk Painting?I am going to mention this again… Don’t use chalk paint in your garage or where you think there will be a lot of dust. Chalk paint is very safe to use inside. I highly recommend painting your furniture inside the house. Just cover your floor with tarp or plastic. ![]() Step 4- Start Painting1– Make sure your paint is well-stirred before you start painting furniture. Pro Tip: Leave the can of chalk paint upside down for about 8 minutes and then shake it and stir it well! ![]() 2– Tape off the areas you don’t want to paint with painters tape. Make sure you know where your drawers go if it’s a dresser or table with drawers. Here is what I do, I use price stickers from Dollar Tree. The ones you use for garage sale price tags. Write numbers with right and left on them, so you know where they go once the job is done. 3– Then, spray a bit of water on your paintbrush to make it lightly wet before you dip into the paint. Pour the chalk paint into a flat container. Make sure you check the consistency. If it’s too thick, just spray some water in it and mix according to your needs. Dip your brush lightly and start painting in the direction of the grain. Tightly cover your can of paint to avoid it from drying. The direction of the grain is the key thing to remember.Some people will tell you to paint in any direction, and it’s simply not true with any paint. I have learned over the year that this technique leaves really awful marks on your furniture. I had no idea at the beginning about this grain thingy but learned my lesson after painting a piece or two. 4– Paint in small areas. For instance, if you are starting with a leg, finish that first, then move on to the next part. Just to make your DIY life easy. 5– It’s that easy! Now, let it dry for an hour and wrap your brush in plastic wrap. Plastic wrap will prevent it from drying. But, if you think that you are done painting and no need for another coat, then wash your brush to put it away. Can You Water Down Chalk Paint?Absolutely, you can water down chalk paint! In fact, it’s best to do it, as chalk paint gets dry very quickly. Keep a small spray bottle available for spraying. Don’t completely soak it with water, just a small amount of spray would dilute it well. At least in my experience, a spray bottle is the best method. Watering down chalk paint makes it apply much easier. Be consistent, though. Don’t water too much and ruin the original color of your chalk paint by making it too thin. With experience, you would get a pretty good idea of how much water to use. Now you know that one of the best tips is watering down thick chalk paint! Too much water can change the color of your chalk paint, so be careful with it. Do You Need A Second Coat Of Chalk Paint?What I have seen over the years, it’s unpredictable until you start painting. What To Do When You Get A Bleed- through With Chalk Paint.Well, here is the deal…You would think chalk paint is always forgiving, but it isn’t really the case for all types of furniture. Mahogany, Cherry and Pinewood can bleed through very easily. Solutions: You can do two things to prevent it…. A- Prime with either with Kills all-purpose primer or Zinsser Stain Cover primer. B- Use spray shellac or regular shellac one or two coat as needed. Zinner has the best one. I would use a foam brush for this, but a regular brush is fine too. Make sure you don’t use this product inside of your house as it has a very strong smell. Should You Sand Between Chalk Paint?It depends upon your needs and how your masterpiece looks after one or two coats of paint. It’s not necessary, rather an optional step. Step 5- How To Wax Chalk Painted FurnitureYou can wait 24 hours before you wax, but I have done it within 12 to 24 hours after painting furniture and the waxing results were great. So here is how you would use clear wax on your chalk painted furniture: 1– Take a spoon or two full of wax and pour it on a little plastic lid or paper plate. I sometimes use it right off the container but the for first-time users, use it properly in a plate. 2– Use your lint-free cloths or brushes, but keep in mind a brush gives you a better finish than the lint-free cloth. However, lint-free cloths bring more shine into your piece. Once you are painting for a long time, you can use any piece of cloths that is soft in nature, but not at the beginning of your painting journey. ![]() Next In Waxing3– Start applying wax on an edge farthest away from you so you don’t have to lean into the wax area. 4– Go in small sections to get the beautiful finish you want in circular motions! Like taking baby steps. The paint will start to look darker so, it’s easy to recognize the area you already have waxed. 5- Once you are done with one section then take your clean cloth and wipe off the excess. It will leave the area shiny and with a really neat look behind. ![]() 6– If you see some streaking, go back and apply some more wax and re-polish the area again. Continue to repeat this until you are done with your whole piece of painted furniture. ![]() Wax takes 30 days to dry completely, so make sure you handle your furniture with great care! According to Annie Sloan – Don’t let your kids ruin it for you. Step 6- How To Distress Furniture With Chalk PaintThe good news is that you don’t have to wait after you are done with your wax to distress your furniture. Distressing is an optional step, anyways. Not all furniture needs to be distress. Once you finished with your clear wax coat, you are done if you don’t want to distress furniture with chalk paint. However, if you want to distress your furniture with chalk paint then make sure you are done waxing and no streaks are left anywhere in your masterpiece. There is no dry time for distressing it’s just more about your cure time such as to see that your piece is pretty smooth-looking after the waxing. ![]() I am going to teach you anyways in case if you want to distress your piece. 1– Okay, go ahead and start using a coarse grain sandpaper, 60 to 120 grit. Using coarse-grit sandpaper is a much quicker method than fine-grit sandpaper… it’s a personal preference, though. ![]() This picture is before I started blogging. 2– You mostly need to distress in the places where it normally would wear and tear such as around the edges, down the legs, or if you have any detail on your furniture. I must say, chalk painted furniture with distressing looks very elegant. Pro Tip: Once you are done waxing in a circular motion, then wipe it off in straight motion. It will get rid of all the streaky lines. ![]() ![]() How much Distressing You Should Be Doing?It’s up to you, as some people like just a little bit of distressing and some of you want the paint mostly gone. I like both. What I personally do is to sand it first and leave it for an hour or so. If I like it, it’s done. Otherwise, just go from there. Sometimes you need to sand it until you see the bare wood. You really don’t know until you do it and look at the piece. It’s not a time-consuming task, so if you keep going you can be done with a day!!! You can always stop in between these steps if you are busy and have to do something else. WarningIf your piece of furniture was old and it’s possible that someone might have painted it with lead-based paint, then sand it in an open place. Maybe in your backyard or so. Make sure you wear a mask too. How To Use Dark Wax On Chalk Painted FurnitureYou can apply dark wax over your chalk painted piece after you are done distressing. You are ready to apply your dark wax using the same method above that I have explained for clear wax. Use Annie Solan wax or any other. Dark wax is soft, so just take a spoonful and put it in a plate. You only need a very little bit of it as it goes a long way. Use cloth or brush and apply it with a circular motion and wipe off with a straight motion. For more detail, read the section above for the clear wax. This step is optional. If you don’t want to use dark wax you don’t have to. Once you are done with dark wax, go ahead and wipe it off using some elbow grease. Give it a good rub so you can get a great shine. Ta-Da!!! You are done! DIY Chalk Paint Recipe For FurnitureFor chalk paint recipe, here are the supplies you need:
How To Mix It Together:It’s an extremely simple recipe. Take one part plaster of Paris to three parts paint. We are going to add a little bit of water to turn plaster of Paris into a past before adding the paint into it. That’s about it. So if you take 1 cup of plaster of Paris and mix it with a little bit of water. Add 3 cups of paint into that past and your chalk paint is ready. No matter how much paint you need, the ratio is 1 to 3. The consistency of your plaster of Pairs should be a little thinner than mayonnaise You can mix it all together with the fork or spoon but if you need a lot of paint you can use the little electric hand mixer. Is Chalky Finish The Same As Chalk Paint?Nope, a chalky finish is not the same as chalk paint. I have recently painted my laundry room cabinets to give it a beautiful farmhouse look by using Valspar paint which is very similar to chalk paint and offers a chalky finish but it’s not exactly the same as chalk paint. BTW, I love their paint. ![]() I am so going to use this paint on my kitchen cabinets Chalk paint is not the same as chalkboard paint. In fact, it all came from the interior design industry with Annie Sloan registered trademark for the paint. A few years ago, there were not even many chalk paints available in the market except Annie Sloan. It was pretty pricey, and that was the first chalk paint I started to use. Then What Is Chalk Paint, And Who Introduced It?Well, here is the answer to “What is chalk paint”. It is basically made of calcium carbonate, pigment, and water. That’s it. Annie Sloan is the one who took this award to introduce such a great product in 1990. She also has written over 25 books on paint. Very authentic sources, right? Otherwise, chalk paint is around since cavemen Where To Buy Chalk PaintIn these days, it’s very easy to buy chalk paint as a lot of stores sell them in-store and online. Amazon is full of different chalk paints. You can also order from different vendors who carry them. Annie Sloan chalk paint is one, and there is another, Fusion chalk paint. Home Depot sells Behr chalk paint which is very affordable. The only drawback is that it comes with just a few colors. These places also sell chalk paint wax as well. My go-to place is either Home depot or Amazon How Do You Paint IKEA Furniture Without Sanding With Chalk Paint?I have written a detailed post about this most frequently asked question, so check that step-by-step tutorial out, guys, just by clicking on the link below. ![]() Pros And Cons Of Chalk PaintWell, as I said earlier, chalk paint is nothing new. However, it’s in the trend since the last decade and everyone is going crazy for it. Well, let see why people are going crazy by looking at these pros and cons. Let’s go with the pros first. Pros of Chalk Paint
Cons Of Chalk Paint
That’s it, guys. I don’t see many cons using chalk paint. It’s much easier than latex paint, as I have used both. Bonus Tip: How To Clean Your Paint BrushHere is a bonus tip for you guys to give your brush a brand new appearance: 1-Wash your brush thoroughly. Rinse all the paint off of your brush. 2-Then, take some lukewarm water and pour a few drops of vinegar. 3- Dip your paintbrush after you rinse it in this solution and leave it for 30 minutes and that’s it. It will get you beautiful bristles back and your brush will look brand new, like mine. ![]() ![]() The post How To Chalk Paint Furniture – Plus Chalk Paint Recipe appeared first on Bushra's Lifestyle. from https://bushraslifestyle.com/how-to-chalk-paint-furniture-plus-chalk-paint-recipe/ Gardening Tool Set GIVEAWAY- Enter To Win!!!Happy Monday, friends!!! How’s everyone doing? Today I am going to share my thoughts on a beautiful gardening tool set- a gift for the garden lover. This is a sponsored post by INTOQ, and I only review products if I personally like them or use them. My readers are more important than any other benefits. Bushra’s Lifestyle only exists because of all your love and support. Don’t’ forget to sign up for a FREE gardening tool set at the end, folks! The company will also ship it to you for free (within the USA). INTOQ – 9 Piece Gardening Tool Set- In A BagThis cute gardeningtool set includes all the essentials for gardening lovers. It comes with 1 trans-planter, 1 trowel, 1 cultivator, 1 weeder, or weeding fork, to get your weeds out, and 1 little rake. They all are made of rust-resistant stainless steel material and with very beautiful wooden handles. Moreover, this gardening tool set has a spray bottle, a beautiful pair of gloves, and a little cute stool as well to put your tools on it. The bonus is that everything comes in a bag for easy transportation. So, if you are helping a friend to put their garden in shape and would like to use your own tools, just carry everything in a bag. Key Features For This Gardening Tool Set
![]() Related: The 10 Best Clutter-Free Products ![]() ![]() My Rating (With Stars) – 4.5/5After opening this beautiful gardening tool set, I was very impressed with both the packing and product. It is well-made and comes with everything you need for home gardening. The quality is great, and I will happily give them 4.5 stars. I wish that the spray bottle would have been larger, and also had a pruner tool. It says it on their Amazon package, but I don’t see it in the toolset. A pruner is something every gardener needs for sure. Otherwise, it’s a great quality set! ![]() My Concern and Their ResponseWhen they contacted me to review this product I popped up on Amazon to check this out, but I have to be honest that I was a bit concerned about the 3-star rating. I emailed back to the company that I am concerned about the 3 stars as I don’t consider product review-worthy if they don’t get a minimum of 4 stars. ![]() They were very good at clearing this up. They said, that they had an issue and took care of it. You have a 100% money back guarantee, so you have nothing to worry about. Buying on Amazon is always secure and safe, anyways. ![]() Gardner Lover Spoiler Alert!If you love gardening, then you absolutely deserve this beautiful gardening tool set with all the essential items for all your garden needs..Wait no more! ![]() Enter your name and email to win this gardening tool set GIVEAWAY!!! Shipping is totally free for the USA residents! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */The post Gardening Tool Set – A Gift For Garden Lovers appeared first on Bushra's Lifestyle. from https://bushraslifestyle.com/gardening-tool-set-gift-for-garden-lover/ |
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