Have you ever tried transferring an image onto a piece of furniture? There are many ways to transfer images but today I'm sharing a step-by-step tutorial on how to do it with image transfer medium and it's actually a lot of fun.

Today is Themed Furniture Makeover Day and the theme this month is Inspired by Chocolate. In my furniture stash, I happened to have the perfect scalloped Queen Anne tea table that was just begging for a graphic on the top.

A few chocolates may have been consumed in the making of this project.

A Scalloped Tea Table Makeover Inspired By Chocolate

This is what the Queen Anne tea table, originally from the Bombay Company, looked like before the makeover...

I have to admit this piece was a joy to work on compared to my hair pulling, curse-spewing, wine drinking saga last month with my Shades of White Chair from hell.

So this is what I did with this cute little table. After applying a coat of shellac, because I knew the dark wood was going to bleed through the paint, I brushed three thin coats of Simplicity White chalk paint.

For a timeworn look, I distressed it with 150 grit sandpaper. To protect the finish I applied a generous coat of Metallic Pearl Wax. It's hard to see in the pictures but it gives off a beautiful pearlescent shimmer.

So where's the chocolate inspiration you ask? I found the perfect Vintage Scandinavian Chocolate Graphic at the Graphics Fairy site to transfer onto the top.

Image Transfer Technique

Step 1 - Print Graphic

Print a mirror image of the graphic onto bond paper. If you use an inkjet printer you need to let the ink dry for several hours, I let mine dry overnight. If you use a laser printer you can skip the ink drying process.

Step 2 - Add graphic to table top

Apply Image Transfer Medium (Mod Podge also works) with a foam brush onto the image side of the paper. Place image side down onto the center of the table, being careful NOT to move the image or it will smudge. Use a brayer or credit card and gently rub over the graphic to remove any air bubbles and ensure a tight bond with the table surface. Allow the paper to completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Step 3 - Remove layers of paper

Working in sections, spray the image with water and gently rub the first layer of paper off with your fingertips. Let the paper dry and repeat this process to remove the next layer of paper. Repeat this step until all the layers have been removed and the graphic becomes clear.

Note: The image will look somewhat cloudy after all the layers are removed, don't be alarmed. The next step will remove that murkiness.

You can see in the picture above how stark the white table is compared to the vintage graphic. Next, I dry brushed layers of chalk paint in the colors Vintage Cupcake and Sage Advice around the graphic.

To remove the cloudy residue that may remain on the graphics and to protect the table top, apply two coats of Matte Tough Coat.

Step 4 - Age the table top

For a time-worn look, apply dark wax over the entire table top, including the graphics, with a lint free rag and wipe away the excess. I reapplied   I reapplied Pearl wax on the scalloped edge to get some pearlescent shimmer back onto the white paint.

Have I inspired you to transfer an image onto a piece of furniture using image transfer medium? This little table sold quickly at a recent outdoor market.

If you found this image transfer tutorial helpful or like the makeover I gave this Scalloped Queen Anne Table, please share it with a friend and/or save it on Pinterest.

Let's head over and see what my talented friends in the DIY Furniture Girls group created for their Inspired By Chocolate furniture makeover.

Please pin directly from their blog post rather than the links below.

You will find this project linked to these fabulous Link Parties.

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An Easy Update To An 80's Clay Mexican Fruit Bowl

Welcome to another edition of Frugal Decor Tuesday and today we're going to be talking about fruit. Yes, you read that correctly.

We've had this lovely but heavy Clay Mexican Fruit Bowl for several months. Twice we've attempted to sell it without success. My thought is that it isn't the fruit bowl that makes it unattractive to buyers but rather the 80's vibe it has going on. So I pulled it off the shelf and gave it a quick and easy update with chalk paint.

Clay Mexican Fruit Bowl Update

Here is a closer peek at what it looked like before...

My initial thought was to paint it white and distress a little to show some of the color underneath. I barely got the apple finished when I decided to scrap that idea. Onto Plan B, making them look like stone, very fitting considering the weight of each piece.

The first thing I did was water down some white chalk paint to a milk-like consistency. I went over all the pieces with one coat, letting the paint run into all those crevices.

Once dry I dipped only the tip of my paint brush into the color Hurricane (which is a charcoal gray color) chalk paint and removed the excess paint onto a paper towel.  I ran the brush lightly over each piece in random strokes so the paint hit only the raised parts (see picture below).

I love how it instantly updated the look.

All the details on each piece pop.

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, so much so that I'm thinking about keeping them.

They would be an interesting addition to any Spring or Summer tablescape.

I think they look great on my dining room table.

If you enjoyed this quick Clay Mexican Fruit Bowl update please share it with a friend and/or save it on Pinterest.

So what is your preference - the before or after? Don't be shy, I won't be offended if you prefer the before. I always love reading your comments.

My thoughts have been on warm weather, Spring flowers, and time spent outdoors. This Canadian Prairie Girl is DONE with winter so I think next week I'll share a little taste of Spring.

I'm sharing this project at these fabulous LINKY PARTIES

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How To DIY A Bathroom Vanity Sliding Shelf

Are you tired of the struggle to find things under the bathroom sink? This old gal has crawled on her hands and knees far too often looking for toiletries way at the back. So I finally did something about it and built a bathroom vanity sliding shelf. I don't know what took me so long because it wasn't difficult to make and I'm going to show you how.

It took this month's Power Tool Challenge to give me the motivation to build this handy bathroom organizer. The theme this month is home improvement and considering we replaced the original vanities in our 1960's home a few years ago, it was about time I got them organized.

If you haven't heard of the Power Tool Challenge, it's a group of talented tool savvy, skill sharing female DIY bloggers who come together each month to empower our female readers to step out of their comfort zones and try simple projects they can make themselves using power tools.

How To Build A Bathroom Vanity Sliding Shelf

You can see in the photo below, now everything is organized and accessible with just one pull. Even my Friar Friar Pants On Fire OPI nail polish has a home.

Pictured below was my feeble attempt at keeping the vanity organized. Using a dollar store paper towel holder for storing extra rolls of TP is very handy. PVC Pipe on the doors to house my blow dryer and flat iron is awesome too.

But those stackable plastic drawers were not functional at all. First, they didn't hold very much. Second, there wasn't enough clearance under the pipes to stack. And third, because they were not as deep as the vanity, they slid around every time I opened a drawer.

I prettied up the PVC holders by spray painting them in the color Aqua by Rust-oleum Satin Ultra Cover Finish.

This is what you will need to make the vanity sliding shelf:

I've included affiliate links in this post so you can see what tools and products I used to make this project. See my disclosure policy.

Tools:

Table Saw
Mitre Saw
Power Drill
1/4-inch Counter Sink Drill Bit
1/16-inch Pilot Hole Drill Bit
Robertson Drill Bit
Corner Clamps
X-Acto Knife
Heat Gun

Materials:

White Melamine Particle Board
2" x 2" Lumber
Side Mount Drawer Slides
White Melamine Pre-glued Veneer Edging
1 1/4-inch Particle Board Screws
1-inch Wood Screws

Here are the instructions for building the vanity sliding shelf:

Step 1 - Cutting the shelf board

Use a table saw to cut a sheet of white melamine particle board into the pieces needed to make the shelf. If you don't have a table saw you may be able to get your local home improvement store to cut the melamine for you.

Measurements:

Based on a 36-inch bathroom vanity with an inside width of 22 1/2-inches.
Base: 20 1/4" x 19 1/4"
Sides - 6 pieces: 4/12" x 24"

Step 2 - Cutting the rails 

Using a miter saw, cut the front and back pieces 17 3/4-inches long. Cut two more 20-inches long for the side rails.

NOTE: Keep the off cuts as they will be used to make cubby dividers later.

Step 3 - Drilling pilot holes for side rails

Use a corner clamp to hold the shelf and one side piece together and flip them upside down. Drill pilot holes for the screws with a 1/16-inch pilot hole bit on a power drill (as seen in the photo below).

Step 4 - Countersink holes 

Use a countersink bit on a power drill to countersink the pilot holes you just made. You want the screws to sit below the surface of the frame so not to catch on the vanity base or the slider hardware.

Step 5 - Attaching side rails

Using a #8 1 1/4-inch particle board screws and a Robertson drill bit, attach the side to the base. Repeat the steps above for the opposite side and both the front and back pieces.

Step 6 - Measuring the cubbies

• Measure the width of the inside of the box.
• Cut another of your 24-inch melamine pieces to that length (mine is 17 3/4-inches).
• Divide the board into three and draw a line (my middle cubby is narrower than the other two).
• Repeat Steps 3-5 on each line (see picture below).

Step 7 - Installing cubby dividers

Remember those off-cuts I mentioned above, use the two pieces that measure 4-inches. Line them up on the marks you made in the previous step and screw them in place (as in the picture below).

NOTE: for now ignore the two screws sticking up (pictured below).

Step 8 - Installing middle divider

• Going back to the previous picture, mark the center point of the middle cubby.
• Repeat Steps 3-5 on the mark you drew and drill the screws in partially (as shown above).
• Cut the last piece of 20-inch melamine to 14-inches as this will become the middle divider.
• Line up the middle divider with your screws and attach the board.
• Insert the divider inside the drawer (see photo below).
• Attach the insert on the outer side of the shelf with a screw on the top and bottom.
• Remember to follow Steps 3-5 first before screwing it together.

Step 9 - Covering raw edges with veneer

Time to hide the ugly particle board edges with White Melamine Pre-glued Veneer Edging.

With an X-Acto knife, cut strips of the White Melamine Edging to fit each piece. Using a heat gun, adhere the strips to the particle board.

Note: after letting the strip cool a little, I used my finger to feel where there may not have been a good contact and repeated the process.

Step 10 - Attaching a sliding mechanism to the drawer

• Attach the sliding mechanism of the Side Mount Drawer Slide Hardware onto the bottom of each side of the drawer.
• Be sure to place them towards the back of the drawer.
• Using 1-inch wood screws attach them as seen in the picture below.

Step 11 - Installing sliding hardware to vanity interior

• Cut a piece of 2" x 2" lumber to fit both sides of the vanity. These become the spacers for the stationary part of the side mount drawer slides to be mounted onto. They allow the drawer to clear the door hinges (see picture below). 
• Attach the stationary part of the drawer slide hardware onto the spacer taking extra care that they are mounted perfectly level on each side.

No need to worry about clearing the sink pipes now.

Here it is again with the drawer extended.

I can't tell you enough how handy sliding shelf has been. It doesn't have to be just for the bathroom. I plan on building one under the kitchen sink too.

Since I was in building and organizing mode, I made a divider for one the vanity drawers as well and attached it with screws onto the back side of the drawer.

Now it's time to see what my talented friends made for the Home Improvement Power Tool Challenge. Press the links below to be taken to each blogger's projects.

DIY Shutters by Create And Babble
DIY Fireplace Mantel Shelf by Her Tool Belt
Industrial Paper Towel Holder by Virginia Sweet Pea
Blanket Ladder by Refresh Restyle
Cedar Hose Planter by Kim Six Fix
DIY Vanity Sliding Drawer by Interior Frugalista
How To Patch A Hole In Drywall by Designs By Studio C
Wall Mount Staghorn Fern by A Piece Of Rainbow
DIY Painted Stairs Makeover by Thrift Diving
DIY Modern Rustic Mirror by H2OBungalow

I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.

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Welcome to another edition of Frugal Decor Tuesday and this week I'm sharing a creative way to Repurpose A Thrift Store Wooden Flatware Chest Into A Masculine Storage Box masculine Argyle catchall box.

Wooden Flatware Chest Repurposed Into Harlequin Trinket Box

This is what the flatware box used to look like before I gutted the nasty smelly innards.

This is how it looked on the outside, rather boring.

If you remember, last week when I shared What To Do With A Couple Of Candlesticks I promised this week's frugal decor would involve diamonds.

Not quite the diamonds you had in mind? The argyle pattern gives it that masculine edge which would make it a great box for rolled ties, a watch collection or other mementos.

After a lot of scraping old glue and pieces of velvet cloth, I lined the interior with scrapbook paper. My go-to method for decoupaging paper onto wood is using wallpaper adhesive - rarely do you get bubbles or wrinkles.

The exterior was chalk painted in the color Rocky Mountain. Love the name of that paint color considering I live a few hours from the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

The raised portion on the top was also decoupaged with the same argyle scrapbook paper used along the wall of the interior.

It might be hard to see in the pictures but there are silver metallic flecks in the argyle pattern and so I replicated it by rubbing the wooden handle with Silver Gilding Wax. Dark wax was applied over the chalk paint and the paper to give it an aged appearance.

This box would also be great in a Den or Man Cave to store remote controls, playing cards and poker chips, or fine cigars.

The uses for this box are endless.

If you like this idea for repurposing a Wooden Flatware Chest, please share it with a friend and/or save it on Pinterest.

So what would you use this repurposed flatware chest for?

Next week on Frugal Decor Tuesday I'll be sharing something that involves fruit. I'm sharing this project at the following LINKY PARTIES

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