Spray Painters Anonymous... Dans le Townhouse

My name is Tanya and I blog over at Dans le Townhouse, where I chronicle adventures in renovating, decorating, thrifting and DIYing.  Although I know I have a spray painting addiction, I'm in no rush to find the cure.  With Hubby totally enabling me, cans of spray paint have become my not-so-secret weapon to transform the ordinary into something I love.  I've spray painted cupboard door handles, furniture, picture frames, trinket boxes, wine bottled, mirrors, and more.  In the hopes of fueling your spray paint addiction, here's a peek at a few of my recent spray painted projects. 

I picked up an ugly little ceramic seagull thrifting, but with a lick of matte white spray paint, it became a cool, subtle addition to our "gallery-white" walls:

When a vintage necklace lost its luster, I gave it a lick of silver and turquoise spray paint to give it a new lease on life as a key chain:

To keep things interesting, sometimes I turn to chalkboard spay paint.  Look how I used it to give our dated knife block a fresh new look:

I even upped the ante by spray painting stenciled letters onto a mirror, but not before antiquing and spray painting the back, too!

As if my own addiction wasn't rampant enough, I'm corrupting little children.  When I made a stylish play kitchen for my little cousin, I whipped up some kid-approved accessories, turning everyday objects into colorful play kitchen accessories with . . . you guessed it . . . spray paint!

I'd love to share more of my spray painting adventures but the marble started rattling in my last can, so I'm off in search of more spray paint.  Although I don't want to be helped, thanks to Tiffany for inviting me to a Spray Painter's Anonymous meeting!    

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Ha!  None of us what to be helped... just accepted for our addiction!  That mirror is just stunning!  I am totally going to be stealing that!  Be sure to check out Tayna's blog

Her home is by far one of my favorites!  It has the perfect mix of MCM and antique style!  She just opened up an Etsy shop with her mom selling all of her great vintage finds and handmade goods!

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And now let us all repeat the Spray Painters Mantra:

Friends, help me source all the items I am searching for but can not find.

Give me the vision to think outside of the box and remember the can of spray paint,

and bless me with the patience to let each of the coats dry before I move on to the next step!

Cookies and coffee are in the back! =)

If you need support for your spray painting addiction and would like to "attended" a meeting 

please contact me!

We always love to know other addicts, and can always use more inspiration for our projects!

Summer Camp... Sourcing

Welcome back to the last session of Summer Camp hosted by me and Cassie!  We could not have been more pleased with the comments and excitement over this series!  Thank you so much for the encouragement and the additional tips!  We hope everyone new blogger or seasoned as had some sort of take away from this.  I know I have!!!  Ok class session ~ Sourcing!

How to Source and Site

I started blogging in October of 2010.  So I am fairly new to the blogoshere.  But since I have started there has came the invention of Pinterest and the availability to find amazing images and inspiration all in one spot.  It is simple, you find it, you pin it, and then you embed it.  But is that totally fair?  I will admit I have posted a few posts of pinned photos from my boards... but should I have went to the source and credited the photo from the original site and not via Pinterest?

Source: etsy.com via Tiffany {Living Savvy} on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via Tiffany {Living Savvy} on Pinterest

IF you pin something and then choose to use it I always try to make sure the source that is listed is from the original site.  e.i: Soure: someecards.com via Tiffany {Living Savyy} on Pinterest.  It lists the original source and it is from my pin board.

Source: Uploaded by user via Tiffany {Living Savvy} on Pinterest

But what if you have this... Source: Uploaded by user via Tiffany {Living Savvy} on Pinterest?  Should you still use the image?  Can it be properly sited?  To get to the original source you can click on the picture and it will typically take you straight to the original site.  I clicked on this picture and this is what I got:

http://media-cache-ec9.pinterest.com/upload/84301824244320699_NTgQ7iel.jpg

Not very helpful!

Design Sponge had a great graphic awhile back that was easy to follow:

Poster by Pia, Erin and Yvette via Design Sponge

This is image was sourced from Design Sponge.  I simply copied the source from their site and then added D*S link on the end, linking back the post where I found it.  D*S has a really good series on blogging business, ethics and etiquette {read here}.

Link Backs
Aside from Pinterest, Tumber, and Google images there are also so many inspirational blogs out there.  I am constantly finding images to use via other bloggers.  If their image is theirs I always ask to use it before I post.  If it is an image that they have sourced {properly} I will click back to the original.  It may be time consuming, but it is the right thing to do!  There are several ways to add the source line to you picture.

via

Project via Cassie @ Primitive and Proper

Source

If it is a fellow blogger I always try to list their name and blog with a link back to the post where I found their image!

I have to be honest- I do not always ask permission if I am using an image from a blogger as long as I am using it in a positive manner.  No, I do not own the image, but it is available online and I am sourcing back to them.  I feel it is much like writing a paper in college.  In college, I always listed the source of the information or image I used, even though I didn't have to ask the author to use their information for my paper.

I do ALWAYS link back to their blog, and not only their blog, but the actual post the image came from which makes it easier for readers to navigate.  How many times have you gone back to a source to see more about the image only to be led to the  blog homepage and you are unable to find the post!?!? 

Watermarks
If you upload your own pictures you probably watermark you photos... and if you don't then you should!  This is helpful for branding, but also for being pinned and having your photo used without your knowledge.  I watermark all of my images!  It takes a little longer time, but it is worth it!  This is also good if you guest post on someone else's blog and you are pinned from there.  This way it may not be the original source, but at least you blog name and maybe site is on the photo.

I have a watermark file that is semi transparent.  You could make it a color to match your photos, or you could keep it simple like mine.  I like to use Photoshop or Pixlr to resize my photos and add my watermark.  Super simple to do!


I do not watermark only because I am too busy lazy. I should, and you should, too.  Let's do it!


That concludes our Summer Camp Blogging Etiquette series!  Thank you so much for attending!  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

One Room Challenge Part II... Week 1

Yes I am doing it again!  

I am so excited to be participating this challenge again!  If you remember in the beginning of this year I took this challenge to complete one from in my house in 6 weeks.  I did my master bedroom {see all posts HERE} and it was a great way to complete a room with the added support of other bloggers in the trenches with you at the same time.

This time around I will be tackling my oldest son J's bedroom.  It wasn't long ago we moved him to a full size bed and at the time he was into Cars.  So we bought the the cars bedding {which I never thought I would ever do} and called it a day.  I hate the room and almost don't care if it ever picked up or if the bed is made!  Luckily we currently rent a two story so no one ever sees it, but in a few months we will be moving into our new house and it is a one story... so the rooms will be well viewed!  Also because I rent and I will be packing boxes at the same time of this challenge I will not be painting the walls.  I had a lot of comments about my walls being white in the first challenge and again we rent... if it can't come with me I am not going to spend money on it!!!

So are you ready for the before...

Originally the bed used to be shoved into the corner.  Those bookcases also used to be part of my entertainment center, but when I moved in my MCM credenza I thought they would be great flanking the bed.  I want to set the bed up like a daybed, but it is presenting some challenges.  First you can't find full size day bed bedding so I think I will be making that.  Also in this room it is centered on a window.  In the new house it will not be.  I want to have a headboard so I will have to figure out how to make that work in both houses.

This dresser was part of his crib set.  I am thinking of leaving it black... verdict is still out!

Over al it is a pretty boring space!

J is 5 and totally obsessed with super heroes... so needless to say we will be going with a super hero theme.  I am not a big theme person, so I will be trying to keep it simple enough to be able to change it in 2 years when he is over super heroes, but fun enough that he will love it now!

Here is a little sneak peak of where I think I am heading with some selections.  Like I said.. I don't want to be too theme-y, but I still think it needs to be bold and colorful!

I found these prints a few months ago at Ross for $10 each and J just fell in love with them!  So these will be the semi inspiration for the room.  I also picked up this grey pillow cover with striped welting at Big Lots for $3!  I could not even make something that cheap.  I think I might be adding a few embellishments... again we will see!

So there you go... it really will be a challenge because aside from the prints and the layout I really am starting at square one!  

Be sure to check out the other lovely ladies that will be taking the challenge with me!

Beth - Chinoiserie Chic | Lauren - The Cottage Mix |  Sherry - DesignIndulgence | Lindsay - Everything LEB | Barbara - Hodge:Podge | Kim - Kim Macumber Interiors | LisA - Lisa Mende Design | Jessie - Mix & Chic | Linda - My Crafty Home Life  | Alison - My Little Happy Place | Danylle - Nana Moon | Nicole - Nicole Scott Designs | Julia - Pawleys Island Posh | Jennifer - The Pink Pagoda | Nancy - Powell Brower Home | Lindsay - The Pursuit of Style | Emily - Rue de Emily | Lindsay - Sadie + Stella | Lisa - Trapped in North Jersey

Client Project Update: Master Bedroom

I have been working with a super fun young couple on their California Bungalow.  They have a long list of wish items, but the first was to pull together their master bedroom suite they added on last year.

Here was the before:

We decided to keep the dresser and paint it out in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Aubusson Blue.

I am in love with this dresser!  And so is are my clients!  I have been on an ASCP painting spree... more on that soon!  I originally had selected a more ornate mirror for the dresser, but it kept on getting backordered.  So my client had a store credit to West Elm and picked up this super sleek mirror.  I love it just propped up on the dresser and the contrast of the modern clean mirror with the slightly distressed dresser.

There are just a few more finishing touches to put on the room.  I painted the legs of this chair, and some accessories!

My Weekend via Instagram

This weekend was a busy one!  I was on the move the entire weekend with projects for various clients.  I did squeeze in a little time for lunch with some friend and some craigslist shopping {I am so excited about my purchase... I can't wait to share!}

{l-r}

Fabric inspiration for my moms guest bedroom / A mom across from us at Lowes Build and Grow w. all of her "gear."  Gear included: a fanny pack with camera attached, backpack {full-size} tote bag, a necklace with a pouch and a safari hat / J building his Madagascar Car / Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor's Silk {more on that soon} / A haircut I fell in love with / Dresser for my moms guest room in chalk paint / My mom's headboard complete and installed / more Chalk Paint in red / Welting for pillows for this client

How was your weekend?  Any projects completed or started?

Spray Painters Anonymous... House Pretty

Hi everyone! My name is Amelia and my blog, House Pretty, documents all the ups and downs as my husband and I turn our ugly first house into a pretty home (and I do mean ugly). Like many people, we're trying to create a beautiful home on a tight budget, and spraypaint is one of my favourite budget decorating tools!

I found this set of mismatched vintage napkin rings at one of my favourite antique shops and instantly thought of spraypaint. I knew a bright new colour would give them a fresh, uniform look and the little bows screamed Tiffany blue to me.

After washing the rings and roughing up the metal with some medium-grit sandpaper, I applied two coats of primer and three coats of my tiffany blue (actually Rustoleum's Painter's Touch in Aqua). When painting a tricky surface like metal, multiple thin coats are really important - otherwise your paint is practically guaranteed to chip or peel. And don't forget to make sure your spraypaint is meant for metal surfaces.

Check out the finished napkin rings:

And if white's too boring for you, here are a couple of more colourful options:

I think they'd make a very sweet hostess gift, but I may just have to keep these for myself.

Thanks Tiffany for inviting me to stop by and share my obsession with spray paint!

Super cute!  Yes... the perfect hostess gift!  I am loving that color; and shockingly a color I don't have!  Be sure to check out Amelia's blog House Pretty



She just finished an amazing bathroom reno and her sink base is House Pretty amazing!

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And now let us all repeat the Spray Painters Mantra:

Friends, help me source all the items I am searching for but can not find.

Give me the vision to think outside of the box and remember the can of spray paint,

and bless me with the patience to let each of the coats dry before I move on to the next step!

Cookies and coffee are in the back! =)

If you need support for your spray painting addiction and would like to "attended" a meeting 

please contact me!

We always love to know other addicts, and can always use more inspiration for our projects!