tutorial :: paint dipped mason jars

One of our issues in a home of little "collectors" is where to put their treasures without their dressers feeling cluttered.   These paint dipped mason jars came about as we were trying to find a cute way to store Madeline's.

They are serving their purpose well!

I love quick little projects where I already have the supplies on hand...

….mason jars and paint.

Start by carefully pouring a small amount of paint into the bottom of the jar - take care not to get any on the sides. 

Then tip your jar while slowly turning it to line to lower portion of the jar.

Remove the excess paint pooled in the bottom with a plastic spoon.  This can keep the paint from curing improperly.

If needed, take a q-tip to smooth out the edge.

Allow the proper dry time (I used a paint that takes quite a while to dry, so I waited two days) and fill. I see them also working great on a desk with pens, pencils and scissors.

And here's s sneak peak of Madeline's finally finished room.

Also, some other DIYs from her room:

Pin hook drapes tutorial.

Six dollar duvet cover.

Thirty minute pillow tutorial.

DIY shelves.

Her dresser before and after.

herringbone floors!

I was really surprised how many of you emailed about spray gun problems after the last post!  I wish it was easier to give more specific suggestions! ________________ I've been wanting to replace my tile for quite some time now - okay, maybe since the minute it was installed.  I waited a good six months to start dropping hints to Zac (I didn't want to seem completely ungrateful), and after a year he was a go.  The dirty grout drives me batty and the tile is a little more yellow than I'd anticipated it when ordering it.  (Everything looks different in the design center!)

source I don't have one friend with dark wood flooring that doesn't wish they would've picked something lighter because of how easily it shows dust.  Dark floors are amazing, but I'm a little over the top in the cleaning department already, so we're going to stick with wood the color of dirt.

Now that we know we're looking for wood the color of dirt, we've started the scouring the local flooring showrooms.
Herringbone floors are to die for, but since Zac will be installing them I have to defer to him and he's not loving all the extra labor attached.  That didn't stop me from showing him these photos to let the thought marinade for a bit….

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Any thoughts or experience with wood you've loved?  I'm completely open to suggestions at this point!

q and a :: spray guns

For the next little while I'm slowly going to post answers to your most frequently asked questions.  If you have something you'd like covered - ask away!  My email address is nattycox@gmail.com.  If I don't know the answer to something I'll either try to find it, or confess that I don't know.  :)

Q: What type spray gun would you recommend?  

I use this gun, but one this pricey isn't necessary for a great finish.  I actually wouldn't recommend it until you've used a less expensive option for a while first.

Spraying is one of those things that requires a bit of skill and practice to perfect.  Even if you have great brushing skills, you kind of start at ground zero with a gun.  Regardless of the set-up, a faulty application can leave you with drips, steaks or improper curing.  

Q: What size tip works best?

I would recommend purchasing a separate tip anywhere from a 2.0 to a 2.5.  The size used always depends on the viscosity of paint being used.

Most spray guns come with a tip that is too small which results in a sandpaper like finish, loss of sheen, frequent clogging and a lot of disappointment.  Sounds awful. :/

When a spray gun advertises that it sprays lacquer, oil, etc. with a 1.3 or 1.5 tip, even a 1.7, it's referring to a clear coat.  Pigmented paint is much too thick to properly spray through such a small opening - a clear coat is not.

If the paint is thinned enough to properly spray through a small hole, the quality of the paint is most likely being compromised.  Thinning is great and often necessary, but only to a certain point.

The good news with a large tip is that the settings on a spray gun allow you to close off the opening to allow for thinner materials.  A small tip, on the other hand, cannot be made larger.

Q: What about pressure settings?

Pressure settings depend on many factors - two of the biggest are your particular set up (gravity feed, airless, airless assisted, etc.) and the viscosity of the paint being used.

It's hard for me to give specific air pressure numbers when they depend on the type of paint I'm using and that changes from project to project.

The biggest tip there is just to play around with the settings and do online research for your specific set-up or paint.

a french dresser and two whites

This is the dresser this hardware belongs to.  It was painted BM's Chantilly Lace for a client waaaay back at the beginning of summer.  It is one of two most common whites I use - the other being BM's White Dove.  CL has only a teensy bit of gray in the paint formula, making it a cool white, while White Dove has just enough yellow to make it warm, without being overly creamy.  Both are quite commonly used for cabinetry and interior trim.

Here's a quick picture of the chest before I started standing.

giving hardware new life with brass gilding

I've said it before, I prefer to keep original hardware on furniture or find a vintage or antique replacement that jives.  It adds so much character.  At first glance, some hardware seems unsalvageable, but there are a few ways to give old hardware new life.

If I'm looking to keep the original finish on a set of hardware, I start with tarnish remover.  I use both Brasso (found at the hardware store) and a homemade vinegar mix.  The trick for me is to scrub it with an old, pink Snoopy toothbrush. :)

The vinegar mix is simple: mix 1 part vinegar, with 1 part salt and enough flour to make a paste.  Brush on and leave overnight.
Brasso is quite harsh, so in a perfect world, I'd use the vinegar mix all the time.  Time is the biggest determining factor for me.  If I've thought ahead I use the vinegar mix, if I'm crunched for time, I reach for the Brasso.

This particular set was brass plated.  More often than not, brass plated hardware chips and then tarnish remover isn't an option.
So I paint it.

Previously I used this method, but have since discovered Martha Stewart brass leafing liquid at Michael's.  They sell another brand, but I can't find it online - but between the two there are plenty of shades to choose from.
I like that the leafing has more movement than the spray paint.

The best part - it covers in one coat.

Edit:  Check out Wende's response in the comments for more useful information!  Thanks, Wende!