Anyone can DIY

Doing home projects can seem intimidating and scary. This is why a lot of people won't even attempt projects such as refinishing a table or updating a chair. Well I am here to tell you that anyone can DIY, you just have to be willing to try. You won't know if you can't do something if you don't try. I am not a master carpenter and have absolutely no experience with wood working (aside from wood shop in school) or real knowledge of it. But I am going to attempt to build a bookcase for my boys, update a patio table, build a bench, and a buffet! All from pallet boards! Why can't I?!

 One thing that I have learned from doing projects myself, is that the more you practice the better you'll be at it. That's a no brainer. So while my bookcase may not come out to look like a professional did it, I will be able to say that I made it with my own two hands (and I'll save money which is a bonus!) You just have to be willing to give it a try, do your research online, and ask for help. There are plenty of YouTube videos that show you how to do simple projects. DIY doesn't have to be expensive either. You'll probably save more money in the end of you DIY rather than purchasing something brand new. There have been plenty of times when I called my mom or dad and asked for their advice or guidance on how to do a project. There is most likely one person that you know, who can help you along the way with your projects; if not, you've always got me! I'd be more than willing to help in any way I can. And if I don't know the answer, I'll find it out. 

-And remember, anyone can DIY. You just have to be willing to give it a try.

Man cave takeover

Before

Before

So this was my biggest project because I did it alone and there was a lot to do. My husband is in the army and was away for training while I took over his man cave. He was living out of tote boxes. So I thought I would surprise him with a makeover! I organized his room and refinished a dresser and night stand for him. The dresser belongs to the mirror from my previous post. I will post the night stand later. Anyway, the top of the dresser had a really thick top coat so I used a 60 grit to remove it. For the rest of the dresser and drawers I think I used an 80 grit. After I sanded it down, I primed it and let it sit over night. The next night I applied a couple coats of black matte spray paint. Again, I let it sit over night. I then applied the top coat. 

I also spray painted the handles. I first primed then spray painted.

I thought that I would take this project to the next level by lining the inside of the drawers. I used the liner that people put in their kitchen cabinets. The one that I used had a sticky backing, so I measured how much I would need, cut it out, then put it down. I have to say that doing this just elevated the entire project.

Before

After

I was so happy with how this project came out. I was even happier because it's something that my husband will benefit from. When he came back home he was so happy to finally have a dresser for his stuff and TV!

Shabby chic mirror

Before

After

This is one of my favorite projects (they're actually all my favorite.) This mirror came with a dresser that I bought from Craig's list for $75. Because I painted the mirror I only had to sand enough off to remove the top coat. If I were staining it I would have had to strip it down to the bare wood. I believe I used an 80 grit with my electric sander to remove the top coat. I then covered the mirror with newspaper and painters tape. I then primed it. Once the primer was dry I sprayed away with white spray paint. After that was completely dried, I used a 120 grit to lightly "distress" the mirror. Don't be scared to distress it. When I reached a point I was happy with, I wiped all of the excess dust off and applied a top coat. And that's all folks!

Bedroom dresser

So this is one of my first projects. I had this dresser in my bedroom and thought it was just too plain and didn't match anything. Instead of buying a new one (which wasn't an option) I decided to give it a fresh coat of paint. This was a simple, inexpensive project.

Although I was happy with the end result, it's quite obvious that this was one of my first projects. I did not sand or prime it, which is why some of the paint chipped off and wouldn't stick well (lesson learned.) The stencil could have also went a lot better but it doesn't look too bad. If you are going to tackle something like this, I suggest sanding it down a bit and applying a primer to it before painting. I used spray paint for the color and top coat. I also painted the knobs black.

Welcome to my blog!

Hi everyone my name is Grace Lucky and I'm so excited to be starting my own blog. I thought that I would create a blog to help and inspire other DIYers out there. I am still a novice at this but I sure am trying to learn as much as I can. I have done a few projects and have taken some photos along the way that I will be sharing with you. For my future projects I will be making videos so you can actually see what I am doing. I am a military spouse and a mommy of two awesome boys. Anyone can do simple projects at home. I am doing things that I never thought I would be able to. I have to say that Nicole Curtis is one of my inspirations because she's fearless when tackling any project. I hope you will find my blog informative and inspirational.