Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Tutorial: Quatrefoil Homework Station

I picked up this cute little wood box from Hobby Lobby for $5.99.  It has a turntable under so it spins! And with a little bit of spray paint and vinyl I turned it into a homework station for Big Sister. 


I should have sanded it before priming, but I will know better next time!


This green really isn't sea foam green- it's more like a dark celadon, but it's 107 degrees here so I won't take the time to make sure the settings are right on my camera.  You'll just have to take my word for it.


So, that's 1 coat of primer, 2 coats of paint, and 2 more coats of clear sealant.  I played with my cricut a bit, and cut out a cute little quatrefoil design in white vinyl (I used the Elegant Cakes cartridge).  And here's the finished product all packed and ready for the new school year:


I kept pencils and crayons on one side, scissors and glue on the back side, and her home reading book in the middle!  I just love the quatrefoil design, and Prince Charming has even agreed to make a stencil so I can paint the backs of the shelves.  This whole time I was trying to figure out how to do the white on top of the yellow, but he says, "Why don't you paint white first and just stencil the yellow on?"  Brilliant!  The colors in our kitchen are yellow, green, and orange.  One day I will show you the whole room, but for now you will just have to get bits and pieces!

Tip:  When using spray paint, save your manicure by wearing rubber gloves on your spraying hand.  For some reason I always end up with a bit of spray paint on my trigger finger!


27 comments:

  1. SO CUTE! I love all these quatrefoil projects popping up in blogland!

    Deborah (visiting from
    http://upcyclingmylife.blogspot.com)

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  2. Very cute! I just topped my daughter's dresser with quatrefoil too!

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  3. This is a great idea, it turned out beautiful. What a fun idea for kiddos to be excited to do their homework! I'd love for you to stop by www.laughloveandcraft.com and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party! I'm your newest follower!

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  4. I like it! I was going to suggest you paint white, use the cricut to cut out the quatrefoil design and put it on the white. Paint yellow and pull the cricut design off. fast and painless.

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  5. Good job! It turned out great!

    I just hopped over from Hope Studios Tutorial Tuesday. Please come visit me if you have a minute or two: http://wp.me/pYcKQ-bP

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  6. I know what I'm getting next time I go to Hobby Lobby. This turned out fabulous!

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  7. Very cute!! I'm stopping by from clean & scentsible! =D

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  8. Your homework station turned out so pretty! Love the lattice looking design you added to it!

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  9. What a wonderful transformation! Love the green. Thanks so much for linking up to The Creative Spark. I'll be featuring this today! Have a fabulous long weekend and i hope to see you back on Tuesday night!
    Jenn :)

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  10. ADORABLE! I just heart quatrefoil! Thanks so much for linking your homework station up to the Tuesday To Do Party! Can't wait to see what you've been up to this week!
    Smiles!
    Jami
    www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com

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  11. What a fun idea! It turned out great. Thanks for linking to the Home Decor and Organizing link party. I'll be featuring this later today.

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  12. Super cute and functional too! We love junie b jones at our house too!

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  13. Hi There. What a cute homework station. It is sure to make homework more appealing!

    Just found your blog and I am a new follower...

    ~ Meredith From A Mother Seeking
    http://www.amotherseeking.com

    A Mother Seeking...




    This week, "When Life Hands You Lemons..."


    P.S. Found you through Tuesday Confessional.

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  14. Easy and adorable! Found you thru Tip Junkie.

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  15. Oh this is so darling. I love it! I love the design on it.

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  16. I love this homework station. I will be featuring it tonight at my Sizzle into Summer party that opens tonight at 8pm EST. Please stop by and pick up an I've Been Featured button. Thanks so much.

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  17. This looks fabulous and thanks for sharing the great tutorial too :-)
    Lowri
    http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/

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  18. so cute! i would love for you to come link up this or any other amazing project at my creativity party going on right now!

    letbirdzfly.blogspot.com

    thanks so much for sharing!

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  19. LOVE!!! I featured you today at my Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party. Pop over and grab a button for your blog, if you'd like:

    http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2011/09/delightfully-inspiring-thursday-party.html

    Thanks for sharing this!
    DaNita

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  20. Love it! The color and the design are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharin gwith the Pink HIppo Party.. can't wait to see what you share next!

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  21. Featuring this over on my blog today. Love it! Thanks for linking up to my back to school party.

    Ginger @gingersnapcrafts

    http://gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/09/back-to-school-link-party-features_12.html

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  22. i picked up one a few weeks ago at a garage sale to paint. how did you get the paint in the bottom and insides? i never get good coverage like that in two coats.....
    casserole14 at gmail dot com

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  23. @Cassie Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you on this. I used Valspar spray paint. I usually have better luck with this brand. As far as paint in the inside, I was lucky this time! I usually have problems with that too. I think since it was such a small space the space kinda filled with the spray when I would spray down in there.

    Lisa!

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