Hello sweet friends!,

As I mentioned last week, I wanted to turn our old barn red picnic table into a color that resembled drift wood. At the Haven conference, I saw how they had used Annie Sloan Old White and Paris Gray, to create this look.

Once we got it on the back patio, I knew there was an ingredient in the recipe, that they forgot to mention. Probably something like dark wax. But since it will spend time in the sun, I knew that wasn’t an option.

As you can see here, I started adding a watered down Country Grey over what was just a very cold, light grey, that looked pretty bad with the earthy toned tile. So much for driftwood! But, thank goodness for my free sample of the Country Grey, from Haven, that saved the day! Annie would be proud! That’s the great thing about the paint; it’s pretty forgiving.

Now, I’m sure you noticed the bitchin’ gorgeous table runner, right!? Well, Budget-Barb created that little gem, out of a scrap of burlap and the fabric paint I purchased, for the disastrous attempt at making “custom” dish towels! What do you think of the fluorescent orange tape? Eh? Borrowed that from “the man”!

You’ll also be impressed to know that I covered the ironing board in plastic before painting, so all future ironing efforts didn’t end up red and blue!

You think that’s cool? Watch this! I got a box of three Asian inspired, battery powered lanterns at World Market, for a little more than $5 each. I then decided that these “Bad Boys” needed a little patriotic flair, so, I went to my stash of left over fabric and (this was the hard part) cut 1/2″ fabric streamers. I took previously referenced fabric paint, and painted the tips of the fabric streamers!

(Same ironing board, covered in Saran wrap!).

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(Professional Drying Rack)
Thanks to some brilliant creativity and my new lanterns, I had a little, informal dress rehearsal lighting display, this evening!

Yep, thought this up all-by-myself!

Trust me, if it wasn’t for this blog, I’d be doing none of this! Let alone this!

But you know, it’s all making me a better person and I’ll let you know if we have a better time, because of it all! Yes, there’s still time to get your 4th on, so what are you waiting for? Dog gone it!

Bless our country and bless us all!,
Budget Barb