Create a 3-Piece Hanging Divider Panel

Accomplished by: Anne Clarizio, Head to Toes Salon, Conway, Ark.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Must-have Tools and Materials: plexiglass, glue (like Elmer’s Glue-All), paint brush, tissue paper (various colors), S-hooks, hardware to attach to ceiling, screwdriver, drill

Steps:

1. Drill holes in the top and bottom corners of three 36” x 30” sheets of plexiglass, making sure each hole is big enough for an S-hook to fit through.

2. Remove the plexiglass’s plastic films and wipe clean.

3. Mix glue and water together in a container with ratio of one part water to two parts glue.

4. Cut the tissue paper into various sizes of squares and rectangles.

5. Use a 3” bristle paint brush to apply a layer of the glue mixture to one side of each glass sheet, then lay the tissue paper onto the panel while the glue is wet.

6. Let the paper layer dry, then apply another layer of glue, followed by another layer of paper. Repeat these steps until you achieve the look you want.

7. Apply two layers of glue to seal. Let dry.

8. Clear the S-hook holes of the glue and paper, then put an S-hook in each. Hang the first sheet of glass from the ceiling using the hardware you selected. Connect the second sheet of glass to the first via S-hooks, then connect the third to the second via S-hooks.

Tips:

>Have on hand more tissue paper than you think you’ll need (at least three packages). Clarizio ran out mid-project and found her glue had dried by the time she returned.

>Plexiglass can crack when you drill into it, so make the holes first before you put in the effort to apply the paper.

>The hardware for attaching it to the drop ceiling came from a local electrical supply store. Clarizio took the advice of the store employee about what kind to buy.

>The paper will turn transparent when wet, so make sure you have enough applied to get the desired look.

>You can let some paper wrinkle for a fun texture.

>Don’t skimp on the glue or the paper may peel off the panel.

 

 

Construct a Non-Weight-Bearing Wall

Accomplished by: Lisa Harcrow, Bombshell, Texarkana, Texas

Difficulty Level: Hard

Must-have Tools and Materials: 2x4 lumber, drywall, drywall mud, drywall tape, level, sandpaper, texture brush, hammer shot gun

Steps:

1. Build the frame for the wall. Use framing nails to connect 2x4 lumber into the bottom, sides, top, and supports for the wall. Attach the frame to the floor with a hammer shot gun.

2. Measure and attach drywall.

3. Apply drywall tape and drywall mud to the seams. Let dry overnight.

4. Sand the seams smooth.

5. Use drywall mud and a texture tool to add texture onto the walls. Let dry overnight.

6. Sand down any high peaks in texture. Remove all dust, prime, and paint.

Tips:

> Have someone with construction experience help. If your measurements are off even slightly, it will cause problems down the line.

> If there’s a nonprofit Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your area, you can purchase many of the materials there while simultaneously helping the community.

 

 

Before

Before

After

After

 

Refurbish a Vanity Into a Nail Table

Accomplished by: Maya C. Gee, Salon MG, West Jordan, Utah

Difficulty Level: Medium

Must-have Tools and Materials: sandpaper, water-based all-surface primer; wood filler, wood glue, wood furniture appliques, wood trim, interior/exterior acrylic paint (shown in black in semi-gloss and in hot pink in high gloss)

Steps:

1. Remove all of the drawers and hardware from an old vanity. Wipe down all the surfaces with a cloth and warm soapy water. Follow with a wipe with plain water.

2. Apply carved wood furniture appliques with wood glue to the client’s side of the table. Secure in place with tiny nails. Cover the nails with filler. Sand with sandpaper.

3. Measure and cut decorative wood trim at a 45-degree angle on a table saw and join them at the corners. Apply decorative wood trim to the client’s side of the table. If it’s not a perfect match, fill in with wood filler. Sand and smooth.

4. Use wood filler and a spatula to fill in all cracks, scratches, and holes the vanity may have. Let dry. Sand until smooth.

5. Wipe the table to remove dust. Apply a layer of water-based all-surface primer. Let dry. Apply a second layer of primer. Let dry. 

6. Clean and prime the drawers twice also. Let dry.

7. Paint the table with interior/exterior acrylic paint.

8. Paint the inside of the drawers with a bright color of interior/exterior acrylic paint.

9. Paint the outside of the drawers with the same paint as that used for the table. Let dry.

10. Reattach the hardware.

Tips:

> A small spongy paint roller works great for this project. A brush can leave marks on the surface.

> Gee found all of the materials at Lowe’s.

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Customize a Lamp Shade

Accomplished by: Denise Draper, Nail Krazy, Paradise, Calif.

Difficulty Level: Easy

Must-have Tools and Materials: paint (shown in matte black), feather boa, glue gun

Steps:

1.Paint the lamp shade a solid color.

2.Cut a feather boa to fit around the shade top circumference. Cut a feather boa to fit around the shade bottom circumference. 

3.Use a glue gun to attach the boa around the top and bottom of the shade.

Tip:

>Cutting the feather boa first is important so that when you apply the hot glue around the rims, you can apply the feather boa as you go, as the glue cools quickly.

 

 

Reupholster a Waiting Room Chair

Accomplished by: Angela Waggoner, Bella Vita Wax and Nail Boutique, Greenwood, Ind.

Difficulty Level: Easy

Must-have Tools and Materials: paint (shown: Rust-Oleum in black with silver glitter), fabric, screwdriver, stapler

Steps:

1.Use a screwdriver to remove the chair cushion.

2.Spray paint the chair frame. Let dry. Spray paint a second coat. Let dry.

3.Pull the fabric over the cushion, making sure it’s tight.

4.On the bottom of the cushion, staple the fabric in place.

5.Use a screwdriver to reattach the cushion to the frame.

Tips:

> Purchase chairs at an antique store.

> Hobby Lobby is a great fabric source.

> The most difficult part is getting the fabric to lie smoothly on the cushion before stapling. You may need to fiddle with it until it’s just right.

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Decoupage a Storage Cabinet

Accomplished by: Katie Samuelson, Total Sassy Faction Salon, Omaha, Neb.

Difficulty Level: Easy

Must-have Tools and Materials: scrapbook paper, fine-grit sandpaper, brush, Modge Podge, polycrylic sealant

Steps:

1. Sand the cabinet where you want the scrapbook paper to go. Use a damp cloth to get the dust off. Measure the paper to fit where you want it.

2. Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to the cabinet, everywhere the paper will go.

3. Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to the back side of the paper. (Think of it kind of like wallpapering.) Place the paper onto the cabinet. Press out all the bubbles and smooth as you go.

4. Brush another layer of Modge Podge on the cabinet to seal it. Repeat until finished. Let it dry for a day.

5. Apply a thin layer of polycrylic sealant. Let dry.

Tips:

> A credit card works well to smooth the paper onto the cabinet.

> Keep the paper next to the cabinet so you can work quickly.

 

 

Upcycle a Secondhand Find Into a Reception Desk

Accomplished by: Kylie Yarnton, Our Beauty Boutique, Strathalbyn, South Australia

Difficulty Level: Hard

Must-have Tools and Materials: sandpaper, paint, wood slats, saw, drill

Steps:

1. Sand the desk to give it a shabby well-worn look.

2. To create a hutch, use a jigsaw to cut wood slats to size. (Yarnton used old bed slats.) Measure and mark where you want the hutch to sit on the desk. Glue the hutch together, then screw it onto the desk with a drill. If needed, brace with an offcut.

3. Paint the desk with the hutch in a creamy antique-inspired shade.

Tips:

> If you make a mistake, just paint over it and start again.

> Scour secondhand sources like garage sales for used furniture that has potential.

 

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