Month: June 2014

I’ve been blessed with awesome friendships throughout my life.   Some I’ve had since Kindergarten and others I’ve just met recently through the love of painting.  Anastasia is one of my dearest friends, and though it seems like we’ve known each other a lifetime, it’s only been a few years.  She is one of the coolest, most thoughtful, fun and hips girls I know.  LOVE this girl!

Anastasia has a bon fire pit at the back of her property.  At night, you can see when you’re near the house because of the lights on the deck.  You can also see when you’re at the bon fire from the light of the fire, but when you’re about halfway across, you can’t see squat!  She’s needed a light in the middle of their yard for years but didn’t have any outlets that far back.  That’s when the light bulb went off in her head, no pun intended ~ lol!

Anastasia wanted to join us for a workshop so she could make her dream a reality but she needed to find a light fixture.  As luck would have it, she found THE perfect chandelier minutes before class.  She was so excited and couldn’t wait to create a light for their backyard.  As she walked into our Furniture Painting Workshop, she was beaming from ear to ear.  In her hand was one whimsical twirly-whirly brass chandelier.   Never fear, she had a vision!

To convert a wired light fixture into a solar light, you’ll have to remove the existing lights. There’s usually a bolt that holds them in place which can easily be removed with a pair of pliers. Once you get them lose, you’ll notice they’re dangling by the wires.  Cut them with bolt cutters, wire cutters or whatever else you can find that has one of those sharp cutters on it.  I can’t remember which tool I handed Anastasia, but she had the lights off in no time.   I like to pull the wires tight when I cut them.  When you let go, they’ll retract out of sight.  You won’t need them (unless you plan to re-use the fixture after you paint it in your dining room).  I typically tuck any remaining wires inside to avoid disassembling the entire light fixture.

With those out of the way, all you need to do is decide what you’d like to use for light.   I’ve always used candles which are awesome for creating a romantic outdoor lighting but miss smarty pants came up with the perfect solution for her back yard dilemma.

She picked up five inexpensive solar stake lights.  You can find them pretty much anywhere for a buck or two.  Guess what, they fit perfectly!  She tried them both with and without the stakes to see which looked better and decided on without.

With the lights and wires gone, it was ready for the makeover.  She painted directly over the brass with American Paint Company’s Peacock from the Ellis Collection.

American Paint Company’s Chalk & Clay paint has superior adhesion so you can skip sanding and priming ~ even with metal!  This light fixture is no exception.

Just Imagine the possibilities!

Anastasia also used American Paint Company’s Home Turf, Momma’s Lipstick, Bordello and Shoreline.

Everything was sealed with three coats of American Paint Company’s Topcoat.

Because of the particular design of her light, she was also able to make it into a planter.  How cool is that!!

One of these nights, I’m going to get over to check it out!  So…. is your brain churning with ideas now??  Go find yourself a light fixture, you might even have one in your garage and transform it into something new!!

Want to learn more?  

Join us for an upcoming Shizzle Style Workshop HERE.

 

A hui hou ~ Shelly

Did you know…

• Shizzle Design is a small family owned business in Jenison, Michigan.  My sister Cathy and I work, paint, ship and teach our chalk and clay paint workshops out of the same space where we paint all our furniture.  We are truly humbled to be known as a leader in the world of chalk and clay paints.
• Cathy and I empower DIY’ers by sharing our years of experience.  Stop in for paint and we’ll offer you honest and knowledgeable answers for all your chalk and clay paint needs.
• Did you know we are not paid employees of American Paint Company?  It typically takes me 10 hours to publish one of my blog posts.  Everything from shooting the photographs, writing the content, editing, cropping… is given freely.  The only way we make money is if someone purchases paint, workshops or painted furniture from us.  If you enjoy the information you get in our website, please share and let us know.
• We are so blessed to have taught people from all over the United States and Canada.  Join us for one of our super fun hands-on chalk and clay paint workshops.  Learn in our casual & relaxed environment.  Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
• Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints.
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• Pin our posts on Pinterest ~ Find all sorts of inspiration here.
• We sell our painted furniture in our Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI 49428 and at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
• Shizzle Design is an Authorized Retailer for American Paint Company Paints.  We offer a large inventory of chalk and clay paint and supplies at our Shizzle Design Paint Shop /Studio,  2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428.  We also stock several other shops in the greater Grand Rapid’s area, to find out where, click LOCATIONS.  Not from Michigan?  No worries, we ship paint and paint supplies worldwide through our Online Shizzle Shop.

For more Chalk & Clay Painted Furniture ideas, tips, tutorials & inspiration, click:

 Shizzle Style Painted Furniture Makeovers

 Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s

 Funky Finishes

Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux – Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special

Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays

Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday