Sunday, January 15, 2012

Coral Headboard and Fabric Front Dresser

I’m going to admit, before the new baby was born, I was getting completely burnt out on furniture refinishing.  And it wasn’t so much the painting that was wearing me down, but the business of it all.  I was DONE with Mr. Craig and his little list.  People from CL wanted me (and usually persuaded me) to give away my work for little to nothing.  That on top of the hassle of flakey people not showing, nervousness about people coming to my house (even if it was only the backyard), and the work put into putting up and keeping up nice ads, it was becoming not worth my time, quite frankly.  Plus, I felt completely boxed into painting pieces a nice, safe white or black, or ivory, because I was petrified that if I didn’t paint things “safely”, they wouldn’t sell, and I’d have them sitting around here forever. 

But when I started bringing pieces into a local boutique in November, I told myself that I was going to start taking more artistic chances with my furniture refinishing.  After all, people can go to any store and buy a white dresser.  What people are willing to pay money for are pieces with character.  Sometimes old pieces have an inherent character that painting it white enhances.  I’m not against a nice coat of white paint when a piece calls for it!  But I was getting a little tired of tying my own hands when it came to artistic expression.  So I decided to loosen up a little, take a few more chances with color an design, and I’m already having a ton more fun!  My mind is absolutely swimming with ideas and possibilities.  So in 2012, I’m bringing the fun back!  And I hope you enjoy it around here as much as I do!  :)

So, in that spirit I present to you this very fun project!

I got this great headboard at a local thrift store.

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It certainly had character to spare, and (I’ll admit it) I was tempted to paint it white.  ;)  But at the urging of my Twice Lovely Facebook Fans, I decided to take a chance on a color that I’ve been wanting to use for a while now, CORAL!! 

I’m a big coral fan.  I think it’s a color that is just going to keep gaining popularity in interiors, fashion and other modes of design in the upcoming year.  In fact, I know the Pantone people have some complicated algorithms and such to pick the color of the year, and while they were close in 2011 with the pinky “Honeysuckle”, I really think in retrospect 2011 was the year of Coral.  But who am I anyways?  ;)

But, I digress…

I painted a gray primer, then a high gloss coral that I had color matched to Coral Isle from Krylon.  I hand distressed with some medium grit sandpaper so that the gray primer and just a touch of the dark wood showed through on the edges.

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I paired her up with this simple, but sturdy modern dresser.  

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Someone remade it once before, but it was in need of another update.  I painted the body in the same method as the headboard, first with gray primer before finishing up with the high gloss coral.  But I wanted add some pizzazz to this boxy gal and try out a new method that I haven’t used before by adding a fun fabric to the drawer fronts! 

I bought this great fabric quite a while ago and have been waiting for the right project to use it on.  It’s called “It’s a Hoot, Birds in Flight” in Marshmallow by MoMo for Moda, but in looking around the internet for the purchasing information to share with you (in case you love it as much as I do), I found out that it’s all sold out and pretty hard to find around.

I painted a hearty coat of Mod Podge on the front drawer faces, then applied the fabric to the fronts, let that dry, then added 3 coats of polycrylic (my fave is Verathane) to protect the fabric and make the drawer faces cleanable.

With the finishing touches of some spray painted handles (Lagoon from Rustoleum) and some Hobby Lobby pinky faceted crystal knobs, she’s ready to go!

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Now, if that’s not fun, I don’t know what is.  :)

You know what else would be fun?  How about a giveaway?!?!

I only used about half my “It’s a Hoot” fabric on this project, so there’s a generous yard left(actually about 1 1/6 yard plus some extra bits), and I thought someone might like to have it. :)  Look at it again.  Isn’t it cute?!?!

We’ll make it simple.  Just leave me a comment here telling me you’d like to win some adorable fabric.  Maybe share what you’d like to do with it as well.

I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday night.

Linking to:

I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Family Ever After, Meg and Mum’s, Tatertots and Jello, C.R.A.F.T., Sassy Sites, House of Grace, Mod Vintage Life, Primitive and Proper, Domestically Speaking, Somewhat Simple, Miss Mustard Seed, The Shabby Nest, Freckled Laundry, My Repurposed Life, 5 days…5 Ways, Domestically Speaking, Thrifty Decor Chick

95 comments:

  1. the headboard is so girl and fun, but oh that dresser!!!!! i LOVE it!

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  2. OH MY!!!!!!! Awesome. Those turned out so great. So great. Nice job girl! That fabric is amazing! It just looks so cool on that dresser. Way to go!

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  3. Oh I just love that dresser, so fun! If I won the fabric I would use it to either cover the top or the drawers of my middle daughter's dresser. Here's to lots of fun for you in 2012.

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  4. I LOVE this fabric! I may actually try to add it to an old dresser that my husband brought into our marriage. And put the dresser in our guest room.
    Question: what would you do if one of the drawers had a 3" corner chunk taken out of it. Would it require replacing the whole drawer front?

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    1. Yes, Kwik wood is great stuff. I've used it to repair broken drawer corners before, and it would be especially good if you're covering it with fabric anyways.

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  5. I love! love! love! this!!!! I've recently been experimenting with fabric and Mod Podge on furniture, too. This turned out fabulous and that headboard is gorgeous.

    I'd love to win your extra fabric.. I don't have kiddos but my last 3 orders were for girls rooms so I think I would use it just as you did.

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  6. SOOOO incredibly cute!!! The whole thing! And I feel the SAME way about Craigslist right now...the spammers are killing me. Ugh...I guess that's part of it but it gets old! Your set will be snapped up by Wed.

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  7. I love, love love both pieces. After two sons and two grandsons I finally have a baby girl grandaughter! I will use the fabric to decorate a nightstand that was her great grand moms.

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  8. I LOVE this redo! I can totally see this in any girls room, heck, I would love to have this if I didn't have a husband who demands a neutral bedroom! Lol.
    I'd love to win the leftover fabric, I can see it making a REALLY cute apron. :)

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  9. Such cool fabric! I love that you matched it up the whole way. It's hard to find fabric with a continuous print that runs up the bolt like that. Fantastic Job!

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  10. That dresser is absolutely precious! So vibrant and fresh!

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  11. so cute - though i would un-do the distressing i think :) i'd love to win the adorable fabric and make a pillow from it! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

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  12. I love what you did with that dresser! And the knobs look so fresh, what a great color combo! My daughter definitely needs a dresser and headboard like that, but I guess I could survive with just the fabric. ;)

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  13. soooo cute!! Love that scrolly head board, and the dresser is absolutely adorable. I'm so glad you went for fun :)

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  14. So very cute. Love the headboard! And that fabric is great! Good job.

    Holly

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  15. Beautiful job! Love the coral! And love that left over fabric too!

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  16. Ann Marie- that is a fabulous makeover! Totally jealous of the headboard!! You did amazing and I LOVE the fabric!

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  17. I love your new set! That fabric is about the cutest thing I've ever seen. I would love some, and I would probably make it into a skirt for my girly-girl.
    I am glad you're having a good experience at your boutique. I am kind of frustrated with my on-line selling at the moment as well. I think I price myself VERY well, but the more "unique" a piece is, the harder it is to sell in the on-line community. Case in point: I just finished a round coffee table with a compass on it that I think is SO cool--and someone wants to buy it--if I paint the compass out! Ugh.

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  18. Love these and I know the feeling the last 4 dressers I painted were all blue gray w/ dark walnut tops and dk walnut pulls. I knew they would sell so that's what I did. Just did one and was going to do the same old same old but then decided to try something fun...stripes. Who knows, will it sell quick, I hope so. It was so nice doing something different for a change. Your pieces will move fast...they are perfect for a girls bedroom!

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  19. Great makeover! The colors are way fun and I doubt you'll have a hard time finding a buyer! I'd love to win some of the fabric.

    -Kelli

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  20. So gorgeous, and good on you for doing what you want and not doing what it safe :) Why don't you keep the gorgeous owl fabric and put it on a stool to match the rest of the bedroom furniture?

    xx Karen

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  21. So awesome! I love both pieces and can't wait to see what you come up with next!

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  22. Adorable! Proof you shouldn't always go with what's safe or neutral.

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  23. Your post hit me right on the nose. I keep looking around my house at the white mantle, the black couches, the neutral walls....I need some fun in my house! That fabric would make perfect new fun pillows for my blah blah blah living room couches!

    I think your dresser/headboard combo turned out amazing! They are beyond fun!! Excellent job. I would never think to use a grey primer underneath, but it made all the difference.

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  24. That dresser is AMAZING!! That fabric is frame-worthy, I think I'd hang it!

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  25. love the coral! don't stop doing something your passionate about (and good at)!

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  26. Absolutely amazing. I'm glad you took a chance. That's such a fun bed and bureau they needed to pop. This is going to selling quickly! Great Job!

    Maxwellhouseinteriors.Blogspot.Com

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  27. Pick me! I'm just getting into the mod podge craze and I have a dresser that I'm refinishing that could use some cuteness. (Much of my inspiration comes from your blog, so please keep doing what you are SO good at!)

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  28. I hear ya girl! I started refinishing and painting furniture just this last year and wanted to paint pieces that weren't just the "safe" and same ol' stuff we see everywhere, like you just mentioned. I wanted to paint and use colors that would appeal and bring people away from the traditional pieces we all see. I was determined that if I stayed true to what I loved doing, that I would see results and profit from my talent, and I am! So I'm glad you decided to "break out"...love the dresser and the fabric, super fun! LOVE!

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  29. Love wHat you did to both pieces!!! Would use that pretty fabric in my daughter's room somewhere!

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  30. LOL! You are aaahmazing! Don't be going and charging your go-to $150 CL price, now, ya hear?? LOL!

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  31. Dont leave me out of your drawing btw :)

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  32. Those are fab! Good for you for stepping outside the box. It is so much more fun to be creative and do what you like as oppose to what the "popular" thing to do is. By the way, I've learned a thing or tow about those folks who try to talk down your price. I just politely say no and they buy it anyway!

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  33. YEAH!!! You know me....I MUST have color and I know you have read my blog several times when I get down in the mouth about all the white!! So your words are not lost on me! :) What would I do with the fabric? Not sure. I would have to get it in my paws and then see. lol

    Love when bloggers work authentically. THIS is all that and more! Congrats!

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  34. I would love to win some adorable fabric! I have a friend who decorated their new baby girls room in an owl theme, so this would make a great gift for her!

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  35. I love this!!! It makes me we want a headboard just like this!

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  36. Darling Fabric, I'd love to win this. I might use it on a dresser front just like this. I have a dresser that would be perfect. Thanks, Vicki ven@horizonsatellite.com

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  37. Absolutely adorable and FUN! I would love to use this material to add some fun color to one of my girls rooms. Maybe make a fun pillow and line the inside dresser too. SO CUTE.

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  38. I love the fabric! We're expecting our first little one in June and I'd love to make something for the nursery out of the fabric.

    rrynsoever (at) yahoo (dot) ca

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  39. Too Cute love them.. hugs from Savannah, Cherry

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  40. love this dresser, great job! Would be so cute in a little girls room!

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  41. This is AMAZING!!! Too precious for words!!

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  42. this is great! I've got to try it sometime. I'd like to win the fabric to try it with. :)

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  43. That fabric is SO cute - LOVE IT! And I love what you did with the set. I'd love to know more about how you went about getting into a boutique. Not many people talk about the process of that, but I'm feeling exactly like you did about CL. :-( I'm not sure what the process is, or costs involved, etc. Any advice would be great! Anyhow, love this set, and I know someone else will too!

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    1. Thanks Anneke!! I don't think there's any secret on how to get into a boutique. All you can do is approach them and ask! :) I went into Livy Lou's, the boutique that I'm currently selling at, and asked her if she'd be willing to consign my furniture, and I directed her to this blog so she could see the type of things that I do (which, by the way, are a perfect fit and right at home in her shop.) She got back to me and said she was interested. We decided on a percentage (she takes 25%, which is VERY reasonable) and we were off and selling! Hope that helps! Good luck!

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    2. Ohmygoodness! CUUUUUTE! I love the set! It would be perfect in my daughters room. :) if I won I may just try and make my own adorable little dresser. :)

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  44. Holy guacamole! This is AWESOME!! I still consider myself new to the furniture restoring game and haven't sold very much and am wondering if this is because I have yet to paint a piece solid white. Actually I haven't painted anything a solid color. I keep hoping that someone else will appreciate the jolts of color. Thanks for making me feel like a made the right decision!!

    Oh, some of this cool fabric would be great too. I do have a 3 y.o. girl that I'm sure we could think of some fun thing to do with it!!

    XoXo,
    Kristal

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  45. I would love love love to make my friend who is expecting a baby girl some burp cloths or maybe even a little blankie!

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  46. Love the dresser, would love to have the fabric. I have just the project for it! Amazing, but I have that exact headboard (the one in the background)! Picked it up in a pile of furniture on the side of the road.....going to paint it for my daughter.

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  47. you did amazing! I love the dresser!
    You should join me for Handmade 52!
    http://raisingoranges.blogspot.com

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  48. Gorgeous color! Stop by and link up if you have time!
    Mary

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  49. I'm so glad you decided to "branch out" artistically because this is amazing! :)

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  50. Very cute chest of drawers and headboard!
    gail

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  51. I am so impressed! The dresser looks awesome. You are a talented lady. I am a new fan visiting from Family Ever After. Vicky from Mess For Less

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  52. Oh wow, how perfectly whimsical and lovely! That head board is a total knockout, and the dresser is delicious! Come join in the Head to Head Showdown, and link this fabulous project, along with any others you might like to share! It's all happening right now at www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com ~Jen

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  53. So clever, and an amazing result! This project is making me want to get into the furniture biz again :)) Thanks for such great inspiration!
    Cheers, Andrea
    p.s. And I would LOVE to have the fabric! I can think of 100 different things to do with it

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  54. I am loving this dresser. The fabric is GREAT! I paint furniture myself. Was wondering if you would take a second, and let me know exactly how you got the fabric cut to the perfect demensions? Like including what tools you used. I have tried before, but mine never turns out this good. Any pointers would be appreciated!

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    1. Gina, I laid out the fabric, smoothed it out face down on the table. Then I laid down each drawer, starting with the top and working my way down, so that the print carried through from drawer to drawer. I laid down the drawer, face down on the fabric, then just traced around it with a pen. Then I cut it out and mod podged it on the drawer fronts. The fabric did stretch out a little with the mod podge medium, but I just trimmed right up to the edges with some small, very sharp scissors. Hope that helps!

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    2. I trimmed the edges after it was all dry, btw. :)

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  55. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the dresser - thanks for the tips in the comments, I was considering doing fabric drawer fronts on ours but wasn't sure how hard it would be.

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  56. Oh gracious, this is reeeeally making me want to get started on my daughters room, and she's still in her crib in the nursery! You are seriously awesome. Saw your feature over on Primitive and Proper and had to click over. Would love for you to link up over on Kammy's Korner: http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com/2012/01/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-party-16.html

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  57. Oh man, this is SO much fun. I love your fabric choice and the color choice. Gorgeous!

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  58. Hi Ann Marie! You were featured tonight at Meg and Mum's! Feel free to stop by and grab a button :)

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  59. Ann Marie, I love your project and the fabric, would love to win. I would decoupage something too. I've been practicing my decoupage techniques, Kathy

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  60. This is amazing! I am absolutely in love with your creations. Oh, I can't wait to have kids because I want them to have a room with your kinda work in it! I am your newest follower :)

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  61. That's fantastic!!! I would love to score a headboard like that and the dresser is gorgeous! I love your taste! New follower and now I'm off to check out the rest of your site!

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  62. That is AMAZING!!! I have an ugly old dresser (that I use a LOT) and I think I might use the same technique!!! :D

    Ohhh.. I would LOVE that fabric!! I am obsessed with MoMo for Moda and Moda fabrics in general!! I would definitely make a flower headband with some of the fabric, make some quilt blocks with some more, and then make a pouch/case for my Kindle with the rest!!! :D

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  63. Would love to win that fab fabric-I have to sell my rental house aka 3500 SF storage unit and need to get crackin' motivated inspired movin and groovin!

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  64. Wow! Amazing work. Can't believe that is fabric!!
    Excelent job!

    very inspiring

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  65. I love everything about this revamp! That is such great fabric.

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  66. I have a tad of It's a Hoot fabric here; winning this would just make me more happy. It was a really great collection.
    And so is your dresser.

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  67. i would LOVE to win this energetic fabric! It would make a great addition in my little one's room! I would cover 2 lamp shades she has next to her bed and if any extras are left, i'd make a neat little pillow to match on the bed! The dresser you did was awesome and i've never thought of that! When i get of work, im headed straight to the fabric store to find some for my boys room!

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  68. This is adorable! I'd love to win some funky fabric!

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  69. This is SO fabulous! Found you on pinterest and also a new follower. I was wondering if you'd mind me featuring this project on my blog tomorrow??
    Thanks so much!
    -Holly
    www.lifeasathrifter.com

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  70. I LOVE this-makes me want to run upstairs and do the same thing in both my kids rooms-I have a fabric addiction so the more the merrier! Glad I found your blog

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  71. I would LOVE to have that fabric - so many options with what could be done with it. one thing is for sure is that it would have to be in a high traffic area where it can be seen by all.

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  72. I'd LOVE to win some adorable fabric!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    ♥'s
    Sherry

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  73. I'd love to win your fabric. I'd either put it on the back of a bookshelf or made a curtain!

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  74. I'd love to win some fabric!

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  75. That is some of the cutest fabric I've ever seen! Would look great in my little girls room. Pick me! Pick me!

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  76. I love he fabric, I could use it:)

    Coral is one of my faves. my daughter lovs pink and my son loves orange so I always tell them that coral is perfect since it's half pink and half orange:)

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  77. So cute, I love that you went a little crazy with it! Did you wrap around on the drawer fronts or did you cut it right on the edge? I am your newest follower!

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  78. I love it! Came out fantastic, very pretty fabric too.

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  79. I just found your site through Apartment Therapy. We have an old dresser that we are redoing for our nursery and I love this! We actually removed fabric from the dresser and I wanted to do more than just paint but wasn't sure how. Thank you for the idea!

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  80. I tried this with some end tables that I have because they had a recessed section in the top that was begging for fabric. So after several attempts of getting the fabric cut just right and glued on, I put polycrylic on them. It ruined the fabric! It was horribly discolored, bubbled, etc. I'm not sure what I did wrong. Any advice?

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  81. How did u get the fabric not to bubble?

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  82. Super cute! I did a short post on your dresser! love it.

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  83. I did this project!

    http://keoghfamily.blogspot.com/2012/09/adventures-outside-my-comfort.html

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  84. Love this, one of my fav colours too...definitely fun! I did this to the inside of a cupboard last year and it's turned out beautiful, I should share on my blog too. :)

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We love lovely gals showin' some love!