Songbird

Where Creativity and Nesting come Together

Army Crate Makeover and some Outdoor Decorating

By Marianne@Songbird

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Outdoor decorating on the terrace with an old army crate makeover with Fusion paint and Old Signs Stencils, burlap pots, and lots of white flowers.

 

Hello my friends, welcome to my little nest on the web. Today I have a little decorating, a little DIY, and a little craft to show you. I have had a week of Spring break and I have used it to work on several projects all at once. Hardly any are finished but todays makeover is. I had to make sure it was finished, because months ago I signed up for a fun blog-hop. Of course in true Songbird fashion I thought I had oodles of time and then as always I was hurrying at the last minute to finish everything up. I never learn, do I!

Todays army crate makeover project was my first time working with Fusion Mineral paint. Fusion mineral paint is a new paint on the market. It works as a primer and top coat in one, it comes in amazing colors and it is totally an Eco friendly project.

I was offered several colors to try out, and of course I jumped at the chance of some free paint. And in all honesty I love this paint. It is so easy to work with. It spreads like soft butter, does not drip, it has great coverage (one coat is usually enough to change colors immediately) and it does not stink at all, so can be used inside without a problem. 

I was a bit skeptical at first. After all I tried Annie Sloan paint, and I have worked with Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint and I love the finish those paints can give me. So would this Fusion stuff really add something new to the game? Well yes it does. For one it does not need a top coat, so no waxing or oiling necessary. Slap it on and you are finished. Secondly, it does not do any chipping on its own, so a nice smooth finish is at your finger tips. And finally the finish is somewhere in between a chalky and a sleek modern paint one, which I absolutely love because it is perfect for vintage makeovers that need to pair with more modern furniture. 

My first project with Fusion paint isn’t very daring. Just an old crate that got its second makeover.

 

Outdoor decorating on the terrace with an old army crate makeover with Fusion paint and Old Signs Stencils, burlap pots, and lots of white flowers.

 

This is an old US army crate we found in my father-in-laws attic. It was left behind at the monastery where he worked after the war. The old monastery was used as an army hospital, at the end of the war when our part of the country was already liberated while the fighting went on for another winter up north.

I gave the crate a makeover years ago. I was a bit in a Frenchy faze then. I think that faze has mostly ended now, so I was ready for something new. And since that first makeover our terrace and porch area has changed a lot and I didn’t like the old finish against our greige walls. I think she contrasts quite nicely now.

 

Outdoor decorating on the terrace with an old army crate makeover with Fusion paint and Old Signs Stencils, burlap pots, and lots of white flowers.

 

After slapping on a quick coat of Fusion color blocker over the black lettering, I painted the crate in the color Champlain. Really, I think it took me all but 20 minutes to give the crate a whole new look. One quick coat was all it took. 

And then I decided to give her a little extra.

My Canadian Junky friend Donna from Funky Junk Interiors has finally listened to our cries of help and has started a stencil line to make it easier for us amateurs to get that Junk loving look Donna is famous for. 

She offered me some stencils to try out. And so of course I said YES! totally. Although I did warn her that I am a clumsy novice when it comes to stenciling. 

But with this ready made stencil it was so easy.

 

Outdoor decorating on the terrace with an old army crate makeover with Fusion paint and Old Signs Stencils, burlap pots, and lots of white flowers.

 

It ain’t perfect, but who cares. I listened to the advice of pros and stenciled my little heart out with an almost dry brush. I think if I had had the courage to use some spray glue to attach the stencil it would have been even crisper. But I am still so pleased with the outcome.

Donna has already got a great line of stencils, and I have it on good authority that more are on their way….. You can buy yourself an Old Sign Stencil here.

I choose the coffee stencil for my crate, because well, we love coffee….

To stay with that theme I decided to dig up some of the burlap coffee sacks I scored at a coffee merchant years ago. Two flower pots received a strip of burlap tied with string. Easy peasy little craft.

 

Outdoor decorating on the terrace with burlap pots.

 

Just measure, cut and tie. That’s all.

And then the cleaning and tidying and foofing, and fluffing, and decorating could truly begin……

 

Outdoor decorating on a white shelf with lots of white flowers.

 

An Ikea lantern is used as a vase for some fake flowers:

 

Outdoor decorating on a white shelf with lots of white flowers.

 

My collection of faux greens got restyled on the top shelf, while the second shelf is showing off some white tidbits. 

And of course a lantern with some fairy lights had to be added for our romantic evenings on the terrace.
Outdoor decorating on the terrace with an old army crate makeover with Fusion paint and Old Signs Stencils, burlap pots, and lots of white flowers.

 

Of course one thing let to another and before you know it, I was cleaning and rearranging the whole terrace. But today this little corner claims its moment in the spot light. 

 

Outdoor decorating on the terrace with an old army crate makeover with Fusion paint and Old Signs Stencils, burlap pots, and lots of white flowers.

Fusion paint and Old Sign Stencils: a match made in heaven. Which is why it is quite awesome that Fusion merchants are selling the Old Sign Stencils now too. There are Fusion merchants worldwide so anybody anywhere can get in on the fun.
Outdoor decorating on the terrace with an old army crate makeover with Fusion paint and Old Signs Stencils, burlap pots, and lots of white flowers.

 

In honor of our Fusion blog hop, we have a giveaway going too. You can enter at all of the participating blogs so you have oodles of chances to win. All entries from all blogs will be pooled together and one name will be randomly drawn for one win. So if you enter here on Songbird, I will draw a semi-finalist who is than entered into the final draw for the overall winner.

 

UPDATE This giveaway has ended and the overall winner has been announced. Congratulations Lucy Auburn, and happy painting to you.

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3 chances to become a semi-finalist and than perhaps win!

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1. Visit Fusion Mineral Paint HERE, tell me in comments what your fav colour is and what you’d use it on, and you’re in!

 

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2. For a 2nd entry at my blog, follow Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram HERE, then come here and comment again with your Instagram name, so we can check it. If you are already following Fusion on Instagram just leave a second comment with your IG handle and tell me you are following them.

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3. For a 3rd entry at my blog, follow Songbird on Instagram HERE, and comment again with your Instagram name, that you have done so or  telling me that you already follow me. 

 

Visit-more-Fusion-Mineral-Paint-Projects.11-PM

Funky Junk Interiors
Bliss Ranch  
Organized Clutter   
AKA Design  
Knick of Time  
Songbird  
Surburble  
Q is for Quandie   
So Much Better With Age 
Homeroad  
My Patch of Blue Sky 
Beyond the Picket Fence
Clean and Scentsible

This giveaway is good worldwide. You must be over the age of 18 to win. Void where prohibited. Winner will be deemed by random draw. Winner must enter with valid email and reply within 3 days of winning email sent to you. This giveaway ends Monday, May 18th, at midnight EST. Winner will be announced in this blog post by May 20th.

Good luck!

 

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51 Comments

  3. Tricia Heliker says

    May 11, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Would love to try all the Fusion colors but the one that would work for a china cabinet right now is the Homestead Blue. Thanks for the opportunity to win and try this product.

  4. Jeannie Scott says

    May 11, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    My favorite color of Fusion Mineral Base Paint is Sterling!!! Love love love that color and would use it on a huge buffet that I need to paint for my daughter-in-law and you know I have to make an impression on her!!! lol!! You Blog is one of my few favs!!!

  5. Jeannie Scott says

    May 11, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    I am following Fusion Mineral Paint on InstaGram and my name is jeanniemscott so you can check me out!!

  7. Jeannie Scott says

    May 11, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    I am now following Songbird on IG and my name on there is jeanniemscott……..tks!!!!!!!

  8. Judy E says

    May 11, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    I love so many of the colors offered. I have a dresser in our guest room, which is painted a seafoam green, that begs for a blue color to stand out, and I think the Homestead Blue would be perfect! Thanks for doing the give-away!

  9. Debbie Hayes says

    May 11, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    This is such a fun post. I was really drawn in by the story of the trunk! Loving Donna’s new stencils too.

  11. Donna - Funky Junk Interiors says

    May 11, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    Oh my.. I’m so in LOVE with that trunk! And your true blue Songbird touches are perfection, as always.

    It’s on my bucket list to visit that terrace one day. Don’t change a thing! 🙂 So gorgeous… I’m inspired to work on my outside now.

    Thank-you for the mention of the stencils! You did COFFEE proud. 😉

  17. Denise says

    May 11, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    I would use Fort York Red on a dresser I have sitting in the garage waiting to be painted.

  19. Marilyn says

    May 11, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    Oh! These are pretty colors! I like the Upper Canada Green and the Laurentien especially. I have an old metal table I’m think of re-doing. Thanks for the giveaway!

  23. Nancy MacGregor says

    May 12, 2015 at 9:25 am

    I would love to try the following Fusion Mineral Paint in Sterling, Champness or Renefrew Blue to paint a couple of side tables.

    That’s all for now, Nancy

  24. Carol says

    May 12, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Sterling is my favorite Fusion color, and I have an old wooden crate that would look great in it!

  27. Rita B says

    May 12, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    I have some projects that I would like to try with casement, coal black and champness. These are great colors.

  35. Nell says

    May 14, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    I recently painted my kitchen cabinets with Champlain and love them! I can’t wait to try the new collection of colors!

  36. Stacey McMullin says

    May 14, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    My favorite Fusion Mineral Paint right now is Coal Black because I really want to paint my exterior door this color! But I really want to try Soapstone from the Michael Penney Collection too.

  37. Stacey McMullin says

    May 14, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    Following Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram (have been for ages!!) and my Instagram handle is sweet_emotion.

  39. ginette4 says

    May 14, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    I love the Ash paint colour..my night stands would look amazing in that paint colour

  46. Sandi Allen says

    May 16, 2015 at 3:01 am

    Love, Love, Love how your crate turned out. What a transformation.
    I like the Homestead Blue color. I would paint a chair and end table that I have.
    Thank You for the chance!

  50. Tina says

    May 17, 2015 at 7:34 am

    I like Casement and Upper Canada Green. What great paint! I want to paint the vanity in my bathroom.
    Following AKA Design and Fushion on Instagram……under the name bugmom2
    I would sure love to win. Thanks for the chance.