Army Crate Makeover and some Outdoor Decorating

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

An Ikea lantern is used as a vase for some fake 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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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!