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 truly love old crates like this. I think vintage crates are my favorite decorating accessory.
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!
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Carlene@Organized Clutter says
Marianne, the trunk looks great! You do such an awesome job of staging too! Love it all!
Bliss says
Love it, pinned it and your photos are beautiful!
Tricia Heliker says
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.
Jeannie Scott says
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!!!
Jeannie Scott says
I am following Fusion Mineral Paint on InstaGram and my name is jeanniemscott so you can check me out!!
angela says
i love casement and I would paint over table legs.
Jeannie Scott says
I am now following Songbird on IG and my name on there is jeanniemscott……..tks!!!!!!!
Judy E says
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!
Debbie Hayes says
This is such a fun post. I was really drawn in by the story of the trunk! Loving Donna’s new stencils too.
Quandie says
Love your crate! That stencil was perfect for it. Gotta say I also love your painted brick.
Donna - Funky Junk Interiors says
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. 😉
kirby carespodi says
I love Upper Canada green and Homestead Blue. And I am following both–I am Kirby Dunton Carespodi on Instagram.
Tara says
Oh my, this is gorgeous. And your vignette has totally inspired me! I love it!
Amy C. says
I’m following Fusion Minerals on IG (@amymaddux)
Amy C. says
I absolutely love the Ceramic Green color!
Amy C. says
I’m following Songbird on IG (@amymaddux)
Denise says
I would use Fort York Red on a dresser I have sitting in the garage waiting to be painted.
Susan Homeroad says
Marianne I love that box and the stencil on it is perfect! 🙂 pinning!
Marilyn says
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!
Sherry Fram says
I like Prairie Sunset & I would paint my kitchen table with it.
Sherry Fram says
I follow Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram with the name nananurse60.
Sherry Fram says
I follow Songbird on Instagram with the name nananurse60.
Nancy MacGregor says
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
Carol says
Sterling is my favorite Fusion color, and I have an old wooden crate that would look great in it!
Carol says
I follow Fusion on Instagram as msmisk.
Carol says
I follow Songbird on Instagram as msmisk.
Rita B says
I have some projects that I would like to try with casement, coal black and champness. These are great colors.
theresa J says
I love the Prairie Sunset and I would love to paint my bedside tables
theresa J says
I follow Fusion on instagram
Tweetyscute
theresa J says
I follow Songbird on instagram
tweetyscute
Cherylc says
I would use Buttermilk cream on a bench that needs repainted!
I love the chest and that corner. Great job!!
Cherylc says
I am following Fusion. downsprigglane.
thanks for a chance to win!!
Cheryl says
I am following you on Instagram. downsprigglane.
Thanks again for the chance to win!!
Tricia says
Renfrew blue looks nice
Nell says
I recently painted my kitchen cabinets with Champlain and love them! I can’t wait to try the new collection of colors!
Stacey McMullin says
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.
Stacey McMullin says
Following Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram (have been for ages!!) and my Instagram handle is sweet_emotion.
Stacey McMullin says
Following Songbird on Instagram. My Instagram handle: sweet_emotion
ginette4 says
I love the Ash paint colour..my night stands would look amazing in that paint colour
ginette4 says
I’m following Fusion Paint on instagram
https://instagram.com/ginette4/
Jen says
Inglenook is my favourite colour!
Jen says
I would love to paint an accent table in Inglenook for my living room!
Jen says
@jmclarty7 is following Fusion!
Jen says
@jmclarty7 is following Songbird!!
Chantal N says
I would love to paint my grandmothers hutch in ash with renfrew blue!
Sandi Allen says
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!
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
I would love to paint my vintage primitive style cabinet in Upper Canada green fusion paint.
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
Am a follower of Fusion on Instagram. patinaparadise
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
Am now a follower of your on Instagram. patina paradise
Tina says
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.
Tina says
Oops….sorry I forgot what blog I was on. Sheepish grin