Not so Hot to FanFreaknFabulous

Okay. So I'm not really even sure if that's how you spell Fanfreaknfabulous...but we'll pretend it us cuz it probably doesn't matter.

I went to the thrift store to find a lamp...I don't get where all y'all are finding these great deals on lamps. I can't find a used-broken one for under $15 (besides my dumpster diving lamps.)....okay, so maybe I found one for $10, but there was noooo hope for it.

So, since my budget for that day was 'on the cheap' I found this for $3. A little higher than I wanted to pay ( I know...I know). But I was bummed about the overly.outrageous.prices on the lamps. So I got it anyway.

Pretty huh? Yeah....don't mind the nastiness of it all....

Not to mention that I ran out of hand sanitizer in my car, so I didn't have anything to wash the grime off my hands with after I bought it...yummy :)

I don't think I realized at the time it was so filthy. But I liked the look of it, the beadboard-esque grooves and the shabby chic attitude.

Of course I had to change it though. :)

FYI: I found this out the miserable way. When you spraypaint into something..like the slots for the paper and what not....don't do it. It all builds up and will completely fumigate your face. Not fun...not fun at all.

So, after my initial attempt with spraypaint, I decided to go the other route...which I rarely do...but it was for the best. Paint! Yep, with the brush n'all :) (Now I think most of you know this is a very rare occurance for me)

After the miserable and tedious task of painting and repainting and shoving my hands and knuckles into goodness knows what (I did clorox it before hand though, but still)....it was finally covered with the luscious black stuff (along with my hands).

Of course, I couldn't leave it there. I had to ruin all my hard work and labor beautify the piece with a little distressing.

 

And then added a little stain. But if you read my blog, you know I don't use stain often. I use these beauties:

Yep. Furniture touch up pens. They come in many different colors and they are less messy than normal stain and they dry fast. I used them here and here and on a few of these amongst many others also.

The finished product?

Obviously I added a few embellishments. The flower, the scrapbook paper, the jute.

Although, the jute does have a handy little purpose:

It is perrrfect to hang little notes and what not on.

I'm happy :)

On my quest to find a cheap organizer I found a few at target and home goods and other places where you get the most bang for you buck. I'm thinking it would be fun to update those to look the way you want...just add a few embellishments (then you won't have to deal with all the grime).

Also...If you go to Pottery Barn, they have their organizers like this with pictures in it...cute...very cute :)

although, I wouldn't dare spend the $40 price tag on it
:)

The total cost of this project? $3
Everything else I used on the organizer was leftovers from other projects.
Can't beat that.