Dreading, Dreading...

Up next, my most favorite thing to do ever. Painting Trim... wah, wah, waaaahhhh....

Here's the rub: Before we bought our house back in 2009 (wow, can't believe it's been that long), the previous owners had the trim painted. I understand why because the old trim color was a greenish-off-white. GROSS. See this picture, where paint is chipping... the color underneath was the trim color. Again, EWWW.

BUT... The painters (whether just dumb or lazy) painted with latex paint over the older oil based paint. PAINTING FOUL!!! I take it back, I mean, it can be done but only if - as the guy at Sherwin Williams told me - the old wall/trim is clean, dull and dry. That didn't happen in our house and this is what happens.

Not really attractive is it? In some spots they really didn't even finish the job...

Now you see why I am dreading this project. The painters however were nice enough to leave an empty trim paint bucket and it was labeled with the paint color... HALLELUJAH! I had picked up a chip of the color back when we bought the house... the trim was already chipping way back then.

I just had to find it...

The color used is Pure White from Sherwin Williams SW7005. (right above the color that is starred)

and today is the day. I picked up a gallon of latex trim paint from Sherwin yesterday. I know, you're saying, "But, you just said, the problem was the latex paint." You are right, I had a lengthy discussion with the paint guy about the best way to proceed. Here were my two options:

1. sand extensively all the trim in the house (approximately 2,876,858,865 miles of baseboard, chair railing, doors, crown, windows, etc). Clean all the dust. Prime with oil based primer and then paint with oil based semi gloss.

2. Lightly sand the trouble spots, clean all trim really well. Paint with latex semi gloss paint.

DUH, I went with #2.

If you need me, I will be on a ladder with my hand cramped in a claw around my paint brush. SAVE ME!!!

I looooove GOLD...FAIL

First Spring Break project = FAIL.

You see, I was inspired to add a little gold to our living room from this

piece.

I had a good start with this hutch/bookshelf we built a while ago. It is practically the same color and I thought, "Self, why don't you paint the back of the shelves gold?"

FABULOUS IDEA SELF. I thought about gold leafing. In fact, that's what I went to Michaels to buy... but I was swayed by the thought that metallic paint might be cheaper and less steps. Enter this guy:

Acrylic gold metallic paint. PERFECT! And it was only $4. I got home, stoked about the fact that I would have gold and teal bookshelf in no time. I emptied the shelves, wiped it down..

and started painting with a foam brush. Here's where the FAIL started. The back of the shelves is plywood and was a little rough which means the foam brush hung up and the paint did not go on smooth.

Ok, no problem. "Self, get a regular brush." Great, good coverage, it will probably just need 2 coats and then...

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM...

You see where the paint is not sticking? Yeah, that's not good.

So, I spent the next 10 minutes wiping all the paint off with a wet paper towel. I am now left with this:

and I need your help. If I went back to Michaels (dreading, dreading...) and got gold leaf, this cheap project would soon turn into a $75 project. I would love to do gold spray paint but this thing weighs about 400lbs and I am not lugging it outside. So what should I do??

SPRING BREAK 2011!!!

wooo hooo it is finally here! Spring Break!

I'm packing up my bags, heading down to the MTV Spring Break to wear a neon next to nothing bikini and dance in the sand.

juuuuuuust kidding.

Instead, I will be wearing normal clothes, doing a bit of homework, painting moulding, using some gold leaf (if you have any tips, please share), and spring cleaning!

jealous? I would be too, this sounds like a perfect spring break to me.

Blog appearance OCD

Sorry for all the confusion on the blog appearance. I am sure every time you visit the blog you say, "Is this still Splendid Minta?" The answer is YES! I am just crazy OCD about the appearance. I think it is finally at a place where I am leaving it ALONE!!! PHEW!

Love,

crazy Liz

Sweet sweet girls

I miss these girls so very much. Looking at these pictures from my wedding day makes me wish we all still lived close enough to pop over for a cup of sugar.

I cannot believe this day was 2 and a half years ago, it seems like yesterday.

I love you girls, Cheryl, MC Hammerpants, Kerry, Swans and Tracy. xoxo

*special thank you to our amazing photographer Olivia @ Olivia Griffin Photography.