$38 Chair, $113 Supplies, and 30 Hours

Not the cheap or easy way

In 2024, I bought this simple, yet beautiful, rocking chair at an estate sale for $38. It has a classic understated style. Surely the clean lines and lack of spindles would make it easy to refinish. Since most of the finish was already gone or flaking off, I thought it would be easy to strip. I was so wrong.

I have next to no experience refinishing furniture. Just a couple of pieces of furniture over several decades. I did a bit of unsatisfying research. Then starting the stripping process, I reluctantly tried chemical stripper – nope. That didn’t do much and it’s messy.

The rocking Chair after using the chemical stripper and a bit of sanding.

Next I bought a detail sander. That and an orbital sander worked better.

On another trip to the hardware store, a carbide scraper joined a package of detail sanding pads in my shopping cart. FYI – cheap sanding pads are cheap. Don’t do it.

Yet another trip to the hardware store for the good sanding pads and stain. And advice. The hardware store did not have… advice.

Next try. We have a friend that is a talented carpenter. I texted him a photo of the rocker requesting enlightenment because surely there is an easier way to strip this. His advice, and that of another experienced carpenter was, ‘’Paint it. Or, throw it in the trash.’’ What had I gotten myself into?!

The work needed to be done outside, but summers in Oklahoma are hot and humid. Winters can be bone chilling. Day-to-day obligations and, frankly, forgetting about the rocking chair, and a year had passed without completing the refinish. What changed? The anticipated first grandchild. This chair had to be finished soon.

Here we go again
Four hours later

More scraping and sanding (repeat many times) and I was getting closer to the finish. I decided to try for a light grey stain. Surely, adding just a touch of white stain to the grey stain would create a lighter grey. Right? No. Apparently, grey + white equals blue in the world of wood stain.

A perfect blue for the room where the rocker now lives. I couldn’t have planned it better (and didn’t). After approximately 30 hours of labor, stalling tactic trips to the hardware store, supplies equal to three times what I originally paid for the rocking chair, and she is done. I love her. She’s truly a labor of love.

And so was she. My miraculous granddaughter has brown eyed parents and she has (did you guess it?) lovely grey-blue eyes.

Thanks so much for reading along. Happy creating.

di/a little bird crafts

Valentine Shaker Card

Hi. Welcome to a little bird crafts and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Do you enjoy making shaker cards? I think they are so fun and really add a special touch. The recipient feels extra special when they receive it because of the effort put into making it.

The stamps, dies, and papers are all by Annette Green and Elizabeth Craft Designs. Let’s make some pretty cards!

1) Die-cut one heart from white cardstock and one acetate heart using the scalloped edge heart die. 

2) Stamp “Love This” from the Love & Roses stamp set with pink ink onto the white heart. Use the “Love” definition to stamp in black ink in different directions around “Love This”. I kept the stamping close to “Love This” trying for a newsprint look.

3) Tape the center heart die in the middle of the scalloped heart die to create a frame. Die-cut one heart frame from patterned paper and one frame from white cardstock.

4) Sandwich the acetate between the patterned heart frame and the white heart frame and glue them together.

5) Lay your heart sandwich onto the front and add 2mm or thicker foam tape around the frame.

6) Add your shaker elements. I used sequins and beads.

7) While keeping the heart on its front, align your stamped white heart over the shaker heart and adhere them together. Your shaker element is complete!

8) Place the shaker heart over a decorated card base. I added postal elements from the Postal Parts stamp set and layered paper from the Romantic Revival paper pack.

Starting with beautiful patterned paper makes creating these cards easy.

Thanks so much for reading along. Please let me know if you make one – I’d love to see it.

Happy crafting,

Di/a little bird crafts

  • Supplies:
  • Romantic Revival paper C036
  • Lace, Heart & Doily 2304
  • Carmaker Special Kit K020
  • Postcard Parts CS429
  • Envelopes & Paper Sack 2301
  • Love & Roses CS351
  • All Occasion Sentiments CS329
  • Acetate

Thank You, Friend

Cheerful Thanksgiving Card

Hi. Welcome to a little bird crafts. I have an autumn inspired card to share using the new Everyday Elements Collection from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, so I wanted to create something expressing gratitude. I’m so very thankful for my crafting friends. They are always so supportive and encouraging to me and each other. Let’s get started.

Step 1) Cut a piece of Romantic Revival paper with the largest Postage Stamp die. Lightly blend brown ink between the dashed frame lines and the outer edge of the die to accentuate the frame. I used washi tape to mask off the inside of the postage stamp to keep a straight line when inking.

Step 2) Add double sided adhesive to the back of the patterned paper for your words. Using the Everyday Big Words dies, die-cut “Thanks”, “You”, and “Friend” from the patterned paper. Cut off the s from “Thanks”. 

Cut a second set of the words using a dark brown. Adhere the dark brown words behind the patterned paper words offsetting a bit to make a shadow.

Adhere the words to the center of the postage stamp die-cut panel.

Step 3)  Use three pieces of watercolor paper approximately 6×4 inches each. Paint orange watercolor onto a Kraft mat and thin with some water. Press a piece of watercolor paper into orange watercolor paint. Use another piece for green watercolor, and the third piece in yellow watercolor. 

Step 4) Cut from the watercolor papers:

Three orange flowers and three orange flower centers (darken the centers by ink blending over with rust or brown) and five green leafy stems from Build A Bouquet 

Three orange flowers, three yellow flower centers, and five green leaf bunches from Tea Time 

One pumpkin and one pumpkin vein from the orange watercolor paper. One green stem, and three yellow sprigs of wheat from Festive Harvest

Hint: While I enjoyed watercoloring the diecuts, colored cardstock would have worked equally well.

Step 5)  Adhere the flower centers to the flowers. Use a white gel pen to add white dot highlights on the flower centers.

Step 6) Build your arrangements adding foam dots behind some pieces for dimension. I did intentionally go off the edge of the panel a bit since it is smaller than the card base.

Step 7) Adhere your panel to a white A2 card base and you are done!

I think this is a cheerful Thanksgiving or autumn themed card that would make anyone feel appreciated. Is this a card design that you would make?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Di/a little bird crafts

I’ve listed the supplies below. Use the links for a qualifying 10% discount. I will also receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Extra examples made with the same supplies.

Butterfly Swing Card

Hi. Welcome to a little bird crafts.

Do you like to make interactive cards? Let’s make a 5×7″ swing card with a moving butterfly. I’ve wanted to make this butterfly “move” for a long time and this technique isn’t too difficult. This idea was inspired by Charee Filimoehala.

  1. Cut a piece of cardstock to 5 inch by 8.5 inch to create a card base. (Confession: the card above is 5.5″ x 8.5″. That doesn’t fit in a standard envelope, so the instructions are adjusted.)

    2) On the long side, make two score lines: score at 2.75″ from the left and at 3.5″ from the left. Fold along the score lines – it will make it easier to see for the next step.

    3) Place the center of a butterfly die over the left score line. Using the partial die cutting* technique, run your “sandwich” through your die-cutting machine cutting only the left side of the butterfly. Keep the die in place for step 4. (*With partial die cutting only part of the die is cut instead of the whole design. This is done by placing the top cutting plate over only the desired area to be cut.)

    4) Place the cutting plate over the right side of the butterfly just to the right side of the 3.5″ scoreline and run through your die-cutting machine.

    5) The area between the score lines should not be cut. Make sure the cuts are all the way to the score/fold lines. If they aren’t quite there, use detail scissors to cut to the score line.

    6) Cut two butterflies. One for the front and one for the back. I used the large Layered Butterfly set from Annette Green of Elizabeth Craft Designs. Because I added the decorative black layers, my monarch butterfly is five layers thick! It worked, but that was pushing the limit for layers.

    The card shown open.

    7) Adhere the butterfly to both the front and back sides of your swinging element with glue or tape. Precision scissors may be helpful to trim tiny areas that interfere with the ability of the butterfly to move through the opening.

    Here the card is shown closed.

    8) Embellish your card however you like. I used the beautiful patterned paper from the Harmonious Hodgepodge paper pack. The tiny butterfly stamp is from the Flowers & Nature set and the sentiment is from Playful Sentiments.

    There is plenty of room on the back of the card to include a message.

    What do you think? Will you try this? Please tag me if you do (@alittlebirdcrafts). I’d love to see what you make.

    Thanks so much for reading along. Happy crafting!

    Di/a little bird crafts

    All Elizabeth Craft Designs products are linked below. By following the links, you will receive 10% off of your qualifying purchase and I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you. https://ecraftdesigns.com/ALITTLEBIRD28

    Supplies: US & Canada links Europe links

    Layered Butterfly 2134 https://collabs.shop/b6a8cl https://collabs.shop/n7rpcf

    Playful Sentiments CS403 https://collabs.shop/uzipnc https://collabs.shop/tzpyja

    Flowers & Nature CS385 https://collabs.shop/ztp6sx https://collabs.shop/l0jpav

    Harmonious Hodgepodge C024 https://collabs.shop/ro766x https://collabs.shop/2d3hzd

    Fine Pointed Tweezer https://collabs.shop/sn45ce https://collabs.shop/gzxino

    Adding Details to Dies

    Using dies from the Everyday Elements Collection

    Hi! Welcome to a little bird crafts. Do you ever change your dies by adding details or using them in reverse? I have a few tips. Hopefully, some will be new to you.

    photo 1

    I started with dies that do not have companion stamps. They are wonderful stand-alone dies, but I wanted to add a bit. I do not draw, so if I can do it, you can to!

    1) Add details. I used watercolors to paint in the eye, nose, ears, and fur. The legs on the “opposite side” of the die-cut are a lighter color to add definition. Colored pencils or markers would work equally well.

    Do you see my mistake? After painting the moose, I learned that the ears go under or behind the antlers – oops!

    photo 2

    2) Create a stencil with the die. A stencil can be made from die-cutting heavy cardstock, thin cardboard, or mylar. In the photo above, I added texture paste over my tree stencil and later added colored sprays to create the effect of a green tree with a brown trunk and blue sky.

    photo 3

    3) Depending how the details are added, the die can appear to face you or look away. For example, the deer in photos 2 & 3 face opposite directions on the two cards.

    Original die-cut images
    Top deer are looking away and bottom toward you.
    Top right buck is facing away.

    Above: the same die images are shown with details to make the image face toward or away from you.

    4) If using a die-cut on the “wrong” side of a die-cut, place thin paper or typing paper between the cutting plate and paper before die-cutting. It protects the paper from becoming damaged from the rough cutting plate.

    On the photo to the left, the upper left bear is a reverse image.

    5) Tip I learned from Annette Green is to use a bone folder to flatten the edges of a reversed image.

    Were any of these tips new to you? Do you have any tips you’d like to share?

    Thanks for reading along and happy crafting!

    Di/a little bird crafts.

    Follow the links below to get a 10% discount at Elizabeth Craft Designs. I will also receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. https://ecraftdesigns.com/ALITTLEBIRD28

    Supplies:

    Create Beautiful Gift Sets with Easy Card Designs

    Hi. Welcome to a little bird crafts.

    These cards only use a few supplies and the design is very easy to adapt for different occasions. They can all be the same for mass production or create a gift set with variety of cards by simply changing the colors and sentiments.

    I used a piece of heavy cardstock cut to 4×5.25 inches. Soft Finish Cardstock or watercolor paper would also work well.

    Use the ink smooshing technique. Press (smoosh) a water based ink pad or watercolor paint onto an acrylic block and spritz it with a small amount of water. Press the block onto the upper part of the card panel. When the first color is dry, apply your second color overlapping the colors a bit.

    Tip – My goal is for the ink to look like it flows from the upper left to lower right and within the top two-thirds of the card.

    Stamp the butterfly with VersaMark Ink or a pigment ink onto the right side near the midline. Add embossing powder and heat. Tip: use a colored ink and clear embossing powder so any stray embossing powder won’t show on your card

    Loosely mask over the butterfly with torn paper that covers the butterfly image.

    Stamp a dictionary/definition stamp with permanent ink allowing it to overlap the mask. Before stamping, you can use your finger or a cloth to remove some of the ink from the bottom right of the stamp to help fade out the image and soften the lines.

    Add a sentiment. Here I’ve added sentiments just below the butterfly, but the sentiment also looks good on the upper left over the stamped definition.

    Embellish or not. If you want to add more, splatter the panel using one or two of colors already on the card. That helps to bring all the elements together. Enamel dots, small gemstones, or tiny flowers are nice if you want some bling. I like to run a black or brown ink pad along the edge of the panel to help define it from the card base and add a hint of a frame around it.

    Adhere it to a card base and done!

    Is this a design that you’d use? I’d love to see what you make. Please tag me if you are inspired to create it. Feel free to contact me with questions.

    I have included my supply list and affiliate links below. You can receive a 10% discount by using my links and I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

    Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

    Di/a little bird crafts

    My Bug Collection

    Decoupaged Beetles

    Hi! Welcome to a little bird crafts. Have you ever had a bug collection? This is my first.

    I really wanted to add lots of dimension to the fun Beetles and Bugs Stamp & Die Set by Annette Green and Elizabeth Craft Designs. It took me awhile to decide how to do it, but it’s actually a fairly easy process by decoupaging.

    Stamp bugs with black ink on white paper

    Die cut the images

    Color the legs

      Use colored cardstock as your base color to add spray. I used a red, a brown, and a green.

      Spray the cardstock with any combination of Mica, Spritz and/or Stain Sprays from the same color family as the cardstock.

      Die-cut two of the same beetle/bug from the paper that you sprayed.

      Stamp with pigment ink and heat emboss in black. (This is the only way that I could get the stamp to show up.)

      Use black cardstock to stamp and die-cut one image of each bug.

      -Assemble the bugs starting with the black & white base.

      -Trim the black images along the head & body of the stamped line. Adhere to the white base.

      -Cut the body from one of the sprayed & embossed bugs. Trim off along the stamped image. Use a black marker along the edge to accentuate the dimension. Add foam tape and adhere over the black.

      -For the scarab and stag beetles, cut and trim a head image from the sprayed cardstock. Use black marker on the edge. Adhere.

      -Trim and add more layers and foam tape as desired for dimension. Be sure to use that black marker along the edge.

      -Label your bugs using small labels from Picture Frames & Mats.

      -Cut and build the Shadow Box Frame.

      What do you think? Would you do this? I plan to make a similar project using fun, bright, stenciled papers. Thanks so much for reading along.

      Happy creating!

      Di/ a little bird crafts

      Follow my link for a 10% discount from Elizabeth Craft Designs. I will also receive a small commission at now additional cost to you. https://ecraftdesigns.com/ALITTLEBIRD28

      Colorful Summer Art Journal

      Using the Sunny Days Collection from Elizabeth Craft Designs

      Hi. Welcome to a little bird crafts! I’ve slowly been releasing pages from my little art journal on social media over the last couple of months. The journal is made with the Sunny Days Collection from Annette Green and Elizabeth Craft Designs. Sunny Days is such a perfect name for this bright spring and summer inspired release!

      My journal cover was made with the large Layered Hummingbird dies. I used Mica and Spritz sprays on watercolor paper to make sparkling papers in blue, yellow, red, and white for the different hummingbird pieces. Black paper was sprayed with greens for depth and contrast on the hummingbird’s body. I’m really happy with the sparkle and shine from the sprays.

      The black in this photo is actually a mirror. So, the focal point is the person looking in the mirror. The frame uses the Picture Frames & Mats dies, “Loved” is from Everyday Words 4, and flowers are from Picnic Basket & Bunny.

      All of the patterned papers in my little book are from the beautiful Colorful Collective paper pack and the journal dies use the Journal Romance Special Kit (a fantastic large kit).

      This two-page spread “wall” of photographs uses cut-aparts from the Colorful Collective papers. I used burlap and paper frames around the art. The Cheers to You die-set was used for the refreshing lemonade. The glass is cut from vellum and the ice cubes are acetate edged with white StazOn ink.

      This bright spread was stamped with the Large Nature Stamp and heat embossed. Some leaves were stamped directly onto the page and some were fussy cut and adhered. The frog was colored with watercolors and the dragonfly with metallic watercolor.

      The Fresh Fruit elements on the left page have been colored with Oxides. The Large Nature Stamp was colored with alcohol ink.

      More Oxide ink blended fruit

      Bugs and leaves from Beetles and Bugs were stamped, embossed, and die cut for these fun pages. I watercolored them with the Elizabeth Craft Designs’ Watercolor Palette.

      This was a fun project that includes something from every set of the new Sunny Days Collection! While this is a mini book, any of these pages could be made as a card, planner, or scrapbook. I hope I’ve inspired you to make something. What do you think?

      I’ve included product links which provide you a 10% discount and I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. https://ecraftdesigns.com/ALITTLEBIRD28

      Happy crafting!

      Di/a little bird crafts

      Two Fantastic New Releases

      From Elizabeth Craft Designs

      Hi! Welcome to a little bird crafts. Are you ready for spring? I always find the change from winter to spring weather rejuvenating: fresh leaves and bright flowers, baby animals, and even some spring cleaning.

      I was so excited to get the new Elizabeth Craft Designs’ Card Lab Collection with its Planner Card Box and various card options. I’ve wanted to make this type of card system for a long time. So, today’s project was a lot of fun to make in combination with the new spring and summer themed Sunny Days Collection of stamps and dies.

      Let’s get started.

      The paper cardbase is from the Colorful Collective pack die-cut using Planner Die 3. “Happy Easter” was stamped on white paper and cutout with a circle from the Tag Variety Pack. It was trimmed and attached over the round tab.

      I colored Soft Finish Cardstock with yellow Distress Ink then die-cut the circle of flowers (also Planner Die 3). When moving the die, I tried to keep the inside pieces in place, then chose the flowers that I wanted to inset. I lightly colored those pieces with crackling campfire Distress Ink. The flower circle was attached with glue and the colored flowers reset using fine tip(!) tweezers.

      The sweet rabbit was also cut from Soft Finish Cardstock. I lightly blended brown Distress Oxide over the neck, belly, and edges. I carefully trimmed the left paw so he could hold the carrot. A fine tip black Micron pen was easy to add detail to the nose and eye. I added a little eyelid with the marker then a white dot for a highlight on the eye. The rabbit and carrot were attached with glue.

      The eggs were cut from more of the Colorful Collective paper. I added a tiny white dot to the flower centers of the orange paper. The white dots seemed to balance the white on the project and the orange flower at the top balanced the orange. Leafy carrot top die-cuts made cute little tufts of grass. When these were adhered, this spring project was complete.

      I hope you enjoy this project. I’d love to know what you’re creating.

      Happy crafting!

      Di/a little bird crafts

      Follow this link for 10% off of your Elizabeth Craft Designs purchase. I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. https://ecraftdesigns.com/ALITTLEBIRD28

      Love Bird Valentine Box

      Using the Everyday Elements collection

       Hi. Di here with a decorative Valentine’s box that can be used for candy, a small gift, or love notes. I’ve embellished with a soft pink and green color palette and a pair of love birds. Let’s get started.

       Step one: Using the Elegant Decorative Box #2123 from Elizabeth Craft Designs, cut one box base from heavy white cardstock. I used 110# cardstock.

       

      Step Two: Use the oval die from Elegant Decorative Box #2123 to cut a hole from the top of the box base.

      Step Three: Cut a box from Harmonious Hodgepodge paper #C024 using the Elegant Decorative Box. Use the decorative oval die (from the same die set) to cut out an oval from what will be the box top.

      Step Four: Cut the patterned box apart: cut apart on both sides of the scored lines. This creates decorative matts for the top, bottom, and sides of the box. Optional: Blend light pink ink around the edges.

      Step Five: Cut a piece of acetate 3 ⅜ inch by 4 ¾ inches. Adhere the acetate to the back of the patterned matt covering the hole. (It will be between the white box and the decorative paper.) Attach the matts to the white box with tape or glue. 

      Step Six: Use Happy Banners #2200 to cut a white heart banner. Also cut pink hearts with the coordinating heart die. Glue the pink hearts onto the banner.

      Step Seven: Using watercolor paper, cut one left facing and one right facing bird from Birds & Dwellings #2197. Also cut the wings and eyes. Watercolor the bird parts in light pink and green and gray for the eyes. 

      Assemble the birds when dry.

      Step Eight: Using light pink cardstock, cut the two smallest flower dies from Florals 28 #2117 and two pink hearts from Birds & Dwellings.

      Each of the dies cuts four flowers. Shape the four smallest flowers into buds. Shape the larger flowers, but leave them open. Glue one flower bud onto the center of each open flower. Blend pink ink around the edges.

      Step Nine: Cut two of the smaller leaf clusters Florals 28 (above) from watercolor paper. Color the leaf clusters with light green watercolor and shape slightly. 

      Step Ten: Attach double sided adhesive to  Harmonious Hodgepodge paper. Using Everyday Words 3, cut Happy Valentine’s Day. Cut the shadows from white cardstock and attach the words.

      -Glue the ends of the banner onto either side of the center of the box opening. Clip off any banner that hangs over the sides.

      -Use tape (glue may not stick to the acetate well) to attach the birds. 

      Step Ten: Cut the inner box/tray from Harmonious Hodgepodge paper. Fold along the score lines and adhere the tabs to form the inner box.

      Options: Cut a Fancy Flourish #2021 from Harmonious Hodgepodge paper and adhere it to the bottom of the box tray and add pink beaded Borders & Trims along the outer corners.

      Step Eleven: Embellish your box with the beautiful pieces that your created.

      Are you still with me? Now you can add something inside the box or enjoy it as is. I’m so happy with the soft color palette and I love birds, of course!

      Happy Valentine’s Day!

      Di aka a little bird crafts

      Would you like 10% off your purchase of Elizabeth Craft Designs products? If so, use my link here https://ecraftdesigns.com/ALITTLEBIRD28 or below. I will also earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I’ve listed US and European links. Thank you.