Created
and presented by Deborah Spofford, CCD
Author and Designer for the Creative Industry
Folding Ladder Chair
Before
After
Hunting for “treasures” at garage sales
and flea markets can be very fun. Here
are two ideas that may inspire you to stop at the next sale. Although you may not find these exact pieces,
you can adapt the concepts to many other items.
Materials:
Folding
ladder chair from a garage sale or flea market
One
fat quarter of cherry print fabric
Staple
gun and staples
Green
foam mesh non-skid placemat (available at most discount stores in a
variety of colors)
Krylon® spray
adhesive
Plastic
trash bag to cover spray area
Paint
brush or sponge to apply paint
Scissors,
pattern paper, marker, screwdriver
Instructions
Prepare. Clean
the ladder chair. Remove all
dirt and repair all loose parts as needed. Cover work surface with plastic.
Remove Seat. Turn the seat upside down and remove screws
that hold the seat to the ladder. Place
seat on top of fabric.
Cut Fabric. Cut a piece of fabric that is 2 ½” larger
on all sides than the seat cushion. .
Recover Seat Cushion. Staple the fabric to the back of the cushion. Begin
by pulling the fabric tight in the center of each side of the cushion
and staple in place. Continue working around the cushion pulling
the fabric tight and stapling it in place.
Remove Rubber Step. Remove the old rubber from the step. Clean
the step surface.
Paint Step. Cover the base of the step with black acrylic
paint.
Draw a Pattern. Using paper and pencil draw a pattern for
a new rubber step. (Hint: you
can use the old rubber from the step to create a pattern if it is in
good shape.)
Cut Out a New Step. Place the pattern on top of the foam placemat
and trace the shape. Cut out
the shape.
Adhere the New Step. Spray Krylon® adhesive
on the back side of the foam step. Place
the foam step in place and press it onto the ladder.
Attach Seat Cushion. Place the seat cushion back on the ladder
and secure it with screws.
Aquarium Stand and Picture Frame Table
Created
and presented by Deborah Spofford, CCD
Author and Designer for the Creative Industry
Before
After
Materials
Metal
aquarium stand
Krylon® spray
paint – White
Picture
frame: outside measurements equal 13” x 23” or larger
One
fat quarter of coffee cup fabric
Drill
and screwdriver
Tape
measure
Small
screws
Instructions
Prepare. Clean
the surface of the aquarium stand.
Paint the stand. Spray paint the stand with white paint. Apply
several thin coats. Let dry between each coat.
Drill holes. Mark the center on each side of the top of
the stand. Drill a small hole
at each of the marks. Place
the frame upside down on your work surface. Place
the stand on top of the frame. Mark
the holes of the stand onto the back of the frame with a pencil. Remove stand and drill small holes in the
back of the frame at each of the marks.
Add Fabric to the Frame. Open the back of the frame and remove the
cardboard piece. Cut a piece
of fabric the same size as the cardboard. Spray Krylon® adhesive on the cardboard. Adhere the fabric
to the cardboard. Place the
cardboard back in the frame so the fabric shows to the front.
Attach the Frame. Place the frame on top of the aquarium stand. Match the holes in each and secure with small screws.
