paint a pillow - review & giveaway

I'll confess I was a tad leery, envisioning more crafty than classy, when Cutting Edge
Stencils asked if I'd like to try a new product they were introducing through their
 sister company, Paint a Pillow. 

But after looking through their extensive collection of stencils, paint colors and ideas
 I was impressed and anxious to get my kit and start creating some custom pillows.
 I'll get to the details in a sec but first I want to show you these fun pillows,
I chose the Otomi stencil, rich vivid prints are based on ancient cliff drawings of the
 Mexican Otomi Indians.     

Pretty neutrals for fall...

I didn't see it recommended anywhere, but I turned the pillow over and did a design on the
 back, a lively mix of colors, so I would have another option to show you how easy it is to
combine patterns. The 100% cotton canvas is great quality. I used the foam roller for the
 solid color pillows and the stencil brush for the varied colors. (Both are included with the kit)

Vibrant colors for fall...

I added the coral chevron pattern ~ a fresh combination for spring.

It was packaged so nicely I kept thinking was what a great gift it would be.
Perfect for any age, I think anyone 8 - 80 who likes being creative would enjoy it.
 Paint a Pillow couldn't make it easier, it comes just as you see it below the pillow cover
and stencil attached to a frame, and ready for you to break out the paint!
You can view the easy instructions here if you'd like.

 

The quality of all the supplies is impressive, great stencil brushes and
foam roller, zippered pillow cover and a choice of nice inserts.

 

A bonus - it's super easy to clean, just rinse off in your sink.

You can order decorative embellishments for more customization.

Thank you, Paint a Pillow!

Paint a Pillow is generously offering one lucky reader a Paint a Pillow kit
 of their choice. US Residents Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HomeRight Paint Sprayer Review & Video

Yay!  I finally have a review for you of the HomeRight Paint Sprayer.
I've had several requests for the review, but I wanted to give you a demonstration
 as well, it was so hard to stop painting to take photos while I was working on my
 kitchen cabinets, so I engaged the help of my brother to make a video. He's in the
 process of doing a makeover on his garage and I knew he'd love it for his cabinets,
 as much as I did!

 HomeRight Finsh Max Pro Fine Finish Sprayer

He's a perfectionist to the max and I felt 100% confident he'd be happy with the sprayer!
  I was right!

*** This video is my first and is SO B-A-D!!
I apologize, but it gets the point across - that this sprayer is super EASY to use!
Unfortunately, we only had so many takes before running out of cabinet doors
 to paint. So I went with one, but will replace it when I get to use the sprayer on
a piece of furniture soon.
(Sorry, I didn't even know to hold the phone in landscape view and it would have been a good
idea to practice what I was going to tell you!)  



Take a look at this great finish!

I think the video and these photos of the painted cabinet doors speak for themselves.
The HomeRight Finish Max Sprayer couldn't be easier to use and delivers a top-notch
professional finish. As far as cleaning, I'd say it takes about the same amount of time to
clean a paint brush, you run water through the sprayer until it comes out clear, and
use a small brush on some of the smaller attachments. It easily comes apart for cleaning.

The proper prep of your cabinets is essential, these were sanded and primed before
spraying with two coats of Benjamin Moore Advance Water Based Alkyd Enamel
color matched to Behr's Dark Ash 770F-5

Bottom line...I highly recommend the 

HomeRight Max Pro Fine Finish Sprayer!

You can find it here.

 I was provided the HomeRight Finish Max Pro Sprayer, but all opinions are 100% mine.

$35 martha stewart sunburst mirror...

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite budget friendly sunburst mirrors,

it looks much more high end than it's super reasonable $35 price tag! 

Martha Stewart Sunburst Mirror at Home Depot

30" x 30" 

Antique Gold Framed Mirror 

It's a perfect piece for mixing high and low, looks great in any room or 

even outside...

 Laura Hildebrand

 La Dolce Vita

 Life by the Frenchs

 

handmaidtales.com

 the-good-life-blog.com

 ourfifthhouse.com

astoriedstyle.com

346living.com

What do you think, impressive for $35, right?

high gloss paint comparison & review...

I didn't initially set out to compare and review

 Glidden's Trim and Door Extra High Gloss vs. Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel Gloss, but I
 was curious after my first experience with Glidden, painting our front door. I'm a goner for super shiny, high gloss doors, and Glidden's 'Extra High Gloss' description sold me, I wanted to
 confirm whether it was shinier and glossier than the Rust-Oleum I previously had on the door. 

I did a side by side comparison on a new board and intentionally chose one

with some imperfections to show how high gloss paint accentuates them,

 just like it did on my 1938 door!

I used a quality nylon/polyester brush recommended in the Glidden instructions,

 Purdy is my favorite.  

I took a few different photos in different lighting. 

    

Outside

  

Bottom Line - I couldn't tell any difference.

Both paints went a long way and applied equally as well.

 Glidden is a thick self-leveling gel paint designed to alleviate brush marks and drips.

Based on Glidden being 2X the price, I'd choose the Rust-Oleum. 

Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel Gloss Black

$9.48/Quart

Glidden Trim & Door Extra High Gloss

$19.97/Quart

I've had a couple questions about the paint.
Can you use Glidden Trim & Door to paint furniture?

Diane @ In My Own Style used it on this desk for her office, she did a beautiful job
if you'd like to check out her tutorial.  

I've used Rustoleum Protective Enamel for this table, my bathroom vanity
 and coffee table.

This week I tested the Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel on a small metal lamp shade with
 nice results, I brushed it on instead of using spray paint, and was asked:

 Why brush instead of spray paint?
I happened to be spraying some of our outdoor furniture today, this is a great example of

 the difference in sheen between the shade brushed with Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel Gloss
vs. furniture sprayed with Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover Gloss Black.
  

Overall, our front door looks better, Mr. Simple has wanted a new door for awhile, but
 I love this 75 year old door with its original brass hardware, and all the imperfections.
Can you see the reflection of my stenciled rug at the bottom of the door? :)

I could take it off the hinges, strip, scrape and sand it all down,
but for now I've got other projects on my to-do list!

What do you think about the paint, could you tell the difference?