We’ve had several storms blow through lately so time for some inside projects. I worked on the checkers for the outdoor kitchen/bar over the weekend.
Just used some acrylic craft paints and some Mod Podge. I was going to clear coat them and thought about using the Mod Podge instead due to it’s like glue and I thought it might help keep the bark on . . . we’ll see.
And yep . . . the “crown” side of my checkers are “swans”!
(I can hear you gasping & imagine you have chill bumps Marsha! LOL)
Done! Well technically I have to seal the grout & add some caulk. I realized I didn’t take pics of the back sooo that’s still coming. Those are the vintage bar stools I bought last year and redid. https://gettinmycountryon.com/2017/07/27/vintage-bar-stools-redo/
Grouted and all the paint touched up!
Yep! That’s a checkerboard!! Between the 2×2 tile checkerboard and the 4×8 tiles – I didn’t have to cut ANY tiles and that was the plan!
And those are my left over Aspen tree branches!! Next project – I need to paint the checkers!
I found some of that poly trim stuff at Lowes in the perfect size. The 1/2″ plywood + 1/4″ cement board + 1/4″ tile =1″ and the trim is 1 1/8″ tall – perfect! I used liquid nails and some tape to attach it to the edges. Grout, caulk & touch up paint to go . . . .
If you know me at all, you KNOW that the prep began wayyyy before now, lol. We have these chalkboard signs that were used for Amie & Matthew’s wedding just about 3 years ago. Tara (my daughter-in-law) did an amazing job on alllllll the wedding signs. You can still see how cute this one was. They’ve been stored in a plastic tub in the loft of my barn. I guess the chalk stuff baked on in the heat. This board is already wiped down with a wet rag. Guess I should have cleaned them before I stored them, lol. Any-who, I went to Hobbs (Hobby Lobby) and found this small acrylic black “chalk” paint!
Voila!! Just like new and ready for the baby shower!
I can’t take credit for finishing this project. I’ve decided to pay my neighbor to help me get some projects finished around the yard. He was working on this while I was in the back working on the kitchen/bar counter. I love it, it looks finished and I don’t have to worry about the cats in the neighborhood getting underneath, lol!
I have some Aspen scraps leftover from making the little Aspen Bed for my newborn photography. So I thought I’d cut up some rounds for a little project I have in mind . . . . more on this one later. Oh the suspense . . . LOL
I purchased a sheet of 4’x8′ – 1/2″ exterior grade plywood and asked Home Depot to cut it to size for me. I painted the underside and edges for a little extra protection and then screwed it into my framing. Next step was to cut the hardie backer board down to size.
I applied a bit of thinset in between the plywood and backer board for extra adhesion.
FYI – it’s been in the mid to high 90’s here for wayyyyy to long. A friend of my suggested that I put the thinset pail in a bucket of water to keep it cooler than the air temps. It worked perfect!!! Never dried up on the top or edges of the thinset pail. Thanks Sherry!! I actually had this pre-mixed thinset left over from tiling my bathroom shower (over a year ago). That is one advantage to purchasing pre-mixed. You don’t have any waste.
I used the hardie backer screws to attached the backer board to the plywood and clamped the seam down to dry.
My last 5 tiles!!! Planning on trimming it out and grouting this weekend!
