How organized are your kitchen counters? A lot of people claim that your counters should be cleared daily but for some people that’s not an option. When you have a small kitchen, utilizing counter space is a given. Making it pretty with a DIY kitchen utensils organizer is just a gorgeous bonus!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Keeping everything off of your counter isn’t exactly an option when you have a small kitchen. Keep it pretty with this DIY kitchen utensils organizer!” username=”diyadulation”]

Believe me when I say that my kitchen is tiny. Like, your master bathroom is bigger than my kitchen. That means that every bit of space has to be utilized as efficiently as possible.

It also means that there is no way to get out of storing items on the counter. For the longest time I have a had this crock that was handed down to me to organize my larger cooking utensils. The problem? It is so not my taste, aesthetically. And yet, this little guy has been sitting on my counter for years.

Finally, I decided it was time for a makeover. Now it is a beautiful piece of decor that keeps my counter organized! I even love looking at while I prepare meals (although that may fade with time… I’ll keep you posted).

Materials

Thrifted Ceramic Crock (or one you already own)
Paris Flea Market Rescue Restore Paint
Southern Gentleman Rescue Restore Paint
2 Inch Brush
1.5 Inch Foam Dome Brush
Mesh Stencil Alphabet Set
Scissors
Matte Sealer (Optional)

Step 1

First, clean your ceramic crock with soap and water. Dry with a towel or air dry completely before moving on.

Step 2

Next, cover the ceramic crock with Paris Flea Market rescue restore paint and allow to dry.

Step 3

Add a second coat of paint and, again, allow it to dry completely before moving on.

Note:

Make sure you paint the edges as well. See the picture above for reference.

Step 4

While your paint dries, pull out your mesh stencil alphabet set and cut apart the second half (only 26 of the letters).

Step 5

Then, pull out the letters you need for the crock makeover: U, T, E, N, S, I, L, O, R, G, A, Z.

Step 6

After your second coat of paint has dried, place your letter stencils one at a time on your crock and dab with your dome brush dipped in Southern Gentleman rescue restore paint.

Step 7

Carefully pull the stencil off and let the letter dry before moving on. Immediately rinse out your stencil and set it aside to dry.

Tip:

This is the longest part of the process. If you would like it to go faster, you can space your letters farther apart so that you can immediately move to the next letter. I didn’t like the look of that, so I chose to wait in between.

Step 8 (Optional)

After you finish stenciling your letters, add 2 small hearts (included with the alphabet stencil set) to your crock as pictured.

Step 9 (Optional)

Lastly, add a coat of matte sealer to your painted crock after all of the paint dries.

Note:

This is totally optional but it will make the paint more durable for cleaning and everyday use.

This DIY kitchen utensils organizer makeover was so easy to do. I can’t believe I waited so long to take it on. Seriously, I’ve owned this thing for over 10 years and never once did anything with it besides wash it occasionally. Now, it is the perfect piece of decor for my kitchen.

Learn from my mistake and don’t let that ugly organizer sit on your counter any longer. Grab your paint and give that baby a makeover! Turn it into a piece you love and enjoy using. There’s no reason your decor can’t be pretty and practical!

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

More Ideas You’ll Love:

Keep Your Ride Clean with a DIY Car Trash Can
DIY Debt Payoff Chalkboard
Clever Upcycles to Get Your Home Organized
Repurposed CD Tower for Craft Paint Storage – Domestically Creative

Clearly I cannot get the beach off of my mind this summer. From this DIY beach sunset painted rock magnet to these beachy decor ideas, I am fully ready for coastal living. This month’s Pinterest Challenge is no exception. Add to your own seaside decor with this DIY seashells monogram wall art.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Love the beach look but with a little more glam? Add some gorgeous and colorful coastal decor to your walls with this DIY seashells monogram wall art!” username=”diyadulation”]

The Inspiration Pin

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/390405861443817678/

When choosing a pin for this challenge, I was instantly captivated by this tutorial to dye your own sea shells. Admittedly, it’s a kid’s craft, but I’m basically 8 years old at heart, so that works.

Besides, once your kiddos makes these awesome dyed shells, what do you do with them? Now the answer is turn them into a gorgeous piece of decor for your home.

Materials

12×12 Blank Canvas
1.5 inch Paint Brush
Rescue Restore Paint in Paris Flea Market
Variety of Seashells
Vinegar
Blue and Green Food Coloring
Gilding Size
Gold Leaf
E6000

Step 1

First, dye half of your seashells blue and green according to this tutorial from Rainy Day Mum.

Tips:

Add some drops of blue to your green coloring mixture for a more beachy look.
I allowed mine to soak for an hour (much longer than the tutorial calls for) before removing them to dry.

Step 2

While your shells are soaking, begin working on your canvas.

Step 3

Start by covering the entire canvas with the Rescue Restore Paint. This paint dries very quickly and (bonus) it smells absolutely amazing!

Step 4

After your paint is dry, add gilding size around the border of your canvas.

Tip:

This doesn’t need to be carefully lined or taped off. You want the edges to be uneven.

Step 5

Next, allow the gilding size to dry until lightly tacky.

Step 6

If you haven’t done so already, this is a good time to pull your shells out to dry on some paper towels.

Step 7

Once your gilding size is lightly tacky, begin covering it with your gold leaf. Continue until your entire canvas is bordered in gold leaf.

Step 8

Then, using a dry brush, gently brush away the excess gold leaf. Be careful not to brush too hard.

Step 9

When your shells have dried, lay them out in the center of your canvas to design your monogram.

Step 10

After you are happy with your design, begin gluing your shells down with E6000.

Tip:

I found it is easiest to leave your shells in place on your canvas as you glue them down. Trying to do it with all of the shells removed from the canvas makes it difficult to replicate your original design.

Step 11

Finish off your design by gluing a few of the un-dyed shells to the top of your monogram.

Step 12

Lastly, allow your glue to dry 24 hours.

Confession. This DIY seashells monogram wall art isn’t for me, although I totally love it. It’s a gift for my mom who wants to decorate her new upstairs bathroom in a coastal theme. Hence the “B” for the monogram instead of an “L”. Of course, if you still really like the look of the beach, it could totally stand for beach as well. Either way, it will look beautiful on a gallery wall or hanging in the bathroom.

Now it’s time to check out what my friends are creating for this month’s Pinterest Challenge! Find out what worked, what didn’t, and how they tweaked these pins. If we can do it, you totally can too. What pin has been sitting on your boards forever? Hopefully you will be inspired to tackle it this week!

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

To join next month’s #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ August Pinterest Challenge.

Now let’s see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!

Erlene – My Pinterventures • Jenny – Cookies Coffee and Crafts
Debbee – Debbee’s Buzz • Laurie – My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
Bri – Halfpint Design • Julie – Sum of their Stories
T’onna – Sew Crafty Crochet • Beverly – Across the Boulevard • Debra – Shoppe No. 5
Roseann – This Autoimmune Life • Terri – Our Good Life
Chelc – Inside The Fox Den • Cherryl – Farm Girl Reformed
Leslie – Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After • Katrin – Kreativ K
Kelley – Simply Inspired Meals • Joanne – Our Unschooling Journey
Toni – Small Home Soul • Gail – Purple Hues and Me
Rebecca – Hello Central Avenue • Gwen – Geez, Gwen!
Marie – DIY Adulation • Kristie – Teadoddles • Marie – The Inspiration Vault
Lydia – Lydia’s Flexitarian Kitchen • Maria – Simple Nature Decor
Michelle – Our Crafty Mom • Emily – Domestic Deadline
Sam – Raggedy Bits • Alexandra – Eye Love Knots

An InLinkz Link-up

Are you heading to the beach this summer? Be sure to pickup a rock while you’re there so you can make this DIY beach sunset painted rock magnet. It’s the perfect inexpensive keepsake to memorialize your trip.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Collage of Beach Sunset Painted Rock with text overlay: DIY Beach Sunset Painted Rock Magnet

[bctt tweet=”Looking for the perfect inexpensive keepsake from your family beach vacation? Grab a rock and make this DIY beach sunset painted rock magnet!” username=”diyadulation”]

My husband and my oldest have both been lucky enough to hit the beach this summer. Unfortunately, I couldn’t join them. Seriously longing for those beautiful waves and ocean breeze.

This painted rock is the closest I’m getting this summer but if I squint at it with the fan on, it almost feels like I’m there. Sort of. With a lot of imagination. Alas, I digress. Let’s find out how to make this thing.

Materials

Small Clean Rock
Red Acrylic Paint (This acrylic set has all of the colors you need)
Orange Acrylic Paint
Yellow Acrylic Paint
Blue Acrylic Paint
White Acrylic Paint
Brown Acrylic Paint
Green Acrylic Paint
Small Paint Palette for Mixing
Fine Point Paint Brush
Clear Engine Paint
E6000
Small Disc Magnet

Rock on Paper Towel

Step 1

First, set your clean and dry rock on a paper towel or other protected surface.

Step 2

Next, add small amounts of your paint colors to a palette.

Tip:

It truly doesn’t take much so don’t go crazy here.

Tan Paint on Rock

Step 3

Then mix a small amount of brown and white paint together paint the bottom third of your rock tan.

Blue and Tan Paint on Rock

Step 4

Next, mix some blue and white paint together and paint a small strip of light blue next to the tan.

Painted Rock

Step 5

Add orange paint to the top of your rock and tip it with the darker blue.

Painted Rock

Step 6

Then mix in some red brush strokes to your orange sky.

Step 7

Let your paint dry completely before moving on.

Painted Sun Reflection on Rock

Step 8

Now paint a yellow half circle on too of the water.

Painted Sun Reflection on Rock

Step 9

Next, add some yellow streaks to your water to look like the sun’s reflection.

Beach Sunset Painted Rock

Step 10

While your sun is drying, add dark brown paint speckles to the tan painted section of your rock.

Beach Sunset Painted Rock

Step 11

Paint some white “surf” along the edge of your water.

Tip:

This should be jagged. Don’t try to paint a straight line. The best way to achieve this is to tap the bristles of your brush straight down and up.

Step 12

Next blend more yellow and orange into your sky for a more gradient look.

Beach Sunset Painted Rock

Step 13

Once your white painted surf has dried, add a brown line to the left side of your beach as pictured.

Beach Sunset Painted Rock

Step 14

Next, paint the leaves of your palm tree and add some white detail to the trunk.

Beach Sunset Painted Rock

Step 15

Now allow all of your paint to dry completely.

Beach Sunset Painted Rock

Step 16

Finally, seal your rock with clear engine paint and allow to dry.

E6000 on Back of Round Magnet

Round Magnet Glued on Back of Rock

Step 17

Turn it into a magnet by gluing a small magnet to the back of the rock with E6000. Allow your E6000 to dry 24 hours before using on your fridge.

Now you’ll have the perfect inexpensive keepsake from your summer vacation. Don’t forget to write the year on the back of your DIY beach sunset painted rock magnet so you will know which vacation it is from. This also makes a great gift for family and friends who went on vacation with you.

If you aren’t making it to the beach this year, feel free to sip on a cocktail and paint a store bought rock for your fridge instead. Admittedly it’s not as good but it’s still fun!

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Collage of Beach Sunset Painted Rock with text overlay: DIY Beach Sunset Painted Rock Magnet