It's time to Flip!

  I wanted to change things up this week for you guys and share my current project of refinishing a small table I got off Facebook Marketplace for less than $10!!! I know, I know! It's been a minute since I've refinished and flipped something. Back in 2017, my husband and I were laid off and went through Hurricane Irma shortly after. As you may imagine, we had some damage, and money was tight, so being the go-getters that we are my husband and I started flipping furniture and woodworking. It worked to get us by, and the pressure to find something decent to flip was a little frustrating at times, but looking back, we really enjoyed it. 

  Now, I've entertained the idea of getting back into it for myself because I am still unemployed (although I am trying to build this blog up to hopefully become a source of income), and I do enjoy finding a solid piece that needs TLC to restore it to its original beauty. There's something about working for yourself, producing something with your own hands, and seeing the final product. It's one of the most gratifying experiences. Add to that the fact that others admire your work and actually want to have a piece you recreated and revived in their home?! I miss that so much! But I've been out of the game since 2018-ish, so I have to start small. 

  Mind you, I have about 15 different furniture pieces saved and bookmarked that I want to pick up so badly, but I can't overwhelm myself either. Gosh, there's this one old, and I mean MEGA old, vintage sofa carcass that I've been drooling over for the last couple of weeks. It's literally just the frame, nothing else, but the craftsmanship and carvings she has is legendary! But, again, baby steps, baby steps. So, let me show you what I am working with here: 

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 It's a simple project. So far, no surprises, which is nice, and again, I need to start small. Researching what paint and stains I should use has been fun 😬. There are a TON of different options, tools, processes, and techniques in the flipping and woodworking world, a lot more than I remember, but if I just keep it simple, I'm sure I'll find a way that works for my future projects. One thing I am pretty interested in trying out is this paint and varnish stripper Citristrip Stripping Gel. I've seen some people use them, and others don't like it. I like that it doesn't have harsh fumes and works on metal, wood, and masonry, so I can even use it for home crafts! 

   Anyway, back to my little table. I disassembled it, wiped it down with a surface degreaser to get any gunk off of it, and began to sand it down lightly with an 80-grit sanding block. Then, I decided I should use my orbital sander and sand the tabletop a little more to get that top varnish off. Later, I moved into our tool shed after making some space so I could start with the first coat of paint. The paint I am using is Chalk paint I bought from Hobby Lobby a little bit ago, and I figured I should use what I have before I buy more paint. Quick Tip! Did you know you can revive chalk paint? Yes! Just add a little water and stir the paint. You may repeat this process until it is no longer thick. If the paint has a foul smell and is really chunky, it's best to throw it out and use new paint. For this project, I am using the FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint with a matte finish, and I have to say I love it!

 It took me a few hours to disassemble, sand everything, and apply the first coat of paint. Check it out!

  There is still a little more to be done: I want to sand the tabletop and second-tier top down with 220-grit sandpaper and do a couple more coats of chalk paint since I am using a brush to apply the coats, rather than a sprayer or foam roller, which I've seen others do and looks amazing! But, again, I am using what I have available. I am so excited to show you guys the end result! I am hoping to work on it this week and have the final product by this weekend, so stay tuned for that. 

 Until next time, stay safe, stay creative, and thank you for spending time with me today! Don't forget to visit my socials and follow 🫶🏻

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