Paint Caddy

 My painted paint caddy:

So I bought this fun little caddy at the

craft store about a year ago:

I loved everything about it -
the size, the texture, that it's wood!!! 
I knew I would be painting on it
eventually, I just needed to decide what,
exactly, to paint.


I stored it in open view on my shelves.
I stared at it every time I entered
my studio.  I thought about it.
I pondered it.

Then, it came time to drive the
quarter mile to the entry gate and put
our phone number on it.
So that the next time there is a grass
fire on our property, we will be
easy to reach.  And just maybe the
fire department won't have to cut the lock.


I thought, should I go to the store

and buy some sticky numbers like the ones

you purchase for your mailbox??

Then I thought, Just Paint It!

It's quicker, it's easier, and for heaven's sake,

it's definitely cheaper.

 (pretend you're seeing a pic of 
the gate ... I've driven in and out on seven
different occasions and forgotten
each time to take a pic.
That's just how I roll)

So I did.

I just painted it.

I loaded my caddy with sealer,

paints, and brushes.

I drove the quarter mile up to the

entry gate, and painted the numbers.

And it was quicker, easier, and

definitely cheaper

than buying those sticky numbers.

 A few weeks later, looking at

my little wooden caddy full of brushes,

I thought, "Just Paint It!"

That's what I should paint on the 

side of the caddy!!

I used some cardboard stencils I'd

found at the store about four years ago,

and made a pattern.

(pretend you're seeing a pic
of my paper stencils.
Like I said ... that's how I roll.
It's a good thing I haven't forgotten
where I live or who my kids are
... yet ...)

 I transferred the pattern

lines to the side of the caddy using

transfer paper and a stylus.

 
Oh, look!! 
I remembered to take a pic.

 

First, I used black acrylic paint

to "shade" around the pattern lines.
I generally like to shade the

left and lower sides of each letter.

Next, I reached for the red paint.

Because I always seem to reach for the 

red paint when I paint letters.

But I changed my mind.

I chose two shades of turquoise

(my new favorite color).

First, I base coated each letter

with the lighter shade of turquoise.

Then, I used a sanding block

to rough and distress the letters and 

the shaded areas.

 

Then, I used the darker shade of turquoise

to paint the lower halves of each letter.

  

Finally, I outlined the right and

top of each letter with white acrylic paint

and my liner brush.

 

There it is!!

I wanted it to say "Just Paint It"

but I haven't decided how to add the

final words "just" and "it"

So for now, this is "Just It!"

And I love it!!

Peace and Finally Painting It