Vinyl Shutters – Refresh & Reshine with Armor All

 

 

We have a vinyl siding home with vinyl shutters.  After 3 years half the shutters started to fade.  Why did only half of them fade,  I have no idea. We built this house so I know for a fact the shutters came from the same company and were installed on the same day.  I started looking for solutions and it seemed the only options were to paint or replace.  We did not want to paint because once you start then every few years we would have to take down the shutters and repaint.  We did look into replacing them and it was going to cost more than we wanted to spend.  So, it looked like painting was the only option, I started looking at paint colors. While researching paint choices I came across the idea of using Armor All to restore the shine and color on vinyl.  I wondered if it would work?  We decided to try it, the worst thing that could happen is we would have to replace or paint the shutters.  It worked great! 

First thing we do is clean the shutters and then let them completely dry.  Next, just like using Armor All on your car apply with a soft cloth, let it soak in and buff.  So easy and we did not have to remove the shutters. 

This is a temporary fix, it will not permanently bring back the color and shine on vinyl shutters but it works.  For us it last a year before the shutters start to fade.  Every spring we reapply the Armor All.  It takes less than an hour to do all the shutters.  One day we will replace the shutters but in the mean time this is a fast easy inexpensive fix. 

 

Faded white chalky looking shutters.

Applying the Armor All, you can see the difference.

Refreshed Vinyl Shutters

This is what we have used for the past 4 years.

Antique Style Console Table – Reclaimed Wood

                                                 

  Reclaimed Wood Table

We have been building another Ana White design, the Antique Workbench Console.  The design is similar to a pottery barn bar with hutch piece that is $1400.00.  Using reclaimed wood and wood we already had we spent less than $15.00. 

We had to resize the table to fit our entryway.  The table design Ana did was 64” long and we made ours 48” in length.  It was easy to do the math, the cuts for length were 75% of the original size.  For example,  the table top trim piece calls for a 64” cut,  take 64 x 75% and you get 48.  So that cut piece would be 48” instead of 64”.    We kept all other measurements the same, both width and height.   The only other change we made was in bottom shelf,  it calls for a 1x12 and we already had a 2x12. 

This table took us a few weeks to make, my son is 7 and very interested in helping now and that is great but slows the building down to a crawl. 

                                               (no actual nails in the nail gun)

First part finished

Love the feet on this design

Bottom half done

a quick fit before staining

This was an easy build and not much trouble to make.  It is a simple plan and goes together quickly.

The table was made with pine and reclaimed oak.  We put it together with a kreg jig and 2.5 inch screws.  I used Minwax English Chestnut stain.  It took us 3 weekends to put it together thanks to our helper but it is a weekend build.

I am not sure what I will put above the table but the window frame fit for the time being.  I also have to find a metal piece that attaches to the large piece of wood on the front of that table. I know several have used metal paper towel holders, how genius.  I will have to see what I can find. 

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A few quick mini projects using a cricut.

 

Here are a few very quick mini projects using a cricut that can be done in just a few minutes. 

First up is a change jar.  My son(7) is wanting to buy a old car and fix it up to drive when he is old enough. Right now he wants a 1960ish Ford Thunderbird.  He is becoming seriously interested in old cars( I am hoping this doesn’t last).  So, I took an extra change jar I had and made it a car fund savings jar.  It is the kind that counts the change for you, I love that!   I cut out the shape of a car using the Mickey Mouse cricut cartridge and an interstate sign with the word “CAR” using the road sign cartridge.  Next, I ran them through the Xyron sticker maker and easy peasy one car savings fund.  This is a great way to save for a certain item, vacation, project etc. 

 

Second project is the 3 small clay pots. I had some left over 4” clay pots from another project so I though I would spruce them up.   I painted the pots with a silver metallic spray paint and then washed them with a little black paint to give the pots a tin look.  Then using the Tag cricut cartridge I cut out an oval and added numbers. Using the Xyron sticker maker I attached all the pieces and then put them on the pots.   I think I will put seasonal decorations in them.  They would also work great for a small herb garden in a window seal. You could also use them on a desk to hold office supplies.

 

Final project is the big glass jar.  I had this jar left over from when I redid my laundry room.  I bought mine from amazon.com but I believe Target also carries them.  We recently went on a weekend trip to the beach and my son found seashells and a crab shell.  I needed something to put them in and this is what I came up with.  I used sand from his sandbox and then added the shells.  I printed off an 8x10 photo from the trip and put in inside of the jar.  I cut out the words “TRIP, BEACH, GETAWAY, HOLIDAY”.  I used a different cricut cartridge for each word, ran them through the Xyron and put them on the outside of the jar. Easy project and a great reminder of a wonderful weekend.

I am working on so many projects that are in the process of, still being planned, saving for etc. .  It was nice to do a few easy projects that you can finish quickly.  A sense of accomplishment even if my project to do list is still a mile long.