My First Foray into Furniture Refinishing (Say that three times fast...)

The best thing about living on your own without a roommate or significant other is that you can decorate however you want and nobody can have an opinion about it (or that opinion won't matter). Does that mean you should have Ninja Turtles sheets on your bed as a 30 year old male? Probably not...but it's important for your space to reflect who you truly are (while still being a grown-up!). In the small space that I now own, I want to make sure each and every furniture and design decision I make is meaningful and fantastic. 

 My current obsessions are: thrift store furniture, the color aqua, and fabrics with bird print (save that thought for a later date).

I think vintage furniture is amazing. Don't get me wrong- I've purchased many a dresser at Ikea and they have served me well. However, there's something special about the detail, lines, and especially the quality of older furniture. 

With limited storage in my new space, I knew I wanted a multi-functional media stand in my living room and I knew exactly what I was looking for. I ventured over to the Morris Habitat Restore which happened to be having an anniversary sale. For just a little over $60, I picked up an amazing dresser that was sturdy and in great shape. I'm always amazed when I see people who take severely damaged furniture and rehab it, but as a novice I'm not quite there yet. 

After a ton of research and several trips to the hardware store, I decided to use the following products:

Zinsser Cover Stain Primer

Glidden Paint in Arctic Stone (2 sample jars were enough for the entire project)

Elmer's wood filler 

A good-quality Purdy paintbrush

Minwax Finishing Paste

Foam brushes

Painter's Tape

Cheesecloth or a very thin cotton rag/old t-shirt

As you can see, the dresser was in such great shape that I could've easily shined up the hardware and called it a day. But what would be the fun in that? 

Before:

Step 1: I removed all of the hardware and drawers.  I knew I was going to use different hardware, so I used wood filler to fill in the holes and sanded them down. It may have been an unnecessary step, but I taped around the inside of each drawer opening so I would have neater lines when painting. 

Step 2: I applied 2-3 coats of Zinsser Cover Stain Primer using a foam brush. Because it is oil based, it is best to use brushes that you are comfortable throwing away shortly thereafter. 

Step 3: I used a good-quality paintbrush and painted several coats of the Glidden Arctic Stone paint onto the dresser and drawers. After allowing it to dry overnight, I placed a ball of Minwax Finishing Paste inside of an old thin rag and waxed each part of the dresser. As you rub, the wax will seep through the cloth and give you a nice solid finish. Once it sets after about 15-20 minutes, you can wipe it down again with a clean cloth. 

Step 4: I placed the drawers back in drilled holes for the new hardware (apologies for the messy picture!)

Final Product:

As you can see, I removed the top drawer and drilled a hole in the back so my TV components fit perfectly inside. At some point, I may remove the drawer front from the top drawer and add a hinge and magnet to it so I can easily close it and keep those components hidden. For now, this works beautifully!

Total cost: Around $120 for dresser & supplies

Getting Down to the Core...

Love it or hate it, the Common Core is here to stay. The topic of the recently-implemented Common Core State Standards has become a national conversation (debate, argument, war, etc.....) most recently joined by my favorite comedian, Louis C.K. Regardless of my opinion on the subject, I work hard to create supplemental materials, anchor charts, and fun activities to support the CCSS. As a Basic Skills Math Teacher, I support, review, and reinforce the curriculum that my students are learning in the classroom while identifying weaknesses and strengthening their foundational math skills. As we work our way through the Common Core, one type of question seems to be especially dreaded by both students and parents alike. Constructed Response questions do not only ask students for an answer that often involves several steps and operations, but requires the student to explain his or her answer in words. I once asked a first grader to explain his answer by writing a sentence, and he drew a happy face. 

At least he didn't draw a sad face. 

As part of a school-wide initiative, I created a set of problem-solving steps that outline the thought process that a student should go through while solving a word problem. Although these steps may seem obvious, I always try to find a way to break down each process for my students into the smallest of steps. These 8 x 11 mini posters also include a problem solving checklist and operations clue word note page. I keep them posted directly next to my whiteboard so I can reference them each time we are working on problem-solving skills. 

Click the photos below to download!

To further educate yourself on the Common Core, you may visit http://www.corestandards.org/

Please visit my Teachers Pay Teachers Store!  A Piece of the Pi

A Piece of Miss I.

As a newbie to the world of blogging, how might I introduce myself? By day, I am Miss I., a Basic Skills Math teacher for children in grades K-5. By night, I am a budding cake artist, self-proclaimed foodie, and recent homeowner (an adventure you are sure to be a part of!) The list can go on and on, and I often describe myself as the Jill of All Trades (get it!?) I like to do a little of everything, and I always love to learn how to do new things....often by trial and error. On A Piece of the Pi, you will find lots of teaching tips, tricks, worksheets and activities from my math classroom, along with a little peek into my life outside of school. Welcome, and enjoy!