This post is sponsored by Ace Hardware.
Summertime is all about relaxing and having fun, am I right? It’s also about finishing all those projects you talk about during the year that you never have time for. What if I told you you could relax AND finish your project? And for less than a dollar?
I love sitting outdoors. Give me a nice tall lemonade and a book and I’m in heaven. The only problem is: the sun. If I’m not in a shady spot, I instantly burn, am uncomfortable, and get a little testy. I feel very fortunate to have an outdoor space living in New York City. But I wasn’t making the most of it until recently when I got inspired by Ace’s paint sale and decided to build myself a sunshade. Right now (and all through August) Ace Hardware stores are offering up paint pints for $.99. Perfect timing for me to start my craft. I gave myself a budget ($50) and a time limit (5 hours) and set off for my materials.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The paint studio at Ace is super convenient and the employees there were excited to discuss my project. They even gave me a better idea for the construction of my sunshade — PVC pipe. It’s inexpensive and durable. Plus, it can withstand the elements. But it’s not the prettiest thing in the world, so finding the right color was a necessity. It can be a little overwhelming to see all the paint chips (see my paint chip crafts here) but because my new friend at Ace knew what my color scheme was, he helped me narrow it down to the perfect shade.
After choosing my colors, I hurried home to get to work. My clock was ticking.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I measured and cut the pipe, and in under an hour, I had my structure up. I used two zip ties to attach it to the air conditioner grate outside my window for extra support.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Then I stirred up my paint and gave the pipe two coats. While working on one side, the other side had a chance to dry and I could do two coats relatively quickly. Another hour later and my ugly PVC pipe was now a stunning shade of blue. I was so impressed by how it covered the pipe. All the black and red stamped codes vanished from only one coat, but I wanted the color to really pop so two achieved my desired effect.
Image may be NSFW.
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The last step was adding the canvas to the Velcro (also acquired at Ace) to the pipe and the canvas. Here’s a tip — when attaching Velcro, it’s easier to do both sides at once. First, place the Velcro on your surface, then add the matching piece on top. Take the covering off the back and then place your second material right on it. That insures
And the finished product came out exactly as I envisioned. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
With some chairs, a little table, lights, a hanging plant, and a citronella candle, this spot has completely changed my home where I spend my time. And I came out under budget! The grand totals were: 3 1/2 hours of time and $48.17 in supplies.
Getting help at the paint studio at Ace is like going to your neighbor. Visit thepaintstudio.com to find your neighborhood paint studio as well as expert tips and inspiration$.99 paint pint offer valid on Valspar and Clark+Kensington at participating stores 8/1-8/31. Prices may vary. Limit 4. Color samples must be tinted in unique colors. I was compensated for my time and this blog post. All opinions and positions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Ace Hardware.
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The post This $.99 Paint Sale At Ace Hardware Will Change Your Summer appeared first on MomTrends.