Refinishing A Dresser

i finally refinished my little dresser! yaaaay!  this was my $5 yard sale find that is now in my office and i'm LOVING it.  i feel like it really completed the space.

this dresser definitely needed some tlc.  it had yellow paint and adhesive on it and it had also been the nesting ground to some spider eggs and bugs... YUCKY CHUCKY!!

actually, the remnants of the spider eggs kept me from tackling this project for months now.  when i turned the piece over i saw this... can you say NASTAY??? i'm sorry but that really funks me out.

in addition to these eggs/nests there was a bunch of random thick yellow paint on the dresser. 

i should stop to say that i was so thrilled to find an old label on the back that dated it from 1964. coolio julio!!  

i sanded this baby down goooood.  i love my little power sander.  what a life/arm/back saver!

and this next part was fun.  i wanted to add detail to the top so i used my lattice die cut and cut out 28 pieces on this funky contact paper.  

 i measured and laid them out...

and i actually debated on whether or not to just keep it this way.  i absolutely LOVE the Stampin Up lattice die cut!!

if you decide you want to do something like this, make sure to use a tool to press down and smooth out the die cut pieces. 

or else it will look something like this after it's stained. bummer!!!

so after that mess up, i taped up the dresser and resanded the top again. 

i used a medium grit and finished it off with a fine grit sandpaper.  i hoped that by doing this, less stain would seep under the contact paper die cuts. 

after it was sanded down a SECOND time, i laid down the die cuts, stained it again, and PRAYED for better results. 

and the end result came out just the way i had originally envisioned!!! yaaaay!!!

 and now here it is at home in my office. 

even with the mistakes, it was a fun makeover. :o)

i'm participating in made by you monday, its so very creative, get your craft on, anything related, show and tell, DIY tutorial, make it yours, whatever goes wednesday, we can do it cheaper, frugal friday, tickled pink, and SNS.