It all started with a folding table that I found for a $14.99. For a price like that, you can’t expect perfection but it is very lightweight, has adjustable heights, is very portable when it’s folded up and did I mention it’s lightweight? When you are lugging all of your gear from the parking lot up to the dog show ring, keeping the weight down is must. And for that price, you need to know that the weight limit for the table s only 25 pounds – So for us it is perfect for our Pug AND our Chihuahuas. Keep that weight limit in mind – This project may not work for you and your dog.

Since the top of the table is hard plastic, it can be a bit slippery for dogs so I had to venture into two more aisles to make it perfect. We needed to reduce that slip – Off to the home organization and cleaning detainment I went first, on the hunt for Grip Shelf Liner or Con-Tact paper. I wanted the grip kind, all of which are not self adhesive so that gave me two options. I could go practical or pretty and I went the pretty route. There weren’t many print options at my Target but I will say I really like the one that I found and for $4.99, I was very pleased!

Since there was no adhesive to keep in on the table, my final stop with the Office Supply Department, were I got myself a can of spray adhesive. Thank you Elmer’s! You never seem to let me down! And at $6.99, the grand total for my project was $26.97 plus tax. WOOO HOOO!!!  The only other item you will need to complete the table is an X-Acto knife, which I happen to have on hand. If you need one, they can be picked up rather inexpensively – still keeping the total cost under $30.00.

After spraying a thin layer of the adhesive onto the top of the table, I laid a pre-measured piece of the liner onto of the adhesive and then used the X-Acto knife to trim around the edges. Voila! Portable as well as pretty grooming table that my dogs will not slip off of. LOVE IT!!!

My entire camper renovation was inspired by Pinterest! So when I saw this fabulous baby gate idea in a pin I begged my husband to pull out the tools. As only he could, he made some slight improvements while honing in on the fine details they included int he original. Like the trim on the top – PERFECT!!!!! We went for a non-wallpaper design but I am opt to add it later.

Since we need three doors to help keep the herd controlled, we purchased enough supplies to complete all three, He opted to use sheets of Underlayment which is not only babybutt smooth on both sides but also a very nice, light weight. One sheet was large enough to create two doors and painting it is a breeze. Then we needed six 1 x 6 pieces of #2 pine so that the mitered frame pieces sound be added – Two for each door.  We found some cabinet trim to use for the top moulding piece which fit across the top perfectly! The final item needed in the cart at HomeDepot was the gate hardware. We went the white route, making for more of a subtle look. Of course, there was also the wood glue, air nail gun and the finish nails but all in all, it was a quick and fun weekend project with one down and two more to go!

Here are my prototypes of what I will call “Booty Bands” and how to try them out on the girls to see what adjustments I need to make to the design. I will be sure to share my results, and hopefully have some available in the Figgy Gear store in the future!

So far I have six new harnesses is all sizes complete and I have a few more to go. I went with fun and fashionable colors and patterns. I have also found some new ideas that I hope to have added to the store soon. A new harness dress design as well as a collared harness for the boys. In addition to the harnesses, the girls have been sharing their ideas as well as their creative talents to bring all new products to our Figgy Gear Collection.

Today’s project is what I will call “Collar Garnishes” Fun and funky bow ties and fabric flowers that can be attached to your dog’s collar. I found these rolls of quilting fabrics is such fun chevron patterns. I love the array of colors! I hope to have them done soon. In the mean time, here is something to help kick-up the anticipation.

As with everything else I have discovered with the craftsmanship of our camper, the laminate countertop’s rubber edging is popping out and is now warping after 7 years. That and the hideous colors that didn’t match the factory decor, let alone our new design inspired me to check out my options. I priced out getting new counters but the idea of getting the sinks and stove removed and then reinstalling was daunting. Then came the Counter Top Transformations kits which weren’t much less costly than having new counters ordered! Besides, there were not any colors that really caught my eye. Plus, this is our home away from home but please – I would rather invest that kind of money into the new flooring! So when I spotted the Rust-Oleum Counter Top Coating for $19.99 I was intrigued.

If you are anything like me, you will know what I mean when I say, “It was time to check out Amazon!” Oh yeah, it’s read the reviews time! And the reviews were not that great. The majority said that the coating chipped, dented and scratched. I knew the smell would be dizzying and that there would be cure time between coats, but since this is not going to be applied in my kitchen, but in my RV, I figured the patience required to do a quality job was in the bag! I wouldn’t be placing anything on the counter for potential weeks and if I kept the windows open, the fumes would dissipate between coats easily.

I also read a review that referred to applying a top coat. Well, I am here to tell you that the uber expensive kits out there simply include a can of polyurethane to apply so in addition to the 1 quart can of coating (tinted to Pewter, much lighter than the kit’s offered in the grey shade) I added a quart of Rust-Oleum Varathane polyurethane and a high quality paint brush, foam rollers and brushes, rubber gloves, a can of acetone (only way to clean up after yourself), 2″ painter’s tape, an X-Acto knife, super fine sandpaper and a few mini paint pans. All for around $65.00. Not bad aye?

I am here to tell you, so far I am VERY please with the results. After getting the first coat down it all went very quickly!!! It dries rather fast so I would recommend you blue-tape your edges and appliances and then use the foam brushes to apply the coating up to your edges as quickly as you can. Then use foam rollers to quickly apply a somewhat heavy coat over the counter top. Please understand that it goes on thick but do NOT go over an area twice. You need major patience to do this. You will create lines and roller tracks of gooey paint if you go over an already coated area. If you see a light spot, you are going to have to wait three days to fill it with your second coat!!!! Yes, you read that correctly – Three Days to Cure! Three Days for Second Coat! THREE DAYS PER COAT!

This is where the X-Acto knife comes in. Because you will need to apply a second coat and then the top coat, you will need to remove the painter’s tape with the knife. Once you have applied the first coat and waited your three days, use the super fine sandpaper to sand the counters and then clean them REALLY GOOD! Now you can apply the second coat and yes, wait three days.

I know I keep saying three days but seriously, this is an epoxy/oil based paint that needs to cure. If you lay something down on the counter before completely cured, it will leave an indention.

Once you have finished applying the coating, you can then apply the polyurethane with a brush. I wouldn’t recommend using a foam roller as they have the tendency to create bubbles. They sell brushes specifically for applying poly – Spend the $10.00 on the brush! And I am proud to say that after “Feelin’ Good” from the fumes of the coating and the agony of trying to clean up the gooey messes you will most likely create, the Varathane Polyurethane is water-based giving low-odor and easy breezy clean up!

And guess what? It only requires you to wait 2-3 HOURS between coats! YAHOOOOO!!!!! I would recommend anywhere from 4 to 6 coats. The more coats you apply the smoother it gets. Just like with the Counter Top Coating, the first coat will look groovy. As tempting as it is after waiting a week to get to this step, don’t give in now! Wait the couple hours to apply the next coat. It is well worth the wait!

Our plan was to remove both of the factory installed tables and their pole hardware, replacing them with a more permanent dining/sitting option to include a wonderful view, looking out into our campsite. The jackknife couch sat pointing into the camper. The dogs are the only ones who actually use that window, jumping on the back of the jackknife couch to look out at us humans having all of the fun. It’s time for us humans to be able to enjoy the view too!

Here is where the fabulous Norburg, wall-mounted table comes into play. As much as I like the longer ones, they didn’t fit our color scheme. I love the mini self that is created when the drop-leaf is lowered, giving us a spot to place odds and ends. We picked up two and installed them just below the window – They fit there PERFECTLY!!!!

With a new dining area, we needed to pick up some chairs. Keeping weight down was the main objective (outside of keeping with the color scheme of course) but we also wanted something that could be folded and stored out of the way, keeping with the Toy Hauler mentality.

Originally I wanted the Nisse chairs in blue. I am using accent colors of turquoise and red in the main portion of the toy hauler and with a price of $12.99, how could we go wrong? The perfect color, light weight and foldable? SOLD! Until we got the bin and saw they were sold out. I guess that yellow price tag means they are discontinued. Totally bummed! So then we moved onto the Gunde in white because the white version of the Nisse chair was double that of the blue! We picked up two white Gunde chairs for the price of one blue along with a pack of the Bjärnum folding hooks so that we can hang the chairs on the side of the cabinets when we are in tow or to simply keep them out of the way.

So here it is completely installed – I love how the two tables beside each other make the perfect dining spot as well as work area. We can fold down the tables as needed and the chairs are a perfect fit!

The next step was to take out my selected fabric to cover the boards as well as to create my window curtains. Sticking with the mildew resistant theme needed when you remodel a travel trailer, I went shopping for shower curtains to fit the bill. Finding the right colors and pattern was not as easy as I thought. They couldn’t be too feminine – This is a Toy Hauler for goodness sake – but I wanted some sort of pizzazz too! I found these at the local TJ Maxx and I picked up three of them.

I am proud to announce that I was able to cover two 5′ + long cornice boards, make eight curtains and two toss pillows out of only two of them. I also made curtain tie-backs using the top portion of the shower curtain. Sure, they may have hook holes in them but the vinyl insert adds the stiffness the tiebacks needed. All I did was sew some velcro onto the edges and when I attached them to the curtains, I simply adjusted the hook holes to the backs and sides. I didn’t waste a single piece of the two shower curtains. I guess that makes me green, aye?

All in all, I am THRILLED with the results. The window treatments really soften up the camper. Sure, they are for looks but they are also functional.

I used tension rods and with the curtains attached and then I slipped them in to the cornice board with the tension tightened on the sides. The factory installed blinds are back in place and the curtains glide open and closed on the curtain rod on top of the blinds but under the cornice.

I went with a black, corrugated cardboard as the background and then used this fabo metallic speciality paper for the cutouts – These could be hung anywhere!! So excited to see what all of our participants think 🙂

I finished and packed them up today and I have to say, I am really liking her color and pattern selections. I have always been a fan of chartreuse and to mix that with black and white? Oh yeah! Very purty!

Day two of KC’s weekend was more of the same – Proud as ever for our fourth place. This was the first judge to comment on the extra puppy teeth in her mouth so the appointment I have scheduled for next week is most definitely a go! I had hoped to have it done before this weekend, admittedly wishing they would come out naturally. Whoopsy!

On another medical note I took Barbie over to the eye clinic and she passed her exam! Hello CERF certification!!!