DIY Projects!

Oh. My. Goodness.  I have so many projects to do!  I have to make a cute sign for my niece's bedroom.  I promised my sister.  The sign is with the You are my sunshine lyrics and I'm searching all over for the best way to do it.  Sorry, I'm not THAT great at projects, YET! This is one I want to come out perfect.

So I'm looking at this blog, brassyapple.blogspot.com, and WOW!  It sent me to Pinterest and she has projects galore!  I was in heaven.  I know many of you have your projects, and of those I've seen, what great work you all do.  I'm going to be that person, soon. With your help of course ;-)

These pieces are a picnic table with 4-benches (2-long for each side and 2-short for both ends) & a garden bench, (bottom, right). It is all piled up in my garage, making me crazy!! Being the "everything has to have it's place, NOW" type person,  I have to get it done!! Now!  My hubster was kind enough to sand it all down for me while I was away vacay'ing with my girl friend.  I'm a lucky gal.  

I'm trying to decide what to do with the picnic table and benches. Here is where YOU come in.  Should I leave it natural and put a shiny clear coat on, or make it a color such as the same blue (see below), to match everything else?  (That could be a bit too much.) Personally, I want to make it white.  A nice clean, shiny, white.  It would match the trim on the house, garage, and the pergola.  I'm hoping for more votes there. 

The bench will be the same blue as the planters I did, back in July. It will sit out in the yard, in front of some trees in a corner.  I thought it would look nice, from the pale tan, or whatevertheheck color that was.  Any comments on this project is welcomed.  

This is a heavy sucker! All wood. 

So, I visited my mother last week, in FL.  I brought home a couple of pieces that to me, are as old as the hills.  We had them in our house when I was in grade school. Here is my dilemma...WHAT THE HECK DO I DO?? I'm guessing its pine.  Definitely not oak.  I guess the hubster would know, but he's not here to ask at the moment.  I'm trying to decide if I want to make it a beach theme, or a guest room piece. I'd have to make it contemporary looking, slightly anyway.  Maybe a night stand?  It's on you, again! Have at it.

This is heavy too!  

This is a nice piece also.  Well, it will be.  Some issues with this one though.  As you can see in the top right photo, it seems to have a piece of formica or plastic on top and around the sides.  Looking through the crack, it looks like two pieces of 'something'.  Hello YOU!! Should I take that completely off and open a can of worms, or slap on some chalkboard paint?  I'm kind of thinking to take that off and see what it has going on underneath.  Make it a real project, ha!  Do you pro's, know?

I am looking forward to the feedback.  After this holiday weekend school is in session, and I'm getting on with all my projects.  I'm pretty excited actually.

What ideas do you have for my pieces?