Refinishing a Bookshelf...my 1st attempt at repainting something!

Here is the finished product!!!  Yeah!!! 

It turned out great and is a lifesaver in the classroom

since there are LOT's of shelves on the back to store math 'stuff'!

Ok...let me try this for the 3rd time!!! I just got a new laptop and for some reason, I'll be typing and my works are self select themselves and then erase when I push the next key. So anyways, can I say that this project has been a pain in my hoodas??? And you may be asking what's a hoodas...well think umble butt, junk in the trunk, bootie...well I think you have the idea. I could go on for days about trying to get the stuff cleaned up, but finally decided the part that had dried was a bit easier to scrape. It wouldn't scrape all the way off so I borrowed a hand sander. That didn't work so bought the lowest grit sandpaper at Home D-pot and used my husbands grandpas little wooden manual sander to take off the many layers of paint. Between the 40 grit, and some wood filler, I got the gummy mess to at least look presentable. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to doing things, so this has gone against every grain in my being to leave some of the bubbly mess under my final coat of primer.

I go to Home D-pot looking for some "expert" advice on what type of sandpaper I need (I'm thinking 40-80 grade). Anyway, the guy says "Oh no, you have to strip the puppy". Ok, he didn't say puppy but he took me over to the paint strippers and said this HAD to be my 1st step. Well, let me tell you that was NOT expert advice. I took the stripper home, got all decked out in my protective gear, and began spraying. (He also said to get the spray can type to make it easier). I couldn't wait to get going with my scrapper and waited the alloted time. Mind you, I only sprayed the top of the bookcase and top shelf to make sure I had enough time to scrap. Well, it came time to scrape. Well, scraping bubble gum consistent goop was NOT FUN! Seriously, the crap was like bubble gum and involved several coats of paint.

Anyways, today we got the 1st coat of paint and BigJ and LittleA helped me out. They love to paint, which used to be a pain in the hoodas...but today, it was a BIG help to have them painting along with me! Luv those boys:)