Monday, January 9, 2012

{Thrift Curio Shelf Makeover}

Last week, I shared my Thrift Frame Revamp and told y'all that it was part one of my three part series...
I found the small curio shelf in the photo for $2.  I just had to buy it when I found it because I knew it would be the perfect size to hold my puff paint and other small paint bottles.  (If you saw my craft room, you would probably say that's the least of my worries, but we'll save that for another post!)  
I wanted the shelf to be white, so I sprayed it with Krylon's Dual spray paint.
After I sprayed the shelf, I roughed it up a bit with sandpaper.  (Y'all know about my aversion to anything "perfect.")  As you can see in the picture above, I didn't worry about spraying the back of the shelf perfectly because I knew that I was going to do something special back there.  I decided to paint the back with Martha Stewart's pearl paint in a lovely shade of blue.
I could have stopped at this point, but what would be the fun in that?! :)  While visiting the thrift store on a different day, I found some awesome encyclopedias and dictionaries from the 50s.  As an English teacher, I just LOVE old books.  I cut pages out of the books (which, if I'm being honest, kind of hurt my heart a little) and used a craft punch to create cute little book page cutouts to layer on the back of the shelf.
I laid the page cutouts on the back of the shelf to create a pattern that I liked.  Then I simply glued them down with Mod Podge.  After the Mod Podge dried, I covered the back of the shelf with another layer of Mod Podge.  And just because I am a bit of a fanatic about making sure nothing I make gets messed up easily, I got out my Polycrylic and covered the entire shelf, including the back.
I really like using Polycrylic because it is water proof, doesn't smell as horrible and polyurethane, dries rather quickly, and supposedly won't yellow after time.  Plus, it's really easy to clean my brush after I use it.  (I'm not getting any kind of reimbursement at all for saying this.  It is truly how I feel.)  After the Polycrylic dried, my project was finished!  What do you think?
I love the blue paint on the back of the shelf.  The pictures don't really reflect the irridescence of the paint.  
The shelf is the perfect size to display small objects.  I almost hate to put my paint on it because the bottles will cover up some of the awesome book page background.  :(
It's hard to believe that this was a $2 shelf from the thrift store.
Now I just have to organize and decorate my craft room so that it will do my cute little shelf justice.

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30 comments:

  1. How nifty! The shelf turned out so nice! I love the book page background! Good job! Blessings from Bama!

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  2. Super Cute! And what a bargain on the shelf! :)

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  3. So pretty! Love how you added the book pages in the cutout pattern. You're so clever!

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  4. Bethany

    This looks great! Love what you did with the book pages.

    Vanessa

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  5. Very crafty! I love the bookpage punches!

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  6. Great job Bethany! Love the book page cutouts!

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  7. It came out super cute! I just love finding old thinks to re-vamp! great job :)

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  8. That's SO clever! I love it. Makes me want to go buy paper punches!

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  9. It looks so sweet, perfect for little treasures! Great job!

    Tania

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  10. The book page cutouts are what drew me to your post. Where do you find the paper punches?

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  11. I would of stopped at the blue, but NO you had to go on and make it more beautiful. Now I will always have to go on more, just like you. So very pretty! you clever girl you! Thanks for all your creative post you shared with us at Sunday's Best.

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  12. what a creative way to redo a shelf...I love the colors! I am your newest follower! xoxo

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  13. absolutely Adorable!!! ready and waiting for something special!!! : ) hugs

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  14. This is so original and creative. I love the way you used book pages to decorate it! So lovely! Thanks for linking it up this week.

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  15. Love it!! Thanks for linking up! Stop by and sign up for my Stencil Giveaway!

    XO, Aimee

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  16. Wow! I love this! Thanks for visiting my site and leaving a sweet comment. I am a new follower...I am in love with the name of your blog!

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  17. This is great! I love a thrifted makeover! It's my very favorite kind of project, and you executed it perfectly!

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  18. I love everything about this, especially what you did with the book pages ( although I do understand that feeling about cutting up books!) But the end result is gorgeous!

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  19. Love this project! You should share it with my readers @ thrift[me] blog:

    http://thriftmeblog.com/lets-organize-2012-kitchen-countertops-recap-link-party/

    Thanks!
    Katy

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  20. Congrats! You are awarded the Leibster award....such great projects to share. Come by anytime, Lori

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  21. this looks SO fabulous! i love how you used cut out book pages. thank you so much for sharing!
    {love} lauryn @ lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com.
    stop by if you get a chance!

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  22. How clever! I really like the punched book pages, lining the back of your little curio shelf, it adds just a touch of spunk! I'd be thrilled if you'd come share this {and any other projects you'd like to show off ;)} at the Head to Head Showdown, going on right now at www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com ~Jen

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  23. This is so pretty :) Thanks for linking up last week - sorry I'm just getting around to visiting! Hope to see you again this Tuesday.

    Really love this, though - you're so creative!

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  24. I love your shelf and the cut outs you used on the back! So cute! I'm your newest fan. Please stop by bellanest.blogspot.com if you get a chance. =)

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  25. Wow! Great job! It doesn't even look like the same piece of furniture! Thanks so much for sharing at Shine on Fridays!

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  26. Ohh.. what a great shelf! You always have the best makeovers! I love the colors.. and that you used old dictionaries!

    Thanks for linking up to Financial Friday.. hope to see you there again!

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  27. My! This isn't the same old-same old vintage book thing! You've taken it to another level here.

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