Shabby Chic Coat Rack Makeover

Just before we moved to Madison, WI, I made a coat rack from 2 planks of wood, which I glue together, then screwed together, painted it a darkish green color then distressed it a little. Then on one of my many shopping trips to Hobby Lobby, I found some wonderful Cast Iron Hooks.

This is what it looked like before.

Not great but okay.

I REALLY don't like the ugly fugly, brown one underneath, but I can't take it off. I think the student housing must have used industrial strength to stick it to the wall as well as screws. So now with the winter here and our coats new place of residence, you can't see much of that brown one - yeah!

This is what I did to make over the green color.

First I, unscrewed the hooks, then lightly sanded over the wood, to take off the finishing wax.

I have wanted to try my hand at the crackling paint technique, but I didn't want to have to buy the special paint to do so. Then I remembered - Elmer's glue :)

Then using Elmer's Glue I painted all over the wood ( oops forgot that picture) Leave to dry, but only until it is TACKY.

Then using white paint, I Loaded my brush and painted over the tacky glue, in one direction -

Don't go back over what you've painted. Just keep painting till you have covered the wood.

Don't worry if in some parts the paint is thicker than others, you're going for a distressed look.

Then watch in awe, as within 5 minutes see the paint crack !

Now I did use a scraper after the paint had completely dried, just to scrape off little bits of paint here and there.

Screw you hooks back in place and then I hung the coat rack back up.

Now I love how it looks, the Cast Iron Hooks, really pop!

My Shabby Chic Coat Rack Makeover.

Ah...much better, don't you think.

I know I do!

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Decorative Shabby Chic Serving Tray

This Decorative Serving Tray

Took a half a day to make!

Easy

Anyone can make this tray.

On my thrift store rummaging, I found some great wood picture frames, for a steal.

(Tons of future projects to do, yeah)

This picture frame cost only 50c...! Yep cheap. 

So start shopping at thrift stores for your next bargain.

First give your frame a good clean & let it dry.

Remove the back & keep to use later.

I gave the frame a couple of coats of spray paint, using Krylon Black Paint and Primer. Leaving to dry in between coats.

Next, I had a sample pot of Benjamin Moore blue paint. I used a foam brush and painted three coats, again leaving it dry in between coats.

To at texture I used, my leftover a

Benjamin  Moore - Acadia White Paint & used a sheet of kitchen towel, then rubbed the paint onto the frame, working quickly, rub off any excess paint, till you get your result.

Using you steel wool & fine sandpaper - distress.

I dug through my scrap fabric, and cut a piece to cover the thick cardboard backing from the frame.

Using a hot glue gun, glue your fabric to the cardboard. 

 Make sure you stretch as you glue, you don't want any creases.

I used Mod Podge to seal the edges of the fabric, and let it dry.

I bought these handles from Hobby Lobby, when the hardware was on sale, they were only $2 each.

Mark where you want the handles to go, the predrill.

Screw on your handles, and use a finishing wax to seal.

Put your glass in & fabric backing and secure with the existing pins.

Then

Sit back & enjoy your afternoons handy work.

Shabby Chic Decorative Serving Tray.

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Rustic Bathroom Wall Clock

Rustic, shabby chic Wall Clock,

Our bathroom in our little apartment, lacks uniqueness and practicality and a blank wall that was crying out for something.

So, when I spied wood crates on display at my local, 'Copps' store :)  I knew exactly, what I wanted to do with them. The 3 crates only cost $10! Yeah! They would work well with the wood, I already had to make the bathroom shelf. (That will follow in another post.)

Two of the crates are being used, for a Halloween display outside,  the third, I cut down and used the top half, to make a much needed bathroom shelf and a clock display.


First, I used a hack saw to cut the top half off.

 Then I used a pry bar to take it apart

I knocked out the side and pulled out any nails.

That gave me two longer pieces and two shorter ones. I still needed one longer piece, which I took from my wood stock pile. For the cross pieces I measured, marked & then used my jigsaw to make the cuts.

The top cross piece turned out to be a little shorter, but I didn't mind, I was going for a not perfect piece.

I predrilled holes and then screwed the wood into place.

  Next I mixed some paint, adding water to give it more of a wash. I wanted it to look like old wood, so using my art techniques, I set to work.

Using an old T-shirt cut up, I dipped it into the paint and worked applied the paint along the grain

Leave to dry completely.

I found these drawer handles at a thrift store for 50c each !!

I disassembled the clock

And gave it a coat of Matt Black 'Krylon Primer & Paint' & let it dry.

Next I painted over the blackish gray color with an ivory

Once the wood was dry, I used steel wool to distress it.

Screwed a D-Ring on the back to hang it up with.

Then attached those wonderful 50c handles & a screw for the clock to sit on.

Then here is the finished new Bathroom Wall Clock,

It matches the Bathroon Shelf, I made - click here for that post.

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