Sunday, March 11, 2012

Trashy Tacky Cabinet to Cute n' Tacky Cabinet

Remember that awesome day I got to meet a fellow blogger and go junking ALL DAY with her???  Well, Miss Laura from Our Prairie Home was with me the day I picked this nasty wooden filing cabinet up for five buckaroos at Saint Vincent De Paul.  Even Laura looked at me like I'd lost my mind!  I actually love the ugly thing because the drawers slide really easy, the drawers are super deep, and it has taught me that you can't judge a book by it's cover!  What?  Who says I've been using it as is?  Well ummm, errrr.......
Yup, it was in some nasty shape.  First thing to do was to chip off the rest of that veneer.


I used a hammer and screw driver to get it all off.  It wasn't a real fast process, even though I had great help from my two year old who kept wanting me to put every hair clip we own in our hair.  Just you wait.  Next thing you know, alllllll the fashion models will be sporting a dozen colorful alligator clips in their hair.  Just call me Miss Pre-Trendy.
Wonder why my kids always have paint on them?  You can stop wondering now.  There is a munchkin who insists on sitting on my lap.
This is what it looked like on the edges under that veneer I pulled off.  Oh boy, I'm a painter, not a carpenter.  What to do, what to do?  I went out in the garage and found a big long piece of quarter round.  I got out my new jig saw and found that probably wasn't the best tool for the job.  But it worked and I cut it the lengths I need.  Then I waited for my hubby to get home to teach me how to run the nail gun.
He basically handed it to me and said aim and pull the trigger.  I thought I was aiming straight in.  Apparently not.  I screwed up the first two shots, but I didn't let it happen a third time!
Time for my thumbtacks from the dollar store.  I drew a line and nailed them in.  No matter what, I can't seem to get them to go in straight.  Urgh.
I had no intention of turning this into a whimsy owl-y peice of furniture.  No, it was going to have  gorgeous new hardware, paintable wallpaper on the drawers, and my mind just kept wondering until I couldn't get my brain off of "owl".  Evvvvvverybody's doing it....  jump on the bandwagon, Kammy!  So I did, I jumped on.  I folded a paper in half and cut out the owl so it would be symmetrical, then traced it out onto the drawers.
I had fun painting it with whatever color or idea popped into my head next.  Then I added turquoise chevron stripes across the top and down the side, and a stick for the owl to perch on.  I decided to save my fancy drawer pulls for a more suitable project and screwed the old ones back into place.

I might sell it if the price is right.  Otherwise, it's great storage in my craft room for now!
Pin It

Psssssst!  I have a deal to share with you shabby vintage lovers!  Huckleberry Vintage is having a 15% off sale on everything in her Etsy shop March 12-14th.  Stop over and check out her fun finds!
A few things I'm lovin' from her shop right now:  ON SALE Lots of Glass and Crystal Door KnobsON SALE 3 Yards of Beautiful Vintage FabricON SALE Shabby Chic Carved Wooden Trinket Box in Sea Foam Green


Tip Junkie handmade projects
Today's Creative Blog
Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special

20 comments:

  1. This is so cute! You did great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. KAMMY! Oh my gosh! I cannot even BELIEVE that is the SAME cabinet! The before picture doesn't even do it justice... IT WAS HIDEOUS!!!! That looks abolutely FANTASTIC!!! You go, girl! I never thought it was possible! SUPER JOB! I LOVE THE OWL!!!! (And I'm using all caps just so you know that I REALLY AM ASTOUNDED!!!!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kammy! That's adorable!! What an amazing transformation!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Laura sent me over! Love the hair-do =) Oh, I mean the furniture makeover. The owl is such a Qt and I love the aqua touches.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is awesome! Thank you so much for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  6. So cute! Love the colors and that owl is just darling!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. How cute is this? I'm sure your daughter just loves this:) Cute!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great job! Any kid would love it :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love that you shared the goof ups! It is so nice to see that not everything runs smoothly! It came out super cute. Nice job!

    ReplyDelete
  10. wow-that was some before! you worked serious magic on that, and the "awful to owlicious" is fab-i love me some wordplay!

    ReplyDelete
  11. omgsh...How stinkin' cute is that!!! So, so cute!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Adorable! Love the owl! I would love if you stopped by my Creative Inspirations party opening up tonight at 10 pm EST to link this great project up! I would loove to have you there!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh my goodness this is so cute! I would love for you to share with my readers on Blog Stalking Thursday!

    http://thecraftyblogstalker.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-stalking-thursday-32.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. HOW CUTE!! Even though at first it wasn't what you were imagining...it looks soo great!! I would be thrilled to have you share this at my party! Maybe even become a new follower! Following you via GFC
    http://www.pincushioncreations.com/2012/03/homemade-by-you-4.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. really really cute, and love how your little apprentice's were right there with you what a cute piece of furniture and I adore your blog!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  16. How cute! That's quite a transformation. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is ADORABLE!!!!!! LOVE it. We would love for you to come link up to our Fave Furniture Fridays going on now!
    http://sugartotdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/03/new-series-fave-furniture-fridays.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! Just wow! Consider, if you will, sharing with my readers over at http://sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2012/03/sasss-sunday-salvation-show-17.html

    Hugs,
    Sass

    ReplyDelete

Comments - Next best thing to chocolate! :) Please let me know you visited!