Thrifty Thursday: Picture Re-purposed Chalkboard & Gold Liquid Leaf!

Thrifty Thursday with a Twist of a Makeover...
I am back with the full story oh how I re-purposed the frame I mentioned last week that cost me 25 cents at the Goodwill Distribution in Gorham.  Here is the before and after...

Before anyone asks why I would do away with such a classic amazing picture, it's because it was in really bad shape and the front of it was peeling, discolored and had water marks all over it.  I opted to remove it and put a new piece of wood in the frame, but I decided it was a solid base to work with and it would have been more work to do that instead.  So I ended up spraying right over the picture itself since its on an mdf type board (no glass with my picture, but I have heard of people spraying the glass with chalkboard paint and it working.  Never have done it personally however).  I love chalkboards because of their personalization.  I especially love one in the kitchen to write messages for events, quotes, scriptures or even the dinner menu for guests.   I have a small one that I made a while back, but I had been on the hunt for a larger one.  I still could go with a bigger one than this, but for 25 cents I had nothing to lose :)  Here is how my chalkboard transformation took place...

1. Covered the outside with a plastic trash bag and taped it down on the back so that I could spray the chalkboard base first.  I was a little impatient and wanted to get the ball rolling immediately when I bought the frame.  That didn't happen because you need the weather to be fairly nice so that it will dry properly and not blow all over the place when spraying.  I would love a garage someday where I can open the doors and do projects during the colder months.  Spray paint is finicky so conditions have to right.

2.  Removed the trash bag and the frame now looks like this. I did about 4 coats of chalkboard spray paint.  The backing that I sprayed wasn't completely even and was a little rough.  I sanded it a little before spraying it.  If you look at it up close you can see the unevenness but nothing that bothers me.  That's the beauty of liking an aged/vintage look because imperfections to me just bring added character to the piece :)

3.  I didn't care if the chalkboard paint got on the wood a little because I was going to spray the frame next.  I used a metallic gold spray paint from our local Ace hardware store and the Krylon chalkboard spray paint. I covered the front of the chalkboard with white paper while I sprayed the frame with the gold.

4.  I spray painted the frame with 1-2 coats of the Metallic Gold.  I was going for a vintage aged look and wanted it to have a layered effect so I didn't want the gold spray paint to be one saturated color.  I bought a gold leafing paint (similiar to gilding) that I used on top of the spray paint.  Here is the metallic gold by itself first.

5.  Next I applied the Gold Liquid Leaf with a small soft bristled paint brush.  This didn't need to be even strokes since I was going for a layered aged effect.  This product will last FOREVER (a little went a long way).  It was $5 and well worth the little "extra touch."

6.  You are supposed to wait 1 hour in between the liquid leaf coats.  I applied one coat and may do some touch ups once I have it on the wall.  I am going to wait and see what it looks like once its up in the kitchen.  I did take the brush and lightly went over the edge of the chalkboard along the frame to give it an old look.  I I had made a little boo boo and touched the chalkboard by accident with the gold liquid.  I thought I was going to have to go back with the chalkboard spray paint, but instead I decided to roll with it and make it look like it was part of the plan.  I love how the liquid leaf looks over the spray paint.  It shines/shimmers and gives it the look I was envisioning.  It compliments the mirror in our living room above the mantle very well.  They look like they could be siblings :)  Here is the finished product...

Total cost for this project:
*Frame: 25 cents
*Chalkboard spray paint: Already owned it from previous project.
*Metallic Gold Spray Paint: $4
*Gold Liquid Leaf (optional for the look I wanted): $5

Under $10.00 for this project!

This could become an obsession for me.  They are fun to make and would make great gifts!  Anyone make one recently or been wanting to?  I say GO FOR IT....its easy and simple!  Such a fun way to display notes or a message to someone in your family :)

Thursday Thrifty Finds Including Explosive Crates!

I love thrift stores and I love a good deal.  It makes me happy and is one of my favorite pastimes. 

Thursday is for Thrifty Finds. 

While the hubs has been on vacation this week, we ended up going north for a couple days to visit the in-laws.  My mother-in-law loves thrifting and going to antique stores so we made an afternoon of it this week.  We went to the Fairfield Antique Mall in Fairfield, Maine.  This is the same place where I found my mantle in my living room last year.  Their prices are fairly reasonable depending on the vendor and it's like a field trip when I go there.  It is so fun to just walk around and check out all the treasures that fill the booths, even if I can't afford them.  I just like to touch and dream! I constantly have ideas floating through my head when I walk through a place like this.  I find I have to try to keep my focus because I can get side tracked very easily :)  My mother-in-law loves redoing and re-purposing furniture so it was fun throwing ideas around as we looked.

My main mission was to find old crates for Eli's big boy room that we are renovating.  I would like to stack a couple as a nightstand/bookshelf and use some for toy bins.  I found 2 and they ended up being 50% off which was an added bonus ($15).  I loved that on the side it said "High Explosives...Dangerous" meaning powder dynamite was packed in those crates.  I knew Nate would love it since he worked for Maine Drilling & Blasting in college and Eli would think it was great because anything that explodes in his mind is awesome!   Here they are.  Can't wait to use them!!

Next item that I have been on the hunt for in my searching is an old scale for in my kitchen.   I love the old, vintage look of a scale for decorative purposes but also it can be used for cooking/baking as well if needed.  Here is a creamy/white one I found. Most of the scales I found in the past were anywhere from $35-$60.  This one was $15 which couldn't be passed up. When I brought it home, it was quite dirty so I scrubbed, disinfected it and with the use of a magic eraser it looked so much better!  It does have rust on it, but for me it's just added character! I may do a paint touch up, but I'm undecided for now. 

Eli has been using his big highchair for his stuffed animals and boy baby that he owns.  I have been looking for a small one that he could use in his playroom with his kitchen set, but everything I've seen has been pricey for the quality.  I wasn't searching for one on this particular shopping trip, but in the midst of looking I came across this sweet little highchair.  AND the BEST part....it was on SALE!  The tag said, $3.00. I thought it was a mistake so I took a second glance.  But sure enough, it was only $3.00 at checkout.  I couldn't believe it.  Eli is in LOVE!  He could not wait to get it home to feed his bear :)

This last item is not one I was hunting for either but I have been wanting one in the back of my mind.  It is an old crate looking box that could be used for multiple purposes.  I intend to use it as a table display with either seasonal decor, condiments/silverware for parties and could also be great for displaying craft supplies in jars in the middle of the table when I have girls over for crafty get togethers.  My mother-in-law has some of these and I think they are adorable.  This one had "old tool box" on the tag, but it also is similiar to some that are old chicken feeders.  I liked this one in particular because of the shape.  Here it is....what would you do with it?

Well, these were my thrifty finds for the week!  Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I give you some ideas on re-purposing cheap finds on a dime.  This week I bought a picture frame for 25 cents at Goodwill.  I plan to do a project with it this week, so post to come!  This Friday we are starting our big project in Eli's room.  Expect a post about the beginning process of the floor by Monday.  Happy Thursday !!