Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Message Center {from a repurposed crate lid}

Meet our new message center.

This little beauty was made from a crate lid that Eric's boss was going to throw away (crazy people!). Thank goodness both his boss and mine are getting used to us collecting their trash. They've actually started asking us if we want stuff before trying to throw it away now! :)

Here is the message center before we did anything to it.
Just a plain, old crate lid. But loaded with potential!

I knew right away that is was completely perfect to make into a multi-purpose center for organizing notes and memos. 

The first thing I did was paint the chalkboard area. Then I painted the frame in Coco ASCP™ and gave it a dry-brush coat of old white, just to add a little more texture. I put on a coat of both clear and dark aging wax, then added cork to the bottom inset. 

I also knew I wanted some pegs or hooks on the bottom.
(In my house, there's always a need to hang up more stuff!)

Awhile back my boss had given me a coffee can full of miscellaneous hardware. Actually, he gave me 3 coffee cans full. I pulled these black knobs, if that's what you call them, out of the coffee can o'junk, made some measurements, drilled some holes and attached these to the bottom of the crate lid. 

The message center was certainly coming together nicely. But it felt like it was missing something. So, I got out another coffee can. This one was full of plastic-covered magnetic cabinet door latches. It's also the very same can my boss said "you don't want this junk" about. Well, thank goodness I DID want that junk! Because those cabinet magnets certainly came in handy! 

I took the metal pieces out of the plastic casings then used gorilla glue and clamps to attach them onto the top of the board. After they were dry, I pounded some great dark carpet tacks into the existing holes in the magnets.

I love the way this magnetic strip turned out!
The colors of the metals are great with the coco chalk paint.
Next, I cut some burlap and attached it to the inside of a few bottle caps, that had already been spray painted ivory, and glued magnet buttons to the backs.

I think these are the perfect little accessory for this piece! :) 

I had purchased some pulls for this project because I really wanted to add these to the piece. Normally, we don't purchase anything. I suppose that every now and again it's ok. :)


The pulls came with screws that were too short. No problem. I went to the hardware store and bought longer screws. I even measured the depth of the wood before going so I would get the correct length. So much for my measuring skills! lol. The screws I purchased were still too short!

Man, was I bummed. I really wanted to finish this project and get some photos of it over the weekend, not have to make another trip to the store for more screws. 


I got so fed up and irritated with myself about the lame-brain screw fiasco that I got the drill out, used my largest bit and, goll-darn it, if I didn't counter-sink those screws in the back of the board and get those pulls on after all! And all by my sweet little self, I might add! 

Hooray for me!
I just might be getting the hang of this handy {wo}man stuff after all! 
(But I'm still gonna leave the cutting and sawing to Eric.
I want to keep all of my fingers attached to my hand, after all!)

Hope you like the new message center!


Sharing...
Rooted In Thyme
Frugal Fridays at The Shabby Nest
Be Inspired Friday at Common Ground
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
What Have You Redone at Redoux Interiors
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
At The Picket Fence
Chic on a Shoestring

Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special
Too Much Time On My Hands
SixSistersStuff.com
I Heart Nap Time
Three Mango Seeds
mop it up mondays
stylish once again
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Your Great Idea Link Party at Or So She Says
March Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
What's in the Gunny Sack at The Gunny Sack
Pink Hippo Party at Pinkapotamus
Project inspire{d}at Setting for Four
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Monday No Rules Blog Hop at A Sorta Fairytale
The Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Monday Funday at Creatively LIving
Make the Scene Monday at Aderberry Hill
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Metamorphisis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Making the World Cuter Monday
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Pretty Things at twelveOeight
Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday at Kammys Korner
Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios
Be Inspired Party at Elizabeth and Co
Transformation Tuesday at the Ironstone Nest
Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles
Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polka Dot Giraffe
Time To Shine Party at A Diamond In The Stuff
One Project at a Time Party at A Bowl Full of Lemons
Tasteful Tuesday at Naptime Creations
You're Gonna Love It at Kathe with an E
Transformed Tuesday at PJH Designs
Budget Decorating Party at Creative Cain Cabin
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
DIY Show Off
Polkadot Pretties
Beyond The Picket Fence

67 comments:

  1. LOVE this...so creative and cute! Definitely Pin Worthy!!! Blessings ~ Judy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Judy. You've made my afternoon. :)

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  2. Love, love, love this! Great job!

    Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How sweet of you. Thank you so, so ,so much! :)

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  3. So creative and inspirational! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by to check it out! :)

      Delete
  4. I love its rustic feel and look! You did an awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This turned out fabulous!!! Love love love it- great job!
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Suzan! So happy you like it! :)

      Delete
  6. Way to go! I have had the same kinds of things happen with me. One trip to the store is too many, two is out of the question. Glad you made it work. It's really cute. I had a cool heavy wood lid I got off a crate at the side of the road, but I finally chucked it when I needed space. :( Wishin' I still had it right about now.
    Liz @ Quirky Vistas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree about 2 trips to the store! Lol. As for throwing your crate lid out, I usually end up having regrets about anything I throw out. But, I don't want to be a total pack rat either! :) Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. This is a great idea. I love your message center.
    Ruth

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    Replies
    1. That's so nice of you to say. Thank you, Ruth!

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  8. What a wonderful project made (almost) all from 'garbage'! It must be great to have 2 sources for a lot of your junk.
    Saw you sharing at It's Party Time.
    Debbie :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Debbie! And, yes, we have some great resources to tap at our jobs and some wonderful friends who always have their eye open for us too. :)

      Delete
  9. Denise, this is so awesome and creative!!! I love it. Love the chalk holder handles. Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent!! So glad to have you party with us! Have a wonderful week. :)
    Hugs
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It means so much to hear you say that. Thanks so much, Kathy!

      Delete
  10. Very cute! I like the idea of using the handles to hold the chalk! Thank you for sharing at TTF.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I featured your message center on my facebook page.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=445057058896508&set=a.232530000149216.51425.118325881569629&type=1

    Cheri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so awesome! Thank you very much for featuring our project!

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  12. What a great tutorial! I would love for you to share this or any of your great ideas at the link party going on now (and every Saturday through Tuesday) at 'Or so she says ...' Hope to see you there! www.oneshetwoshe.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the invite! I'll link up in a bit. :)

      Delete
  13. I love it! Ours has seen better days and I need to make another - love how yours turned out. Thanks so much for linking up to ITS Party Time, hope to see you back next week. I'll be sharing this on Facebook tomorrow! HUGS, Clydia @ Three Mango Seeds

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I appreciate that so much! It means a lot to me that you like our project enough to feature it on your page! This is super news! :)

      Delete
  14. Great idea! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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    Replies
    1. Happy to join that party. Thanks so much for hosting it!

      Delete
  15. I LOVE this project! Repurposing is so awesome and you such a great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Mindi! We try to use as much 'junk' as we can find. lol

      Delete
  16. great project! love how your message board turned out.
    gail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Gail. I appreciate you coming by to look and leave a comment.

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  17. Really neat idea!!! Love the chalk boards:) Pinned!
    http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2013/02/flourless-knockout-ninja-brownies.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, i love it when one of my things get pinned. :) I'll be sure to stop by to check out your blog in a bit! Thanks!

      Delete
  18. An awesome creation!!! Thanks for sharing at Junkin Joe...featuring today : ) hugs!

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    Replies
    1. That is awesome Andrea! Thank you!! Big hugs!

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  19. So clever, so cute and functional! Great idea,Denise. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I appreciate your comment so much. Thanks!

      Delete
  20. Your message board is fantastic! Way to rock the "junk!" Thank you for sharing it at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great weekend!

    Hugs,
    Deborah

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    Replies
    1. Your comment really made me smile! Thanks so much for hosting the party so i can share. So much fun!

      Delete
  21. What were they thinking to through such a prize out?! I'm so glad you rescued it. Its just the cutest message board. Thanks so much for sharing at Transformed Tuesday.
    Hugs,
    Peggy

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    Replies
    1. I know! It's amazing how many things the 2 of us rescue from work! Thanks for checking it out and for the nice words. :)

      Delete
  22. Very creative! It looks great and so functional.

    Thank you for partying with the Wildly Original Crowd.
    <3 Christina at I Gotta Create!

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  23. Fabulous upcycle Denise!! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Pretty Things this week :)

    xo, Tanya
    twelveOeight

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Tanya! Can't wait to share again this week! :)

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  24. I am featuring you tomorrow on Made in a Day! Love this message center!
    Kim

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    Replies
    1. That's awesome Kim! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You've definitely brightened up my day! :)

      Delete
  25. Thanks Melanie. How nice of you to say! I'm checking out your blog right now. :)

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  26. This is fantastic - you definitely saw its potential and made it wonderful! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathy! Happy to share and so thankful you host the party!

      Delete
  27. I am so glad that your hubby's boss knows that you love junk! I am a junkster myself. Great use of the crate. Thanks so much for sharing with Share Your Cup. I will be featuring you this week.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    Replies
    1. Yes, we are lucky to have some great resources! Thank you so much for featuring us this week! We're so excited. :)

      Delete
  28. This is such a great idea. I love the spots for the chalk. I'd love for you to come link up to our party where we can show off all of our old or new projects! :)
    http://www.cutesycrafts.com/2013/03/an-oldie-but-goodie-10.html- Jessica

    ReplyDelete
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