DIY Pallet Bulletin Board

As you know, I'm always trying to make something new out of pallets.  Here is one of my latest creations using pallet boards and salvaged wood.  I love combining different types of wood, sanding each board, and then seeing what new life they take on.  I made two bulletin boards and have listed this one in my Etsy shop. You can see that listing here.  I'm keeping the other one for myself and will use it to display Christmas cards we receive.

I Love Shutters!

  

I start so many of my sentences by saying "I love .....".  Just fill in the blanks with various items.  Truth is, I love so many things, especially those things that have had a long, useful life and just need a little nudge, or some elbow grease, to make them wonderful again!

My current obsession....other than pallets at the time....is shutters ~ any shape, any size.  They can be turned into so many useful and beautiful creations.  I've been using them a lot to make jewelry organizers and memo boards. I've posted a few pictures here for you to take a look. 

Below is the beginning of the process with a brand new(old) shutter I found at one of our local flea markets.  I love flea markets, too!  I always scrub and sand away any rough edges on the shutters as you can see below.  In order for the shutter to hand flush against the wall, I tack on some fir strips to the back after nailing the louvre bar in place.  On this creation, I painted to added wood black.

You can see a picture below of the back of the shutter after the saw tooth hanger is attached.

  

 

Below is the finished product! It's also pictured above.   I added some knobs that I got from Habitat for Humanity Resale Store and voila, a new jewelry holder!

So, what do you think?  Do you have any projects to share using shutters?  I'd love to see them.  Please leave a comment with a link below.

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Alison

This post was linked up to:

Inspire Me Please @ Liz Marie Blog
Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life

Memories Framed.....

My family says that I love all things vintage. This is true, but I especially love all things vintage if they have a family connection. I've been on a quest this year to try to display, while preserving, some of the old photographs I have of family members. There are so many of my parents, grandparents, and even my great-grandparents. I want to display more of them so my children will be able to feel a connection to the faces in those photographs.

I set out one day to try to find an old vintage frame that I could turn into a bulletin board.  I found the perfect frame at a thrift shop during and afternoon of thrifting with my husband. It cost $3.00! Here's a picture of the frame before I sanded and re-painted it.

It was really a very easy project.  The finish was in decent shape, it just needed to be cleaned up a bit.  Then,  of course, I  had to paint it.  I paint most all things I find I thrift stores and flea markets.  My rule of thumb is if it's a family heirloom, I never paint it.  I want to maintain the same patina that has been with the piece throughout the years.  However, if the piece is "new to me", but still vintage, I love to add a new and fresh finish if needed.  So, the frame got a coat of black paint, followed by a generous sanding, to make sure it looked old again. (My husband just shakes his head when I do this.)

Here's the bulletin board all finished.  I had the fabric, batting and ribbon on hand, and stopped by Michael's to pick up a piece of form core to use as the base.

The pictures displayed are of my grandparents cooking in the kitchen along with a handwritten recipe from my grandmother.  There is also a picture of my mother with my aunt and  uncle.  The two pictures at the bottom are of my grandfather in World War I in France and my uncle in World War II.  I've blogged about my uncle and aunt in "A Vintage Love"  here before.  Click the title if you'd like to read it again.

I love the end result.  We have it displayed in a small hallway off our foyer that leads to our son's bedroom/guestroom and bath.  There are no windows at all, so I can be assured our photographs aren't being exposed to sunlight.  

I have plans to make another bulletin board like this again soon.  Goodness knows I need several to display all the family photos and papers we have.  There just never seems to be enough hours in a day.........