Repupose and Upcycle Old Cutting Boards

Taking things - discarded items nobody wants - and turning them into decorative and sometimes even useful items has become a challenging pastime.

For instance, take the two cutting boards pictured to the left. I considered turning them into shelves or even racks for towels or jackets but in the end decided to keep it simple by painting uncomplicated images on them.

A painted star and burning candle on the plain wood of this paddle cutting board was something I'd been considering for some time.

The stenciled star was painted in antique gold and is surrounded by burnt umber. Burnt umber was dry brushed along the inside edges of the star.

The candle stick consists of a straight line using barn red and a half-inch brush, a float of burnt umber on the left while on the right is dry brushed white. The flame was created using one stroke of antique white with yellow, orange and blue layered on top. A hint of a wick was added. Burnt umber, black or grey will work fine for it.

Lastly, antique white was dry brushed around the flame up into the bottom of the star.

The cat silhouette board was based with one layer of black wash then multiple layers and colors (nutmeg, gold then antique white) were slapped on with abandon to create a background for the silhouette.

The cat silhouette was painted using a flat one inch brush loaded with black. Basic shapes in multiple layers of black were used for all parts than a hint of a shadow using burnt umber was added along the right edge.

A hole was drilled at the center top of the board and a piece of scrap material was poked through and tied in a knot to be used as the hanger.

A simple day project to create simple, country primitive decor for you or as gifts.

Have fun!

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Cute Folk Country House and Picket Fence Art Poster

Cute Folk Country House and Picket Fence Art Poster by Visages
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Kitty Cat Christmas Picture Rectangle Stickers 

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  Schipperke Picture Trucker Hats

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  Owl Porcelain Candy Jar

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 Who da Man? 3 Retro Colored Owls Spiral Note Books

Who da Man? 3 Retro Colored Owls Spiral Note Books by Visages
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 Colorful Painted Butterflies Mouse Pads

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Panda Bear Picture iPhone iPhone 5 Covers

Panda Bear Picture iPhone iPhone 5 Covers by Visages
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Cute Nursery Room Bird Cartoon Gallery Wrapped Canvas 

Cute Nursery Room Bird Cartoon Gallery Wrapped Canvas by Visages
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First Mothers Day Baby Bird Greeting Cards

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Picture of Panda Bear Chef Posters 

Picture of Panda Bear Chef Posters by Visages
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Upcycle Repurpose Vintage Glass Vacuum Coffee Maker

Create a lovely candle holder with a vintage vacuum coffee pot with little effort like I did with this one given to me by some folks who were cleaning out their vacation country home in Missouri.

Remove the metal and ceramic internal parts.

There is no need to remove the glass vacuum tube (tube attached to upper deck of pot).

Fill the bottom with imitation rose buds and leaves, or buttons, or old wooden thread spools, or marbles, or just anything that suits your fancy.

I chose imitation rose buds and leaves 1) because they match the Christmas candle I painted and 2) they are the only thing I found at the second hand (thrift) store I was attracted to and that fit my budget of $1.

Put the upper half of the coffee pot back on, tie a torn strip of scrap fabric matching the color you added to the bottom part of the pot (or your decor) then insert a pillar candle.

This is certainly an eclectic idea and so easy, so fun and just plain so unique.

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I Upcycle & Repurpose Tee by Visages
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Repurpose Old Used Lace Curtain in a Wine Bottle Cover

I will admit right here, right now that I dumpster dive. It's difficult for me to see a promising pile set out at curb-side and not investigate.

It was in a pile set on the curb that I found several lace curtain panels I washed, folded and set aside until I could find a new purpose for them like this cute wine bottle cover tied with a discarded ice skate shoe lace.

Pattern: Take a sheet of newspaper, unfold it and lay the bottle on its side then with a pencil or marker trace the perimeter of the bottle holding the pencil straight up (90 degrees to the paper) and against the glass bottle.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

Cut the paper pattern about a half an inch outside the line you drew then  wrap the pattern around the bottle to ensure there's enough material for the seam.

It took a couple of times of drawing then cutting before the paper overlapped enough for a decent size seam.

Sew it: Fold the top of the cover over about a quarter of an inch and stitch then fold the entire cover in half long ways with the inside of the cover facing out.

Stitch a quarter inch seam the length of the cover then slip it over a wine bottle.

Bow: Weave the shoe lace through the holes in the lace curtain, tie a bow then clip the ends if they're too long.

Keep for yourself, slide over a full bottle of wine for the host and hostess of a party or give as a gift.

Find bridal shower, baby shower, Halloween, Christmas and many other party invitations at Visages.

Here are just a few examples:

 

Cute Folk Art Scarecrow Invitation Announcement

Cute Folk Art Scarecrow Announcement by Visages
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Cute Country Red Gingham Checks Baby Shower Personalized Invitations

Cute Country Red Gingham Checks Baby Shower Personalized Invitations by Visages
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Country Blue Checks White Roses Bridal Shower Custom Invitation 

Country Blue Checks White Roses Bridal Shower Custom Invitation by Visages
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Sunflower Bridal Shower Announcement

Sunflower Bridal Shower Announcement by Visages
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Primitive Folk Art Snowman Holiday Party Personalized Invitation by Visages
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Cute Halloween Jack O'Lantern and Crow Custom Invitations 

Cute Halloween Jack O'Lantern and Crow Custom Invitations by Visages
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White Rose Formal Wedding Invite Personalize

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Personalized Garden Fairy Folk Art Boys Birthday Invites

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Personalized Garden Fairy Folk Art Girls Birthday Personalized Invite 

Personalized Garden Fairy Folk Art Girls Birthday Personalized Invite by Visages
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Cute Country Angel Watering Flowers Invitation Announcements 

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Butterflies and Flowers Blank Invitation 

Butterflies and Flowers for Invitation by Visages
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Christmas Santa Flies Invitation

Santa Flies Invitation by Visages
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Fall Scarecrown with a Pumpkin Invitation

Fall Scarecrown with a Pumpkin Invitation by Visages
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Kitty Cat Picture Christmas Invitation

Kitty Cat Picture Christmas Invitation by Visages
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Upcycle Repurpose Vintage Silver Plated Flatware Forks

I found a set of five or six flatware pieces - mostly forks - for $1 at a local antique store, and just in time because I had run out of forks to use as towel or coat hooks.

The hearts cutout plank was free so for well under $1 I made this hanging coat or towel rack.

Paint: The wood was base-coated with antique white then alternately layered with nutmeg, goose feather and burnt umber running the brush across the board to create a worn appearance.

After it dried, I sanded here and there to create a more shabby look then finished off with a coat of antiquing.

Forks: The fork tines were bent using vise grips and needle nose pliers. Fold a paper towel in half and place over the tines leaving about half of the tine exposed. Using the tightest setting you can, grip the tines with the vise grips and begin bending the fork tines with the needle nose.

It takes quite a bit of strength but if you keep working at it, they'll bend to your will.

Next, bend the fork handle at the narrowest part so that the design is on the outside (as shown).

Attaching forks: Find wood screws with heads large enough to catch the edges of the tines, and not so long they go through to the backside of the wood.

Drill pilot holes a little smaller than the screw then partially screw in the screw.

Slide the fork onto the screw and hold with one hand while tightening the screw with the other.

I find a power drill useful during this process since I don't have enough strength to tighten the screws by hand.

Add two saw tooth hangers making sure you measure so they are even across the back of the board otherwise, the board will hang at an angle.

You can find this item for sale at Gramma Sophie's in Boonville, MO.

Vintage art and pictures on magnets, T shirts, greeting cards, mugs and other gifts at Visages.

Vintage picture of bride and groom for cake pick topper

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Vintage picture of children reunion cake pick topper

Vintage Picture of Children Personalized Reunion Cake Pick by Visages
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Save the date magnet with vintage picture of bride and groom to personalize 

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Playing cards favors or gift with picture of wedding couple 

Vintage Picture of a Wedding Couple Poker Deck by Visages
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Vintage picture of a lady in hat and dress phone cases 

Vintage Portrait of Lady in Hat and 1800s Dress Iphone 3 Case by Visages
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Vintage picture of a lady in hat and long dress playing card deck

Vintage Portrait of Lady in Hat and 1800s Dress Poker Deck by Visages
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Old trunk on phone cases 

Wooden Trunk Chest with Buckles Blackberry Bold Cases by Visages
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1940s cartoon picture of a girl watering her garden gift box

Nostalgic Girl with Watering Can Gift Boxes by Visages
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Upcycled or Recycled Old Wooden Bowl

Cheryl, owner and operator of Gramma Sophie's in Boonville, MO, handed me an old wooden bowl (I paint art on items for her to include in her sale inventory) that originally had fruit painted inside by someone. There was a hand-written date on the bottom that read 1949. Cool.

I painted the bowl black, added a red/orange border then set to work painting pumpkins, leaves, curly vines and the word Autumn.

Pretty simple, really and done in the tole painting method including dry brushing yellow highlights.

What a great way to get ready for Fall.

I Heart (Love) Halloween tees, cup or mugs, tote bags and hat (ball cap) at Visages.

I Heart (Love) Halloween T-shirt by Visages
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