Get Crafty!

Are you crafty? I claim to be, but in reality, I’m not patient enough to be a really good crafter. I get frustrated, annoyed, irritated. But, I keep going. Acting like I know what I am doing. I’ve said this before… I do, look, evaluate, and do again. There are only a few who can do something perfectly the first try. I am not one of the few.

The bedroom doesn’t have a closet (so, it’s really not a bedroom). I inherited this mini armoire. Its style is ugly with a bit of charm. It’s time. Let’s make this heirloom something. But, what? I know… a closet for the bedroom.

We’ve established, I’m a “let’s try it” crafter. Caroline is not a crafter. Forward march; straight into craft mode.

Other than the giant big box tv butt hole in the back of the armoire, it’s in good shaped. To the hardware store we go. Plywood and two hand saws, wood filler, little nails, gel stain and a boost of confidence purchased, we head home.

We trace the old back, cut, head back to the hardware store. A jig saw hitches a ride on the second trip. We cut, sand, dry fit, cut, sand, dry fit. The new back fits. Caroline and I; we’re impressed!

Now the hard part. We modge podge a poster to the back. Holy bubble! Modge podge is a technique. Mom and daughter lack the patience. We get frustrated. We throw our hands up. It’s good enough. The poster dries. We sand again, we dry fit again, we nail.

We stand back and admire. We’ve done it. We’ve made ugly into, umm, something.

We’ve reimagined a well-made, albeit outdated, casegood into a more current unit that fits the space for which it’s intended. It’s morph into something with a new look, a new purpose. This little armoire now trends with the best of them. If need be, complete restoration to its original look is possible.

Lesson learned; old furniture can be reused, repurposed. Antiques are usually better made with quality materials and exceptional workmanship. 

Before you trash grandma’s relics, get crafty.