Saturday, October 8, 2011

One Man's Trash = Luci Rae's Kitchen

As I mentioned on Wednesday the next week's theme for Crafting With the Stars and Crafting From the Sidelines is "Upcycled."   Well, have I got an "upcycling" for you! 

A few months ago I was driving home from work to relieve my mom from babysitting Luci when I got a call.  It was my mom and she was EXCITED!  She told me to take the back way home and that I would see a pile of furniture on the curb waiting for the trashman.  Knowing what treasures could be found and giddy with excitement, I of course took her advise... and I am sure glad I did! 

Sitting on the side of the road amidst an old refrigerator, some yucky shelves, and old boots sat this little treasure:




It was wobbly and rickety and had a family of spiders living in the back... but I loved it anyway. We snatched it up (screaming when I found the spiders) and threw it in the back of the Xterra.  I left it outside for a month or so (for fear of the spiders) and then when I was sure they were gone I started on a little face lift.  I thought it would be the perfect gift for Luci's first birthday.

I started by power washing... A LOT!  I mean look how dirty it was!

Then I had my hubster put some nails in it to make it sturdy again... he's so helpful.


Finally I started sanding, and sanding, and sanding some more.  After I had sanded it to my satisfaction I started spraying.  I used Rust-Oleum's Berry Pink in Gloss.  It was the cutest color! 



I handpainted some aqua to give it a little bit of contrast:


And sewed a little curtain for the cabinets:



The end result makes me so happy!  The little oven door works and everything :)  Now Luci has her very own little kitchen in the corner of our kitchen.  While mommy is cooking (rare, but it does happen) Luci can be playing in her kitchen too. 

Here it is, all pretty and finished for Luci's birthday!




It turned out better then I thought and it was free to boot!  I don't think it gets any more "upcycled" then that!  I mean this thing was doomed to die at the bottom of the dump but thanks to my mom, it has been given a new life, with a new little girl to love it... Thanks mom for the great tip!

Anyone else been dumpster diving and proud of it?? 
Or am I the only crazy dumpster diver out there??

Anyone... anyone...Bueller???

Well peeps now this little party is in your hands! Check out the host of this week's Crafting From the Sidelines Bernadette from b3 Home Designs for all of the competition entries or to enter your own project! You can either vote by commenting at the blog of the project you like the most.  OR you can hop on over to b3 Home Designs and comment about the project you want to win!  Check out all the projects, vote for your favorite and link up if you have an awesome "upcycled" project you want to submit! 

Also, don't forget to hop on over to Sew Dang Cute on Tuesday and click on your favorite project.  Each click counts as a vote... and I would love it if you clicked on my project!

So comment comment comment:)  I will love you forever and ever!!



I am linking to:

Trash to Treasure Tuesdays at Kammys Korner



Keeping It Simple



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14 comments:

  1. Very lucky Lucy! Happy birthday!
    This is such a great green project. I'm so weak at painting tho. Thanks for sharing!

    dita
    http://handmadenest.blogspot.com

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  2. This turned out so great! My husband is a proud dumpster diver, it has paid off because we have a beautiful hutch in our kitchen that he picked up off the side of the road!

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  3. LOVE IT! Andee wants one for her 2nd birthday...just sayin' :)

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  4. Love the colors! I haven't been dumpster diving in years. Maybe I need to do that again!

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  5. What a cute and colorful play kitchen! Luci Rae will LOVE it!! (Santa may need to bring her a little apron and oven mitt.)

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  6. A-Mazing!! you have such an eye for color, along with a whole fistful of talent for making this cute kitchen. and CONGRATULATIONS on your winning compass table!! that is the coolest!! you are one of the big dogs, now!

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  7. Trash Rules! Nicely done on the kitchen. I wish re-doing our kitchens was that easy!

    reposhture.blogspot.com

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  8. There's TWO little redone kitchens over at the SDC upcycle contest-- and I can't even vote for them bc I like yours so much.

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  9. So I've managed to pick up 3 kitchens from the curb for free and what have I done with them (besides give 'em a scrub down)? NOTHING! I need to get my butt in gear! AND... I'd be tickled pink if you'd share this over at Trash to Treasure Tuesdays on the Korner! :) http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/trash-to-treasure-tuesday-link-party-2.html

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  10. I'm here from Sweet Little Gals. This is absolutely adorable!!

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  11. Great transformation! I've featured this at today's Craftastic Link Party. Stop by & grab a Featured On button. Thanks for linking up:)

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  12. That pink and blue rocks sistah! I would love for you to come link up at my party this weekend!

    http://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/2011/12/get-schooled-saturday-4.html

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  13. Love this!! Following you from tatertots and jello-stop by for a visit!!

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