Sunday, June 10, 2012

From Tossed Shelf to Top Shelf


In literal terms, this what-not shelf wasn't actually tossed. But it was sentenced to a garage sale table  featuring nothing but 50-cent items. I snapped it up for a rainy-day project.


When I got the shelf home, I remembered this pitifully beat-up--or should I say scribbled up--1952 early reader, Fun with John and Jean, that I had picked up some time back for a quarter. It's easy to see why it was nearly a freebie. But, many of the pages remained in good shape and I thought I could combine the shelf and some images from the book to create a nice display shelf for a kid's room.


I'd been looking forward to cracking open my first quart of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Duck Egg Blue so chose it to give the shelf a facelift. I had intended to fully distress and dark wax the shelf. But, I so liked the look of the paint on its own, I decided to stop at that.


I've always loved the illustrations in these early readers and this book was no exception. After eliminating the scribbled pages, I was left with some very nice images to decoupage onto the inside back of the piece.


To add a playful touch, embellished the front panel with reclaimed Scrabble tiles.


Hang it on the wall, or stand it on top of a dresser or table. Either way, I think it looks pretty cute.


Make it a great day!

20 comments:

  1. Love the paint colour and the book illustrations just add a lovely finishing touch. Would look perfect in any child's room.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  2. So cute! Using the pages of the Fun with John and Jean book as wallpaper for the back of the unit is a perfect idea. Whenever I see that style of nostalgic drawings {used in the book} I instantly love the item ... it takes me back to my child hood ... of course the items I played with were hand-me-downs, maybe even several times, a 1952 reader is a before my time :)

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  3. Brilliant idea. We had the Janet and John books back in the day. Loving the colour you have painted it, it will look great in a kiddies room.

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  4. This looks amazing! Love a great upcycle! HOpe you will hop on over to my under 300 followers blog hop @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2012/06/under-300-followers-blog-hop-5.html
    I am your newest follower~
    xoxo
    Amie @ Pinkapotamus

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  5. I love what you did with this little shelf. Great color choice and the book you chose to use for decoupage was perfect. Bright, cheerful, adorable! I'm your latest follower!

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  6. I absolutely love this - the book page backdrop is just gorgeous.

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  7. This transformation is awesome, very good you rescued it before it went for the yard sale, great job, very clever, and kids will love it. It also has a fresh new look. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. What a cute shelf! Love the color! Perfect for a child's room. I'm visiting from Tuesdays Cowgirl Up linky party and am now following you.
    http://www.laurieslittlebitsofcreativity.com/

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  9. Love this, so creative! Any child would be so lucky to have it! Visiting from Knick of Time.

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  10. The pages of those old books are so perfect for something like this. I love it. I have a book like that I got at a sale and have been holding it for the perfect project. You've given me ideas! Good work!

    Liz

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  11. This shelf looks great. I just love how you used pages from the old children's book to line the back of the shelf. Fabulous look!

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  12. I love that you rescued it and the book. It turned out great! Thanks for sharing at the All Star Block Party!

    Holly

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  13. What a great find and a great project! Love the color. The scabble tiles are cute, and what really caught my eye were the old reader pages! Brings back such great memories. Love the size of the shelf too....so versatile! Saw you over at the All Star Block Party and happily following you via GFC. Thanks for sharing this.

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  14. This turned out so cute, Ann- love what you did with it!

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  15. It looks wonderful - well done! Love the scrabble letters too!

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  16. This is just the most darling transformation!!

    So cute!!

    Great job!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  17. I love it! What a great idea. I learned to read with Dick and Jane - and these books are very similar. I see a project coming on with an old bookcase of my own! Do you mind if I pin this on my Pinterest board?

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  18. This is the sweetest little shelf redo- using that vintage childs book was a great idea and I love the color you painted it too! Great job!

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  19. That is the cutest bookself I have ever seen! I LOVE IT!!!

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  20. I'm totally in love with this idea. what a darling vintage feel you've given this shelf! completely smitten! xo

    http://www.NorthernCottage.net

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