Thursday, March 21, 2013

My OOPS Craft Cabinet

Hello from the beautiful city of Cape Town. 
 
I've been busy with several projects this week and mistakenly deleted a file with all my before pics....so there will be no Before's for the next few posts:(
 
Well, do you sometimes feel like one of your painted pieces has an identity crisis? This is the way I feel about my latest project! 
 
I bought a solid imbuia ball and claw doorless buffet for a steal more than a year ago. It sat in my garage because I just did'nt know what to do with a buffet sans doors. Then it struck me that it could spend the rest of its life as my craft cabinet.  
Now I have seen other doorless cabinets on Pinterest that looks amazing! I had a wild idea to paint Stripes with a signage over the top and decoupaged dictionary pages on the inside....what's wrong with this picture? It did'nt strike me until the transformation was done.
 
The top looks all Frenchy, and everything else looks very Farmhouse! Now I beg you with tears in my navy blue eyes....to tell me once you've read this post if you think my craft cabinet is neither here nor there!

The low down

I found a great tutorial Here for painting stripes on furniture. How amazing is this desk people?!
For my re-do I decided to go with a CAFÉ AU LAIT look with some blue color thrown in for good measure. I slapped on a coat of Ce Ce Caldwell Khansas Wheat and did the stripes in a mocha and light blue color.
It took me forever to figure out that I needed an unequal number of the mocha stripe so that I end up with the same mocha color stripes on either side and the Khansas Wheat at the ends. It became very confusing real fast! 
 
It was something like this (after about 4 attempts):
Width is 103cm, area for stripes must be 90cm, mark off nine (unequal number, remember) 10 cm stripes, and don't forget to account for the 13 cm left over by leaving a gap of 7.5 on either end...That was easy to work out...Ha! 
 
When it came to math, I think I ended up at the back of the queue and got the scraps...LOL. Anyhoo! I was happy when I finally figured it out and could start painting my stripes.
 I found this beautiful CRANE BROS. advert from The Graphics Fairy.
 
 
I used the graphite pencil method to transfer the signage, and painstakingly filled in all the details...Phew!
 
Then I used podge to decoupage the dictionary pages to the inside of the top shelf and gave it a blue wash! Then I got lazy tired and ended up just painting the bottom shelf in blue!
I distressed the cabinet with a wet rag, waxed it and buffed it out!
Here she is in all her confused glory!
 
 
 
 
  

For styling I shopped my house and managed to get some decent vignettes together! 



That sepia pic is moi at age 7 and of course Miss G had to be included!
 
Is the verdict out yet? Does my craft cabinet suffer from an identity crisis?




 
You can often find me at these parties:
lizmarieblog - inspire-me-please

 
 




                    




 



 

 
 
 

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21 comments:

  1. Rosemary@villabarnesMarch 21, 2013 at 3:05 PM

    It looks fabulous, Sumaya. Your design works beautifully with the shape of the piece. Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 21, 2013 at 3:09 PM

      Thanks Rosemary, This cabinet really had me worried, but I feel a whole lot better now:)

      Delete
  2. Angie @ Knick of TimeMarch 21, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    You did an amazing job transferring that image, Sumaya - it looks awesome!

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    Replies
    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 22, 2013 at 1:18 AM

      Thanks Angie, I am very happy with the image - I used a chisel tip pen this time and got better results! I also finished a small bench and I used some of your silhouette images. Can't wait to show you:)

      Delete
  3. Betsy@My Salvaged TreasuresMarch 21, 2013 at 5:42 PM

    I love it! A real labor of love produced a gorgeous cabinet.

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    Replies
    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 22, 2013 at 1:21 AM

      Your comment makes me smile!

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  4. srpprcrftrMarch 21, 2013 at 9:27 PM

    You did such a great job putting the signage on top. I have no idea how to do something like that. You are very talented and your little gal is gorgeous. I love those stripes also, good for you figuring out the math. Your buffet looks so cute. What a great craft cabinet.
    I'm very challenged when it comes to math, never my strong suit. Thank God all my kids are so much smarter about math. I was always awful at math and tests especially. I'd freeze up when the word test was said out loud. It's incredible how much math is used in making crafts. I cheat, I use my calculator. Happy Days Sumaya.

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    Replies
    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 22, 2013 at 1:31 AM

      Hello JaneEllen. So lovely hearing from you always. Yes, those stripes became quite technical...:)
      I also have a problem with exams. I get so worked up that the minute I sit down with the test paper, I go into a state of stupor for a while...lol. But I suprised myself last month when I sat for my learner driver's test and I was quite calm and got everything right...I was quite suprised!

      Have a lovely weekend:)

      ~~Sumaya

      Delete
  5. Laurel@ChippingwithCharmMarch 22, 2013 at 5:06 AM

    LOVE, love, love it!! Beautifully painted and "styled" :)

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    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 22, 2013 at 5:36 AM

      Thanks for your darling comment Laurel. I guess its not so oops afterall:)

      Delete
  6. farmhouse-storyMarch 22, 2013 at 5:43 AM

    it's darling with the stripes, transfer, and book pages, sumaya! have a great weekend:)

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    Replies
    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 22, 2013 at 10:39 AM

      Thank you so much Lynn. Glad you stopped by. Have a great weekend too!:)

      Delete
  7. miss flibbertigibbetMarch 22, 2013 at 6:12 AM

    I like it! All the elements blend together nicely I think!

    ReplyDelete
  8. TrishaMarch 22, 2013 at 12:57 PM

    Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  9. JennaMarch 22, 2013 at 6:53 PM

    I think it looks great!

    Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof

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  10. must love junkMarch 24, 2013 at 7:57 AM

    I LOVE your cabinet-whatever its identity! And you styled it perfectly! :)
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 24, 2013 at 9:01 AM

      Wow, I am so happy to get your comment Susan. Thanks so much:)

      Delete
  11. MaytagNMomMarch 25, 2013 at 6:00 AM

    That was quite an understaking to do the graphite method then all of the detail work. Turned out pretty-- pretty STUNNING that is :)

    Visiting from Brag Monday linky party @Graphicsfairy
    Smiles,
    Suz @ MaytagNmom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sumaya at Evocative VintageMarch 25, 2013 at 8:38 AM

      Thank you so much for coming over and leaving a sweet and very flattering comment. I truly appreciate it:)

      Delete

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