Sweet friends, today I am sharing a tale of two racks! Left in my pile of thrift store treasures, was a magazine rack and a spice rack. Both pieces were only $1.98 each, and since they are simple items, both of those pieces are getting a makeover today!
Let’s start with the magazine rack, shall we?
Here is a reminder of how it started:
Magazine racks are all over the thrift stores these days. With everyone having cell phones, it seems no one needs reading material for the bathroom any more! Kind of gross, but true, right? Every once in a while though I spy one that is a pretty shape like this one and I want to bring it home and play with it. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Here is how this one turned out:
Of course white paint fixes just about anything in my book, but I didn’t want to just paint it white and call it a day. So when I was deciding what else I could do with it, I remembered these pretty napkins I picked up at HomeGoods a while back:
My talented friend Jen at Girl in the Garage has done several projects using napkins and I always remember this stack I bought whenever she posts a new project using them, and then of course I forget about them again!
They were just what this project needed to dress up the sides:
I actually used spray paint for this magazine rack this time. I started with a coat of spray primer, followed by two coats of Rustoleum Satin White spray paint. It is just so much easier to spray all those spindles. And as you can see, even spray painted projects can be shabbied up a bit with a little sandpaper and a light hand…
To add the napkin to either end, I followed Jen’s tutorial which you can find HERE. Only the top layer of this three-layer napkin was used for this application.
These napkins were perfect with their white background since my piece was painted white also. I actually placed this one on the diagonal so the napkin would cover the entire side:
I let it dry completely and sanded very lightly with 220 grit sandpaper across the surface and along the edges. Then I sealed each end with Annie Sloan’s clear soft wax.
Such a fun addition, don’t you think? With all the pretty napkins out there the possibilities are endless.
Next up is the spice rack! It started out like this:
A little Gray Morning DIY chalk paint and now it looks like this:
I shared a couple of these little spice racks in my Painting the Smalls posts HERE and HERE and staged them both as nail polish storage. Here I had fun with some of my ironstone, turning this one into a place to hold all those cosmetic sponges, q-tips, etc. You could stack all your makeup on the top shelf. Of course you could still use it for spices as well.
To redo this one, I spray primed first so that there would be some white peeking through in the end. I was working on this one while I was also working on the silver tray I shared on Tuesday:
Yep I have not one, but TWO small HomeRight spray shelters! They are only around $30 or so, and such a great tool when spray painting. My first one was getting pretty crusty, so I bought a second one, and then decided I just couldn’t throw the first one away…so sometimes I use both! I also have a medium sized one and a large one!
After giving this little rack a good coat of Behr’s Gray Morning made into DIY chalk paint (recipe HERE), I used my silhouette (I have this one HERE.) to added a number to the top:
No significance in the number two; I just happen to think it is a pretty looking number in this Bodidly font. 🙂
A little sanding with 220 grit sandpaper all over and a topcoat of Dixie Belle’s Satin Clear Coat and this little rack was done!
And there you have it, a tale of two racks…makeovers that is!
And that completes this round:
Or does it? You might have noticed that I have yet to tackle the two smaller drawers. I’m saving those for a project I have in mind for the Spring!
If you missed any of the previous redos from this thrift store haul, you can find them all linked below:
80’s Towel Bar Shelf Repurposed
Pretty Thrift Store Mirror Makeover
$2 Thrift Store Drawer Upcycle
Thrift Store Picture Repurposed
I really enjoyed working through this pile piece by piece and it seems y’all did too!
I’ve been shopping and have a new pile of goodies to start sharing with you soon.
I’ll meet y’all back here for Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday. I’m sharing what I did with the other leftover drop leaf:
UPDATE!! No need to come back…see what I did with this leftover drop leaf piece HERE now!
Have a fantastic weekend!!
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mazuryk says
Hi, I have been following your blog for a long time, and everytime I am still in awe,beautiful! I like it a lot. I have painted a diningroom table and sixchairs for my daughter in law. They have 2 kids, what should I use for a ‘child proof’ finish or seal? I used chalk paint, should I wax it before seal it?
Thanks
Mazuryk
Christy says
Aww thank you so much! Is this a table that will get daily use? If it will only be used at Holidays, sealing with wax will suffice. It takes about three weeks to fully cure to a hard durable finish, so use care with it until then. If it will get heavy use, and is painted white or very light, you may want to use a brush on sealer like Dixie Belle’s Satin Clear Coat. You would use one or the other but not both. If it is painted darker, you could use Polycrylic in satin or General Finishes in Flat out Flat finish. They have been know to pull the tannins in the stain beneath the chalk paint in very light or white colors, but are great on medium or darker tones. I personally prefer to keep the tops of these pieces stained if possible as that is the most durable. I hope this helps! XO
Mary Kaiser says
Wow they both turned out so beautiful! This was a awesome way to go through all your treasures to redo them. It was almost as much fun as your March Madness Makeovers that you have done. Those were the best, but this has been a very close second place!! Loved all the transformations!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary!! I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed these projects… I did too! It was very easy to stay motivated knowing I had to pick from that bunch! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Very fun project outcomes Christy. I did wonder if you would remove the spindles on the one to use with other projects. 🙂 Love the white and creative use of napkins.
The spice shelf looks lovely displaying your ironstone. 🙂
Way to go!
Have a great rest of your week and weekend!
Christy says
Thanks, Christina!! I had thought about it ha ha as you know I like to surprise y’all with new ways to use things, but in the end I kept both pieces as they were originally intended. Have a great weekend!! XOXO
Wendy Harris says
Love your pieces!!!! (As always! ????). Quick question…on the napkin, you only put modge podge on the bottom correct? You did not cover the top of the napkin?
Thanks!!! Wendy ????
Christy says
Thank you so much, Wendy!! I did not add another coat of Mod Podge on the top, only on the bottom. I sealed the top with wax instead, but I don’t know if you really even need to seal it! XOXO
Wendy says
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer that question. Looking forward to using this technique ????
Christy says
My pleasure! Have fun with it! ????
Becky says
Pretty, pretty!! I love what you did with that napkin! Jen has done some beautiful things too, I’m going to have to give this a try!
It’s been so fun watching you tear into that stack!
Christy says
Thank you, Becky! Yes, Jen has great ideas as well, and girl, I have really enjoyed working through this haul, so I am so happy y’all have enjoyed it too. I spent a couple of days thrifting this week and have a brand new stack to start on woohoo! XOXO
vicki says
As always, everything you have done turned out really cute!! They were all fun projects and have inspired me to get out in the garage and get to work on my ‘stash’.
Christy says
Thank you, Vicki!! I love that you are feeling inspired to get creative too…that is the best!! XOXO
KariAnne Wood says
I love this project! BUT I love those books EVEN MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much friend!
Happy day!
karianne
Christy says
Thank you, KariAnne! And yes, I loved your book! Your talent for story-telling really draws the reader in and I love it! So glad you stopped by! XOXO
Cecilia says
Oooo, pretty! I like the napkin addition to the magazine rack. I found a large one and it holds my cookie sheets and cutting boards. It sits on the bottom shelf of my kitchen cart we made. As for the spice rack, it makes a great holder! I’m thinking of all those bottles of Essential Oils. I’m going to be on the lookout for one! It would be so much nicer looking than the clear acrylic one I’m currently using. Yes, I enjoyed watching you work through your stack. Always fun to see what you’ll do with each piece! 🙂
Christy says
Thanks, Cecilia! That is such a great way to reuse a magazine rack…so smart! And yes a spice rack would be fantastic for holding essential oils! I’m so glad you enjoyed this round of treasures…I have a new stack ready to go already! XOXO
Lizzy Leff says
Adorable. Love them both!
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Odd that the spice rack only has one shelf. I was sure you’d turn it upside down and make it a towel rack It sure is country cute now. In fact, they’re both so much better now!
Christy says
Thanks, Marcie! The spice rack has two shelves…I just only put stuff on the bottom ha ha! And I never thought to turn it upside down…hmmm…that would have been clever! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
That’s so funny, from the photos, it looks like it only has one shelf. Next spice rack you can try something new!
Christy says
I went back and looked and you’re right…it totally looks like it only has one shelf lol! ????
Carole says
Great job on such a big haul you started with. It was fun to watch you go through your stash pile. I can’t even come up with a favorite – they are all beautiful and useful.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Carole! I’m SO glad to hear you enjoyed these makeovers!! I’ve been shopping and have a new pile to share soon! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Mary says
Great job, they both look wonderful! Keep the projects coming and thanks.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Mary!! I sure will! XOXO
Margie says
What fun it’s been to see what you did with all these treasures.Loved them all but the table was my favorite. Time to go shopping again ????
Christy says
Oh yay…I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed these makeovers, Margie! I loved the table as well. I squeezed in a couple of shopping days this week and have a new lot ready to go! XOXO
Cheryl says
Great job!! Can’t wait to see what you do with the extra table leaf.
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! Still working on the table leaf, but it’s almost done! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Debbie says
Both soooooo stinkin’ cute!!!! Inspired!
Christy says
Thank you, Debbie!! XOXO
Lorri says
Love Love your posts????I always read yr posts on your redos. I always wonder how you are going to make it look wonderful…and know what? You never disappoint me.???? Keep them coming.You are so creative!!!!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Lorri! I truly appreciate your very kind words! XOXO
JODY GILBERTSON says
Love what you do. Look forward to the next projects.
Thank you for your talent.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Jody!! XO
Jaynell Glass says
I have a question for you I’m confused about how you did the number 2? it looks as if you had already painted the spice rack than added the number 2 and there appears to be extra paint surrounding the 2 how did you remove the extra paint ? Thank you in advance ! I’ve learned so much as I’ve read about different projects you’ve done and enjoy everything you do!!!!!
Christy says
Hi Jaynell! Thank you! I added the number 2 using my silhouette machine, but instead of using the traditional black vinyl to create my “stencil”, I’m cheap so I used contact paper. This just happened to be clear contact paper. 🙂
Jaynell Glass says
Thank you for answering I also use my Cricut and contact paper but with yours being clear I couldn’t tell that’s what you had done
Christy says
No problem! It was hard to see. 🙂
Mimi says
I love everything you do, and these are particularly lovely. I see so many magazine racks and shelves at the thrift store, but don’t always know what to do with them. Same with pretty napkins, now I have some good ideas, thanks! And thanks for being so generous in sharing and teaching!
Christy says
Thank you, Mimi! I’m glad you enjoyed these two and yes, there are a lot of these floating around out there! Always a pleasure to share! XOXO