When the topic of OLD came up for
… I debated, “Should I work on a priceless artifact or go after a piece of junk?”
Bet you can guess the answer to that one. 🙂 Which would you choose to work on out of this pile? I’d bet the one I chose isn’t even on your radar. But it’s in there.
Isn’t she a beauty?!? A part of a mattress box spring from a recent haul, plus a few old relics I had laying around, I got to work with my new brainstorm.
First order of business was making the rust laden spring thing safe, (what is the thing called?!?) so it recieved a good scrubbing with a wire brush and soapy water, then a satin clearcoat. (thanks for that lesson, Mustard Seed Creations!) This stuff dried so fast and actually made the rusty patina richer, while adding no gloss. I was very happy with the outcome. You are welcome Tremclad. 🙂
I wanted something jazzy for the center of the spring base, so I decided on this plant holder I scooped from a neighbor’s garbage trailer. I removed the interior metal embellishment and finding a scrap bulletin board piece, traced it out, then cut with an exacto knife. The cut wasn’t very clean so I sanded the edges afterward. Worked out great!
Staining was next, leaving out a finishing varnish. I LOVE the matte finish. It still looks old, but much richer and cleaner.
It’s coming along nicely now. This goes to show, anything can be a bulletin board.
I hired my son to glue burlap onto the bulletin board and mount it to the base. Notice screws were used, leaving the option open to change the bulletin board into a chalkboard at a later date if desired.
I loved the end result. The beautiful wood shape and metal accents really take this little bulletin board to a new level. I screwed on a clamp of some kind to the back getting it ready to mount.
It worked!
The wonderfully rich rusty spring base became a kitchen bulletin board in a lonely little corner. I am very much a note person and need to see them in view to remember things, so this invention is perfect for me. The wide open areas provide the perfect place to mount notes galore held up by… weathered clothespins! The smaller bulletin board allows for smaller notes.
Antique hooks were glued onto the lower area of the frame, creating the perfect place for an old straight edge with a job all it’s own.
And next?
How fun! Adding rusty relics and other helps just make the piece more interesting. You can add and take away at free will and load it up with virtually anything. Other uses for the base? A pot rack if closer to the cooking area would be awesome. How about hanging up tools? Or just antiques on a big bare wall? The options are limitless!
What was once a very sleepy little bulletin board area now has a whole lotta rusty pizazz, which perfectly suites our home.
I love how this ever changing bulletin board doesn’t darken this corner as the base isn’t solid, allowing the wall to peek through. It sits right beside the kitchen office armoire so it’s the perfect office companion, funky junk style. 🙂
So did I choose a priceless artifact after all? I’d say yes I did, as I don’t believe I paid much for it at all. 🙂
It’s time to go vote for your fav two entries this week! You can click HERE to get there. Happy voting and thanks for stopping by!
Update:
I’m speechless. Thanks so much for all that voted! I’m blown away something once so lost would garner so much admiration! Just goes to show you, you really can create something out of nothing.
Junk on, friends!
So Cool and creative!! Love it!!
That is awesome! How creative! I love it! You’ve inspired me to look at my “junk” with a new eye…
LOVE it! 🙂 Oh my goodness… that plant stand with the rounded frame… *drool*. That was perfect for your idea!
~Jennifer
Love this project! So creative as usual! Love, love, love it!
-Brooke
This is great, Donna! I love it and all the accessories you added!
Now how cool is that?? Love it!!
Nancy’s Notes!
Gorgeous!!!
: )
Julie M.
You have outdone yourself this time, I am in love with this idea!!!
Kat 🙂
I am always in complete awe of your projects! Your creativity & talent is just amazing & inspiring!
WAY cool.
Oh Donna, I love this! Fantastic.
That is amazing! Super vision!
Love this idea!
🙂
Good grief Donna, you are goooood!
This is fantastic!
Girl you are the queen of junk…..I am in love with this, beyond messure!!
This is one of the neatest pieces I have seen. I love it!!
Amazing job and even more amazing piece. Thanks for sharing the details.
The side by side before and after photos of the area is truly spectacular. Love. Love. Love.
Candy
I’m totally laughing out loud here. I was sick about posting this one! I think my stomache untwisted one knot. (80,000 more to go)
Thanks so much for the kudos! Thinking outside the box is hard on the nerves. 🙂
FJ Donna
Hi Donna- This is the best re-use of junk I have ever seen – and I have seen A LOT. You are so clever. Everything you added makes the piece even more interesting. Your before and after shots of the wall where you hung your new treasure looks totally fabulous beyond words. I am speechless. Does the number 5 stand for anything or is it just a piece of junk you picked up? My vote goes to you.
Diane
speechless! can’t even think of anything to say –except i want it!!!! that is awesome!
Diane, good question! I debated putting that in the post.
I simpy found a pile of wooden numbers at a hardware store on the floor and put one to good use. I love the condensed letter style for the narrow frame. I do like 5 because it’s the month of my son’s birthday. 🙂
FJ Donna
Are you kidding me? Where oh where do you come up with these ideas? Your brain should be studied by scientists or something. Usually I see things and say, “I could have come up with that or with something even snazzier.” But I had nothing to say when I saw your creation. My mouth just dropped. And that is not a good look for me. You never cease to amaze me. It’s a good thing you’re my friend–you are my friend, right? If not, I’d have to hate you–not really hate, but you know what I mean–because you are so much more clever than I. And you know how I need to feel clever and all.
Donna…
This is simply fabulous!! I am absolutely in awe of your creativity. Beautiful – truly!
This is breathtaking! I feel like this piece comes from an Anthropologie store. If I see one in there, I just might have to remind them WHO did it first. LOVE IT!
Cheers~
e
Seriously lady, I want to play in your junk pile! You have the best junk!
~anita
you’ve got to be freakin kidding me!
this is out of this world fabulous!
girl. you are amazing. on the sns post (i think it was) you said that you were nervous about this one…gulp. don’t EVER be nervous again. you create such rare beauties out of junk. we all are in awe!
Absolutely beautiful…really. I want one. I had to catch my breath when I got to the final picture. You won my vote this week!
Glitch in commenting, I think my comment got erased!
I voted for you! And where in the world do you go junking?? I would love to find stuff like this!
WOW!! GREAT, CREATIVE IDEA!! LOVE IT!!
absolutely lovely – what more can I say…
You are amazing! That really came together! You have some moxie girl! Do you sell your work? If you don’t, you should! (Although if I made it, I’d want to keep it for myself :))
Great job!
Donna, you’ve got my vote HANDS DOWN!!! You are ubber-creative girlfriend… just keep on making my day! lol
Karen@Urban Whyte
That is AMAZING! How you come up with these creations never ceases to amaze me! Love it!
Outstand,beautiful,remarkable,stunning I could go on and on with this. You are so creative! I love this so much. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Vicky
Ah, so incredibly creative! You were clearly thinking “out of the box” on this one! Love it.
Chelsea
Amazing as always! And those curtains are still one of my favorite things I have ever found in blogland!!!
Pure. Unadulterated. Genius.
Seriously, that is so cool. And it is next to my favorite window treatment idea ever! Amazing.
That is one of the most beautiful pieces of junk I have ever seen!!!!!
I’ve been wanting for so long to find an old bed spring to hang and display pictures on. I guess great minds think alike! It looks great!
Oh Donna, it looks so amazing! You are one incredibly creative lady! I love the wood 5 on top of the bulletin board! How did you even think of that? You know I voted for you!
this is amazing! love the vision. never would have pictured all that stuff turning into this!
Genius, absolute genius. You need to write a book, or start a magazine, or come here for a year or two. I think that would be best. Come here, I’ll feed you and make you laugh as payment, ok?
This is fabulous!!! It sure gives me an idea to “junk” up a small area in my kitchen. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration! Wow!! I really love it. It really adds to that space and your “drapery” is awe-inspiring!
Hugs And thanks
SueAnn
WOW!!! I’m speechless . . . and that’s a rarity!
Happy Monday to you!
Carla
dang! you are one gifted junker! love it!!
This is awesome! Great job – I’m mystified at house amazing this looks!
How creative! I love it!
Donna- 3 words: you amaze me. The vision you have for “junk” pieces just blows my mind. I LOVE this. Now I want to know when youre gonna come down to the US and visit me, passing along some of that inspiration?:)
Sarah
handbagsnpigtails.blogspot.com
You got me on this one. First picture, no way she can do anything with all that stuff! Last picture my mouth dropped open. Still can’t believe it! You amaze once again.
Once again, my jaw won’t close! Help! Well, it’s easier to type right now than talk!
OK, first off, I looked at the pile of junk and read the question you posed and thought…”Good God, call the garbage men today. I know it’s not garbage day, but I’ll pay the extra 50 bucks to have them come and clean this up” (that was me) Then I put in “Donna’s brain” and thought, wow, it may be like a creative explosion for her”.
CREATIVE EXPLOSION IS PUTTING IT MILDLY.
I liked everything and couldn’t believe that you were thinking of this stuff as I read along. Then I got to the before and after shots!!! We need to call some magazine people or something NOW!!!! This has gone too far!!
I want to live in your house. Or at least come for a visit. It will be some kind of a tour, because I’ll look at, say, the thing that’s holding the toilet paper roll and ask, “Now, what is that?” And you’ll respond, “Oh, they were demolishing a building that I was driving by one day and this hunk of concrete landed in front of my truck and I HAD to stop and pick it up. Isn’t it perfect with this piece of steal sticking out? Perfect to hang the roll on?!”
Every nook and cranny AND NOW THAT CORNER BY THAT WINDOW WITH THAT HANGER FOR A CURTAIN ROD has a story!
I LoVe ThAt YoU ArE sO UnIqUe!
I’m calling BH&G, Martha, THis Old House, Architectural Digest and Country Living as soon as I get off this thing!!!
This piece really has everything! So cool!
I don’t even know what to say. You guys are blowing me away. I feel abit like a movie star of the hour. Ever have that feeling?!? No? Go get yourself a piece of who knows what, prop it up with glue and duct tape and you may be next. Who knew.
Thank-you!!!!!
FJ Donna
I just love how you think outside the box! It turned out fabulous! I absolutely love it!
~ Tracy
This is so super cool! I love it!
This is gorgeous and so creative! I love it!
The result of this is truly gorgeous. Great project. As a Junk Market fan, I’m loving that you chose Junk as your project. This turned out so cool.
Gretchen
Donna, I am not kidding when I say this is one of the best things I have ever seen. I am in love with this!
Oh my gosh….i soooooooooo love this!!!!!!
AWESOME!!!!!!
Amaaaaazing repurposing! That little corner of your kitchen looks a thousand times more interesting now. It just fit’s too! Like it was meant to be. Your usual creative mind has done it again. Well done!
Lisa
Donna, this is amazing. So beautiful and so creative! Love it ;).
Clever, clever girl! Such a transformation of that space. Practical and so cool at the same time. I have a junk crush on you! 🙂
Amy
Donna, that is a brilliant job of repurposing!
ok – that is about the coolest message board I’ve ever seen! You rock!
Kristi
Punkin Seed Productions
Donna,
This is the most incredibly awesome piece I have seen in a long time!!
OK, I’m out to he shed to see what I might have.
old crib springs. check.
can of rust colored spray paint. check.
hmmm, cool bulletin board material, looking. =0))
Have a super day!!
Thanks for such an inspirational and wonderful blog.
blessings and smiles
barbara jean
VERY creative. I like it a lot!
This may be your best ever–I love every single thing about it!
Oh and I believe those “things” are called bed springs! I had to show my husband this! First he said, “Good Lord” when he saw the heap. Then he shouted, “WHAT!” at the after shot!
Had to share!
What a neat idea! My husband would twitch a bit…not just about the rusty patina, also the off-centered-ness. LOL! I love it!
CUTE BLOG, STOP BY & SAY HI:) GIO
Dang- you are clever- now where can I find one of those bed frames?
You’re always a smart girl! I really like the planter thing you put the 5 on.
Awesome. I think this was tops this week.
How could we possibly expect anything but junk in you corner? Donna, you do NOT disappoint.
This is absolutely the best. I love it. I want it, I must have one.
great job~!
So I think that this is AMAZING Donna!! You truly have a gift ~ a vision and I L*O*V*E it!
I LOVE this!!! So awesome!!!!!
frightening, as i have one of those bed mattress thingies out of a very old house laying in the yard………hmmmm
This is beyond awesome! I love it you are amazing!!
~Morgan
http://meetvirginiaandroo.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeetVirginiaShop
Oh my Gosh! I Love this sooooo much! I think this is my most favorite of your projects! I love th dark tones in that corner so much more than the before photo. Love it!
This is so beautiful and just so stylish!
I am thrilled to have found your blog! You have amazing style and a real gift for re-purposing junk! I love the combination of the metal bedspring, wood frame and burlap…so cool!
Carly
http://www.carlyteephotography.com
brilliant!
Wow!
~elaine~
this is absolutely amazing! i will definitely attempt to recreate something like this.. but that plant holder is perfect. i need to develop an eye like yours because i never would have picked up that plant holder! great work!
I just love this! I just picked up the springs to a crib this morning from a Freecycler! I’ve wanted to make something with one of these forever. My daughter said whatcha gonna do with that? I said I think it’d be a cool bulletin board! LOL!! GMTA eh? Now I just have to enter the world of blogging myself….eek! Anyway thanks for the wonderful inspiration!
Unbelievable! Very creative! I’ll have to remember this when I finally get my craft room!
Thanks for the idea! I have a bed springs as well as the metal tube head board and foot board. This was my husband’s bed growing up and all of our children have slept in it too. I DO NOT want to throw it out and I have thought for about 3 years now what I could do with it. I think and it hurts because anything I come up with I decide won’t really work. So I don’t think about it again for awhile and then the thought hits me I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS BED. So I did a search and found your springs idead. I Love it! And so I will be making myself one! Now do you have any brainwaves for using the headboard and foot board? Thank you
I absolutely LOVE this!! What a creative look, who would have guessed something so beautiful could come out of that rusty mess. Great job!!
http://www.PicturesqueBrooklyn.blogspot.com
I just took apart my baby’s old crib and I’m totally doing this!
You are so right. Not even on my radar. But, absolutely love the results!
Thanks for sharing.
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
This project still makes me smile! It is WONDERFUL!!!!!
wow! Now THAT is thinking outside the box haha. I had to say it. Really though, it looks amazing! I want to do somthing simular with an old fence gate…I just can’t find one!
Congratulations this is amazing transformation from junk to decor. I love this idea, thanks to share all this nice thing. Love your website too!!! I posted your pretty job at my blog http://reciclaedecora.com
What a great idea! I made one from our 65 year old crib that my siblings and I used!!! I hung it next to the phone! I love it! Then…we made benches out of the head and foot boards!!! One for my sis and one for me! Beautiful! Thanks for the great idea!!!
this is a super cool and fantastic idea.., love it and want to try it soon.., thankz
Woo hoo, just found both parts of a metal trundle bed. Only need one, but couldn’t leave half behind. Now I have a project board for my sewing area. Great idea. Thanks.
I had to copy your hanger curtain for a very skinny closet in one of my rooms with no door… it worked great! Thanks so much for all your inspiration! I love all your creations…
Susan
I “feared” but I did it! Soooooo scary! http://thebarnloft.blogspot.com/
I wish i had your vision when i come across things like this, you “ROCK”
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.
Disney 4 Piece Mickey Mouse Space Adventure Zero Gravity Toddler Set, Blue
I just discovered your blog and love it. Your ideas are so uniquely creative. I absolutely love what you did with this, it is awesome.
I just recently discovered your blog and I absolutely LOVE it! I’ve already completed two decorating projects inspired by yours and this bed spring is one of the next on my list. (I just happen to have one in the storage building! Yay!) Thank you so much for posting your creations and inspiring us all!
Wow..this is so beautiful…I got to do something that looks, hopefully, as beautiful as yours!!!It’s simply divine!!!!!
I finally got to this post and I have to say I love this bulletin board–you are so clever! We tore our old couch apart (it was so old and beat up we couldn’t get rid of it!), and I saved all the inner springs and underpinings of it, and I’m thinking bulletin board of some variety, too.
What can I say….I LOVE IT! I wish I had your vision….great work!
Hi Donna, (the site is my niece’s)
I just found your site today and love it, love what you do. You are so over the top! Reading all the comments & seeing how many people you make smile and perhaps even forget any troubles for a while. Such a delight. It dawned on me that not only do you come up with the most unique ideas but you execute with a simplicity that makes it doable. You are a natural talent. You are as gifted as any artist, be it musician, writer, poet, sculptor, or whatever. Then as if that was not enough you give us tutorials and help us to be an artist as well. Kudos!
And now I can do something with the bedsprings on my backlot. Yay.
This is sooooo cool!!! How in the world did you ever think to use a bed spring like that!! 🙂
Wow, so creative. Just loved it.
I love what you guys are usually up too. This
sort of clever work and exposure! Keep up the excellent works
guys I’ve added you guys to blogroll.
That has got to be one of the most favorite things you have made Donna!! (I lied, there are other favorites too 😉 )
I have always loved this! It’s wonderful!
You’re a junkin genius….
I have our childhood crib matress rusting outside..cant wait to use some of your ideas..The two ends have 50’s decals on the wood so I am putting that on the wall/ a shelf in my “pink” room..that is quickly becoming my pink and rust room..thanks for demo..its wonderful!!!
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOO COOL! XOXO
Thanks for the truly Great idea! Perfect solution for our studio’s office area!! 😀