Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Craigslist Bookshelves Part 1
The start of something good...I hope. [This post may be a little long so I am attempting to break it up into parts...plus it gives me time to let this stubborn paint dry] No receipts on this blog post because I used items I already had in our garage!
Okay so I FINALLY started on my $3 craigslist book cases! Here is the backstory: J and I try to shop at wal-mart as much as possible; for home cleaning supplies and even groceries because it is more cost effective. If I need specialty items I will go to the local Harris Teeter or Bi-Lo [with coupons]. So we were putzing around one evening while we were doing our shopping [we enjoy putzing together] and I was like "Let's pop on over to home stuff...just you know...to look" this idea was pretty out of the ordinary because I am usually such a brand snob about clothes, shoes and housewares (unless they are vintage). J gave me a strange look but like the amazing hubby he is..... agreed. Getting to the point...they had some book cases for $29! They came in wood{colored}, white or black and I have been dying to install wall to wall book shelves in our "office" so it feels more like an office to me instead of just a really small bedroom. Well I didn't really feel like packing them up into the car and driving them home, unloading them, assembling them THEN installing them so I said...I'll just come back later this week or next and get them if I still really like {slash} want them. Easy enough right? WRONG!!! Sososososooooo wrong. I go back to walmart one night when J was closing at work and they only have ONE left! In any of the colors! J and I had decided the wood color would be good since the desk we have is dark oak and really pretty. So back on topic...they have ONE...in wood and none of the other two colors so I ask the VERY helpful sales guy [they are always so helpful at Wal-Mart...why can't people at Target be that helpful??] and he OFFERS [I didn't even have to ask!] to call around to the other stores to see if any of them have any of the wood color left because honestly I only need 3 more! We call all 5 stores in the Charlotte area...no one has any in wood even though their computers say they do. #EpicFail #LeftWalMartSansBookCases. I know it was only a walmart bookcase but I was sad, I had such high hopes for these shelves...they were borderline life changing...promise.
So the search continued. If you readers are anything like me I can't just let an idea go once it's in my head....I HAVE to do it...right then...or I never will. So I got online and started searching. Wal-mart, Target, BB&B and everything in between. NOTHING around the price point I wanted to spend [$30 per case] I finally settled with perusing Craigslist and it was like the heavens opened up and sang [we giveth you bookcases within your budget]. A "garage sale" if you will of unrelated items that this family wanted out of their home! My good fortune!
After much back and forth bartering, he wanted $10, they were old I offered $2 [mostly as a joke] and he countered at $3...ding ding ding ladies and gents we have a winner! We arranged a pick up and now these lovely cases are sitting disassembled in my garage-well all but one are disassembled. [Insert lots of thanks to my friend S for the use of her family's durango]. I am breaking it up...hoping it may be a little easier and less reading [short term] for you! See how caring and considerate I am?? :) Okay so here goes!
Step One: The heavens opened and the angels sang....We giveth you bookcases
First you need to find bookcases, any will do. These are nothing special [I'm not even sure they are real wood] This is what mine look like....they all have 5 shelves, we just took the other 3 out for easier moving.
Step Two: Gather your supplies. I used Gidden 6000B Cotton White Interior Paint that I had from a few other furniture refinishing projects; fine grit sandpaper blocks {I like the blocks best because I find I rarely end up scraping all the skin off my fingers like I would with just the paper or something with...oh...say.....a plug with electricity running through it} Paint brushes...2 just in case one doesn't do it's job properly [it is genetic...I am an over-prepare-er], a paint can opener annnd my mixing stick {which I forgot to put in this picture} Also pictured are the shelves for the other book cases along with the screws needed to put them back together.
Step Three: Sand the you-know-what out of it!
You know all of that harbored aggression you have time to...uhm...harbor...during those long minutes/hours sitting in traffic, or customer who gives you a new you-know-what when they are upset with something? Well use that...and sand the heck out of the wood/non wood surface! A lot of people don't think you can, but you can indeed sand laminate. It scratches the surface and allows the paint to grab onto it. I tried to peel the sticker show below off and when that didn't work?.....
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| Evil sticker with alterior motives ....staying adhered to my bookshelf...grrrrr |
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| Caked on...something resembling paper.... |
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| {must invest in one of those Doctor's masks} yes that is sand paper dust flying around.... |
I brought out the big girl tools :) that's right...I used a BOX CUTTER muahahahahah {that's my evil laugh} and I SCRAPED the living heck out of it.
Step Four: Remove shelf hooks, screws...anything that will get in the way of painting. These particular little buggers were not willing to come out so they have been painted over.
Step Five: Wipe it down {Shoulders chest pants shoes; wipe meh down *ay girl*...wait...er....am I the only one singing? Good thing I am home alone? hehe}
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| Dirty book case exhibit A |
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| Wet paper towels to gather all the dirt, dust and sandpaper residue and dry ones to make sure the wood/non wood is completely dry before painting! |
Step Six: Make sure if you are using an older paint that didn't come directly from your big box home goods store {we will leave my preferences out of it} that you mix it up really well with a stirring stick. This keeps your paint from clumping up on your brush and surface and making an even bigger mess!
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| This is one of the cheap paintbrushes I got at one of the big box stores, 2" I believe |
When painting I ALWAYS start in the corners, that way I make sure that every little bit is painted, but you can start where ever you'd like!
The semi-finished project. I have to wait for it to dry to do another coat because as you can see it looks uneven and blotchy. It has cooled off some and is now raining so I will probably have to finish tomorrow [when it is cold and wet paint takes longer to dry..similar to when you blow dry your hair]. Stay tuned for the finished product and part 2 of the Craigslist Bookshelf Chronicles!
{DIY Davis Style}
HD
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I was thinking about how I could do this in Indiana RIGHT NOW (the whole...Reichgott thing), and I'm disappointed that I've got to wait until spring. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm excited, though, to see how they turn out! You sound like a pro!
I am the exact same way. As soon as I get an idea I become fixated and have to do it right away. Btw, you're an awesome writer. I'm so excited for your blog! Post all of your projects to pinterest and you'll get a ton of traffic here!
ReplyDeleteHow do you mean post on pintrest? Just hit my pin-it button and pick a picture?
DeleteYes, it should link back to your blog. I get about 5 a day from pinterest. It's not a lot, but it's interesting to see people visiting from so many different places.
DeleteThanks!! I just linked it :) we shall see! I am excited that I already have 9 followers!
ReplyDeleteAhhh, how much "harboring" I have gotten out while sanding, I call it "de-stressing." Looks like a great project, I am excited to see the finished result!
ReplyDelete