I thought I would do a quicky makeover and just paint over the outside and the inside too, but realized after the first coat that was a dumb idea because the torn areas still showed – they were just white now.
Plan B…cover up.
Out came some old dictionary pages and my version of Modge Podge (glue mixed with a little water).
Fitting the pages around all the metal parts was tedious. I did the front and back and both sides, but left the top and bottom just painted. After painting the glue on the trunk and putting the page in place, I rub my finger back and forth, pushing down where the metal pieces are, until I’m able to tear it away. When I tried to use a razor blade, I kept messing it up, so this way worked better.
It looked pretty good at that point, but just seemed like it needed something else. I had 2 frames sitting on the counter that I had just painted and held one up to the trunk and immediately loved the variation of white/old page/white layers against each other. I was going to put some other book page inside the frame, but remembered an old mirror I had and it was the perfect size to glue behind the frame. It has faint “ghost marks”, which I love in old mirrors, but not so dark that you can’t still use the mirror.
So, instead of just being an upcycled trunk, I decided it would be an upcycled trunk into wall cabinet. I cut and painted a board to fit inside. The edges and corners of the trunk are metal, but the trunk itself is just thick cardboard, so I painted a piece of scrap plywood and used E600 to glue it to the back, then screwed through the back and each side into the shelf.
I’m listing this in my shop, but if it hasn’t sold by the time my guest room is finished (which is going way too slowly for my patience), I may keep it to use in there. I really love how it turned out.
I hope your week is off to a wonderful start!
Blessings,
Wonderful! Love the little mirror on it.
This is seriously one of the most clever repurposes on a trunk I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous, Angie! Another home run for Knick of Time!
Such a fun re-use project…I wish I could have seen that orange fake fur lol!
I remember these.
This one is so cute…I like the mirror too.
I don’t know how I feel… do I hope you sell it… or do I hope you get to keep it…? I’m torn about how I feel about it! LOL…
Pat
Thanks for anticipating the question of how you (so cleverly) managed the paper around the metal. Wonderful. Wonderful.
Oh my gosh, too cute! I have had an old suitcase (and mirror) set aside to do something similar to this in my son’s room, but it just keeps getting pushed to the “back burner”.
I absolutely love the look of the aged pages with the crisp white! It’s so unique, I can see why you’d want to keep it for your own guest room. But I guess you can always make a similar one again, if it sells. Hope you have a wonderful week, Angie!
That is so cute– great idea!
Another home run! Love it
I really love this transformation and I think you might be just a little sad to see this one go. Great work!
Wow..I love it!! Your are so talented…everything you touch turns out great!!
Denise
Really clever Angie … that would be cute in your bathroom too … like a medicine cabinet or small storage cabinet.
You are one talented lady.
Blessings,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Angie that is beautiful!
Love it!!!! 🙂
Very clever, looks great!
What a super cool project! Love it.
I love it!!!
I just adore this Angie–the mirror, the way you layered the book pages–all of it!
This is absolutely gorgeous! What a great upcycle!!
That is so cute and turned out really nice.