Before and After - Knife Block makeover!

I have been just itching with craftiness lately!  Maybe it's the warmer temperatures, or the extra dose of sunshine we've had, but I just feel like I need to make or create something!  Which is funny, because I don't really "create" things normally.  I think of myself as being crafty and artsy, but it rarely gets past ideas in my head or merely oohing and aahing over others amazing skills. 

I don't know if it's just being busy (busy?  phsaw!  I only have 5 curtain climbers!) or not ambitious enough.......I think it may be a touch of both - but it's more likely that I'm afraid.  I think I'll mess it up because I don't know what I'm doing. 

Well - I've resolved that this year I'm going to change that!!  I will make the time and I may have some disasters, but I will try and I'm certain there will be beautiful things to come!

I am SO inspired by all the crafty, DIY, home decorating bloggers out there!!  Once I visit one site I see another amazing project and another....and before I know it I feel like I've opened Pandora's box of craftiness!!   After lots of blog "stalking" I've finally tackled my first project of my own. 
(I can hardly call it a "project" since it was so simple.  But, I am just tickled with how it turned out!)   I've completed a couple things now, but this post is my first "before and after".  =)

Ohh, the magic of spray paint!!  I recently discovered Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze ("ORB") spray paint through Thrifty Decor Chick (like I mentioned here - with a little unashamed gushing).   I've taken on a couple projects now and I'm thinking I'm in love!  I now look at everything through ORB glasses to see what transformation's might be possible - things in the house, things at Goodwill, things at other people's houses, lol!

We were given this knife block for a wedding gift 12 years ago and only recently did I learn that my dear husband h.a.t.e.s. it.  Can't stand it, despises, detests........really doesn't like it.  I don't really understand the animosity toward an innocent little block of wood, but I was resolved to find a compromise to my practical need to have daily easy access to the knives and scissors - and maybe he could stop hiding it in cupboards, pantries, basements, etc.

Then, one glorious day I came across this awesome post at House of Hepworth's where she painted her knife block with the fabulous ORB spray paint that I'd been wanting to use already!!  Ohh, it was meant to be!!  So as soon as I could, I got my tushie to Menards (the only place in town that carries it). 

The next day when the hubzy was at work (I wanted to surprise him) I got things going.  I emptied the knife block and took 1000 pictures.  I already knew this was going to be amazing, so I thought I'd better at least try to document it like those DIY blogger geniuses I envy.  ;)

I set up my fancy paint station (read: a plastic dropcloth thrown over a clothes rack in the laundry room and a box from Aldi's to contain some of the spray).

Ooh!! And since I was down there with camera in hand I wanted to show you a recent Goodwill find - a $20 laundry sorter for $5!!  Totally off topic, but I love it!   =)

Anyway, I started spray painting - nervous that I wasn't painting enough......nervous that I was painting too much and was going to have drips......

But after it was finally dried (or at least mostly and I couldn't stand it any longer) and I brought it back upstairs............tada!!!

Oh, how it makes me smile!!!  I know it's just a silly little knife block, but it looks completely different!  I couldn't believe how a little spray paint and a bit of an afternoon brought peace to our home.  ;)  The hubzy is much happier about it being on the counter now!  And while I didn't hate it before, it looks like it fits in so much better in the kitchen.  And I haven't had to play "hot and cold" to find it once!!  ;)

I'm really happy with how this turned out and am glad I went for it.  What do you think?  I've got my eye on a couple things to transform next and will let you know how they turn out - good or bad!  =)   For now, I'm linking up to a couple of my favorite linky parties.......Thrifty Decor Chick Before and After party and Tip Junkie - both amazing places to get lost for hours in a crafty vortex find all kinds of inspiration!  ;)



And some more new ones.........

 

 

The Creative Crate

Decor Chick

Thrifty Decor Chick's "Spring Fling: Spray Paint Projects"