Yellow and White Shelf Redo

This project is FINALLY finished! Thank goodness! I was working on this shelf for at least two weeks. I thought I would have been a quick project but it proved me wrong- WAY wrong! In the process of working on this shelf, I was spray painting MANY other projects as well… and I am pretty sure I have lost MILLIONS of brain cells in the process. The spray paint section at Lowes has seen me many times. I’m surprised the cans didn’t just start jumping into my hand as soon as they saw me.

Anyways, back to this project. I bought this shelf unit for $12.50 at Dixie Trading Post in Louisville. Once I started to work on the shelf, I probably shouldn’t have paid that much but all well. When I saw it, it immediately screamed to me, “Take me to your craft room,” and the paint job was just screaming for help!

The paint job before. OH MY! Bright green paint with white, yellow, and blue circles stamped on it.

So I sanded it down and primed it. And well… ended up having to sand it again and reprime it. I had the hardest time trying to sand the raised circles all the way down so you couldn’t see them. So out came the belt sander- that did the trick for the most part but then also caused more problems for me. This would be the part that prevented this shelf from being an easy project! But after, more sanding, some spackle, and more primer- I finally got it looking like I wanted.

And I spray painted it this fun, sunny yellow. I used Valspar spray paint. Can’t remember the color name. But I didn’t want to leave it plain so…


Out came my trusty Cricut machine. I cut out a couple different shapes and decided what I wanted to put on the shelf. I then used it to make stencils to make it easier.

This is the stencil I made for the top- omitting the “E.” The outside template ripped when I was pulling it out so I had to just trace the outside of the bird. The last picture is of it traced you just can’t see it.

Next, came the sides of the shelf. I cut out two different templates and placed them on either side of the shelf.

Then, I took white acrylic paint to fill in the stencil. I pounced on the paint and then carefully smoothed it out so there wouldn’t be any bumps… again. I took off the stencil and corrected any imperfections and let dry.

Once dry, I changed the stencils to the opposite sides and added another one to the bottom repeating the process.

I just used black paint to make little eyes and then mixed it with my white to make a gray to free hand little wings. These are the sides complete. I love how they came out!

Finished piece.

It is perfect for the storage of what I needed it for in my craft room too! 🙂

Love the transformation! It is SO MUCH better!

Linking up to these parties!

By
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About

Hello, I'm Allison! I am an Army wife and momma to two little girls. I've got a creative side and I love to craft, do DIY projects with my husband, paint, and I occasional get my bake on too. Join me on my journey and take a glimpse inside our military adventures, my creative endeavors and our everyday life. :)

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  • Jemsmom
    June 25, 2010 at 6:48 pm

    Girl!!!! You are so stinking talented!!!! I love it!!

  • Debbie
    June 25, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    Allison, this is awesome…this reminds me of something sold at Athropologie….it is awesome and thanks so much for joining in on the party.

  • Bonnie@Creative Decorating
    June 26, 2010 at 12:50 am

    Just stopping by from debbiedoos party! This came out just awesome! It is such a unique piece of furniture and the price wasn't bad! You have more patience than me!!

  • Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
    June 26, 2010 at 1:15 am

    so cute! i had to stop over after seeing on remodelaholics so i could tell you so- awesome!!!

  • Nana's Fun Stuff
    June 26, 2010 at 1:29 am

    Allison, I love it!! You did an awesome job on it 🙂

  • Rebecca@This Present Life
    June 26, 2010 at 3:12 am

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE this little table. You did an awesome job! It sounds like it was a bit of a pain, but it totally paid off 🙂

    Saw you at Remodelaholic.

  • Mine for the Making
    June 26, 2010 at 7:20 am

    LOVE the birds!

  • Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish
    June 26, 2010 at 11:15 am

    That is amazing! What a transformation! You are very talented!

  • Rebekah Greiman
    June 26, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    What a cute color combo! I love the cute little birds. Great choices!

  • Pam @ bibbidi-bobbidi-beautiful
    June 26, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    Hi Allison! Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comment. I love your shelf- that color is gorgeous and the birdies are so sweet!

  • Julia
    June 26, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    That table is adorable, and I think it's so cool you have a cat named Patton!

  • Val
    June 26, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    Can I tell you how in love with your shelf, I'am!!!!

  • Kim @ Savvy Southern Style
    June 27, 2010 at 1:29 am

    That is just adorable. I love the yellow and I love birds. I have never used a cricut machine and don't really know what they are for. I see you used it to make stencils. Great job.

  • The Autocrat: Haley
    June 27, 2010 at 5:14 am

    Love the birds! Fabulous job!

  • Christina's Creative Side
    June 27, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    I saw where you commented on some of Debbie's finds and was coming to see if you'd finished your shelf. Well you have and it looks awesome!!! You are so talented and creative. 🙂

  • DesignTies
    June 28, 2010 at 1:54 am

    So fresh and fun!! Totally cute!!
    Great job 🙂
    Victoria @ DesignTies

  • Shelia
    June 28, 2010 at 2:13 am

    Hi Allison! Oh, I love your little table! You certainly gave it a new life – love the color and those stencils! Cutest little thing I've ever seen.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

  • Anita@GoingALittleCoastal
    June 28, 2010 at 3:43 am

    This is just so, so cute! I wish I could make stencils like that. I love the yellow that you used.

  • Steph
    June 28, 2010 at 4:32 am

    Incredible!! I love it. Great job.

  • Debbie@Debbie-Dabble
    June 28, 2010 at 11:30 am

    Allison,
    What a wonderful project and it came out looking like a million bucks!!
    I am in love with the color yellow you chose and the stencil with the birds is just charming!!

    Great job!!

    Debbie

  • girlfrugal
    June 28, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    I love the yellow and the birds. Great combo and such a happy one!

  • Mandy [Mandy's Yellow Corner]
    June 28, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    This is AMAZING! And, of course, with yellow being my favorite, I love it all the more! But the birds are adorable too. Well done :]

  • Laura Ingalls Gunn
    June 28, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    Now this is a gorgeous shelf! You are amazingly talented!

  • ♥ Calamity Anne ♥
    June 28, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    What an adorable redo!!! Great job!

  • Annastacia
    June 28, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    Wow this is just darling! I love it! Where did you get that stencil?

  • Victoria
    June 28, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    That is just darling, you did such a great job! I love it, so sweet:)

  • Jennifer
    June 29, 2010 at 12:21 am

    That's just too cute!

  • Patti
    June 29, 2010 at 12:53 am

    Nice! You are very creative! and I need me a machine like that!

  • miss corner cape
    June 29, 2010 at 1:49 am

    i want this, please. super super cute, and i love the shape of this piece. great job!

  • Becca
    June 29, 2010 at 4:14 am

    Very cute. Thanks for linking up!

    Becca

  • Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming
    June 29, 2010 at 4:17 am

    Allison this is adorable! All your hard work has paid off – looks fabulous. Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase Party! I greatly apprecite it. Hope you have a wonderful week. ~ Stephanie Lynn

  • Susan
    June 29, 2010 at 11:26 am

    Love what you did with the shelves. How adorable. I'm a huge bird-fanatic and I think it came out lovely.

  • Sue
    June 29, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    Allsion, You did a fantastic number on that little piece! Love the color- subtle, yet it makes a statement. And your graphic stencil on it is adorable. I saw Debbie's feature on your shutters, too. How fun. I'll stop by again soon to see what you're up to. Thanks for coming by to comment. It's always nice to meet a new friend.
    🙂 Sue

  • Charlotte
    June 29, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    Smart! You are really clever to look at something and see the possibilities!

  • Amanda@The Hand Me Down House
    June 29, 2010 at 7:43 pm

    Cute! This turned out SO good! I love your birds — perfect!

  • Emily {Frilly Details}
    June 30, 2010 at 4:05 am

    That turned out great!! I love the bird detail you added. Super cute!

  • jen @ {decor junkie}
    June 30, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Wow! I LOVE how this turned out. It was adorable in just the yellow — but the birds really are the perfect finishing touch! They added so much to it! I bet it totally brightens up your craft room now! You did an awesome job.

  • The Harris Family
    July 1, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    I love how this turned out. The yellow and the birds are so fun!
    -Crystal
    p.s. I'll be featuring this tomorrow.

  • Robin R
    July 2, 2010 at 3:58 am

    This is adorable… love the bird design you used!

  • Paula
    July 2, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    Great job! Love the stenciled birdies! Love the color too!

  • Kati @ Obscured Flair-
    July 3, 2010 at 12:40 am

    I love this, you did an amazing job!!! It's soooo cute!!

  • Funky Junk Interiors
    July 10, 2010 at 7:23 am

    This is one sweet design! And how creative of you to make a stencil in order to do it! Turned out awesome!

    Donna

  • muralimanohar
    July 11, 2010 at 11:39 am

    Whoa, that is CUTE! 😀 I just got a roadside score of little table, and I think it is calling for this! 😀

  • Blue Artichoke Interiors
    July 12, 2010 at 5:37 am

    So cute, cute, CUTE! I'm such a stencil nut so just one more project that is convincing me that I must invest in a Cricut. Visiting from Funky Junk Interiors.

  • Ann Marie @ Twice Lovely
    July 13, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    So adorable! LOVE the color and the little birdies. Oh, how I long for a Cricut! (Santa, are you listening?)

  • Chic Creations
    July 13, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    I love it! You did a great job. Love the color. Thanks for sharing. Karie @ karieschiccreations

  • Erin @ Lansdowne Life
    July 14, 2010 at 2:10 am

    So cute! Perfect for a craft room with those vertical compartments.

  • jaimee
    July 15, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    This is lovely! I'm currently working on refinishing a cubby shelf to go in my daughter's birdie-themed nursery — I think I might do something similar on the sides of that piece.

  • Bonnie @ House of Grace
    July 20, 2010 at 2:42 am

    This is great! I am going to feature this post. Thanks for linking up to twice owned tuesday party!
    Bonnie 🙂

  • Miss Mustard Seed
    July 30, 2010 at 1:32 am

    This is so sweet and playful. Wonderful job!

  • Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
    July 30, 2010 at 1:36 am

    I love it! Very sweet!

  • Sarah @ Hennessey House
    July 30, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    oh my gosh. this is SO wonderful!!

  • Stevie @ Home is Where My Heart is
    July 30, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    I love this! You make it look so easy! Birdies are my favorite, I want to do something like this someday! 🙂

  • Kim @ Savvy Southern Style
    July 30, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    That is so cute. Love the yellow and I love the birds.

  • Carmen
    August 2, 2010 at 2:20 am

    This is seriously cute! 🙂 I love the yellow.

  • Lenore @ Lather. Write. Repeat.
    September 15, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    Love love it! You are so talented my dear!

    XO
    Lenore

  • Pam
    December 11, 2010 at 10:01 am

    Love it. Nicely done.