Trunk to Coffee Table

As I mentioned in my first blog was that I love to go to auctions.  I picked up this trunk for a mere $10.  Structurally it was good, but cosmetically not so good.  The inside paper lining on the trunk was peeling away so I gave it some help.  My intent was to clean it up and sell it.  So, I removed the paper and primed and painted the inside.  The lid to the piece opened up completely so I decided to add a hinge.  The hinge serves two purposed, one to keep it from opening completely and the second to keep it from slamming on little fingers.  The metal edge around the top of the trunk could do some damage if it closed on mine or your fingers...much less a little ones.  So the rest of the trunk I cleaned up and put some satin polyurethane on the wood to seal it.  Then went over all the metal with the poly, it gave it a nice sheen.  I then flipped it over and added brackets for the legs and painted and distressed legs that I purchased from Lowe's.  The legs just screwed right into the brackets.  It put the trunk at a great coffee table height and you have the added bonus of storage!  Here are some pictures of the trunk before and after:

New purchase

inside....I had already started cleaning (I have to remind myself to take pictures before, during and after!)

inside

top

completed project

The outside is still a wonderful shabby chic look but it is a great size!  Cost:  trunk $10, brackets for legs $7, legs $32, polyurethane $5, hinge $4, primer and paint (had around the house), labor...which is my therapy or zin time...so total cost plus tax so this project cost around $60.

I have a little flea market booth and put this in there for sale....but I don't know, I am really attached.  I might have to take it back home and use it for myself!

Inaugural Post

Welcome to my Blog!  I have to be one of the most illiterate computer people around...so please be patient with me.  I will eventually make the back ground pretty because I know that I can do this.  I will start by introducing myself, I am Loretta of the L and C.  C stands for my fiance Chris.  I have a full time job, but I love to craft.  Together Chris and love going to auctions to find those forgotten treasures.  Have you ever found that fantastic item at an auction, flea market, thrift store or pickin?  Boy, I have got some stories to share with you.

Like the time that I purchased a hand crank ice cream maker at an estate auction for $5.00.  My plan was to sell it on Ebay.  Chris was fixing dinner for the two of us and I was taking pictures to get ready to post the ice cream maker on Ebay when I looked inside the ice cream maker I found a little wooden box with a wooden fishing lure.  While I know that lures can be very collectible I started doing a happy dance in the kitchen singing "I found a treasure, I found a treasure" .  Over the next few days I tried to educate myself on fishing lures, I went to a bookstore with fishing lure collectibles and could not find an exact match.  Next step, I chatted on a fishing lure collectible board.  What I found out was that the wooden box was the real treasure!  Ended up being an early 1900's pflueguer monarch minnow lure and box.  The two items ended up selling for over $500, not bad for the $5 investment!  So be on the look out!

I also love to clean up those forgotten treasures and bring life back into them.  Or using imagination to transform or repurpose items.  I will share these with you with hopefully we can get some great ideas from each other!

I will start with the transformation of a tv stand to a play kitchen that I made for my great niece.

I removed the swivel top and cut it down to attach to the front to make the oven door.

The new oven door was attached with a piano hinge and added chains for stability.  Also, magnets were added so that the oven door will remain closed.

I found an old faucet and a porcelain bowl to use as the sink.

The pieces where sanded (just to scuff up the surface) and then primed the piece.

A whole was cut for the sink and faucet.  I painted the set with Glidden Fresh Guacamole paint.  Painted on the burners, used knobs with (sex) bolts so they can turn and added a dresser pull on the oven door for the handle.

Walaa! a custom kitchen set!  Since this was a Christmas gift, I also provided a mini muffin tin, cake pans, pot, wooden spoons, small colander, and pot holders!

So, when you look at an item, really look at it! Use your imagination...lets create together.  So subscribe and follow me!  By the way...do you Pinterest?  I am totally hooked!