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Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 5h00

A little shelf unit, recycled of course
My sister was getting rid of this small set of shelves, and I wanted to save them, so decided to recycle them.

I think it's lucky I did really, I later found out that my Grandad had built them for one of my uncles. They've been in the family for more than thirty years :P. I think it's nice to save them.

Posted by BabyBonny • Published 3rd March 2010 • See BabyBonny's 11 projects »

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kiki w. added My Red And Gold Shelves to Things I need to make for myself 29 Jan 20:10
Rachel F. favorited My Red And Gold Shelves 28 Sep 22:20
cynthia.rodriguez.3532507 favorited My Red And Gold Shelves 01 Feb 00:52

Step 1
Sorry I don't have any pictures of this part, but we all know what shelves are like.

The ones I had were black to begin with so, because the colour I wanted to paint them was lighter, I sanded them down and gave them a base coat of cream emulsion.
Step 2
After painting the shelves cream I gave them the first coat of gloss in the colour I wanted. I chose red to go with the scheme I wanted. I used emulsion as a base coat, so I didn't feel the need to sand before painting the gloss on.
Step 3
I think it's always good to give a second coat of gloss, or even a third sometimes. I found that two was enough to cover it.
Step 4
This is the bit I found a tad tricky, I didn't actually think it through before applying the gloss :P.

The paint almost ran off the gloss in a few places (I know, silly me!), and I though I was going to have to give up on the whole think. In reality after a few coats the gold stuck :).

I painted the rim round the shelves in gold. Sorry the picture quality isn't brilliant, I took this one inside.
Step 5
I then began free-handing my desings. Obviously, if you like, you can use stencils, I just couldn't be fussed with the extra work tbh!

The designs I was using were also a bit too complicated to do stencils of really.

I painted the outer bits of the shelves, such as the top and outer sides first.
Step 6
I then painted the inside of the shelves and slowly built up my design. I have to say I made no real plan on the design of this, I just found images I liked then went wild.
Step 7
Once you have your design finished wait for it to sry then, voila! You have a lovely new set of shelves!