Paint-by-Numbers Makeover

"A makeover is taking what someone has and way maximising it to their best advantage" Cher Horowitz, Clueless.

I know Cher's talking lonely teen with bad hair and no fashion sense, and I'm talking boxy 50's bedside cupboard, but a makeover is a makeover and every girl cupboard deserves one in our  my opinion.

O.K. Clueless references used and abused, time to shut-up and let the pictures do the talking...

Ta-daah!

(had to write that because I'm linking to Lakota's Ta-Daah Tuesday...although I reckon it's worthy of a ta-daah anyway, don't you?)

lamp, vintage Scanglobe (made in Denmark)

smile cloud cushion, hand-made (in Australia, by Annabel)

please note the neat, straight edges.

I am notorious for failing at anything to do with lines. Straight accurate ones ie. So it was with trepidation I cut into the old paint-by-numbers with a Stanley knife! (yes Anthony) Not only is it a perfect fit, I still have all my fingers! No Band-aids required.

Right, down to business.

Every good makeover needs some inspiration (unless you're a natural born creative - like some clever people I know!*)

This one was was inspired by Janet Lee's Paint by Number table Topper which appears in her book

local library comes up trumps. again.

And (because all the before and after makeover pros share their secrets. Ha-ha!) here's a list of the stuff I used:

you might want to skip this bit...

sand paper and elbow grease (I am too funny!)

Zissner Smart Prime primer (Let me tell you I am not a one trick pony, no sir-ee! I've been making-over lots of furniture lately, and the Zissner really helps the top coat to stick, and it also does a great job of hiding what's underneath)

left-over Dulux Aqua-enamel from our skirting boards etc, in Australia's favourite paint colour, Antique White U.S.A.

a good squirt of PVA.

a pile of telephone books to hold the p-b-n in place while it's drying.

too many to count coats of Boyle matt finishing spray.

and lastly (and this stuff's a revelation!)

I polished the paint-by-numbers top with Gilly Stephenson's Carnauba Polish. This stuff is not only made in Western Australia, it smells divine, and provides a lovely protective finish. I've used it atop quite a few pieces of furniture that I've painted with acrylic paint and it really helps it stand up to the knocks and scrapes of life. Rub it on and buff it off. I'm going crazy with it. It's cheap and you can order it online.

The last thing I did was line the shelves with old wallpaper samples. Gotta be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside, right?

a makeover = a second chance at life

(Nothing shallow about my makeovers. Not papering the sides though!)

I'll end with this awesome hand painted, paint-by-number wall. My little cupboard pales in comparison.

Using this as their inspiration:

  Scott and Cheryl White turned this:

into

this!

(all pics and info via Design Sponge, click here for more)

x

p.s. do you think I should paint the little cupboard's legs a nice bright colour? or leave them as is?

p.p.s. tea towel to come...

Linking up with these creatives too. I'm talking people like this *

and oops, I didn't know you were meant to include a tip...crikey, a tip from me! Ummmm, just do it I suppose. Even if you think it might turn out badly. You could be wrong, it just might be fab (like my table - not up-myself, just pleased with how it turned out)