DIY-shutters

Ok, so a while back, I found this photo on Pinterest:

Credit to http://dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com/

After seeing this, I wanted to make my own "mail center" from a shutter. So, I started searching for a low cost shutter on Craigslist or garage sales. No luck, or at least nothing nearby on Craigslist, and no shutters at any of the garage sales I tried. I have to be honest...I didn't try very hard. I probably drove past 3 sales and got frustrated. Typically that's why I don't follow through on these kinds of projects...frustration. I was nearing the point of giving up on the whole concept when my Mom suggested that I look at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Newberg. I went, figuring I wouldn't find any and that would be the end of my shutter project. Wrong! Not only did the ReStore have a shutter, they had 2! They were priced as a set for $15! I had hoped to find one shutter for that price, so I bought them both.

This was probably in January. Possibly even before. I was so excited that I went out and bought sand paper, spray paint, and the hooks to nail onto the back so I could hang them on my wall. Of course, I live in Oregon, and whether it was January or not, it was rainy. My plan was to work on my project the first nice day I could be at my mom's house, since she so graciously allowed me to store my shutters and supplies in her garage.

I have been at my mom's house PLENTY of nice days since then, but today I actually followed through on the project! I didn't really feel like doing it initially, but as I was talking to my mom about it I knew I just needed to get it done. So, she helped me de-spider the shutters (I am terrified of spiders! Squeal-and-run terrified), and she was also kind enough to help me sand the shutters. Then she retreated inside and away from the spray paint.

Sanded and ready for paint!

After sanding, I sprayed on the primer. It took only a few minutes to spray one side, and the instructions said to wait 30 minutes before touching. So I waited the 30 minutes and then flipped the shutters over to spray the other side. I sprayed about half of one shutter with primer and ran out. Ugh. Fortunately, Mom had a can of primer leftover from a project she had done that she thoughtfully offered to me, so I was able to finish priming. Then I waited another 30 minutes.

Primed and drying...

I sprayed one side with the top coat, but I knew I would run out before I finished the other side, so mom and I ran over to Fred Meyer's to pick up a couple more cans. I'm not sure what made me buy 2 more cans, but thank goodness I did! One wouldn't have been enough. So, I was able to complete the project! I am proud of myself for finishing something like this. I usually don't. Maybe I can change that? Anyway, since my original plan was to make a "mail center" out of only one shutter, I was thinking about what to do with the second shutter. I have been trying to find a way to put more pictures up in my bedroom, so I am planning to use it to put some more pictures up. I put one shutter up on the wall behind the door as you enter my apartment. I figured that's a good place to put a "mail center", because I can deposit the mail into the shutter as I get home and any outgoing mail is easily accessible as I leave.

My new "mail center"!

I put the other shutter up above my bed. I am still trying to decide the best way to attach the pictures, since I don't want to rip all the paint off and when I put the photos into the gaps they fall down too far to really be seen AND they sit at an awkward angle. Hmm...I am thinking maybe some putty and stick them to the front? Another option I thought of was to punch holes in the photos and use twine (or other nice string or ribbon) to tie them onto the shutters. Any ideas? Ways I haven't thought of, or opinions on which method would look best or work best? I am DEFINITELY open to ideas on this...

Empty photo shutter.

I was also working on a little metal folding table for my balcony, but that's not quite done yet. If you look at the photo of the primed shutters, you can see it at the top. It was pink, but I am SO not a pink fan. I figured black was better for all uses. The last can of paint ran out before it was completely coated. Update on that soon! I'm planning to finish it the next time I'm at my mom's, which may not be for a while. I am going to Seattle on Friday with my sister. We're going to the Mariners vs. Angels game. I am SO excited, because it's my birthday and the Angels just happen to be playing the team closest to where I live. Could it be ANY better?! Saturday I am having a little birthday party. I say little because that's precisely what it will be. Not many people are coming. I am completely ok with that. My apartment's not big enough for tons of people anyway, and I like smaller groups. Sunday I may have time to go and finish it, but I am leaving for California next Monday. So honestly, I probably will spend the day on Sunday making sure I am packed, resting, and taking care of any details I may have forgotten before my trip. I promise, though, once I finish the table I will post an update and pictures! :)

By the way, an updated summer reading list and another review are on the agenda for tomorrow. I am too tired tonight (maybe because I did a project? Yay!). I'll try to post them tomorrow afternoon, because I am picking my sister up from the airport tomorrow evening and then I'll be busy spending time with her!

By the way, I am always a little self conscious about my blog posts when I don't get comments. I don't like to ask for comments because that feels silly, but there are people out there reading, yes? I know my most frequent readers are preoccupied (one is teaching abroad and the other is getting married in just a couple weeks!), so I probably just need to be patient with everyone! :)