Adventures in Up-cycling: An entertainment center

This adventure started like so many of mine. I was unemployed, broke, and Christmas was coming. Being short on cash, long on craft supplies, and a Pinterest addict, I decided to make my grandkids a bakery stand. I bought them an EasyBake oven for their present, and saw some really neat ideas for a "play bakery" on Pinterest. I'd love to link to some of those sites, but I'm a technological moron. I only know the basics to even do this blog. Hopefully, I'll run across a 10 year old to help me figure things out. I have more pictures on my Facebook page, An Artisan Touch, so feel free to go there to see more.

This was an old entertainment center that we put in the shed when we moved last year. It was old, and beat up, but I thought it might have a use some day. Yes, I might be a hoarder.

I cut the top off, added slats for shelves, and nailed plywood on one side to make the front of the stand. Now, I think I already mentioned broke, and being a hoarder. I also dumpster-dive, or in this case, burn-pile-dive. One of my neighbors is a contractor that does remodeling. He throws the stuff that he demos from his jobs onto his burn pile. Well...I occasionally, with his permission, drag stuff home. Hey, it's still good! I can use that!(My husband cringes when he hears me say that.) So, I had to fit 2 pieces of plywood together because I didn't have any big enough.

He also had some nice molding in that pile. It works nicely to finish off the edges.

After piecing everything together from the scraps that I acquired, I painted it. Note: when I was putting it together, I used an air compressor and brad nailer. I may be stingy about materials, but good tools are necessary to my life. I've acquired many over the years. Treat them right, and they'll treat you right, for many years.

Love this color!! Valspar Paint and Primer for Metal, Wood, and Plastic: Thistle Field.

Now that the main piece was painted, it was time for the trimmings. I found several sections of porch railing in the neighbor's burn pile. Then, I bought several wooden scroll frames at Michael's Craft Store. I sprayed them with this gorgeous Valspar paint.I use this brand a lot because it has excellent coverage. It sprays so nicely, and is easy to use. Note: I am not being paid to say this. (yet?)

This is the interior. I added shelves, making sure that the EasyBake oven could fit on one of the shelves. I wanted to get the grands an EasyBake oven because I had one as a kid. I was a cake decorator/baker for 11 years before leaving that field to start an apprenticeship as a skilled construction trade technician.(I know. Cakes to construction is a little weird. I'll get to that adventure one of these days.) I wanted to introduce the grandkids to the item that started me on one of my early adventures, and share what I have learned with them.

Finally finished, with hours to spare,on Christmas Eve! I sewed the canopy with the sewing machine that my husband and son gave me as an early Christmas present. Now, I don't really know how to sew,yet. And, I don't recommend that one's first sewing project should be trying to sew bias tape on scallops,especially if one has never sewn a seam before. The cake plate on the bottom shelf is made from a candle holder, and plastic serving plate that I bought at the Dollar Tree. I glued them together with E6000, and spray-painted the whole thing with another of the Valspar paints that I had. I bought doilies,and serving trays for any baked goods that the kids would eventually make. 

A few weeks after Christmas, knowing that the kids would use up all the EasyBake mixes, I decided to start making the kids some felt "play baked goods". I saw some really cool examples on Pinterest.(I did mention that I was a Pinterest addict?) Once again, if I weren't such a technological moron, I would link to those sites. (Damn it, where's that 10 year old?)

So ends The Adventure of the Up-cycled Entertainment Center. Hope you enjoyed your trip with An ADHD Artisan!

The adventure begins

"The creative person wants to be a know-it-all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth-century mathematics, current manufacturing techniques, flower arranging, and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might come together to form a new idea. It may happen six minutes later or six months, or six years down the road. But he has faith that it will happen."
— Carl Ally


Do you have 100 projects started, and just have to start 1 more? Do people say,"How do you have time for everything?" to you when you talk about your latest project? Do people call you a know-it-all because you always have some knowledge of just about any topic someone starts talking about? Do you usually know more about that subject than the person that calls you a know-it-all? Does your family think you are nuts? If so, you came to the right place.

I like to try (too)many things. Then, I like to share what I've learned. Not to make someone else feel stupid, or piss them off. I want to share because knowledge and creativity are built from many experiences. Mine,yours,and theirs. You take what I know, and add what you know, and then...wham! So many possibilities, so much creation, all because we built ideas on top of ideas.

So,join me on an adventure. Let's see where it takes us. And remember, in my world, you don't have to hide your crazy.