This post is sponsored by Velvet Finishes, however all opinions are 100% mine. Affiliate links may be contained in this post.
I got my first and only Achy Breaky Heart t-shirt at the flea market in the middle of town.
I was seven.
It was heather gray, with a big multi-colored neon heart and multi-colored neon lettering on it.
I was so damn proud of that t-shirt.
Billy Ray Cyrus and his mullet essentially had overnight success with a song that had a terrible title.
It was the age of the achy breaky heart craze.
It wasn’t until I was in at least middle school, if not high school, that I realized the name for Billy Ray Cyrus’ infamous hairstyle was a mullet.
And that people described it as business in the front, party in the back.
Well that’s just what this credenza makeover is. Business in the front, but the party’s up top…
Y’all I wish you could have seen me hauling this thing into the truck.
I found it while I was riding solo thrifting one afternoon. A store employee helped me get it into the truck, but then he quickly realized the cluster that was about to happen and scooted off quickly.
He was a smart man.
This thing is heavy. And it ain’t small.
First, I thought I would just let part of it hang out the back of the truck and use Grunt’s ratchet tie-downs to keep it in.
Well, I knotted up that tie-down.
So then I thought it could just go sideways and I could close the tailgate.
It wouldn’t close by a hair. A hair.
So I turned it back around and attempted to strap it in again with another tie-down.
I didn’t get the tie down secured correctly, but I got it secured enough to get it home.
There was only one close call on the way home.
When I got it home, I promptly had a beer and told Grunt Labor I would buy him new tie-downs because I was pretty sure we were going to have to cut his to get this piece out.
But it was totally worth it.
This piece was only $20.
And if we are going to be really honest about it, I probably would have paid that for just the hardware. It’s so pretty.
I originally intended to paint the entire piece. However, I decided that I really liked the stained drawers. The top though had to have something done to it…
I think it must have had some other top on it at some point. Here’s what I did…
I used:
- Velvet Finishes Luxurious
- Velvet Finishes Deco Paste
- Velvet Finishes Protect
- Malachite Wrapping Paper
- Power Sander
- Tack Cloth
- Paint brush
- FrogTape
- X-Acto Knife
- Fine Grit Sand Paper
Step 1:
Since the top was so rough, I used my power sander to smooth it out as much as possible. It didn’t do a whole lot of smoothing but it did knock some big uneven chunks out of the way.
Step 2:
I painted on a good, thick coat of Velvet Finishes Luxurious on the top and sides of the credenza.
The paint helped to fill in a little more unevenness on the top and also worked as a primer of sorts for the deco-paste that would adhere the wrapping paper to the top of the credenza.
Step 3:
Next, I cut the paper to the size of the top of the credenza. I did leave a little extra on the sides just in case.
Step 4:
This is where a friend comes in handy. Luckily for me, one of main girls, Brittany had come over to work on some other projects. I painted on the Deco-Paste that would adhere the paper to the top, while Brittany held the paper up.
The Deco-Paste dries really quickly, so you need to work in small sections. I would paint on a little bit, then firmly put the paper on top of it. After I had the whole top covered with the malachite paper, I went back over it and smoothed out any air bubbles firmly with my hands, then let the piece cure for the rest of they day.
Step 5:
Once it was all dry, I came back with an X-Acto knife and cut off any excess overhang.
Step 6:
Where there was any extra overhang that was too small to cut, I used fine grit sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block to smooth the edges.
When you do this, you want to go straight down on the edge. Don’t go back and forth sideways or up and down vertically – go straight down and then again if needed. This helps to give the paper a clean, finished look.
Step 7:
Finally, I topped the paper off with a coat of Protect.
Business in the front.
Party on top.
This piece is destined for my office. I just gotta find someone to help me haul it there first. 😉
Any takers?
What do you think of the midas malachite touch?
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
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Disclosure: This post was a collaboration with Velvet Finishes. However, all opinions and references to Billy Ray Cyrus are 100% mine.
lisa says
That paper is to die for and simply gorgeous. Nice Re-make!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thank you, Lisa!! I am crazy over it too!
Jessica says
You’re posts just crack me up. I had a similar experience with a store employee while trying to fit an ottoman in my car #blesshim.
I love the malachite paper on the top! Fantastic job!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
You know, I bet these store employees still laugh about people like us all the time. We are the center of their jokes!! haha!!
mary ballerin says
I got lucky at Target one evening … well I’ve had more than one Target experience …. anyway, I bought four sling patio chairs on clearance, they wouldn’t fit in my Impala which I bought because it has fold-down back seats and a large trunk. I brought home two trees and three arborvitae bushes in that car, on different occasions, but the chairs? Nope. A couple watched me and the young employee struggling and asked where I lived. They put the chairs in their SUV and followed me home. Small town perks are few but I’ll never forget that favor from strangers. Right now I have a heavy Heywood-Wakefield bureau in my garage that needs to come in the front door, after being lifted over the porch railing for a straight shot. I’m waiting for my 20-something neighbor and his friends to be outside one day soon, but I scored that HW bureau in excellent condition for $40! I’m tempted to eBay it and buy a new couch. I can get a long MCM dresser to upcycle but I’m kind of proud of my HW surprise. When I saw the mark inside one of the drawers I was stoked. The gal on Facebook didn’t have room for her grandma’s old bureau, in perfect condition. I talked her down from $50, before knowing the mfr. Love your credenza, Jenna, and thanks for the malachite source, much better than painting! I have a dresser project to get out of my garage – scratches on top, nice wood and brass hardware in front – an Asian-looking piece that needs to make room for my car before winter hits up north. Another $40 purchase.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Wow, Mary! It sounds like you are the queen of finding amazing deals!! I’d wait on that 20 year old neighbor to help you out too. 😉
Hollie @ Stuck on Hue says
That’s my favorite malachite! Fun dresser project.
I use Spoonflower for fabric sometimes but I always forget about wrapping paper. Maybe I’ll do something fun for all my holiday wrapping this year.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
It is such a great malachite, Hollie! Love it! That’s a great idea for holiday wrapping paper – didn’t even think about that!
mary jo says
i found one on a side road at the end of a driveway ..i circled it several times and realized it was ment to be !! boy did i do a happy dance !! it took me quite a while to figure out how it was going to fit in my mercedes benz at least i wasnt on my bike cause that would have been bad !! i had just had a total hip and joint replacement and wasnt susposed to lift drag or do any thing of the sorts but i was feeling no pain this was clearly going to be a afternoon affair geting it home when all of a sudden a dude in a big truck pulls up askes if i need help and as much as i would of liked to say no i got it i did another happy dance as he loaded it in his big truck !! he unloaded for me and low and be hold he has a motorcycle too and wants to go riding ..well lets just say that it was a awesome swell day !! now i have to decide what to do with it >> i love what you did >> ill keep you posted !!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Mary Jo – its sounds like that was your lucky day – in more ways than one!