Western General Store

I know, quirky! It's rustic meets industrial. I had a drawer panel left over from when we built our kitchen years ago and thought about adding hooks and making a coat rack and it evolved into this. The drawer panel was already stained and ready to go into a kitchen but I partially sanded it to make it look rustic. Then I slathered on some turquoise paint and added rustic  cross tacks to the corners. I had this horse head that I drew and cut from plywood and I spray painted it chrome. It looks like sheet metal! I wanted a 3D effect so I put the base of the horse against the panel and glued a wooden wedge behind it. Have fun transforming old drawer panels!

This is a picture of my grandmother when she was 18. Pretty fancy, huh? I don't know what the occasion was but don't let it fool you. She was a hard working farm woman and I was with her every step of the way when she washed clothes in a ringer washer and hung them on the line, gathered eggs from the chicken coop, picked peaches, gathered vegetables from the garden and list goes on and on. She and I were close and I enjoyed the time spent with her. In a barn wood frame I drilled holes for some rusty star nails . I positioned them so that enough of the star would overhang the frame for handles. With a brad nail gun I nailed the rope to the frame. This could be hung on the wall or used as a tray. If used as a tray for drinks, I would put clear waterproof calk between the glass and the frame. I placed cardboard behind the picture and nailed a piece of 1/8" plywood for backing. Any type of picture could be used but I thought this would give it a rustic western style.

If you have any antlers, they can be incorporated into your décor for a rustic Christmas. I made and tied a burlap bow onto the base of an antler and placed greenery underneath. I added a pine cone and a couple of flameless candles. This could be a simple center piece for the table. In the glass bowl I added greenery, large pine cones, a large flameless candle and a deer antler with a red ribbon tied on the base.

We came up with this lamp design to go with our décor. I found the terracotta sconce at a local rustic décor store and the shade at Lowes. We made the wooden pieces and applied a clear finish. We rigged up a night light bulb inside the sconce and used a three way light kit. When you turn the switch once the bottom bulb lights up, turn it twice the top bulb lights up, and turn it once more and both bulbs light up. We have really enjoyed these lamps over the years.

This project is quick and easy and fun for kids. Take photos of family, pets, or people you admire such as celebrities or sports figures and turn them into ornaments for your tree. We already had these 1/4" plywood pieces, but something like this could be bought at a craft store. These pieces are 2 1/2" x 3 3/4" tall. I printed photos wallet size on plain paper on an ink jet printer. Sand the wood and remove the sawdust with a tack rag. You can paint the wood and let dry or leave it bare. Then brush a thin coat of modpodge which is found at the craft store. Place your photo and use an old credit card to smooth it out. Brush another thin coat of modpodge. Smooth it on and leave it alone. If you brush repeatedly the colors will smear. Let dry and drill a 1/8" hole for ribbon or string.