Sweet French Chest from School Shop Project.

   Thrifty Thursday                  This sweet French blue striped chest started out life as some one's school shop project I am sure.  When I found it at the thrift store it had been decoupaged with random Christmas pictures, and trimmed in forest green paint.

After soaking and stripping the decoupaging off, it looked like this.  A plain pine box, but one with a nice trim around the base and in very sturdy condition.  I had plans for it.

It first got three coats of white paint, then I added the French Blue Stripes.  When it was dry I added the French Provincial handles.  Then it was time for the sweet reproduction of an antique trade card with roses.  Of course I found that at my go to place, Graphics Fairy.  The next step in the reinvention process was the sanding, aging and antiquing.  I used sand papers, and a butter knife for wear, and Restorafinish in an old oak for the aging.

Last of all I lined the interior of the chest with some Ralph Lauren antique reproduction wallpaper that I own. It has a tiny blue and white pin stripe with roses on it, which, I thought, was perfect in this case.

Here is an enlargement of the trade card I decoupaged on the front.

And here it is on the top of a stack of vintage and antique chests in my family room (which are perfect for the blankets we snuggle in to watch TV in the winter, old houses are drafty.)  I adore how pink roses and French blue look together, I think they are nearly the perfect complimentary colors.  I am working on a smaller project that I will show you next Monday with the same color scheme. 

Thanks for dropping by.