Drawer-front Repurposed

In a recent post about some of my Shabby Finds, I shared this photo of an old drawer front that I bought for $5.00 to "do something with someday". Well, I finally got busy and actually finished this little project. I decided to repurpose the drawer front into funky wall art to use as a display for vintage postcards and photos. A simple, if a bit messy, project...

Here's the messiest part of the job...the scrub-down. I wanted to remove the paint from the brass pulls and clean up the wood a little bit without damaging the old paint.

To shine up the hardware, I got out my old tube of Simichrome Metal Polish.  You can find it at the hardware store and at many antique malls. It's kind of pricey but it will shine most metals as well as all of your vintage plastics. It's also a great way to determine if a piece you are thinking of buying is real Bakelite or a knock-off. To test for bakelite with it, the pinkish color of the polish should turn yellow from rubbing it on the bakelite...yellow means bakelite; not yellow, probably not.

When I scrubbed the drawer front, I learned the hard way not to get it too wet. By scrubbing with water, I managed to loosen some of the glue that held down the vaneer on the molding. So...time to get out the glue and clamps. Is any project as simple as it first looks? I also put a dab of glue under each of the drawer pulls so that they would remain upright to hold the postcards in place.

The original key was missing from the drawer so I decided to search my collection of old keys...I lucked out and found one that fit.

And here is the finished piece, hung above a shelf in our guest bathroom.

For now, I displayed two old postcards of Wells Beach, Maine on it. I like the idea that I can change it out and use seasonal postcards or vintage photos instead to suit my mood.

This post is happily linked to:
Sunday Favorites at Happy to Design

Tutorial & Tips Tuesday at The Stories of A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

What Are You Making Wednesday at Home and Heart

Treasures & Trinkets Party at My Cottage Charm

Time Travel Thursday at Brambleberry Cottage

Thrifty Thursday at Tales from Bloggeritaville

Vintage Thingy Thursday at The Colorado Lady

Under $100. Linky Party at Beyond the Picket Fence

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Show & Tell Fridays at My Romantic Home

Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life

Show & Share Day at Just a Girl

Flaunt It Friday at Chic On a Shoestring Decorating

Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove

Catch As Catch Can at  My Repurposed Life

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Addicts Anonymous at Addicted to Decorating