Bar Cart DIY

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped in at one of our local antique shops, where I made out like a bandit.  Among my treasures was an old bar cart.

The shelves were in pretty poor shape, but I liked the overall shape of the piece. And luckily, I had come across this post on A Thoughtful Place and this post on I Heart Organizing and I knew I wanted to use marble contact paper in some kind of project.  When I saw this cart, in my head I immediately envisioned it in gold with newly covered marble contact paper shelves. I took it home for around $30.  And when I say I took it home, I really mean I took it to my dad's garage so that he could help me.  I really wish I was little miss diy, but I will readily admit that I am not.  I am really lucky to be surrounded by a bunch of fabulously creative people, though, and they very often take pity on my lack of skills and they help me.
So my dad helped me clean this baby up.

We applied some paint stripper and let it go to work.  A lot of the black paint came off while we were applying the stripper, and for a little while my dad was convinced that the cart was actually painted over brass.  Alas, it was just brass plating, which mostly got stripped away too, but that's okay, as I had already bought some gold spray paint for the job.

As that was drying, I got to work on the shelves.  They needed to be sanded in order for the contact paper to stick to them.

After measuring, cutting, and covering all three boards, it was time to put them on the cart.

I, for one, am pretty happy with how it turned out.  I plan on getting more plants for the top and using that shelf as an indoor herb garden.  I must admit that I already bought some other herbs for it, like basil and parsley, and then promptly killed them.  Oops.  I want to pick up some cilantro and maybe try another basil, since those are two things I know I will use.
Can you believe it's Friday already?!
Any plans for the weekend?

What I'm Loving Lately

Source: preppyandproud.tumblr.com via Lori on Pinterest

I have been obsessing over bar carts lately, but finally decided that I will probably never get one.   I don't really have the room for one, and I can't find one for less than $300 plus shipping.  I have other things I need to spend $300 on, ya know?   So I have been obsessing over all things alcohol. Not the consuming of alcohol.  Just the setting up of the bottles and the displaying of the prettiness.  But I have to admit that I am kind of obsessing over this recipe.  I need to get some rum, stat.  

Source: obaz.com via Andrea on Pinterest

So, since I decided that I will probably never buy an actual bar cart, I figured that I can do the next best thing and have a bar tray.  I found one at our local antique store and snatched it up.

Source: labrazel.com via Pug on Pinterest

See the tray in the middle? That is VERY similar to the one I found at the antique store. It is currently on a table in my family room, covered in drinks.  The ones in the picture are from LaBrazel, and are on sale for $124.  I got mine for $25.  Score!

Source: preppyandproud.tumblr.com via Lori on Pinterest

Don't you love this outfit?! I'm noticing a pattern going on with the last couple of summer outfits I've fallen in love with...

Source: hemingwayandhepburn.com via Lori on Pinterest

I'll leave you with two more pins that I'm loving this week.  First, wouldn't it be lovely if everyone collectively agreed that we should all use these words more often?

Source: lace-and-cotton.tumblr.com via Lori on Pinterest

And here is one more pin to help make your day a little brighter. How adorably cute is this little guy?

Source: lace-and-cotton.tumblr.com via Lori on Pinterest

Big thanks to the Vintage Apple for hosting another round of Wednesday Pinsday!