The DIY Village

DIY Greeting Card Display { Repurposed Shutters }

By 22 Comments

Old Shutters
I cannot be the only person who LOVES to get a greeting card, right?
They light up my day, and I am fortunate enough to have
family that loves to send cards as well.
My problem – Somewhere to display them!
Some might prefer to read them and then throw them away.
I am more of your place them out for everyone to see type.
Last year we came across these cute little shutters that I knew would be perfect to display the
sweet cards we get.
Just a few clothes pins and we were good to go!
It was awesome at Christmas being able to just keep stacking them up!
So much love and well wishes going around, makes you smile!
My good friend Stephanie had mentioned she wanted something similar, so I was on the hunt.
Luckily I was able to find a pair of shutters for a reasonable price
on Craig’s List – SOLD.
Well kind of … I had to meet the seller (male) first.
So we meet up in some random parking lot and simultaneously get out of our cars
Seller – Are you Jacque(s)?  Here to buy the shutters?
Me – Yes, I’m Jacque, $ 10 right?
Seller – Yup, so what are you going to do with these?
Me – Make a greeting card holder as a gift for a friend.
Seller – Oh hmm uhhh, so you aren’t going to use them as shutters?
Me – Well, they will stay shutters, except they probably won’t hang on a window or a wall for that matter.  I’m just adding an additional function to them.
Seller – Oh … I see …
At this point it is BEYOND obvious that this man has no clue
what I am going to do with these
and possibly thinks I am a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
But hey what should he care he has the crazy lady’s money.
We went our separate ways and our drug deal Craig’s list deal was complete.
Yup I said it Drug Deal.  Please tell me I am not the only person who feels as if they are doing something illegal when they meet a stranger in a parking lot to buy some goods off of them.
EVERY TIME!!!
Moving on …
I took the hardware off of the shutters gave the shutters a good sanding
and filled the holes in with Wood Filler.
Once the wood filler was dry I sanded that area down as well.
Not really the right order to do things,
but honesty I forgot to fill the holes so there you have it!
Pretty yellow aren’t they? heh heh
One thing Mr. Craig’s List failed to mention was that these shutters were missing the support in the back (front) that keeps them from flopping.  So Each and Every one of the slats had to be glued into place before they could be painted!
Whomp Whomp Whomp!
Once the wood glue was dry the shutters were painted antique white, and then my favorite blue color I created for a Chair project I did earlier in the year.
In total I ended up doing two coats of blue to maximize my coverage.
When everything was dry I whipped out the orbital sander and went to town.
After a quick coat of Poly everything was ready to assemble.
The hardware was originally a bright (I mean BRIGHT) blue color so it got painted with an oil rubbed bronze spray paint and installed back on the shutters.
The yellow and white peaking through is just perfect!
Add some decorative clothes pins from Michael’s, some cards,
and you are good to go!
Before & After of my repurposed shutters.
Old Shutters Upcycled
Happy Birthday Mrs. G!  Hope you have some great cards to add to your knew card display!
 

Typical Asher & Fenway Photo Bomb!
Thanks guys 🙂

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    I love my greeting card holder and can't wait to find the PERFECT place for it!! I may use some of the blue clothes pins that someone gave me for Christmas last year with it as well….. Love you!!

    Reply

  2. Kristel says

    So pretty, and a fun way to display your cards. I also have this same problem, don't have any where to display them, so thanks for the inspiration, I will be on the look out for shutters now.

    Reply

  4. Christine says

    LOVE IT!!! I'm actually working on some shutters right now.. they are OLD very old… they need lots of prepping.. can't wait to have them completed!

    I REALLY hope you are planning on sharing this over at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Christine says

      Thanks so much for sharing at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! I can't wait to see what you link up this evening! 🙂

      I'm following you too 🙂

      Reply

  6. Jessi W says

    I love this idea! My mom does something similar with her Christmas cards, except she actually sticks them in the blinds on her front room windows. But they can only stay up for a little while cuz they're kind of in the way of opening the blinds, so this is much better! I'm your newest Linky follower, and I'd be thrilled if you would link this up at my current link party so everyone can see this! http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/06/the-fun-in-functional-link-party-3/

    Reply

  8. Charlene@APinchofJoy says

    I'm with you on the “illicit” feel of a Craigslist parking lot meetup. . . and how the exchange of money smooths over the “crazy lady” reaction! lol Although anyone who owned bright yellow shutters with bright blue hardware that were actually used as shutters can hardly judge someone else! Your greeting card holder turned out great — Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday at A Pinch of Joy. Hope to see you again soon!

    Reply

  10. Lorri Rauscher says

    Gee ..why didnt U think of this..next time U gi yard sailing I will puck a few shutters to exactly this..I love keeping my cards..this will be a great way of dispkaying them…Thanks for the idea?

    Reply

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