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    Home » Thrift Store Makeovers » Vintage Washboard Memo

    Vintage Washboard Memo

    Published by Gail | Published February 10, 2016 | Updated June 30, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    I am sharing a vintage washboard memo project. Why? I’ve joined a group of bloggers that have been doing themed projects, Thrift Store Décor! I'm so happy to be part of this wonderful group of multi-talented ladies!

    And .... y’all know how much I love shopping at thrift stores.

    thrift store decor makeover challenge

    After some larger furniture projects lately, including my hall table and the recent waterfall dresser redo, it’s fun to have a small project to share with you.

     

    Materials

    • Vintage Washboard (take a magnet with you to make sure it is magnetic-many are not)
    • Small Tin Basket
    • Small Hooks
    • Screws
    • Wire (I use 18 guage)
    • Decorative magnets

     

    Supplies

    • Paint
    • Pencil

    Tools

    • Drill (bits)
    • Hacksaw (the screws of most hooks will be too long and need to be cut)
    • Needle Nose Pliers (to curl the wire)

     

    thrift store vintage washboardI picked up this vintage washboard a few weeks ago at my local Vendors’ Village.

    Right away I knew I wanted to make a memo holder out of it. I saw many washboards that day, but many of them wouldn’t hold magnets on the metal.

    In order to make it a versatile memo board, I wanted to have a place for keys and mail. I took the washboard with me to Hob Lob to pick up some accessories.

    hobby lobby red metal tinAfter looking all over the store, and finally found the perfect red tin basket to be the mail holder.

     

    *This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.*

     

    hobby lobby turquoise hooks relaime poppy paintI was unable to find any red hooks, but that isn’t a problem when you have Poppy paint from Reclaim.

    Paint hooks to coordinate with vintage washboard

    painted red hooksI dabbled on a little paint with a cheap chip brush.

    Drill holes in metal basket

    drill holes red tin basketWhile the paint was drying on the vintage washboard I pre-drilled some holes in the red metal tin basket.

     

    Drill pilot holes in the vintage washboard to hold metal basket

    pre-drill holesI marked and drilled some holes for the basket on the bottom of the vintage washboard.

    I drilled them at an angle to allow me room to get the drill in place to secure the screws.

     

    Use a hacksaw if hooks are too long

    hacksaw hook threadsThe threads on the hooks were too long, so I used a hacksaw to trim them. I didn’t use the washers and nuts on the back of the threads. I drilled holes in the sides of the washboard and screwed them in.

     

    cut and curl wire hangerFor hanging the vintage washboard, I drilled some holes in the top and used some rusty wire threaded through the holes.

     

    curl wire hangerNeedle nosed pliers were used to give a little curl to hold the wire in place.

     

    vintage washboard memo board MyRepurposedLife.comAren’t these small decorative clothespins cute? I bought them at Hob Lob. I have some of those super strong magnets stuck on the washboard, then simply placed the clothespins onto the super magnets.The small clothespins were held in place by the spring mechanism. EASY! I've learned a better way to use wire for displaying projects. A twisted wire handle looks so much nicer.

     

     

    washboard memo board MyRepurposedLife.comHere’s a nice close-up of the vintage washboard memo board hanging on the fence with some good lighting. Orignally I was going to do a chalboard for the top, but after buying the red items, I wanted to leave the advertising in place. You could use some chalkboard contact paper if you want a chalkboard feature.

     

     

    vintage washboard memo organizer myrepurposedlife.com

    And here it is hanging on my plank wall. Do you love it? Isn’t it so practical?

    See more great Thrift Store Projects from my friends!

    Thrift Store Decorating Team

    Petticoat Junktion

    Domestically Speaking

    Debbiedoos

    Our Southern Home

    Mom4Real

    Bliss Ranch

    Redhead Can Decorate

    My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

    My Repurposed Life

    I know you will love all the great projects above!

    gail

    Sharing my Vintage Washboard Memo over at Heartsie Girl's Wordless Wednesday

    If you love this project, see these other great Thrift Store Makeovers:

    Easy iPad Stand or Tablet Holder

    $2 Hexagon Table Makeover

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Pam

      December 14, 2016 at 10:37 pm

      Adorable job Gail.

      Reply
    2. Angie @ Knick of Time

      February 17, 2016 at 11:17 pm

      This is too cute - pinned it!

      Reply
    3. Christy @ Our Southern Home

      February 16, 2016 at 9:02 am

      I have admired your creativity for so long now. This is just such a fun idea. I am so happy that you have joined out monthly thrift store group!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 16, 2016 at 11:31 am

        Thank you Christy! I'm so happy to be joining you ladies!

        gail

    4. Mindi

      February 15, 2016 at 1:49 am

      What a fun group!! I love this idea, and it turned out so perfect! Wash boards are just classic, and you made it cute and useful!

      Reply
    5. Rebecca

      February 14, 2016 at 9:09 am

      Hi Gail! I love the idea of getting together with friends and doing a project. How did yo go about starting the groups and meeting up? I don't have too many friends who want to do this so I would like to somehow put up a post on Facebook but don't want to truly open it up the masses. Any ideas?

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 14, 2016 at 9:31 am

        Rebecca,

        This wonderful group of ladies are my online friends. My real life friends and I get together quite often, but they don't enjoy the same things I do, so I do my crafting and DIY alone. I apologize for the confusion.
        I wish you luck finding some friends to be creative with. I'm always envious of those groups when I read about them.

        gail

    6. Amy | Canary Street Crafts

      February 12, 2016 at 4:02 pm

      I love this idea! I recently picked up 3 vintage washboards at a picker's market to hang in my laundry room. I really like how you added magnets/clothes pins to yours.

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 12, 2016 at 4:19 pm

        Amy,

        I sort of took the easy way out buying clothes pins. I'm sure you could decorate your own much cheaper! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate it.

        gail

    7. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking

      February 11, 2016 at 5:22 pm

      What a find! I'm so jealous of your thrift store... great repurpose!

      Reply
    8. Katherine

      February 11, 2016 at 1:46 pm

      I love the vintage. Everything you make, create and up cycles you touch turn to awesome and amazing. I always open your posts and save alot of your project pictures for inspiration. I am going to check the rest of the blogs on this thrift store makeover group too!
      Katherine

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 12, 2016 at 10:57 am

        Katherine,

        I truly appreciate you opening my posts and helping to support My Repurposed Life! The other projects are so inspiring.

        have a great weekend,
        gail

    9. Justine Y @ Little Dove Creations

      February 11, 2016 at 1:48 am

      Oh my gosh, I love this! My parents have an old washboard and this would be the perfect project for it!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 11, 2016 at 9:21 am

        so happy to inspire you Justine! It's so fun to do simple projects in between my larger pieces. They too, can even be quite a challenge!

        have fun with your washboard!
        gail

    10. Christina in FL

      February 10, 2016 at 6:53 pm

      SHUT UP!!! Gail this is GREAT!!! Thanks fo rthe links to the chip brushes. Looks like they are even less expensive than Harbor Freight. 🙂 I love this note board! Do you need my address to send it to me? lol :)))

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 7:09 pm

        Christina!

        I'm so happy you love it. 🙂 Those chip brushes? I use them over and over and over again. They are easy to clean, and once you've used them several times they don't shed anymore. 🙂

        sorry... it's hanging in my kitchen, you'll have to find your own washboard and make it into a memo board. Just be sure it will hold magnets!

        I love your enthusiastic comment! it made my day!
        gail

    11. kristin

      February 10, 2016 at 3:03 pm

      I love this! I may just be on the hunt for a washboard now 🙂

      Reply
    12. girlfromwva

      February 10, 2016 at 1:21 pm

      Love it! great thrift store makeover! loving the red "poppy" color.

      Reply
    13. Patty

      February 10, 2016 at 1:10 pm

      I do love it Gail, I have a couple of these that I have had for at least 40 years. I keep telling myself I'm going to do something with them, I guess now I will get busy and just do it. I think instead of memo pad in the basket I will keep clothes pins, sins I keep them in my laundry room and I can hang it on the clothes line I use to hang the things I don't dry in the dryer. Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 2:15 pm

        so happy to inspire you Patty! That is why I do what I do. 🙂

        40 years is a long time, it's time to put those things to work!

        gail

    14. Brenda Chambers

      February 10, 2016 at 11:31 am

      I found one exactly like this yesterday 2/9 at our Goodwill Store, Has never been used. I love your ideas for it.

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 11:54 am

        Awesome! I couldn't believe how many I saw on this one day while I was looking for it. 🙂

        Thanks for stopping by to check out my project.

        gail

    15. Julie

      February 10, 2016 at 11:30 am

      Hi Gail, and welcome to our fun group! We needed another repurposing redhead!!! Speaking of red-I love the "poppy" you used on your clever "Washboard Memo". So darling, and cheap -the way I like it! Have a great day XO

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 11:32 am

        Julie,

        My mom's nickname for me was "redhead" until the day she died. I miss being called that by her. It's a fond memory.

        yes, I was so happy how well that Poppy worked on those turquoise hooks.

        so happy to be in the group!

        gail

    16. kathy@petticoatjunktion

      February 10, 2016 at 9:53 am

      I love your memo board. The rusty red metal tin is my favorite. That looks like a great junk store!!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 10:12 am

        Kathy

        I KNOW, it took me forever to find it, but as soon as I did, I knew it was perfect.

        gail

    17. Oh My Heartsie Girl

      February 10, 2016 at 9:48 am

      This turned out so darned cute, I love being creative, but gain a lot of inspiration from seeing what others make.
      I would like to invite you to share your repurposed projects each week on Oh My Heartsie Girls WW!!

      Happy Valentines!
      Karren

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 10:16 am

        Karen,

        Thank you for stopping by to check out my latest thrift store makeover! I have shared my project at your party, thanks for letting me know about it.

        gail

    18. JJ Crouch

      February 10, 2016 at 8:59 am

      Gail, So cute! You could just hang it on or next to a chalkboard. Keep on making your wonderful creations.
      JJ

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 10:13 am

        that's a great idea JJ. It is hanging really close to my original chalkboard (made from an armoire door) but that one is blue. I'm ready to change up my kitchen!

        gail

    19. debbiedoos

      February 10, 2016 at 8:41 am

      Welcome Gail! I love your washboard. I have used that paint and I love it! So glad you will be thrifting with us:)

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 10:14 am

        thank you Debbie!

        I am really happy to be part of the gang!

        gail

    20. Bliss

      February 10, 2016 at 7:52 am

      I'm so happy to have you join Thrift Store Decor Gail. What a welcome addition you are. Now print out what I typed and hang it on your memo board, you know with some hearts on it for Valentines Day.

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        February 10, 2016 at 10:15 am

        Bliss

        It's going to be to much fun hanging out with gals who "get" me and my love of cheap junk!

        gail

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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