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.
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)
I 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.
After 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.*
I 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
I dabbled on a little paint with a cheap chip brush.
Drill holes in metal basket
While 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
I 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
The 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.
For hanging the vintage washboard, I drilled some holes in the top and used some rusty wire threaded through the holes.
Needle nosed pliers were used to give a little curl to hold the wire in place.
Aren’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.
Here’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.
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!
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
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Pam
Adorable job Gail.
Angie @ Knick of Time
This is too cute - pinned it!
Christy @ Our Southern Home
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!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thank you Christy! I'm so happy to be joining you ladies!
gail
Mindi
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!
Rebecca
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?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
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
Amy | Canary Street Crafts
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.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
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
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking
What a find! I'm so jealous of your thrift store... great repurpose!
Katherine
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
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
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
Justine Y @ Little Dove Creations
Oh my gosh, I love this! My parents have an old washboard and this would be the perfect project for it!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
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
Christina in FL
SHUT UP!!! Gail this is GREAT!!! Thanks fo rthe links to the chip brushes. Looks like they are even less expensive than Harbor Freight. š I love this note board! Do you need my address to send it to me? lol :)))
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Christina!
I'm so happy you love it. š 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. š
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
kristin
I love this! I may just be on the hunt for a washboard now š
girlfromwva
Love it! great thrift store makeover! loving the red "poppy" color.
Patty
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.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
so happy to inspire you Patty! That is why I do what I do. š
40 years is a long time, it's time to put those things to work!
gail
Brenda Chambers
I found one exactly like this yesterday 2/9 at our Goodwill Store, Has never been used. I love your ideas for it.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Awesome! I couldn't believe how many I saw on this one day while I was looking for it. š
Thanks for stopping by to check out my project.
gail
Julie
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
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
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
kathy@petticoatjunktion
I love your memo board. The rusty red metal tin is my favorite. That looks like a great junk store!!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Kathy
I KNOW, it took me forever to find it, but as soon as I did, I knew it was perfect.
gail
Oh My Heartsie Girl
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
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
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
JJ Crouch
Gail, So cute! You could just hang it on or next to a chalkboard. Keep on making your wonderful creations.
JJ
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
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
debbiedoos
Welcome Gail! I love your washboard. I have used that paint and I love it! So glad you will be thrifting with us:)
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
thank you Debbie!
I am really happy to be part of the gang!
gail
Bliss
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.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Bliss
It's going to be to much fun hanging out with gals who "get" me and my love of cheap junk!
gail