Project: Utensil Art.

I’m gonna get right to this:  I obviously remake things constantly yet I have had the same two framed pieces over my sink for almost five years now.  I finally reached my breaking point and took those puppies down and turned them into something new…ish.

Out with the old:

Utensils mounted on fabric backing in shadowboxes

To make these I wrapped fabric around the backing of two shadowboxes, sewed the back (this was before I owned a hot glue gun) Then sewed the utensils, which I purchased at a local antique store, to the fabric.

When I FINALLY took them down I ripped all stitched apart and started with a fresh ‘canvas’.

Step one: I painted the frames with a hammered bronze spray paint.  See the paint post for instructions.

Step two: I wrapped the backings of the shadowboxes with an ivory contact paper.  This paper was left over from other projects because the adhesive on the back is useless.  I always keep things because what fails for one project may be perfect for another.

Take apart the old in order to make the new

lay out backing on sticky side of contact paper

wrap corners around backing like a present; make sure it looks good from the front, the back doesn't matter

Secure the edges with tape - especially if your contact paper is useless

arrange your utensils and adhere with double sided mounting tape

Completed Utensil Shadow Boxes

And I’m happy again.  I love seeing these over our sink; they look fantastic.  You can arrange your silverware in an orderly fashion or do what I did and make it look like the pieces were just tossed in the frames.  Just make sure they are secure however you arrange them because they will shift/fall/rearrange themselves if you don’t.

Remember, if you don’t like something in your home MOVE it or CHANGE it.  There are no rules that say once something is on your wall it must stay there.  Make your surroundings beautiful…you’re the one that has to look at them all day every day!