Help-Head board makeover -- I want to make a bench so I am doing a mcklinky post

If you are looking for the home tour it is the very next post--it is an wonderful post full of lots of pictures and wonderful eye candy.

If you have signed up with me as a follower and I have not signed up with you--please e-mail me Cheri.Peoples@live.com  1 of 2 things has happened.

1.  I accidentally missed you

2.  I can't find you because you don't have links set up.

A fun fall picture to enjoy and keep you warm--it is super chilly here--brrr and I sat right by the front door at the library-what was I thinking, that I was in Florida???

One of my gals has a give-a-way:
a posh little give-a-way

bhg stencils
I am leaving this up all weekend and will make sure to repost from time to time since I am leaving it up a couple of weeks.

Call me crazy--yes I am going nuts--stir crazy--please remind me to travel with accessories (otherwise known as scissors, glue gun, ribbon--basically all craft supplies, even if I have to leave an extra bra behind).  I am working on some projects now.  I decided the kids could at least start working on some Christmas ornaments etc while we are here.  We can wrap the ones that are gifts for family and leave them here till Christmas, even though no one has their trees up yet--oh well-NO PEAKING.

I have received some bench ideas and though I will do a mcklinky so people can post all of their bench ideas.  I will e-mail each person to let them know to do the link and we I will have one place to go and look through all the benches and decide what to do.

I know I am crazy buying a headboard here, when we are flying--but here is my reasoning:
1.  Prince Charming will be done with school and we will be moving at some point. Even if we don't move back here, we left our beautiful entertainment center, hand made by my father-in-law in cherry wood, at my in-laws house.  we have to come pick it up so why not pick up a bench?  right
2. It was $3.00 When I mentioned that I wanted it, to Prince Charming, he was heading out the door with one of the boys to run an errand and came home with it--so he must have thought it was a good idea too.
3.  I think I already said this but It was $3.00 and in great shape.

My head is already spinning with ideas, I just want to make sure I do exactly what I want with it so post any ideas you find to help me out.

I will have this Mcklinky up will Nov 7 so if you do a search and even find a cool bench not made out of a head board post it --Pretty please.
NO RULES on this one--just post all of your fun ideas for me.


Here are some instructions I found on making a headboard bench:

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Step 1

SK's Black Antique Headboard Bench

SK's Black Antique Headboard Bench

Most antique headboards and matching foot boards are to narrow for present day mattresses. But old headboards make great benches. This antique headboard was given to me by a wonderful neighbor who couldn't see the use of it. She also had the matching foot board. They were collecting dust and dings in her garage.

I loved all the carved detail. It was a worn, dirty mahogany color.
Using TSP cleaner, I cleaned the ninety plus years of grime and oil off and painted a first coat of gold.

I lightly sanded between coats of paint. I then painted it a glossy black and let it cure for 48 hours.
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Step 2

Antique Headboards

Antique Headboards

We used pine and built a box slightly wider than the actual headboard. I cut out the leg detail for a little pizzazz.

2. The original headboard has legs and I didn't want to ruin the integrity of the solid frame so we didn't cut them off. We just used the old headboard (with legs) as the back of the bench box.
3.

Step 3

Decorated Holiday Antique Headboard Bench by SK Sartell

Decorated Holiday Antique Headboard Bench by SK Sartell

We simply cut holes into the top of the pine box and slid the intact headboard into these. This made the bench very sturdy. And if I ever wanted to change my mind and use the headboard for a even more clever something, I could just slip the headboard out of the slots.

I then painted the pine box to match the headboard. I sanded back the black paint to show glimpses of the gold underneath. I used a paste wax to buff an old world glow into the finished piece.