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Wooden Cutting Board Makeover For Fall

September 19, 2017

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Turn those old thrift store or Dollar Tree cutting boards into beautiful wooden signs, cake stands, trivets or serving pieces.

A little paint and wall decal to make those letters is all you need.

Check out the easy DIY.

Grateful Sticker Sign Cutting Board For Fall

Hello friends!

Well, it looks as if autumn is on its way despite my best efforts to thwart it.

Can't fight Mother Nature, so I decided to get into the spirit and make a few new fall crafts yesterday.

I started off with these thrift store cutting board makeovers.

I don't really know what to call them...wooden signs, wooden cake or cupcake stands, wooden servers, trivets, risers?

Well, whatever they are, they're super sweet and I'm totally smitten.

Not really enough to fall in love with fall, but it's start.

So a few weeks ago, I shared a video detailing a bunch of my thrift store finds.

These small cutting boards were among my haul, they were a buck each. At the time, I said that I might make signs out of them or put feet on them.

Guess what? I did both.

Cutting Board Makeover

Supply list:

Here's what I used:

Thrifted or Dollar Store Wooden Cutting Board
Foam Brushes
Mod Podge
Large Wooden Legs (they're actually small candle cups)
Round Beads For Feet
Wall Decals

Let's start with the sign.

First of all, I did not sand or prime. I never do. Lazy...but it works.

Thrift store cutting board on table with brushes and paint supplies
 
I opted for my tried and true cheat, a wall sticker.

After many, many years of crafting, I've found that they are the best way to get professional lettering quickly and easily.

Check out the amazing craft I made with one at Christmas!

There's no stenciling or expensive machine to wrestle with...just stick and go. Done. I found this one at the dollar store.

Be Grateful wall decal on table with cutting boards and scissors

I painted my cutting board with white paint and waited a few minutes (literally) for it to dry.

Next, I cut the words that I was going to use out of the sticker sheet. Then I stuck the sticker on the board and then sealed it with decoupage gel.

Painting a wooden cutting board white with a foam brush

A little tip here, if you find your sticker has any bubbles in it, just gently lift it and reapply.

These stickers are generally made as wall decals so they can take it. You can also use a credit card to smooth them out like you would with contact paper.

The last step in this process was to coat the entire board with decoupage gel and set it aside to dry.

Decoupaging A Wooden Sign with a sticker already applied to it

Thrift store cutting board to fabulous custom wooden fall sign in a matter of minutes.

Love at first sight.

Wooden Grateful Sign For Fall on a plate and one a placemat with applies around it

One down, one to go.

For the second cutting board I wanted to play up the fact that it was wood, however, I do not stain anything. Too messy and it smells bad.

(Psst- Never say never. Check out what I did with water based, no odor stain.)

I cheat the look with paint instead.

It's the same technique I used when I made my DIY wooden cake stand. Simply slather on a generous amount of brown craft paint...

wooden cutting board painted brown on a table with supplies around it

...and then rub most of it off with a paper towel.

Enough of the color will remain to darken the wood and yet reveal the grain.

Wiping paint away to fake a stained wood look

I sealed it with decoupage gel also, so it would have a bit of sheen.

I wanted this one to have feet, so I grabbed at pack at the craft store and glued them on.

Making A Wooden Trivet by adding small wooden cup legs to the bottom of cutting board

It was so darling with those tiny little legs, I started to rethink my Grateful sign.

Suddenly it needed feet, too. I didn't want the pieces to match though, so for that one, I used wooden beads.

They are large enough to give it lift, but small enough that I can still prop the sign up and you'd never know they were there.

Adding bun feet to a cutting board with a glue gun

Best of both worlds.

Wooden Cake Or Cupcake Stands on a table with roses around it

And now even if I am not remotely ready to welcome fall, my house is.

 What do you think of my little creations?

Oh and I wanted to share...remember that mystery item from video that everyone said was a cupcake stand?

Well, it is and I had my doubts, but that sucker works!

And in case you're wondering, those cupcakes have Oreo cookies buried in the bottom. Yum.

Metal Cupcake Stand with frosted cupcakes on it on a kitchen table

If you're looking for more crafty DIYs check out DIYIdeaCenter.com.

I have a profile there and you can find a ton of easy and adorable ideas for the upcoming fall holidays.
Makeover a thrift store cutting board and turn it into a wooden pedestal for your kitchen. collage for Pinterest with in prices and after photos

HERE ARE A FEW MORE FALL AND THANKSGIVING IDEAS:

Kim Signature


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  1. I love your projects made with the thrift store cutting boards. Very clever, my dear! :D I love the fall book banner so much!!!
    (of COURSE I'd love it!!!)

    xo,
    RJ

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    1. Thanks! I knew you’d like that book banner…and no pages were damaged in its making! I couldn’t tear into a classic like Runaway Ralph! 😉

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  2. Cute idea! How about 'running boards' . . . since they have feet!

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    1. LOVE it!! A name and a laugh...awesome!! 🤣

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  3. These are so cute Kim! I'm going to have to have another look at my local dollar store...didn't realize they carried stencils too. Love your boards with the feet, and I like your method of wood "staining." So much easier than "staining."

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    1. They have fabulous walls stickers, Florence, even better than stencils. Go peek for sure!

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  4. That is so cute. I love our idea.

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  5. Hi Kim,
    I always love your pretty banners. The thrift store cutting board idea is fabulous.
    xoxo
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris! Between the thrift store and the dollar store, I look pretty talented, huh? All crafts should be this easy! 😉

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    1. Thanks Liz! They turned out better than expected. 😊

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  7. Fun! Don't you just love thriftshop goodies??! Names? What about Henrietta and Junior??? Those popped into my head just reading.

    😆 Have fun,
    Barb

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    1. Yes! The thrift store was kind to me this time around...and cute names. Thanks!

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  8. They are so much fun, and beautiful too!

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  9. Ah this turned out so cute!! I love the wording!

    We have an old cutting board here that I've been thinking of painting. Stripes might be more my speed though. :)

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    1. Thanks Stacey! Those wall stickers make very easy work of the words. Stripes sounds like fun, too, and also easy!

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  10. Love these two ideas Kim! They turned out beautiful!

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    1. Thank you, Maria! I am so tempted to go back to the thrift store to look for more and make them as gifts!

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  11. such a simple and cute craft! love it as part of the table setting!

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    1. Thanks so much! I have to say, I really like the way this one turned out.

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  12. Oh how I love this! What a great idea. I'm going to make one for sure. I just think it looks simply stunning!

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    1. Thanks so much! I’m telling you, those dollar store vinyl stickers make me look like a pro every time. Thanks for the visit! 😊

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  13. Thanks Teri! I couldn’t pass up the cutting boards for a dollar. I have to say their makeover exceeded my expectations. I love it when that happens! ☺️

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  14. You are a genius! I love the idea of using the wall stickers for the words! Oh girl! I'm totally going to steal this idea!

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    1. Thank you, Deanna! 😊 I have to give all the credit to those wall stickers. They make me look like a pro every single time! Steal away...

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  15. Very cute! I just bought some of those vinyl signs myself at DT. I have wood blocks I am going to make into some stackable signs as gifts. Staining with craft paint - GENIUS and I have mod podge to seal them, too! I love this craft!

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    1. Great idea! Aren't those signs awesome? I use them all the time. Sometimes (like this time) I just use certain words or I cut words out and make my own sayings. And as far are the staining goes, SO much easier! Thanks for the visit and happy crafting!

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  16. I think you've come up with a fun and adorable idea! You're definitely "craft-minded!"
    Brenda

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    1. Thanks Brenda! I do enjoy crafting. 🙂

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  17. Thank you so much for a cute and EASY idea to finally use up my cutting boards that I have been collecting! Perfect to sell in my new booth for Fall!

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    1. Oh yay! I'm so glad you found a useful idea, AnnMarie. I see cutting boards all the time and know people make wall signs out of them, but they're so solid, I though this was a cuter idea. Hope you sell a ton!!

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  18. How is it that your mind works in such a way that it sees cutting boards but really sees cute crafts? I see cutting boards and I just think CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, love, love both of these - you are super creative, my friend. And you are KILLING me with those cupcakes!

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    1. Haha! Debbie, thank you for the compliment, but trust me, my (hungry) family would be much happier if I saw cheese ~ in a recipe for dinner ~ too! Can't eat my crafts. And for the record, my daughter baked the cupcakes. Thank goodness someone in this house likes to cook! 😉Happy fall my friend!

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  19. Kim, that is such a perfectly cute craft. Great idea. I really love the one with the little feet. Sure elevates those little $ store boards up a notch!! Yummy looking and sounding cupcakes..Have a great day..xxoJudy

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    1. Thanks Judy! I am really happy with they way they turned out and yes, the feet made all the difference. Happy fall!!

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  20. Hi Kim, wow I love your signs you made and even I think that I could make the first one that you made. These would make great Christmas gifts. :0)

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    1. You totally could, Julie and I agree, great gifts and great craft fair items! Happy fall!

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  21. Love these to bits Kim!!! Perfect to use all year round I say!

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  22. I love how you used those cutting boards. That's an idea I could actually copy. Happy Fall.

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    1. It was so easy to do, I know you could make some beautiful ones! Let me know if you do, I would love to see what other people come up with! Have a great fall weekend! 😊

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  23. You took two identical pieces of wood, and made them completely unique, I love that! I think the feet on the bottom looks amazing, what fun possibilities there are with doing that. Hmm... now you've got me to thinking, lol! Thanks for the inspiration! I'm "grateful" for you, and the inspiration you provide, Happy 1st Day of Fall :)

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    1. Marilyn, your kind words just made me smile ear to ear! I know you could make something wonderful, the possibilities are truly endless…one for every season, holiday or event! Enjoy the weekend! xo

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  24. Great find on those cutting boards, love what you did with them. Gotta love the dollar store! You do the cutest things with their wall clings. And cupcakes with oreos at the bottom?????? Sign me up! I love oreos...I ate so many of those when I was pregnant...all three babies. That I will have to try!

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    1. Thanks Audra! My daughter came home from a friend's house with that Oreo recipe. Now whenever we eat a plain cupcake we're always like, where's the Oreo?? Cupcakes will never be the same again... 😉

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  25. Hmm...I'm thinking Jan and Cindy. :) I'm a child of the 70's, after all. ;) I can't believe that cute sticker came from the dollar store! I need to check the dollar stores around here. I really love Jan and Cindy both. Those little feet are the perfect touch. Oh, and those cupcakes!!! Yum!

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    1. Who does't love the Brady Bunch! And yes, the dollar store. They have tons of them...and if they don't have the saying you like, you can chop them up and make your own! How awesome is that?

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  26. You always dream up such fun stuff and do a great job of it as well :)

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    1. Thanks Deb! I do enjoy the dreaming part...and the doing part, if it's quick and uncomplicated.

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  27. What great little cutting boards! Super idea! You wowed me with your wood "stain" technique. I'm stealing that idea. :)

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    1. Thanks Gina! I'm glad you like my cheat. And steal away! If I can't craft at my kitchen table, it's not happening, so the "stain" idea was my way of getting the look I want...in the kitchen! 😉

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  28. This is really cute. Love this one. Thanks for sharing this post.

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  29. Love this great idea!! I painted a hanging board with black chalkboard paint and now, inspired by your post, I will be writing "Grateful" on it!! Thanks for sharing!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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    1. Thanks so much, Debbie! I'm glad that you found some inspiration here today and hope you'll come back to visit again. 😊

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  30. You gave that cutting board a much needed face lift! So cute!

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    1. Thanks Janice! It was an easy fix and cheap, too!

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  31. What a lovely idea Kim. I see so many cutting boards at the local thrift stores but I'm always a bit stumped on how I can re-purpose them. I'll have rethink that ;)

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    1. I was right there with you, Michelle, but long ago, I saw someone put tall legs on cheeseboards and I thought it might work with small cutting boards. I'm glad I tried it and I'm glad you like it! Thanks so much for letting me know! 😊

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  32. Another great idea. I can see making some fun gifts for family and friends for Christmas.
    Carla

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    1. I know! I was thinking the same thing...I need more cutting boards!

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  33. SO FUN! :) Neat idea!

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  34. This is a great idea. I love how easy you made these projects. Thank you for always sharing your inspirational ideas. Hugs.

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    1. Thanks so much, Vanessa! I hope that by sharing others will attempt them, as well!

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  35. Well aren't you clever! What a fun project.

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    1. Thank you so much! I have to say they were fun to make...and easy!

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  36. We love our dollar store decals, don't we?! I love your cutting board makeover!

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    1. Thanks and yes! Looking forward to your project!

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  37. Thanks again Kim for sharing this great craft with us at C&C with J&J! :0)

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  38. Great project. I used bead feet like yours on bathroom counter baskets to keep them from getting wet and discoloring. I recently stuck a DT sticker on my wall; love it; bought another and am looking for the right sized board/frame/whatever to use it on. Haven't seen the grateful one, though.I love the word grateful better than thankful as in the saying: I want to be "humbly grateful, not grumbly hateful."

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    1. Kathy, I don't know how I missed your comment. I apologize! Feet sounds like a great idea for bathroom baskets. Thanks for the tip! I love the stickers because you can put them everywhere...although, it is a hunt and peck sometimes for the right saying, I agree. Hope you were able to find the grateful one! Thanks for the comment and again so very sorry for the late reply!

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  39. You did such a great job on this, Kim! Thanks for sharing @ Vintage Charm!

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  40. Look at you being miss crafty and all that, using beads for feet and stickers instead of stencils. Very clever I must say, with equally impressive results :).

    xxx

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    1. Thanks Doreen. I like your clever and impressive descriptions. I thought I was just being lazy! 😉

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  41. So cute! Love this idea and those feet. ;)

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    1. Thanks Kristi. I have wanted to do this for a long time…and I am so happy with the way they turned out!

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  42. Fabulous job, fabulous finds. Just found your site, and I love these projects.

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    1. Thanks so much! I hope you come back and visit often!!

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  43. Just saw your post on my feed. This is an awesome idea. I visit thrift stores to get materials for crafts and always see cutting boards. Wondered what to do with them. That's for the great idea! Just signed up for your emails. Can't wait to see all that you have accomplished. Keep up the awesome job!

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    1. Thanks so much, Diane! You just made my day. I hope that you enjoy what I share and I continue to se you in the comments.

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  44. How can I pin this for later? I don't see a Pinterest button.

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    1. Hi Pamela, if you hover on the pictures a red Pinterest button will show up and you can pin from there. Hope that helps and thanks for pinning!!

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  45. These are adorable Kim! I love using quotes ❤️❤️

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    1. Thank you so much!! I'm kind of a word freak!

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  46. These turned out so cute! Love the grateful font!

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    1. Thank you, Linda...gotta love that dollar store...

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  47. Instead of purchasing wooden beads, or legs, you can use empty wooden spools of thread, I have a box full of them, little spools don't need cutting, larger ones if you want shorter lets cut in have, they work wonderful. Also cork from wine bottles work too. I have friends that save those for me as I also make trivets out of them using them on the bottom of framed boards.

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    1. Hi there! I read your comment a week ago and thought I had replied. So sorry...however, it really made an impact. I have been thinking about your wooden spools idea ever since. I even looked for some at the thrift store. I need to keep my eyes open now. Great idea!! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  48. Love the grateful sign very pretty!

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    1. Thanks so much, Maria! I can't wait to set my table with it this year.

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