Thrift Store Glass Cutting Board Decoupage Makeover

March 12, 2024

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I found an old glass cutting board at the thrift store for $1.99.

It was scratched up, but with a little bit of decoupage magic, I turned it into a showstopping, functional new addition to my cottage style kitchen.

Here's how I did it.

Several years ago, I found an old glass cutting board at the thrift store and decided to give it a makeover.
It was a pretty piece and in pretty good condition.

I just didn't like that paper bag pattern.

So I grabbed this paper guest towel and gave it a makeover.

One that was more fitting for my home. And fall.

Unfortunately, after one season in the kitchen, it disappeared and found its way to the bathroom.

Where my girls were using it to protect the wooden countertop my husband built from the heat of their curling irons and straighteners.

It worked wonders, but I lost my kitchen helper.

So you can imagine my excitement when I found this cutting board in a thrift store last month.

Old, thrifted glass cutting board on a table

I grabbed it immediately.

It was a little beat up, scratched and scuffed, but it was only $1.99 and I knew that my DIY would cover up all those markings.

Plus, this cutting board didn't have a design on it that needed to be scraped off, like the last one.

That made the makeover even easier this second time around.

I love when that happens. I also love it when I already own all the other supplies I need for a project.

In this case I had a ton of napkins and rice paper tucked away in my craft armoire. So many fun choices, new and old.

At first I thought I'd use an old favorite. Red geranium guest towels that I'd used on a wooden crate makeover.

They were the right color and the right size, but then this unopened package of floral dinner napkins literally fell out of the cabinet and onto my head. Clearly, meant to be, so I went with it.

Package of pink and red rose covered paper napkins on a table

See The Floral Napkins Here

The only issue was that the dinner napkins were square and the glass cutting board was a rectangle. So I had to figure out a way to patch them together before I could commit to those charming cottage style roses.

I played around with a few scenarios until I found a design that I liked.

Then I got down to business.

How To Decoupage A Glass Cutting Board

I started by washing the cutting board with dishwashing soap and water to remove any dust and the sticky price tag residue.

Luckily, it came off easily and I didn't need to use my favorite, all natural goop remover trick.

Washing a glass cutting board in the sink with a paper towel, soap and water

Glass Cutting Board Here

Next up, I dried it thoroughly and let it sit while I carefully separated the napkin layers to ensure I would only be decoupaging the patterned one.

How To Separate The Napkin Layers

I went slow, because I didn't want to tear any of the top patterned layer.

It can be a little tricky to spot all the layers, since some napkins are two ply and others are three and that third one is often tightly secured to the top.

Sometimes, I have to admit that I've willingly sacrificed a napkin and torn it to check the layers. It's the easiest way to get them apart especially if they're stubbornly stuck together.

It's worth it though, because if I miss a layer, it's a real mess to undo the decoupage and start again.

Separating the napkin layers for decoupage

The Decoupage Process

With my napkins ready to go, I grabbed my satin sealer, which I always use as my decoupage medium of choice, and added it to the bottom of the cutting board with a brush.

You could also use Mod Podge, I'm just not a fan.

Adding Mod Podge To A Glass Cutting Board with a brush

When the entire surface was coated I placed my napkin on the cutting board with the rose patterned side down.

Again, my napkin was a square, so I had to use two napkins to cover all the glass.

I decided the best - and easiest - way to do that was to line up the gold edges of the napkins to create a decorative border where the two met.

Matching Napkin Patterns In Decoupage to cover the entire surface

This way I didn't have to worry about trying to match up the roses or cutting them out to patch them in. Everything lined up nicely and it created a natural border.

That's when I got out my trusty vinyl glove.

It's my go to tool for smoothing out the wrinkles and bubbles that pop up.

My fingers don't get sticky and pull on the napkins and tear them as I move my hand along the top of the wet napkin.

If you don't have a glove, I find that a piece of clear plastic wrap or a zippy bag works equally as well.

Smoothing Napkins On Glass with gloved hand

When everything was smooth and set, I added another layer of decoupage over the napkin to seal it in place.

Mod Podge Napkins On Glass with a paint brush

Then I left it alone for several hours while it dried completely. The last step in this part of the process was to remove any of the napkin that hung over the edges of the cutting board.

I used a small sanding pad for that.

Similar Sanding Pad

I've found that as long as the napkin is completely dry, this is the easiest way to finish the edges.

Adding Rubber Feet

Before I started decoupaging the cutting board, I realized that it didn't have feet of any kind. That wasn't ideal.

It certainly made it easier to decoupage, I didn't have to remove the feet before adding the napkin.

However, rubber feet would protect my countertops and tables and protect the decoupage surface, as well.

So I added them.

Rubber Bumpers

I had a package of these self-adhesive protective bumpers in my stash, so I just peeled them away from their backing and stuck them to the bottom of the glass cutting board.

One in each corner.

When I was done, I had a lovely and very useful new addition to my kitchen.

The scratches and scuffs were completely camouflaged and all I saw was a wall of roses. Plus, with the pattern only on the backside of the cutting board, I can use it for food with no reservations about safety.

Rose covered glass cutting board makeover on a table with lemons and a knife

Even better, the Dixie Belle Clear Satin Sealer, that I used to decoupage the napkins onto the glass, is water resistant and can be wiped clean after 7 days of curing.

That means I can use the cutting board and then wash it off and dry it without worrying if the bottom gets a bit wet.

Thrift Store Cutting Board Makeover After on table

Of course, if I want to use it strictly as a display piece, I can do that, too.

In fact, right now it's propped up behind my stove to add a little spring flair to my countertops.

Cottage Style Cutting Board on a countertop with spring bunny figurine and pink flowers

Not bad for a $1.99.

And you can bet that this time, I'm not letting it out of the kitchen.

Sorry girls.

😉

What do you do with old glass cutting boards?

Thrift Store Glass Cutting Board Makeover DIY text over photo of cutting board on table

Here are a few other cutting board makeovers:

Happy Thrifting, Friends!

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Thrift Store Glass Cutting Board Decoupage Makeover

March 12, 2024