10 minute decorating | “antique” bread board

by | May 27, 2015 | All Things Home, Kitchen, My House, Tutorials, woodworking | 21 comments

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I was asked by one of my blog buddies, Laura from Finding Home, to join a “10 minute” challenge each month along with some other awesome bloggers.  I tend to take on projects that are more involved..refinishing, painting, upholstering, etc., so I like the idea of pinning myself down each month to do something simple and quick.

The theme for this month is “10 minute craft”.

As soon as I saw crafting was the theme, I went blank.  I’m not a crafter!  I know there’s a fine line between a DIYer and a crafter, but when I think about doing a 10 minute craft, my creativity just tanked.  So, I went back over things I’ve made over the past few weeks and I found something that was quick, great project…

…”antique” bread boards.  I have been collecting bread boards and cutting boards for years, mostly from yard sales, auctions, antique shops, etc.  They have gotten quite pricey as they’ve become more popular, so last year, as I was getting ready for Lucketts, I decided to make my own.

The key is to start out with an old piece of wood.  I just keep an eye out for old table leaves, barn boards, pieces of broken furniture, etc.  For me, the rougher they are, the better.  The dings, dents, scratches and wormholes all add character.

I start out by drawing the outline for the board design with chalk.  I looked at designs of antique bread boards for inspiration.  Don’t stress if you’re not good at drawing.  The designs can be simple and primitive.  (And with chalk, if you mess up, just wipe it with a wet rag and draw the design again.)

Cut along the chalk lines with a jigsaw.

Sand, so the surface is smooth and the edges aren’t splintered.

mms-1391

Apply a food safe oil to the board.  Of course, I use Hemp Oil, but there are a variety of oils you can use.

 

Since we use old wood and some of it is really rough, we label them as decorative only.  If you chose the right piece of wood and sand it down carefully, you can use it for direct food contact.

If you’re making one for the first time, it may take a little longer than 10 minutes, but it’s a quick project.  If I have all of my tools and supplies set out, I could crank one out in 10-ish minutes, so I figured I could slip this project in as a “craft.”  

Here are the other bloggers participating in the 10 minutes ideas series…

They all have cute, simple projects that are definitely click-worthy.

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    21 Comments

    1. Carrie

      This turned out BEAUTIFULLY!! I am so surprised by how expensive designer cutting boards are, and this is a great solution to the budget problem. Thanks for sharing!

    2. Rita C at Panoply

      Those are awesome, and look just like the real deals.

    3. Gladys

      I want one!!!!!

    4. debbie

      Ads have taken over your page. I can’t even read the post because they won’t let me scroll down the page.

      • Kim

        I don’t hardly have any ads popping up. Every now and then I have one on the bottom but it is easy to close. What are you viewing the post on?

    5. Laura

      Marian – I loved these when I saw them at Chapel Market! Thank you for sharing the simple tutorial, they are now officially on my to-do list. So glad you are joining us – thank you!

    6. tammigirl

      This is a lovely idea!

    7. sacha

      I love this idea. it’s so hard to find nice boards at a reasonable price. I’m going to have to give this a try

    8. Melanie

      This is probably a stupid question but what is “the right kind of wood” — I don’t want to just go to Home Depot. How does one find good wood that we could use for a project like this that would allow you to place good directly on top?

      • Miss Mustard Seed

        I would look for a hardwood, like walnut or cherry, and one that is fairly smooth of can be sanded smooth.

    9. Penny

      These are terrific and not really what I would of considered of being in the 10 min. category.Well done Marion.

    10. Heather @ Viral Upcycle

      I didn’t even realize you were DIYing the cutting boards. I love them! Thanks for the tips!

    11. Pastel painter

      Why not buy new wood that can be used as cutting board, distress and age using non toxic oils and even tea. Then the board can be used.

    12. Libby from Libby's Lifestyle

      I’m a lover of old bread boards, but am finding them hard to get too. This is such a simple concept. I need to give it a try. A jig saw has been on my wish list for some time so maybe I need to go on a research shopping trip. Love the pig shaped board!

    13. Rebecca

      This is great! Cant tell you how many times I “see” a cutting board in ALL sorts of available wood… I’ve found old tobacco barn wood, dresser tops, old table leaves, even a 20 dollar kitchen table top that was falling apart! Are you sure you’re not from the south?… Don’t have a blog yet… But working up to it! Maybe when I’ve run out of ideas you’ve given me!! Keep up the great work and the amazing job of providing fresh content almost daily! You are an inspiration and a guru! Thanks again!

      • marian

        My family is from Petersburg, VA (near Richmond) and I was born in Kentucky AND I like grits, so it can at least be said that I have southern roots. 🙂 I live north of the Mason Dixon line, now, though.

    14. Laurie

      I don’t understand how you would use a bread board “decoratively” only. i have enough stuff cluttering up my kitchen already. Old wood can have mold spores in it. I threw away the pine cutting board in my 1920s house because of that. No amount of clorox would stop the stinky mildew it grew. Pine is so absorbent. I’ve also had wooden salad bowls get covered over with mildew. I think it’s a great DIY project–with new or heavily sanded, dense grain old wood.

    15. Miss Mustard Seed

      Ha, that’s okay. I think they are so beautiful, so I do use them to decorate my kitchen. That’s just my style, though. I do have ones made of new wood as well, that I use. It’s a mix of the two.

    16. Jeanette@Creating a Life

      This is a fantastic ‘quick’ project! I love the way these look. Thanks for the tutorial 🙂

    17. Melissa #DoItHerselfDiva

      I think there’s quite a few of Us that can relate to about missing that “craft-y gene” My Kids still get angry at Me that I’ve never been that “Crafty Mom” & they HATE the smell of fresh cut wood then again,They did learn to take a nap as Toddlers to the Hum of a sander or the Zing! of a circular saw!! My 16yr old LOVES all things metal & welding..But his passion is glass & he wants to learn to hand blow it..There’s less then 1,000 glass craftsmen who do it the old-world style..THATS what He wants to learn..So HE GOT THE GENE!! My Oldest that has 3 little Girls of her Own does crafts with Her Daughters,She Got it!! I banned all forms of Play-Doe in My House when The 4 kids were little.My 14yr old Son & My 22yr old Daughter are both amazing natural sketch artists.Just different genres They both got it!!.I could screw up anything scrapbook related or if it has to do with “stickers”,etc..I just stand in the isle like I’m reenacting Dustin Hoffman’s performance in “Rain Man” with the exact same look on My face..(“stickers,Yeah stickers” Ok that’s My best Rainman Impression,lol)
      But with that being said,We all have Our talents.I’m a Maestro on the Mitersaw but I couldn’t bake if My Life depended on it! Oh I can cook,I’m Greek so I think that’s something in Greek & Italian Women’s DNA.But bake? Like..cookies? & tarts? Or BREAD???? OMG NO!! We know Your talents for rehabbing lost or forgotten vintage pieces only to bring the “OOh La La” back into those Mademoiselles,All while still being a Wife,Mother & loyal Daughter,& grow a business exponentially!! You continue to amaze Us all with what talents are recently discovered,Or You keep hidden until just the right time.
      I was given the top 1/2 to an armoire type 80-90’s entertainment center last summer & only agreed to take it because I figured it was solid oak & I’d retro-fit it with shelves,paint & legs to turn it into a bar..Until I picked it up & seen the scale in My head was soooo much smaller & doable.I have been stressing about that free piece of partial furniture because I just didnt want to throw out an oak piece with an intact & although dated finish,For its age that medium oak looks like it was purchased from an Ashley’s Homestore yesterday! I’ve offered it to every Woman who follows on Facebook to flip furniture & no one wants it..I’m going to break out My circular & table saw than cut that baby up!! I have plans for the one piece top & sides But those doors would make about 4-6 cutting boards out of each door!! Plus I have a router,f You route a “moat” around the perimeter of the cutting board (If Your using it as a functional one) that grove then catches any juices or liquids also 🙂
      As usual…Thanks for the inspiration!!

    18. Lauren Baxter

      Great little craft! Yes definitely bead boards are getting way more expensive, creating your own is so much more fun and you get a unique piece every time! Instead of searching for one and it taking a while for that “perfect one”, you can just grab a piece of wood crank one out and presto! Cost effective and beautiful, love it!!

      Lauren Baxter | LB Designs
      xx

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