Thursday, September 13, 2012

Card Catalogue {A Before & After}

Remember the days of being in a library and to be able to find a book, you had to look it up in the card catalogue, find the number, and then wander around aimlessly hoping it somehow leapt into your hands?








If you do, newsflash, you're old!

HA!

And I can totally say that because I'm old too!

Imagine me trying to explain to my tech savvy sons 
just exactly what this is:


Back when you actually had to work to find something....

To drive somewhere to be able to get information...  

To *gasp* check a book out of the library for a project!

They simply can't imagine not having every answer at their fingertips.

I can't figure out if the internet is a good thing or a dumbing down of our society.  I tell ya what, there are many people who would be lost if we no longer had access to the information technology provides.

Pinterest
Kind of sad, isn't it?

And with the invention of Kindles, Nooks, and iPads holding onto an actual book while reading is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

I'm probably one of the last hold outs.

I buy books to read or check them out at the library.

I like feeling the weight of the book that I'm reading.

The smell of the paper.

The feel of the pages.

Who cares if my attic is filled with boxes of books or if I could have my own wing at the local library with all the books I've donated?

I just plain love books.


Little known fact:

My Daddy once
banned me from books for 2 whole weeks. 

The ultimate grounding.

*Ahem*

Lesson was learned.

Those are some great memories
and I always think back to those times and laugh.

Now, I'm lucky if I can grab 30 minutes 
with a good book.

Maybe that's why I love this old card catalogue so much.



It's a symbol of a time gone by.

Needless to say, when I saw it at an auction back in June, I looked at Scott (after dancing a very undignified jig. You know, before I learned self-control at auctions HA!), and said, "This WILL be mine."

And so it was.

I think I paid $65.00 for it.

Another thing about the onset of old age -  
I can't remember diddly!


While I took my little 2 week break from blogging, the card catalogue was one of the things the boys helped me move into the house.

The plan was to put it in my office and store my craft stuff in it.


Unfortunately, the size it looked 
in the workshop was deceiving.


I didn't have a wall big enough without moving something out.

So, into the living room it went.

The makeover process?

ASCP Graphite.

Distress.

AS Clear Wax on the body.

AS Dark Wax on the drawers.

Silver spray paint on the hardware.

Leave screws brassy for contrast.



Download from West Furniture Revival for the vintage numbers.

Print on cream Resume Paper.

Cut out.

6 hours later...

Done.


Love it!




Dream Big,

P.S.  Please excuse the picture quality.  A cloudy day and an east facing living room.  If I don't take advantage of the light in the morning, there's no getting it.  ;)

Linking up to:

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57 comments:

  1. Love it is an understatement! HOLY CRAP I AM BEYOND OVER THE TOP IN LOVE -- is more like it! WOW, amazing job! I am so happy you didn't hide her in your craft room..she is so so beautiful!

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  2. DANG GIRL. I guess that 2 weeks off really paid off. That thing is FREAKING CRAZY COOL and I can see why you danced a Jig. It looks so cool all done up and beautiful again!
    Great job!
    Love it.
    Karin

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  3. YAY, you found one!!!! And didn't have to pay $948 for it at the Junk Mart place downtown Waterloo - haha!! Can't even remember what that place was called... Mart of Misery? Looks AWESOME. Good things come to those who wait.

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  4. Love the legs giving you great display space under. Looks awesome. tell your sons your not the only one who knows how to use one of these and still love the feel of good book in my hands.(so, guess you calling me old? lol)

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  5. Man, I LOVE this cabinet!!!! Have wanted one for years and never, ever have seen one on legs. What a fantastic buy!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. I cannot express to you how jealous I am right now! I would pay $650 for it...maybe. I love it...like I will have dreams about that card catalog tonight, even though Mrs. Shramm slammed my fingers in the card catalog when I was in the 5th grade because Billy Herrald told her that I stole his book. I didn't...he was just mad because I said that Princess Leia could kick Hans Solo's butt in a fight. I'm still mad about it. Anyhooo...I love it! Just amazing!

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  7. Your card file is WAY better than anything at Pottery Barn, or wherever they sell vintagy-looking cabinets these days.

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  8. My goodness this is the epitome of cool! I'm with you in enjoying things old school style. I always wonder where all those card catalogs have gone, that and all the cool old post office boxes. I suppose so many of them went out with the trash before anyone realized they would one day be a thing of the past and that we would be dying to get our hands on them. Sniffle, sniffle. How great that you could snag this! Bravo!
    Liz

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  9. Visiting from Redoux, I love what you have done. Fantastic.

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  10. Oh, that looks so good. I LOVE your style.


    I started my very first "Weekend Warmth" Linky party...and there are no rules. Please join in!

    http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com/2012/09/weekend-warmth.html

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  11. 65!!?? omg...those things are like gold where I live. Hundreds and hundreds of dollars, if you can even find one! Looks great and what a great score. Who knew 1/2 century ago those things (heck they were old then!) would be such a collectors item today!!

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  12. I love what you did with this! I was recently away on a trip and when I returned home my husband surprised me with a unit similar to yours. I was thrilled to say the least. You have given me inspiration on what I can do with mine. Thanks so much for sharing. Hopped over from Furniture Feature Friday and I'm happy to be your newest follower. Would love to have you stop by for a visit. Blessings ~ Judy @ www.vintagestreetdesigns.com

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  13. I love it! What a great transformation! Now following.

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  14. 6 hours?! This is insane! I love it! I got a card catalog from a family member in May, and it's just sitting there, because I'm too afraid to touch it, because I want my re-do to be amazing! Please please please link up to my link party?! I will be the coolest kid on the block, if I have a card catalog re-do at my party. :) This looks amazing, and I may just have to get out there and dive into getting mine done. Thanks for the tutorial!

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    Replies
    1. thank you thank you for linking up and making me the coolest kid on the block :) i love this project.

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  15. Hi Laura,
    I just found you because this amazing piece caught my eye! GREAT job on it, btw. I figure we have a lot in common - old, east facing living room, etc. :) New follower.
    -Revi

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  16. Absolutely gorgeous and I am SO-OOO jealous. But I guess I'm nosey too. What do you keep in all those beautiful but small drawers? Thousands of index cards? :)

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  17. She is a beauty. I too have a lot in common with her! I would be delighted if your would link to Potpourri Friday, in progress!

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  18. Oh man! That is so awesome looking! I have one like this, but it's smaller & with no stand, but you have given me the itch to get it done. LOVE the way yours turned out!!

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  19. How stunning!! And it's def hard to believe you bought it at the unheard of $65 price!!! That's the deal/steal of the century!!! Blessings!!

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  20. Love it. Love it. LOVVVVEE IT!

    Bliss

    Want it.

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  21. Stopping back by to say thank you for sharing your project at Potpourri Friday!

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  22. LOVE IT!!!! I love the way the paint colors work together.

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  23. I love it! I have always wanted one of these, but I've never come across one in my shopping travels.
    I have to tell you, your post made me laugh. It's almost as though I could have written in myself. lol I am now following you!

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  24. this looks amazing, i would love to have a card catalouge, i would love it if you came and linked it up at http://www.twiggstudios.com/2012/09/sunday-show-off-linky-party.html

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  25. LOVE IT! I saw one similar today at an estate sale but it was $400!!! WAY out of my leaque...but I'm keeping my eyes open! Pinning from the Pinterest Party!

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  26. Laura it turned out just beautiful! I love it!!

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  27. This turned out fabulous! I have little 6-drawer catalogue that you are inspiring me to do this way! Thanks!

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  28. Beautiful...I love libraries and card catalogues! Something about all those little drawers...

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  29. I LOVE your story! I guess I'm one of those old folks who still loves reading an actual book, lols! I love the cabinet, it's one of those thing I don't have space for but is on my "When we ever get to move to a bigger house.." wish-list. This one looks stunning, just perfect, and what a lovely display you made out of it. You have an amazing gift!

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  30. melissa @ daisymaebelle.comSeptember 15, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Totally LOVE this card catalog! Yes, I am old enough to remember those good ole days! And, I still love the feel of a book in my hand. Life to the full, Melissa

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  31. I KNEW I RECOGNIZED THE NUMBERS! thanks so much for the shout out, i would love to feature it, if that would be ok with you please let me know, im a sucker for these card catalogs and yours turned out gorgeous!

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  32. Some people might kill for that.

    Just sayin'.

    Don't give your address to strangers.

    OH. Too late ;)

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  33. LOVE THIS! You are such a lucky girl- it is my dream to one day own a card catalog:)

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  34. love that old file. brings back lots of memories, bike - basket - big pile of books - librarian who always brought 8 year old me a big brown paper bag after watching me try to keep them from falling out of my bike's basket = Good Times!

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  35. This is so amazing, I want it badly, lol! I just found your blog from MMS and now I am your newest follower! Hope you can stop by sometime..now I am off to browse your blog some more!

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  36. Gorgeous! I love pieces like that and it looks fantastic in your room!

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  37. First visit. Came over from facebook Blogtalk. I read about your problems with borders around pics. Read a little more and realized you were able to fix it. Your pics look great, no border that I can see. I set to transparent as well. Looks great.
    Love this card catalog file. reminds of my many trips to the library. You did an excellent job.

    I understand about the break. I am taking a break just now.

    Enjoyed your post.

    Savannah Granny (Ginger)

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  38. I am a new follower. Blessing, Ginger

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  39. The paint job on your card catalog looks great! I must have been in the last generation to use them - we had them in elementary and middle school in the 90's but by high school in the 00's everything was becoming computerized. My eighth grade students would have no clue what a card catalog was!

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  40. Love your card catalog! I also love books and do not own a kindle or nook or anything else that I can have a digital book on. I love going to the library and looking at the covers, reading the backs or insides, turning pages, etc. It looks beautiful in your living room!

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  41. What a great piece and you did a great job on the makeover. I keep hoping to stumble upon an affordable card catalog too. We are book lovers here too.

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  42. Newest follower! this turned out great. I have TWO that need updating. Come by and say hi :)

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  43. I love this so much! I am a book reader....too! I am in a book club and almost everyone has Kindles except me! I like a real book :)

    Have a great day rock star!
    karianne

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  44. What a beauty! I saw your picture at Live Laugh Rowe and had to come on over. Just love it!

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  45. Seriously!! I am beyond jealous right now!! I have been looking for one of these for YEARS!!! They are all a BAZILLION dollars!!! You did an AMAZING job on it!!!
    I would sooo love for you to add this to my first ever linky party at http://www.therusticpig.com/2012/09/my-first-linky-party.html

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  46. You are featured today at Potpourri Friday!

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  47. I just love this!! You are so lucky to have found such an awesome piece! I worked at the Library while I went to college and have a fondness for anything related to the Library. And you have a real card catalog. I am so jealous. You did a marvelous job restoring it!!

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  48. I dream of finding one of these....I am green with envy....and love what you did with it....I have a 8 stack Barrister shelve with really old glass.Love it and old books ....I love the feel of a book in my hands...and when you said you we're banned from books for 2 weeks...I laughed ...my mom did that too...It would be 2 in the morning and I was reading with a flashlight...I still read to 2 in the morning....love the catalog....and to do the upholstry on a head board just go for it.....

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  49. Ok confession...I was the nerd kid that would run her fingers over the cards in the card catalogue. I just love book soooo much! This transformation is brilliant and beautiful. This is a beautiful and inspirational post. I would love it if you would share it at our WIW Linky Party. I hope you can join us.

    Paula
    Ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

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  50. Wow- wow---- WOW!!!!!! What a beautiful table!!!!! Well you pulled this one off beautifully after your supposedly epic fail! I love it all and especially that you foraged and found everything you needed to make this glorious tablescape!!Of course you can make a fantastic table on an unlimited budget but doing it by scrimping and using just what is around takes talent!!

    You have given me hope for my fall table= now if I can just find some time to get er done!!

    Your newest follower!
    bee blessed
    mary

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  51. Hi Laura! Thanks so much for linking this up at my linky party last Tuesday! I loved it so much that I featured it this week at Creatively Tuesday! Go grab you a button! :) http://www.therusticpig.com/2012/09/linky-party-2.html

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  52. like the idea and the post..thanks for sharing as i need it when use to design for Plastic cards..thanks for sharing it.

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  53. Such holders are very helpful from organizing point of view especially when you have to put index of library books....

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  54. Looks great, unfortunately in Australia if you are able to find a decent sized card catalog you'll be looking at several hundred dollars.

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  55. Trying this project at home and wondering if you put chalk paint on the drawers as well or only dark wax? I tried dark wax and it didn't seem to darken like yours. Need help! Thanks!

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