Here’s a little project I’ve had spinning around in my head and finally got around to doing this weekend.
A magnet board made from vintage ceiling tin:
I have this big blank area on my office bookcase that was just screaming out for some functionality and design oomph. Of course, I can’t find the picture I took of the space WITHOUT the ceiling tin. Sigh.
I ruled out a chalk board and a pin board because I didn’t think I’d like the look of them. I have a substantial stash of this ceiling tin in my garage and LOVE to use it whenever I can.
The ceiling tin came from the old Sears building here in my little (historic) town of Butte. I am a member of the Citizens for the Preservation and Revitalization of Butte (CPR) and we got called over one afternoon to pick up a donation during the construction phase of the Sears buildings renovation. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw HUGE stacks of this gorgeous ceiling tin waiting for us to haul it off. If scraps of old historic materials were made of chocolate and caramel, then I was like a kid in a candy store. It was the motherlode of jackpots. I did my best to remain calm, cool and collected. It took several van and pick-up truck loads, but we finally got it all hauled away. Each summer, the CPR has a salvage sale in which it sells the donations of vintage doors, cabinets, hardware and when we get lucky enough, ceiling tin among other things. I purchased several pieces of this tin and use it whenever a good idea strikes!
Anyway, back to the project at hand. The first thing I did was cut the ceiling tin with tin snips to fit the width of my space. The length of the ceiling tin is pre-determined. Then we used a staple gun to attach it to the bookcase.
Then I cut my vintage trim pieces (also found at CPR salvage sale!) to fit the ceiling tin and mitered the corners. We used E-6000 glue to adhere the molding to the tin, as well as stapling it.
Easy peasy! Here’s the finished product.
I have other projects I’ve used the ceiling tin on that I’ll be highlighting in a future post.
What projects can you think of to use ceiling tin in your home?
I’ve been featured at: ![Eclectically Vintage](<div align="center"><a href="http://eclecticallyvintage.com/" title="Eclectically Vintage"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzkKSFV955M/T3YS5kCO5DI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/nPPN0lwEAr0/s1600/buttonfoldertake2part2.png" alt="Eclectically Vintage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>)
Bye from the Bungalow,
Jean
Linking up to: Vintage Wanna Bee, Not Just a Housewife, The Space Between, Beneath My Heart, It All Started With Paint, Thistlewood Farm, The Space Between, The Cottage Market,Funky Junk Interiors
Hi, I'm Jean. I live in historic Butte, Montana in a Craftsman home built in 1920. This blog is all about my adventures (and sometimes misadventures) in updating and decorating my house with antiques and vintage goods I find at garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales or wherever cool things from the past are waiting to be discovered.
Wow, this is such a fun idea. I love the look of the vintage tin…and it’s so functional.
This wouldn’t be necessarily easy for me, but if you have any super simple projects or tips you’d like to share I’m hosting a link party today with a few fellow bloggers. I’d be great to see you linked up. 
http://thespacebetweenblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/diy-spring-wreath-painted-with-seaglass-and-driftwood/
Karah
Thank you so much for coming and linking up…and for the shout out!! I’m pinning this.
Awesome! Thank you!
I just can’t stay away…I’m sharing it on fb too.
Thanks, Karah! Now who wouldn’t appreciate good fb share!
What a gorgeous backdrop you now have for an equally lovely desk. All those jars full of fun things! I can certainly understand why you would pounce on this ceiling tin. It’s beautiful.
- Claire
Thanks, Claire! I love your paint chip obsession!
Wow! Love it and pinned it. And I’m crazy jealous that you have stores of vintage ceiling tin …
Thanks so much for linking it up at our “It’s a Cinch” party!
Linda
http://www.itallstartedwithpaint.com
I love old ceiling tins too and have some mounted on wood that I hang as art!
Love this backsplash … in fact love it all – the door table, the hutch, the big glass jars …
Pinning this!
So glad you joined our Cinch party.
Kelly
Love the story about the salvaged ceiling! Your ceiling piece on the back of your desk is perfect! It adds so much character! Thanks for sharing and thanks for linking up to the party!
blessings,
karianne
Thanks for the kudos and thanks for stopping by my little blog!
This is awesome! I love the way it turned out. I always go to garage sales and look for things like that. Love that it has a history and came from the old Sears building!