Wooden Cutting Board Makeover

Are you curious as to how you can create a wooden cutting board makeover? Follow the tutorial for my craft idea that will show you how you can totally transform a thrift store kitchen board from drab to fab!

While on a thrift store shopping excursion, I was so happy to spot a large cutting board for only $2.99. What a bargain, right? I quickly added it in my cart along with my other deals!

Thrift store finds can sometimes challenge my creativity when it come to brainstorming a DIY idea for how an item can be upcycled or repurposed.

This time was different, however, when it came to thinking of a makeover idea for this cutting board. I immediately thought that I could paint a design and add a quote. Easy peasy!

Follow along as I show you the amazing “before and after” transformation!

wooden cutting board makeover painted plaid design, messy bow added, and painted saying "bless this kitchen"

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WOODEN CUTTING BOARD MAKEOVER

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

  • wood cutting board
  • hand sander
  • sanding sheet
  • 3 coordinating colors of craft paint
  • dark charcoal gray craft paint
  • foam brush
  • artist brush
  • painter’s tape
  • paper and printer
  • pencil
  • black pen marker
  • paper towels
  • fine grit sandpaper
  • joint compound (optional)
  • variety of ribbons
  • strong glue
how the wooden cutting board looked before the makeover
Thrift store cutting board before the makeover.
  • decoupage a napkin using Mod Podge
  • paint with chalk board paint
  • use chalk paint instead of acrylic
  • attach wood letters, i.e. EAT
  • use wood burning tool to make a design
  • attach a small shelf for a decorative bottle
  • or attach a galvanized container filled with cacti

HOW TO MAKEOVER A WOOD CUTTING BOARD

Use a hand sander for a quick way to sand the wood. If you don’t own one, you can always use sanding paper. I used a paper towel to wipe down the board after it was sanded.

If your cutting board came from a thrift store, you may need to fill in any imperfections with joint compound. I needed to fill in holes from a hanger attachment that I removed.

wooden cutting board after sanding
Cutting board after sanding.

You will be using 3 shades of paint to make your buffalo plaid design. I chose white and two shades of tan.

Use a foam brush to apply white paint on the sides and the back side. Let dry completely. Then paint the top side and let dry completely.

You can either paint full coverage for all the painting steps or let the paint look a little rough. I did the latter as I didn’t want it too perfect looking.

Cutting boards can range in sizes, but I think a medium size board or a large one like mine looks best using 2-inch painter’s tape to make the plaid design

Find the center of your cutting board and mark lightly with pencil. I placed the center of the tape on my center mark, and continued with 2 inches in between each piece of tape vertically.

Paint with the light tan color, let dry completely, and remove tape.

strips of painter's tape applied on the wooden cutting board makeover project
taped removed from the wooden cutting board left with white and tan painted stripes

For this next step you will be taping off horizontally.

Measure and mark the center of the main portion (not neck) of the cutting board.

Place the center of the tape on your center mark and place the rest of the tape pieces 2 inches apart.

This part may sound or look confusing, but you are going to use the light tan color again to paint horizontally. Let dry completely. Do not remove tape.

illustration of taping off horizontal stripes and painting light tan color for the wooden cutting board makeover

Apply tape vertically over your horizontal tape. You should be able to see where the vertical tape was previously and can place the tape back in the same spots.

You will now see squares have been formed from all the tape used.

Paint all those squares with the darker shade of tan paint. Let dry completely and remove tape.

illustration of placing tape vertically and painted squares dark tan for the wooden cutting board makeover

Use fine grit sandpaper to sand and distress your chopping board. Wipe sand dust off with paper towels.

HOW TO ADD WORDS TO A WOOD CUTTING BOARD

You can add a saying or quote to your cutting board by using a cutting machine, a stencil, or the old school transfer method like I used below.

Find a kitchen quote that you’d like to add to your board by Googling “kitchen sayings printable” then select “images.” Choose your favorite to print and copy.

I used the “old school method” to transfer the quote to my cutting board just like I did on my thrift store mirror makeover.

Color the back side of the printable with a pencil to cover the words completely. Cut around the design so you can make the placement on top of the board easier.

Place the back side down on the board, find your placement, tape down 4 sides. Trace around the letters with a pencil.

Remove tape and paper. Outline the letters using a medium tip Paper Mate black marker.

Begin painting the letters using an artist brush (thin brush head.) 2 coats of paint are needed.

TIP – Allow the marker to dry completely PLUS place a piece of paper under your painting hand while painting the letters. This prevents the marker from getting on your hand and transferring black marker onto your design. Ask me how I know this, ugh!

"bless this kitchen" saying outlined on top of painted plaid design on the cutting board

I chose to embellish my board with a messy bow just like I did for my bulletin board makeover.

  • Gather strips of coordinating ribbons and cut to desired length.
  • Alternate ribbons while making an “X.”
  • Pinch the middle of your “X” and tie tightly with ribbon or twine.
  • Use a strong glue to attach to the neck of the board. Yay, you’re all done!

Let me know in the comment section how you think my wooden cutting board makeover turned out!

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN SEEING:

STEP STOOL MAKEOVER USING STENCIL AND STAIN

PUMPKIN CUTTING BOARD FALL CRAFT DIY

graphic saying pin for later
pinterest graphic for the wooden cutting board makeover - board propped up on kitchen counter

It’s once again time for me to participate in the Pinterest Challenge Group where I join other bloggers each month for a themed project to share with all our readers. This month’s theme is “from the kitchen”.

Our projects are inspired by a pin on one of our Pinterest boards and also has some sort of a sustainable element to them. After my post, you’ll find links to see projects from the other bloggers. Don’t miss out!

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO SEE MORE “FROM THE KITCHEN” PROJECTS FROM MY FELLOW BLOGGERS!

graphic for the pinterest challenge blog hop

Julie @ Sum of Their Stories ~ Kitchen Storage Jar to Pretty Vase Upcycle

Gail @ Purple Hues and Me ~ Upcycle Fry Pan DIY

Terri @ Terri Steffes ~ Repurposed Altoid Tin to Camper Games

Ann @ The Apple Street Cottage ~ Vintage Lace Tealight Holder

T’onna @ Sew Crafty Crochet ~ Crochet Dishcloth and Sponge Set

Julie @ Treasures Made From Yarn ~ Crochet Jar Covers

Lydia @ Life Beyond the Kitchen ~ How to Make Reusable Sandwich Wraps

Mel @ Decor Craft Design ~ Upcycled Valentine Wall Decoration

Donna @ Modern on Monticello ~ Jelly Jar Sewing Kits

Linda @ Crafts a la Mode ~ Cake Plate Makeover and Valentine

Niki @ Life as a Leo Wife ~ DIY Tea Towel

Sharing my wooden cutting board project at the following fabulous blogs!

author of the southern sunflowers blog

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allyson

Allyson is the founder and content creator of Southern Sunflowers. She shares tutorials for DIY crafts and decor on a budget.

22 thoughts on “Wooden Cutting Board Makeover”

  1. Allyson,
    I love your upcycle of the cutting board. Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by.
    Hugs,
    Bev

  2. This turned out so cute, Allyson! And, the other ideas for how to tranform a cutting board are great too! Now I will be on the lookout for one of these cutting boards. What a darling transformation. Thanks for sharing at TFT. 🙂

  3. Allyson, I love what you’ve done with this little cutting board! The checks turned out really well. Adorable!!

    Happy Valentine’s to you,
    Barb 🙂

    1. So happy you like my makeover, Terri! I had to mix my own colors since I didn’t have what I really wanted on hand. I live in the boondocks and didn’t want to make the trek just to buy two paint bottles. LOL

    1. So glad you like my board makeover, Gail! I had to mix my own colors using paints I had on hand because Walmart craft paint selection was hopeless. That’s why the colors are so “unusual.” LOL

  4. This turned out beautiful! Well worth the time and painting! I love a good upcycle. It looks like something you could find in a store for sure. I’d love for you to come share in on Crafty Creators Link Party on Thursday. Our readers will love it too! Happiness is Homemade is open for sharing now if you’d like to share there too.
    XOXO,
    Niki ~ Life as a LEO Wife

    1. Niki, thank you for the compliments! I took a long break from the link parties because I was getting too addicted to all of them ~ LOL ~ but I’d like to return, so thanks for the invites!

  5. Blimey! That’s quite the transformation! I love your painted buffalo check, I did something similar on a glass jar one, it’s much simpler to do than describe isn’t it? I’m also a big fan of the “old school method” of transferring designs. This turned out beautifully.

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