With Dixie Belle, you can turn any piece from plain to unforgettable. In this guest blog, LeeAnn from Creative Moments transformed a simple bar cart using Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint and Timeless Charm decoupage paper. The rich black finish created the perfect backdrop for the vintage-inspired floral design, while the removable tray added convenience. This project beautifully shows how paint and decoupage work together to create a unique, one-of-a-kind makeover.

(The following is an excerpt from Creative Moments. Read the full article here) 

This freshly refinished metal bar cart is ready to roll into its next home! With a removable handled tray dressed in a muted floral design, it brings a subtle and sweet charm to any space.

Bar cart makeover painted in Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint, styled with a potted plant, bottle, and decorative accents.

When I first found the bar cart, the wood tray and lower shelf were already sanded bare, the wheels were missing, and the handle clung to the frame with a zip tie. Even so, I immediately saw its potential and knew it would be a fun makeover.

Before photo of a metal and wood bar cart with removable tray, shown outdoors prior to makeover with Dixie Belle products.

Step 1: Clean and repair

First, I flipped the cart over and unscrewed the lower shelf from the frame. Then, I wiped both wood pieces clean with a damp cloth.

Hand using a power drill to disassemble a metal and wood bar cart before makeover with Dixie Belle Anchor Silk Paint. Wooden removable tray and shelf from bar cart shown before painting with Dixie Belle Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint.

Step 2: Paint

I chose a classic black shade, Anchor, from the Dixie Belle Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint and applied it with a medium flat synthetic brush. After the first coat dried, I applied a second coat, which created a smooth, solid finish.

Hand painting bar cart tray and shelf with Dixie Belle Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint using a brush during makeover process. Bar cart removable tray and shelf painted in Dixie Belle Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint, drying after first coat.

Step 3: Apply decoupage paper

I wanted to add a touch of whimsy to the tray bottom, so I chose the pretty floral Timeless Charm rice decoupage paper.
Hand placing Dixie Belle Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper onto a black painted bar cart tray with Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint.

First, I measured and cut the paper to size using a metal ruler and an Olfa knife. Fortunately, the sheet almost fit perfectly, which meant very little waste, as you can see in the right photo.

Hand using metal ruler and utility knife to cut Dixie Belle Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper to size for bar cart tray. Bar cart tray painted in Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint with Dixie Belle Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper fitted inside before sealing.

Next, I applied Gator Hide with a 2″ mini synthetic brush directly onto the tray surface to create the adhesive layer.

Hand brushing Dixie Belle Gator Hide clear coat onto a black painted bar cart tray with Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint.

Tip: Lightly mist the paper with water using a fine mist spray bottle. This step helps the rice paper adhere smoothly.

Dixie Belle Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper with floral design held above a bar cart tray, shown with a fine mist spray bottle for application.

Then, I carefully laid the paper in place and brushed on another coat of Gator Hide over the top, making sure to cover the entire surface.

Keep in mind that the base color under rice paper will influence its final appearance. Over the black base, this floral paper takes on a subtle, muted look. However, if you want the colors to stay brighter and closer to the original design, a white base works best.

Hand brushing clear coat over Dixie Belle Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper applied to a bar cart tray painted with Anchor Silk Paint. Finished bar cart tray painted in Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint with Dixie Belle Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper floral design.

The tray had another coat of  Gator Hidebrushed on when first coat was dry and it was complete.
Completed bar cart makeover painted with Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint and Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper on removable tray. Completed bar cart makeover painted with Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint and Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper on removable tray.
LeeAnn’s bar cart makeover shows what’s possible with Dixie Belle. The bold coverage of Anchor Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint paired beautifully with the romantic florals of Timeless Charm Decoupage Paper. Together, they turned this cart into a statement piece full of elegance and personality. Thank you to LeeAnn from Creative Moments for sharing this inspiring project. We can’t wait to see what she creates next!
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