This sad dated rock planter needed a makeover desperately. I thought I had 2 of these but I can only find one. I wanted some unique planters for my newly re-stained deck (you can read about that below). But the deck is grey. I would rather the planter fit into the same color family so the old brown needed to go. So, you know me, if something doesn’t match…paint it! Let’s upcycle this planter with some realistic faux rock painting.

As I said, I just re-stained our deck. We had this deck rebuilt in July of 2022. I waited 6 months before applying the stain. Probably due to application error (ALL ME), we had some chipping and flaking after about two seasons. I was a bit upset because of the amount of time it took to initially stain the deck and the steps, with two landings. But, a refresh was well needed and I finished staining just yesterday.

The upside to a project like this is getting to switch up your decor once the deck is finished. I’m always looking for unique items in my decor. You know like different shapes and unexpected textures. I’m definitely no professional, but I do I love when a glance at my stuff makes me smile. I think this little rock planter will make me smile.

I bet you guessed that this project was completed for the Thrift Store Decor Team monthly project share. Join us every second Wednesday of each month for creative projects with a repurpose, restore, reuse, upcycle, or revitalize theme. You never know what skills we will be sharing so don’t miss a single Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! All of the projects are linked at then end of this post. Now, let’s get to this faux rock painted project!

Choosing a Color

As I said, the deck is a light grey so the plan was to use a similar color as a base for my planter. The finish would be rather easy because I could get the desired look from simply sponge painting. There are several methods to faux rock painting. Let’s see where this planter, hereafter known as Rockella, leads us.

Prep your Project Piece

First step in painting is always clean and prep your piece. So Rockella got a nice bath.

Rockella is made of ceramic. Her interior is glazed. She has a matte finish currently so the paint should adhere nicely. Regardless though, a critical prep step is to wipe your project piece down with TSP, a solvent available in the paint section of you local home store, which removes any residual dirt and preps the surface for better paint adhesion.

A Paint Plan for our Faux Rock Planter

Rockella has lots of groves and crevices just like a real rock. The plan was to base coat in a dark color, sponge paint over with a grey color, wipe off a good bit of the second coat, and finish off with some dry brushing in a third complimentary color either lighter of darker.

I gave Rockella one base coat of black thinking that this would settle into the deeper grooves of the planter and give a boost to the texture. I considered grey washing over the black which would dull the black substantially. I could then drybrush over the grey with a darker grey and some white. Creating a dimensional finish.

But that black scared me. It was very dramatic. I know, I know! You have to be very patient and trust the process.

So I started to add a second coat of grey planning to wipe it away essentially leaving a grey wash behind. But as I applied the grey, I thought this it too thick.

OOPS!

I tested an area by wiping away the grey. I didn’t like this effect. I think it was because this test area was the smoothest part of the faux rock and had less divets and crevices. I wanted more, believe it or not, of the dreaded black to be popping through like the edges of the photo above.

I went too heavy at first. Faux painting involves alot of practice to achieve the look that you like. But always remember that it is just paint and paint can be very forgiving especially if you are using rustic or shabby technique. You can always wipe the paint off before it dries or paint over it. Which is exactly what I did! I just grabbed a damp rag and wiped off the paint.

I was left with a flat white space so I dry brushed some grey just to mottle the surface a bit. Dry brushing is a technique, in which you remove most of the paint from the brush and drag the almost “dry brush” across the surface of your project piece.

Then I dabbed paint onto the area alternating white and grey for that faux rock finish. This gave my smooth surface a textured look just like the surface of a rock!

I continued with the dry brush technique around the rest of the planter. First with grey.

I allowed the grey to dry and then dabbed tones of grey and white.

It’s all about the LAYERS

In the “in process” photo above, I added the grey and then some white. Then I just used a tapping or pouncing motion of the brush to blend the colors. I added more black in spots, more white in others all the while being careful not to cover the underlying black. See how that give the piece dimension?

I thought about spicing things up with some green to play with a mossy look. But I decided to stay simple. A faux mossy look can be a whole other project for under the deck!

Anyway, a big part of faux painting is just playing around until you have achieved the desired look. If things get confusing or the colors are blending too well just allow the paint to dry and start again. It really is that easy. You can even practice before starting on your piece. I keep a piece of cardboard handy for removing the paint from my brush and for handy access to each color.

I just squeeze a little of each color onto the cardboard and use is as a makeshift painters palette. Just like the pros. A girl can dream, right?

Here are some of the other planter upcycles from the blog:

A Little Nostalgia

This project brought back some memories. I think it was the size and shape of my faux rock planter. These are rock from Manayunk, a neighborhood in Philadelphia where I grew up. I grabbed a few from the neighborhood when we moved away from the area.

We had these in our yard. There was a whole wall built from these. And down the street from my house is a whole cliffside of this mica rock. They were so magical with their normal rocky look but that glimmer and glitter that screamed “I’m special”!

It’s hard to see in these photos, but the white spots are actually tiny flecks of mica which are silver and catch the light so beautifully. I had to have some of these for my garden.

I don’t have any metallic silver paint to replicate this finish exactly right now. So that means, my friends, we have just added another project to the to do list…Manayunk Mica Rocks! I need to grab some photos the next time I’m in Manayunk. Are you weird like me and have a favorite type of rock that isn’t marble? Because everyone loves marble!

I came down with a stomach bug between the end of the deck re-stain and renewing this rock planter. So the beauty shots on the deck are yet to come.

I did place her in a few spots around the yard. Near the deck steps.

On the stair landing…

And we landed at the front door. For now, Rockella is enjoying a prime spot at the front entry to our house.

PS. I know my wreath is off center, the support post need painting, and the stoop needs sweeping. Sometimes you just gotta do what you can do. This is life! Keeping it real here at Blu.

Hopefully, I will feel 100% by the weekend and can restyle the deck. No promises, though, as temps here in Bama will be near 100 degrees. But, I can see myself getting out there at an obscenely early hour to beat the heat. I will be sure to drop some photos once Rockella has found her permanent spot on the deck.

Until then, STAY COOL, literally!

We have a few new team members this month so welcome to Michelle from Our Crafty Mom and Marianne from Songbird. I can’t wait for you to see all of their fabulous creativeness!

My Repurposed Life – Upycled Drapery Hooks

Petticoat Junktion – Paint A Plastic Cherub Statue

Our Southern Home – Gingerbread Village

Shop At Blu – Faux Rock Finish THAT’S ME! You are here!

Our Crafty Mom – Double Sided Decoupage Cutting Board

Songbird -Curtain Rings Candle Holders

The post How to Paint a Faux Rock for your Garden appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Just look at those legs!

They make me so happy!

And my favorite finish to paint over is a dark wood, like this gal with the walnut stained top. My plan is to make her bright and cheery and, of course, distressed.

A furniture makeover? That means, yes! It must be the second Wednesday of the month and time for the Thrift Store Decor Team projects! All of this month’s projects are linked at the end of this post for your DIYing, upcycling, repurposing, and thrift seeking pleasure!

Gameplan

She was pretty cruddy. So I decided to bring her up onto the deck to clean and prep her for her makeover. Rain was on the way so I would be able to bring her into the house quickly should the skies open up.

Of course, since this is one of my projects, it got a little more complicated right from the start. While carrying her up the stairs and opening the deck gate, her top separated.

You are in luck to day friends, because you will get a second tutorial on how to repair a split tabletop!

Repairing a Split Tabletop

This is actually quite an easy repair. Just grab some wood glue and a clamp or two to start.

Sounds simple, right? Until only one clamp is long enough the clamp the tabletop. I remembered I had one of my dad’s old clamps in the garage. I had never used it before so I grabbed it an it worked perfectly. Pop was a woodworker, refinisher, the ultimate DIYer, He could fix anything and I cannot every remember a repairman coming to our house to fix anything. Pop did it all!

Place a liberal bead of glue along the complete length of the broken edge.

Push the top together and clamp into place.

I used 2 clamps. Because I only had 2 big enough. If I had 3, I would have used all three.

I allowed this to set for about 30 minutes and then wiped the joint with a damp rag removing the excess glue.

I allowed the repair to dry overnight.

Before you remove the clamp, you can reinforce the damaged area from beneath with a few screws and a mending plate. This will strengthen the repair and reduce the chance of the split recurring. Smart step, but I did not do this because I don’t plan to use the table for anything heavy. It would still have been a good move but you know me…anxious to get to the paint! I offer you one of my mom’s favorite quips…do as I say, not as I do!

You could even leave the clamps in place to give the entire piece a bath followed by a gentle sanding. I removed the clamps and gave the table a good wipe down with TSP.

Trisodium phosphate helps prep the surface to remove residual dirt, oils, and debris and preps the surface to better receive paint. Read about my be pre-paint prep tips HERE.

Choosing a Paint Color…or NOT

Next step was to sand the table top. I decided that the legs were is great shape with no major mars, knicks or dings.

So I would dry brush over the legs. That was the plan. So no sanding needed there so I decided to go to the more substantial project of sanding the tabletop. The top had what appeared to be a relatively thick coat of either oil based paint or paint with a heavy sealer.

When you work on older furniture pieces, you never know:

• what type of paint is on the piece
• how many paint layers there are
• what type of wood is beneath the paint
• what is the quality or condition of the wood beneath the paint.

It really is a grab bag of surprises. So my #1 rule for reviving old pieces is NEVER EVER BE HARD AND FAST TO YOUR GAMEPLAN. It is critical for your sanity to be fluid and ready to switch lanes during the project. That said, I grabbed the sander to “gently sand the tabletop” so I could get an idea of how well the paint might adhere.

And…that’s where the plan changed.

UNEXPECTED PATINA

That phrase…UNEXPECTED PATINA…gets me everytime. Once see beautiful old wood or gorgeous unique patina, I stop in my tracks and the plan changes. EVERY.STINKIN.TIME.

To most people, that photo above, is a mess. Their first thought is…grab a brush and paint over that mess! Not me…my mind says…oooh…let’s make that better…more fabulous and more unique.

Change in Plans…Imagine that!

So at this point, I put away my favorite teal paint, General Finishes Milk Paint Patina Green. I was looking forward to using it as it had been a while. I used it on this stool pictures below. It’s a great color to use for transforming treasures as it really makes an impact.

So, this patina spoke to me and I had to see, or create, more.

She really was quite nice this way but, alas, I needed to see some wood beneath the patina.

So, I sanded the edges and all of the curves around the table top.

I could start to see some wood. The individual wood planks used to create this tabletop were becoming more defined.

But I knew there was MORE!

As second sanding revealed more of the joints of the boards and more texture from layers began to appear.

I wiped the top down to remove the dust so I could see the surface a little better.

The purpose of the last sanding was to even out the surface and try to unify the piece. Don’t worry though. The top will not be so visible and choppy when it is sealed. You will also be viewing the finished piece from an angle and not a direct over view…which is a little busy and unrefined, I will admit.

I used Polycrylic sealer on the top because it is a resilient and easy to use sealer. I do like the rustic look that is emerging.

Because those legs were in such great shape and so pretty, I decided to give them a coat of hemp oil to bring out the beauty in the wood. Hemp oil is applied with a rag and then buffed to a shine.

Look at how the hemp oil feeds the raw wood and makes the stain shine.

Hemp oil really feeds the wood and brings out those natural tannins.

And so, while my intended fabulous transformation of this antique radio table is not so spectacular a transformation, it is a revival of the wood and that makes my heart pretty darn happy. Who knows…maybe I will tire of the rustic shabby primitive worn look. Or maybe I will finally paint her and gift her to someone. But for now, I love her!

Can you picture her in the corner of the parlor holding the big ol’ radio with the family gathered around to catch the daily state of the nation or an update on the World War?

I think I have the perfect place for her in the house but for now, we will enjoy her for a while out here on the deck.

I have some other projects scheduled for out here, including restaining the deck and revamping this little white dump truck.

It was 85 degrees the other day and some of my perennials are starting to show off. Mia is excited for spring.

So are these snap dragons.

These planters were upcycled almost 3 years ago and the colors are still vibrant!

And here is a good before and after. Special thanks to the sisters who can’t be in the same room together but do love a good project with Mom.

Today is my youngers daughter, IV’s birthday. She is 26. I posted on IG and FB that there aren’t many people who know themselves better than my IV. I’m realizing that maybe she gets a little bit of that from me! I really wanted to paint this table with Patina Green. I really did. But one look at what was beneath 50 some years of paint and I was finished. It had to be natural. There was no fighting it.

So Happy Birthday IV…and you are welcome for this stubborn resistant yet unique streak that you are owning!

And here are the Thrift Store Decor Team’s projects for this month! Enjoy!!!

Petticoat Junktion-Rick Rack Home Decor

Our Southern Home-Spray Paint Wicker Table

Shop At Blu-Upcycled Thrift Store Antique Radio Table

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia- High-End Garden Planter Knockoff

My Repurposed Life-Upcycled Drawers | Wall Shelf

The post Upcycled Antique Thrift Store Radio Table appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I bet you already knew when I mentioned an upcycle project, that today is the 2nd Wednesday of the month and time for the Thrift Store Decor Team Projects! You will find them all at the very end of this post. I wonder what the team is revitalizing today? Let’s get on with our outdoor lantern upcycle!

Prep your Outdoor Lanterns

My plan is to sand off the rust and use some colorful Rustoleum Spray Paint to refresh these outdoor lanterns. The Rustoleum will have a dual purpose. First, it will stop any rust that is developing on the lanterns and second, it will bring a fabulous new finish to these aging lanterns.

A closer look reveal debris and rust that has accumulated from the lanterns sitting outdoors for so long. So, as with any project piece, lets start with a good cleaning.

First, I needed to remove any glass. These lanterns are aluminum and have tabs that hold the glass in place.

To remove the glass, I simply folded the tabs away from the glass and lifted the glass out.

I dusted off the debris and gave each lantern a once over with a stiff bristled brush to remove any surface rust. Next, I set the lanterns in my sink and added warm water and Dawn dish soap.

I used a bottle brush to scrub the inside and outside surface of each lantern.

I gave the glass a good bath as well so I can replace it to use the lanterns to hold candles in the future.

After a good rinse, I set the lanterns outside to dry. It was a windy day, so I laid the lanterns on their side. After about half an hour, I flipped them over to make sure they were drying thoroughly.

Time for Paint

Once dry, I took the into the yard and gave each a thin coat of Rustoleum I used fall colors that I had on hand from a previous fall project. I used the Cinnamon and the Warm Caramel.

Rustoleum 2X has fabulous coverage and I didn’t even need a second full coat. Also, I recommend the Rustoleum Comfort Grip to hold your can. It eliminates finger fatigue and overspray onto your hands. Great tool!

I gave each lantern a light coat. Rustoleum 2x coverage is so good that I only needed one light coat. I allowed this coat to dry for about 20 minutes.

Then I flipped the lanterns over to finish the insides, bottoms, and any angles that I could not reach previously.

Tips for Spray Painting

Like I said, light coats are preferred because that prevents drips and pooling of paint. If you miss a spot, wait for the coat to dry and flip the piece so you can hold the paint can at a better angle to hit those spots. If you see a drip, tap or dab it lightly with a rag. This usually removes the drip. Sometimes you can go over this area after the paint dries with another light spray, but, amazingly, sometimes the paint self levels and the touch up spritz is not needed.

I like to use this small vintage open wire shelf unit for spray painting because it can hold several small items at one. These lanterns were larger so I would spray one coat and move the lantern aside to allow it to dry. I would place the next lantern on the shelf, spray one coat and remove to dry. Repeat.

I didn’t want to touch the outside of the lantern as the paint was wet. So I cupped my hand, lifted the lantern from the inside, and set it aside to dry.

Once the lanterns were dry, I moved the to the table on our deck until I am ready to use them inside. So many possibilities.

As I said, these lanterns were outside for a few years. The two larger lanterns had rope handles. I will replace them eventually but that is a project for another day. For now, I used masking tape to cover the bases for the handles because I like the chrome metal look.

After painting, I removed the tape. You can see the handle bases in the photo below. Use painter’s tape to mask off any area that you don’t want painted. This is commonly used for hardware, glass, or to make designs.

And here are the outdoor lanterns after being painted.

I couldn’t just let them sit there all lonely and empty, could I?

Look at that dreary sky! For once I exhibited some patience and took some more photos the next day.

That sky is so much happier! My pilgrim is even smiling.

The lanterns look great on our front stoop at the entryway also!

Move the lanterns around to different positions. Use different combinations of mums, pumpkins, and gourds until you find the look that you like.

If it doesn’t look quite, right, move things around again.

Sit a mum inside of a lantern.

Add some small pumpkins or gourds. Use real or faux…whatever you have on hand.

How about using those lanterns inside! Grab some florals.

And some pumpkins.

I even added some feathers.

They make a great centerpiece for an empty table.

The larger lanterns might be a little tall to use for Thanksgiving dinner. You might have trouble looking through them to see your guests. But they would look nice before dinner. Just remove them and replace them with the entrees and the turkey!!

I can see some florals and candles sitting inside of these beauties on Thanksgiving Day.

And here are this month’s projects from my fabulous creative friends!

Refresh Thrift Store Artwork

Upcycled Brass Christmas Bell Decoration

Decorating with a Vintage Toolbox

Repurposed Santa Mug

Refresh Outdoor Lanterns for Indoor Decor – That’s ME! You’re HERE!

The post Refresh Outdoor Lanterns for Indoor Decor appeared first on Shop at Blu.

If I am upcycling, recycling, renewing, or refreshing….it must be time for this month’s THRIFT STORE DECOR TEAM projects!

At the end of this post are the links to every team member’s projects for this month. What new skills do you think we will see today?

Now, let’s get into our upcycled MCM china cabinet!

Where We Started

I’ve had this china cabinet in the garage for some time. I am drawn to the wooden design in the glass doors as well as the Queen Anne-like curves on the top of this classic beauty. Those wooden designs have a name. From Google:

Mullions / Muntins are moldings that divide the opening of a Cabinet Door Frame and either hold individual panes of glass (true divided lites) or more commonly serve as decorative accents over a single pane of glass.

While my love for mahogany is growing, this piece has some veneer damage…

and other issues…

And I can’t help wonder how beautiful she would be upcycled with a more contemporary flair. She’s been waiting for a fabulous makeover. Until today, I didn’t know how or where she would be used. But, I finally have a plan for this beauty. This will be fun.

Prep Your Furniture

I always start a furniture project by cleaning the piece, sanding (the whole piece or selective area, depending on the amount of damage and the condition of the wood), cleaning again, and wiping down with TSP to remove residual dirt and oils. Sometimes, like in this case, some repairs are necessary too.

In this case, part of the base had fallen off when the piece was exposed to a flood. I had the damaged parts so I just glued them back into place and secured with a few nails. I made the basic repairs so that I could continue but I will most likely return to this piece and reinforce the repairs.

I’m often torn between getting on with the project and completing a restorative repair that takes more time. Usually, my excitement gets the best of me and I do a quick but effective patch. What would you do? Sand, patch, restore? Or glue, paint, move on? Although I’m excited to have this piece in my home, I don’t know how long I will keep her as she is quite large. I suppose if I was going to keep her forever or if she was a family heirloom then I would spend the time for a flawless repair. This time, my impatience got the best of me and I did the basics. I’ll keep you posted on whether I polish her up.

You know I love me some blue. I mean, look at the dresser that’s already in the room. I’m trying to create a vibrant yet moody broody blue bordering on indigo. A rich velvety blue. Ah!

Creating Color with Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint

I consulted my friend Swooz, aka the paint recipe genius at Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint. Swooz is the genius behind the BDSFP recipes and fabulous color combinations you will see on their website.

At Swooz’s recommendation, I went with Cadet Blue followed by a coat of black glaze. Swooz recommended General Finishes glaze in Pitch Black. So that’s what I used.

The recipe for Cadet Blue is a 1:1 ration of Blue Ridge to Appalachian Sunset.

Introducing a New Product

Before we begin with the Cadet Blue, let me to introduce you to a new product! This is Mask and Peel.

It cuts down on the time and effort and elbow grease needed to paint things like window panes and dividers and mullions or muntins. Congratulations to me on using our new terms in a complete sentence.

In theory, you paint on the mask and peel, allow it to dry, paint your mullions, allow to dry, score the straight edges, and peel the mask off of the glass.

I am sure that this product works. I just has beginner’s bad luck. I think I painted the mask on in too thin of a coat. Most of it did not peel very well. But some did.

I used a razor blade to scrape the portions that would not peel This took some time, but was till easier than painting each mullion and scraping the paint off of the glass. I would definitely use it again. It really made the paint come off of the glass quite easily.

Slap on that Color

After prepping, I applied 1 coat of Cadet Blue allowing at least 4 hours of dry time before the second coat.

These days, sometimes it’s a week between coats. At any rate, the paint is dry and ready for the next layer.

Time to Glaze

I painted on the black glaze and wiped it off. I wanted a dark and broody look so I left the glaze rather thick. For a lighter appearance, you can cut the glaze or remove more during the wipe off process.

Here are some photos of the process…

I painted the inside with two coats and opted not to apply glaze to the inside so the interior would be brighter.

Here she is after paint but before the finishing touches. Don’t mind the lighting. This is such a difficult spot to photograph with that window causing the light in the room to constantly change.

My choice of wallpaper did not arrive in time for this project.

So I made a trip to a local store that was having a clearance sale and grabbed a shower curtain for $5.00.

I suspected that the shower curtain would be too bright of a back ground for my jewelry so I wanted the option to easily switch it out for the wallpaper or a lighter background at some point.

My first thought was to paint the interior white and mod podge colorful paper. But that seems like alot of work. After a quick inspection of the china cabinet, I determined that the back panel of the china cabinet was easily removeable.

I decided to simply wrap the panel with the material. Later, I can apply the wallpaper to the backside of the panel. Thus I will have two options that easily switch out by flipping the panel. We will see how that works after the wallpaper finally arrives. So for now, we have the floral shower curtain fabric.

I laid the fabric onto the panel and hot glued the edges. Then I simply took a razor blade and trimmed the excess fabric.

Once all of the paint dried, I simply tacked the panel into place on the back of the upcycled china cabinet.

I did a few minor repairs to the bottom front of china cabinet where a piece of the molding had fallen off. I glued the pieces together and nailed them back into place. I toyed with the thought of using wood putty to fill in the mars but decided against that as dings and knicks over time will reveal the light putty under the dark paint. I also don’t think the bottom mars will be noticeable as the focal point will be the interior of the piece. It’s a little rough, I will admit. This is before the glaze.

And here is a close up of the final project…

Although it is not super noticeable, I should have filled it with wood putty, sanded, and painted. I guess I will go back and do that. Slow down!! Do it right!

My ultimate plan is to move all of my jewelry into this updated MCM china cabinet. I think I will store our family photos in the bottom! You know, keep all of my treasures together. However, I have ALOT of jewelry so sorting and moving it all is a project for another day.

But, I couldn’t resist adding a few…

Maybe I can start to fill her up one day at a time.

I’m already enjoying walking past my most sentimental pieces.

This might take a while!

Fondue Forks as Plant Labels or Herb Markers

Restoring an Outdoor Lantern

Candle for Mothers Day

Vintage Metal Lunchbox Planter

Thrift Store Lamp Refresh With Paint and Rub-on Transfer

Spray Paint Faux Succulents

Succulent Letter Planter Arrangement

Upcycled MCM China Cabinet That’s me! You are HERE!

The post Upcycled MCM China Cabinet appeared first on Shop at Blu.

History of the Cedar Chest

Aromatic cedar wood was highly prized for its natural insect-repelling properties and was used to store clothing, linens, and other fabric items. Such chests were commonly used for storing prized fabrics, the cedar protecting precious fabrics from insects and larvae. Throughout history, cedar chests were commonly gifted to young women. The chests were used to store items that they made or gathered for their future lives as wives. Commonly called hope chests, generations of young women lovingly stored gifts and heirlooms away for safekeeping. I have my great grandmother’s cedar chest. 

Nana was born in 1888. I’m not sure how old she was when she married, but I imagine this was a gift from her parents when she was a young girl. It seems this was a Christmas gift from the date written on the inside. My nana would have been 15 that Christmas, the perfect age to prepare for marriage. 

I have suspicion that my mother wrote over the original date that was probably written very lightly in pencil. Sharpies weren’t invented until 1964. And this is definitely mom’s handprinting. 

And here is my mom’s hope chest that sits at the foot of my bed.

Hope chests always had a makers mark or symbol inside. They were “guaranteed” again moth damage. And they always had a lock so your treasures were safe.

I have great memories at a young age of browsing through mom’s jewelry box in search of her hope chest key. I would carefully unlock the chest and lovingly inspect all of the items she kept locked away. It was like a treasure hunt. 

Mom’s hope chest matches the first bedroom suite my parents bought when they were first married in 1961. Here is photo of the suite today. My daughters and I gave it a refresh two years ago when my oldest daughter bought her first house. It’s in their guest bedroom so I get to enjoy it when I visit. 

Somehow that bugger ended up with the heirloom trunk and I have the one that matches the BRS. Things that make you go hmmm….

Here is the inside of my Nana’s hope chest still holding the items that my Mom deemed fit for safekeeping including several afghans lovingly made by friends, favorite linens, mementos and the original wooden wheels. She is loaded with precious memoirs as she should be. 

What better time to share a creative project than on Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! That’s right! It’s the second Wednesday of the month so the team has new thrifty decor projects for you. You will find them all at the end of this post.

SUPPLIES

• Murphy’s Oil Soap
• Sandpaper
• rags and a bucket of water
• Electric sander or Ryobi cordless sander
• tsp
• screwdriver
• General Finishes Halcyon Blue
• Homeright Paint Sprayer
• MinWax Polycrylic sealer Satin finish

What We Started With

The inside is pristine. The cedar still somewhat fragrant. This can be renewed by lightly sanding the wood. Notice the Maker’s mark for Lane, probably the most common cedar chest brand. The Lane factory closed in 2001. 

The loose piece of wood is actually a small shelf that is attached with hardware. Ladies used this shelf for small items like handkerchiefs, veils, etc. The hardware on the left side was missing a screw and would hang up when opening the lid. So I removed it to prevent damage and will easily reinstall when the trunk is finished.

Let’s get started with redressing this beauty with a more contemporary look. The finish, as you saw above, was scratched and marred. I will be quite easy to remove the paint and restore the original finish sometime in the future if desired.

First Step – Always Prep

The first step to working on furniture is always clean your project piece. I used a bath with Murphy’s Oil Soap to remove any grime and dirt that accumulated from years in storage. Her surface had seen better days.

I decided to paint the cedar chest one solid color because my plan was to paint some sort of landscape on the front. I needed to ensure that the front surface was flat. I removed the decorative studs and hardware. I removed the lid so that I wouldn’t have to worry about opening and closing it. Next, I sanded the entire exterior to prep the surface and wiped off the excess dust.

To ensure the surface was suitable for a hand painted design, I filled the vertical lines and stud holes with wood putty. Once dry, I sanded the surface smooth. 

The next step was to prime the cedar chest. I used my Homeright Finish Max spray gun. One coat was plenty.

It’s a good idea to lightly sand the primer once it dries. Then apply two light coats of your desired final color. Though I love a contrasting top to furniture, I didn’t want it to detract from the artwork so I decided to paint the lid of the cedar chest as well. Of course, I selected blue. I decided on General Finished Halcyon Blue. My European French loving soul decided for me. And I brushed it on. There is something uniquely satisfying about old fashioned painting with a brush. 

Here she is after two coats. I love the color. It was very beachy and fresh. And so, I decided to paint a beach scene!

Alternative to Painting a Design

I realize that not everyone feels comfortable in creating artwork. So other options are embellishing the front or top of your cedar chest with stencils, mod podge, or abstract designs. There are so many ways to decorate a flat surface. Stripes, polka dots, verses and script, even fabric…so many possibilities. But I wanted to try my hand at being super creative (not to mention bold) and create an original sea scape. I haven’t ever taken an art class but I’ve always had a slight ability to draw fairly well. And as I began this project, I realized that I could progress through this like any other project…in stages. This sea scape really was a series of creating small focal points and blending the paints to create the end product.

Preparing to Paint a Sea Scape

Of course I’ve drawn the beach and the sea before. But the results were very elementary and rather simple. For this project, I wanted to capture the waves. So, I googled wave tutorials. Here are a few that I watched and that seemed to demonstrate the skills I needed. I took tips and tricks from each video. They made it look so easy so I forged ahead.

How to Paint Waves – Acrylics    

PAINTING TUTORIAL Acrylic Ocean for Beginners

Easy Ocean Wave Painting Tutorial

How to Paint a Wave in Acrylics Windy Crashing Wave

I placed my “canvas” at eye level. grabbed some acrylic paints, and got to work.

NOTE: I actually videoed the process of painting the sea scape in stages. Stages 1, 2, 3.5, and 4 are fabulous. Stage 3 completely disappeared. Somehow, I must have deleted that video. So, I am sharing the other videos and I promise to recreate the process at some point in the future and post the update here. 

I started by taping off my “canvas” so I would stay within this area. I added some paint to a makeshift palette. And I started to paint.

I started with the sky, horizon and the water. I added the beach at the water’s edge.

And then I worked on those waves. Video Part 1 shows the beginning of the sea scape. Part 2, which is show how I added color blocks for the sky, horizon, water and sand. Then these colors were blended creating a smooth transition. Then waves are added and the paint is further blended. 

Though you can’t see the specific steps of Part 3, Part 3.5 shows all of the same techniques that I used. It was a literally series of adding color and blending the brush strokes. 

Practice makes it easier. You will learn how the paint flows when wet, over dried paint, and how your brush moves. It’s learning through repetition just like sports, music, etc. Practice makes it easier and practice makes it better. Find a great tutorial or 6, and just start!!

And this is the photo before I added those curling waves. I thought the waves were a little too wild so I just kept adding the curves of the white caps until I was happy. 

I literally added white “c’s” to create the rolling wave. Again, and again, and again I added “c’s” and lightly blended the “c’s” as I moved across the front of the cedar chest. Then I dabbled white paint here and there to make the sea spray and highlight the waves. It was so much easier than I had thought. My waves actually came to life! I promise to do a full tutorial again since this project was so satisfying.

Remember to add a coat of Polycrylic SEALER over the entire cedar chest to protect the paint and you art work.

I’m quite happy with this fun cedar chest. I think I will try some florals next!

As promised, here are the projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team for this month. We are off to a creative start this year. Thanks for visiting. We are looking forward to a fabulous year of incredibly thrifty and creative projects!

Eleven Washboard Upcycled Decor Projects Organized Clutter

Vintage Headboard Makeover My Repurposed Life 

Upcycled Boho Bamboo Decor  House of Hawthornes

DIY Vintage Aged Pottery Vessel My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

DIY Love Sign Petticoat Junktion 

Thrift Store Box Makeover Our Southern Home

Upcycled Cedar Chest Trunk Shop At Blu

Family Tradition

Here is my Great Grandmother, Bessie Mill. She’s on the far right in the front row. My Grandmother (Mom Mom) in the back row on the left. Center back row is Pop. Aunt Marion (Mom Mom’s sister) is on the right in the back row.

In Loving Memory of Aunt Mary

Front and center is my dear Aunt Mary. That’s me on her lap. I was 4. I can tell by the hair cut. It was 1969. Front row left is Uncle George. I call him Uncle. He’s the only uncle on that side of the family, my mom’s only sibling. He’s an incredibly loving person and so funny. I obviously had him wrapped around my finger as I’m sure you can tell. Uncle and Aunt Mary have left immeasurable impressions on our family. 

Thanks to all of you wonderful prayer warriors who prayed for Aunt Mary over the past 4 months. She fought long and hard and stayed with us a bit longer than she probably should have. Uncle and the entire family are all grateful for the power of your prayers. I just returned from a beautiful celebration of her life. I am inspired by her love for her family and her servant nature. 

I sure do miss you already, Aunt Mary. I am so honored to have been the recipient of your love for 58+ years. I am a better person because of you. And I will strive to make you proud. Love you!

The post Upcycled Cedar Chest Trunk appeared first on Shop at Blu.

This bench belonged to my Mother-In-Law. She had the most beautiful cherry furniture. We used this bench for many years at the foot of our bed. Several years ago, we moved it to the dining room for extra seating at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just recently, I placed her by the piano where she fits perfectly but needs an update! The cherry finish is scratched and dated. Time for a new look.

How can it be second Wednesday already? You know that means time for the Thrift Store Decor Team’s projects! It’s been aminute since I painted some furniture so I decided to get my fix. Check out all of the team’s projects at the end of this post.

New Furniture for our Living Room!

Our new furniture is being delivered on Wednesday. It is blue. But, you know how many shades of blue exist?? Way too many. Have I seen it in person? No. Mr. Blu picked it out. He was sure to find options in both blue and grey. But, we agreed on blue. So, I decided to go with a more neutral blue and cross my fingers. Can’t wait to see if my choice will work. I’ve been around long enough to know that a blue in a photo looks very different that the same blue in the showroom. And that same blue will look very different in your space due to many factors mostly lighting and accessories or other furniture in the room. If this color is off, I will simply update this DIY Piano Bench again. After all, I love creating new blues and my favorite DIYs always involve paint.

Prep the DIY Piano Bench for Paint

First step was to remove the seat cushion. This was very simply accomplished by flipping the bench upside down and removing the screws.

The cushion should pop right off. You may need to give it a little tap from the underside depending on how long the cushion has been in place.

Next step was to prep the wood for paint. I gave the whole bench a gently sanding to eliminate some of the scratches and mars.

After a good dusting, I wiped the surface with TSP to remove any residual dirt and dust.

I applied one coat of CUSTOM blended Blue Bird, a Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint color. You know I’m a blue girl and I plant to use every possible combination of BDSFP blue paint.

The recipe for Blue Bird is 2 parts Clean Canvas and one part Blue Ridge.

You can read more about my favorite recipes from BDSFP in these posts:

Back to this project. I added a second coat.

Since I am not sure if the blue I selected will actual compliment the new blue furniture, I decided to add some distressing to make the color less vibrant. Plus, I love a good distressed piece of furniture.

Fabric for this DIY Upcycled Piano Bench

Time to find some fabric. I grabbed these two pieces of fabric from the endless supply closet known as my garage.

Which would you choose knowing you have some sort of mystery blue colored furniture on the way? Since this is my MIL’s bench, I decided on the striped fabric which actually belonged to her!

A quick wrap and a dance with my Ryobi Airstrike cordless stapler and here she is:

And the other side…

It is a little beachy but I love the unexpected oddity of this piece. And, it seems I now have new favorite blue!

I really want to paint this piano a blue color as well. But I need to work on Mr. Blu for that as he thinks I’m crazy. Maybe she will be a future project!

I will share the new furniture once it arrives. Check Facebook and Instagram for those photos.

Cheese Dome Repurposed For Christmas House of Hawthornes

Christmas Carousel Horse My Repurposed Life

DIY Christmas Joy Sign My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

How to Make Snowy Votives Domestically Speaking

Thanksgiving Wreath with a Brass Trivet Sadie Seasongoods

DIY Upcycled Piano Bench  Shop At Blu

Magnetic Board Paint Makeover Petticoat Junktion

Ice Bucket Christmas Tree Stand  Our Southern Home

Musical Washboard Christmas Decoration Organized Clutter

Interested in Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint? Click on the photo below to check out the products and fabulous color recipes.

The post DIY Upcycled Piano Bench appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Today is Thrift Store Décor Team Wednesday! 

What better time to share a fabulous upcycle??!!  As always, on the second Wednesday of the month, you will find my special post followed by each of the team member’s posts for the day.  Be sure to click on them all and see the fabulously creative projects.  And if you are particularly interested in rustic gardens, like the one I am starting, pay special attention to Carlene’s blog, Organized Clutter.  Her garden is consistently beyond inspiring! You will find many unique metal garden decor ideas.

Upcycling a Metal Garden Decor Table

I think that this table was originally a deep brown color, rather a mimic of copper.  Someone sprayed it black, which has worn away in spots and you can see the rustic brown beneath the black.  As always, when painting furniture, whether metal or wood, start with a light sanding.  You don’t have to sand down to bare wood or metal.  Just give the surface a light sanding. 

This light sanding serves 2 purposes:

• remove loose surface paint from previous coats
• remove or loosen surface dirt

If you have damaged areas that are scratched or chipped, you might need to sand a little heavier in these areas.  But normally, a light sanding is sufficient.

Prepping is the Key to Success

Sanding is always a must. Follow up with a good cleaning. Dust or wipe down your furniture piece to remove the dust generated from the sanding process.

Follow your light sanding with a wipe down with soapy or warn water. 

I always follow the bath process with a wipe down with TSP (trisodium phosphate) which preps the surface a little further for paint by removing residual dust and oils from the surface.

Allow the piece to dry and then…

You are ready to paint!

My choice of paint for this project is Gonna Need A Bandage, a rich red from Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint.  It is a fabulous red that screams Primitive!  My mind is racing with other items, mostly galvanized and vintage metal items, that would be well enhanced with this color.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the paint use and invest in a good quality brush, like the BDSFP one pictured above. Here is my affiliate link for 20% off supplies.

Always Seal Your Paint!

Though many paints today do not require a top coat, I always seal my pieces for extra protection ESPECIALLY if the piece is going outside. I sealed this table with several coats of Crab Coat which is BDSFP’s heavy duty sealer made specifically for outdoor use.  Check out the details on the product here.

I decided to only use one coat of the red so that the finish was somewhat transparent.  I like that the previous black is faintly peeking through.  You know I love a rustic or dry brushed finish.  Rustic is my second choice behind a vintage chippy finish. Here she is with one coat.

But once the paint dried and cured, it looked like this:

How incredible is this finish?! It looks antiqued! I just love this paint! It always surprises me. The coverage is incredible. For complete coverage, two coats is necessary. But I always allow my project pieces to guide me. I mean, this finish is awesome and had I proceeded with the second coat, I would not have gotten this effect, which works for this project and my unique patina loving soul. Feed your creativity. If you like full coverage, you will get it with this paint. Just apply another coat for a silky vibrant color.

She’s going to be so sweet sitting under the pine trees.  But for now, she’s waiting outside of our little shed. 

She will look great with some patriotic accents.

And some potting and garden must haves.

Or how about beside my Upcycle Vintage Garden Bench.

She looks great beside my flowers too:

So many possibilities!

I did add some shasta daisies to this galvanized tub the other day. 

With my rustic garden underway, I thought I’d share a few of Flo’s things that I absolutely love.

If you are lucky enough to have some special items that belonged to loved ones who are now watching you from above, scatter them around your home. They will make you smile everyday…I promise.

Thrift Store Decor Team Before Photos:

And, as promised, here are this month’s fabulous projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team!

Planter Shelf | Garden Chair  My Repurposed Life

Updated Metal Garden Decor Table Shop At Blu

Vintage Potato Planter Flower Pot Organized Clutter

Paint Plastic Furniture With Krylon White Wash Petticoat Junktion

Boho Wreath using An Embroidery Hoop  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

DIY Repurposed Old Milk Can  Reinvented Deleware

Turn a Thrift Store Plant Stand into a Drink Table Our Southern Home

DIY Coastal Starfish Basket Domestically Speaking

Closet Organizer for Accessories Sadie Seasongoods

The post More Updated Metal Garden Decor appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I found this Duncan Fyffe table at a local thrift store a few years ago. 

It was $5.  There was some damage to the top including chipped veneer and some surface knicks and scratches.  The brass caps from the tips of the legs were missing.  The entire edge from one leg tip was completely missing.  But for $5, I was confident that I could get some use out of this once pristine beauty.  So I paid the $5, cleaned her up, and gave her a polish with Old English.  She actually sat in my living room for several years with that damaged leg positioned in the back so no one could see it. 

Eventually, I upgraded to another side table so she has been sitting in the garage waiting for some attention. I always have a hard time parting with things that have brought me joy.  It’s time to give her a new look and a new home.

Today is Thrift Store Décor Team Wednesday! 

Nine of my creative and thrifty friends share a new project on the second Wednesday of every month!  At the end of this post, you will find the other 9 fabulous and thrifty projects for this month.

Step One -Thrift Store Painted Side Table

Since this thrift store side table was parked in my garage for a few years, I started by giving her a good bath with my go to Murphy’s Oil Soap.  As with all of my paint projects, I the wiped the entire table down with TSP to remove any residual dirt, grime, and oils.

My paint of choice is Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint.  I love this paint primarily for its coverage. The fantastic color options are a huge bonus.  BDFSP is unique because it comes pre-mixed in 16 pre-mixed colors.  From these colors, you can create so many different incredible variations of color.  So, in essence, your investment is minimal and your color choices pretty much unlimited.  For this project, I am using I Need A Bandage (red) and Clean Canvas (pure white) to create the fabulous springy color of Watermelon.

At the end of this post, I am including my affiliate link for 20% off of the website prices.

Here is the process:

• Clean the project piece with warm soapy water.  My cleaning product of choice is Murphy’s Oil Soap.
• Wipe the project piece down with TSP to remove residual dirt and oils.
• Sand, if desired.
• Note: Sanding is not necessary with BDSFP unless you want to remove any imperfections in the wood. On many drawers for older furniture pieces, there are mars or spin marks from loose hardware, knobs and handles.  A light sanding can often remove these marks.
• Wipe again with TSP solution.
• Apply one coat of paint.  Allow to dry.
• Apply a second coat.  Allow to dry.
• Distress, if desired. Note: For a distressed look, sand edges or normal location of wear marks. Follow up with another wipe down with TSP.
• Dust with a brush or wipe with a tack cloth to remove sanding dust and debris.
• Apply one coat of sealer. I used BDSFP Top Dog in your choice of finishes.  Allow to dry.
• Spply a second coat of sealer and allow to dry overnight.
• Install hardware.
• Enjoy you newly refurbished furniture.

For the missing brass tips on the ends of the table legs, I simply used gold paint the area where the tips would be placed. 

Several coats of gold will make the tips appear more authentic like the brass covers are in place.  This wasn’t a big concern for me so I simply applied 2 coats of gold.

Perfect Paint for a Thrift Store Vintage Side Table

I have to sing the praise of BDSFP.  Their paints are designed for antique and vintage pieces so the paint coverage is excellent.  The paint is designed to apply without sanding the surface of your work piece. Additionally, there is no need to prime before painting and the vibrant colors really pop.  Usually, two coats suffice to cover the previous finish.

Here is the finish after one coat:

Since my plan was to distress the table after painting, a second coat was fine. For a more matte and solid appearance, depending on the base color of your piece, you may need a third coat. But, BDSFP is quite thick and covers exceptionally well.

To distress, I simply hand sanded the edges and a few other spots around the drum of the table and on the pedestal and legs.

To add some interest to the table top and to help disguise its age and the wear, I created a rustic finish after sanding by dragging some of the Clear Canvas across surface of the table top. I dipped a rag in some java gel stain and ran it around the edge of the table top to fill in any scratches. I wiped of the excess. Once I achieved the look I was happy with, I sealed the table top and the entire table with Show Dog.

I am quite happy with the new look of this classic old table.

The watermelon color is just what we need around our home to help hurry spring along.

I will enjoy it for a few weeks and help her find a new home. This painted side table would be great at the beach, don’t you think?

Here is my affiliate link should you want to try Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint for your self. Use THIS LINK to shop for paint. And use code SHOPATBLU for 20% off.

I am quite excited about being able to use the recipes to create variations of the 16 primary colors.  Equally exciting it that I don’t need to purchase new cans of exact colors.  Instead, I can use the paints I have on hand to create fabulous colors using their tried and true recipes. And the best part of this recipe process is that it is super easy! Most recipes are a 2:1 or 1:1:1 recipes, Just measure and mix. It’s that easy!

Doesn’t this make you want to go out an paint a side table?

My first BDSFP project was this garden shelf unit.

My second project was Pop’s desk.

I can’t wait to use all of the paint colors utilized in these 3 projects to create upcycled decor in a beautiful rainbow of spring colors. I counted 9 recipes that I can use with the 5 colors that I have on hand.

As promised, here are the projects for this month from the fabulous Thrift Store Decor Team! Enjoy!

Upcycled Glass Chandelier  My Repurposed Life

Pallet Herb Garden My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Old Coffee Pot Upcycled As A Flower Pot  Organized Clutter

Chicken Wall Decor Idea Petticoat Junktion

How to Update an Old Mirror Domestically Speaking

St. Patrick’s Day Wreath  Sadie Seasongoods

Thrift Store Upcycle Idea for Spring  Reinvented Deleware

Whitewashing Bookends Our Southern Home

Thrift Store Painted Side Table Shop At Blu (That’s me! You are here!)

The post Thrift Store Painted Side Table appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I’m sharing this upcycle for Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday. Yes! It’s already the second Wednesday of the month and time for the team to share our thrifty upcycles for the month. I’m linking all of the team’s projects at the end of this post. As usual, the girls have prepared some incredible projects for you.

The Thrill of the Thrift Store Find

My favorite thrift store finds are hands down the things that I simply can’t find anymore. Take this trash can for example. You can find new trash cans, of course. But they aren’t sturdy. They aren’t going to last for years and years. And the certainly don’t have the details and character of a vintage trash can. Today most trash cans are made from cheap plastic. If you can find one that is made of sturdy plastic or metal, you need to take out a mortgage on your home to pay for it. But this vintage beauty is heavy, solid, and full of character. She sports faux bamboo and rattan. She is made of molded brown plastic. and she cost $1.49. Years ago, I spray painted her black and parked her in a corner in my bedroom. But I failed to record the transformation to black with a quality photo.

Last year, I updated our Master Bedroom for the ORC. In the process, I primed her white. It’s finally time to make her shine.

Here is the bedroom.

Of course the primary color is blue. And many of the secondary colors are, well, blue, many shades of blue. Here is the post on the ORC Master Bedroom Refresh.

And there are vibrant accents. So I followed the same trend with this little vintage trash can.

I grabbed my favorite blues, some metallic copper, basic black and white, and a punch of vibrant coral. In the back of my mind I have a chinoiserie vision of white with splotches of blues…but then again, don’t all of my visions have some version of blue? I’m predictable that way.

This is the Klein blue that I used on the dresser in the MBR.

Creating a Vision

I gave the entire piece a fresh coat of white.

I wanted to do something fun with the rattan area so I played with my favorite blue, General Finishes Klein blue, white, and the drybrush technique. But the colors were too much of a contrast. I just couldn’t get the perfect application.

Sometimes, you just have to play with your colors. Which is what I did. Remember when you are experimenting with color, it can get worse before it gets better. And you just need to keep on moving forward. I won’t lie. I had a back up projects.

waverly chalk acrylic paint ink

So, I painted the rattan area all blue and decided I would try a whitewash over the blue.

Fill in the Blanks…Like a Coloring Book Page

Then I filled in the main areas with the colors of the room. Black would anchor the piece so I painted the top and bottom black. I colored in all of the bamboo areas with the metallic copper.

I used more black to outline the box. Coral was inserted and the lighter blue added to the edges. Klein blue became the focal point and filled in the center rattan area.

I quickly realized that this palette was right, but a little to bold for this room.

That’s when I decided that all of my colors, not just the bright Klein blue, needed to be muted with a whitewash. After all, this little accessory will brighten up a corner and not take over the room. Subtle is better in this case.

Practice Makes Perfect

Before I got too far with the colors, I finished one side completely so I could practice the whitewash. And actually see if this vision was lucid. It was.

I loved it. I put the back up project back in the closet. And I finished the other sides.

Whitewashing and Destressing – Love or Hate

I will admit that a good healthy whitewash is not for everyone. It’s like distressing. You either love it or you don’t. This unique finish fits my room perfectly. You could even give the vintage trash can another coat of the whitewash so that the colors are even more muted and the whitewash is more uniform. But again, I’m an uber distressor and lover of the imperfect so this fits me.

I think she turned out well! The whitewash definitely toned down the colors, especially the Klein blue. And I really like the powdered effect.

Paint Colors Used

• General Finishes Klein Blue
• General Finishes Halycyon blue
• Folkart Metallic Acrylic Paint Antique Copper
• Waverly Black Chalky Paint
• DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint Scarlet

In looking at this last photo, I’m thinking I might need to white wash the light blue trim on that trunk.

This vintage trash can upcycle will do for quite some time. I’m imagining this vintage beauty, though, at some point painted in a high gloss fuchsia. Only the future will tell!

As promised, here are this month’s thrifty upcycle projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team.

Organized Clutter Large Thrifted Wooden Tray Makeover

House Of Hawthornes Window Art With Glass Plates

Sadie Seasongoods Modern Fall Decor for the Fireplace

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Transfer a recipe to a cutting board

Our Southern Home Framed Wedding Seating Chart

Domestically Speaking Desktop Hanging Clock Makeover

My Repurposed Life Rose Back Chair Makeover

Petticoat Junktion DIY Recycled Sweater Pumpkins

Shop at Blu Vintage Trash Can Upcycle That’s ME! You are HERE!

The post Vintage Trash Can Upcycle appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Added bonus for you…it is Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! 

Be sure to check the end of this post for 7 other fabulous thrifty and creative projects that will surely bring you some inspiration! 

Selecting a Design

I polled my Instagram and Facebook friends for ideas on how to finish these.  The top 3 suggestions were:

1. Hombre finish
2. Transfer finish
3. Pride colors

I decided to combine a few of these ideas.  I scouted some colorful tissue paper from Amazon and narrowed my choices down to these two:

Since I couldn’t decide, I ordered them both.  I have another decoupage project in mind so I will use one of these designs for the nesting tables and save the other for later.  I am leaning toward the teal and gold marbleized design.

I knew I want to use blues (of course) and hombre into a taupe or beige with a teal or pink being the median color.  But I couldn’t decide on either pink or teal so I did what I do when I can’t decide and started the project anyway.  I knew that the process would lead me to a fantastic design.  When in doubt, let the project lead you!

Prep the Surface

First step to painting furniture is always prep your surface. 

Lightly sand the tables and then wipe them down with warm soapy water or TSP to remove all dust and any residual dirt.

Time to Paint the Nesting Tables

I started with my favorite color Quaker Blue milk paint from Folk Art.  I painted the bottom third of each leg to get a better picture of the color with the tables. 

It covered well but I realized I should prime the entire piece.  So I gave the remaining sections of all of the tables a coat of Waverly chalk paint in Plaster which acted as a primer.  

I applied a second coat of Plaster to the table tops and the legs. 

I had already painted the blue on the bottom of the legs but forgot to snap a photo.  Next, I filled the center third of each leg with… pink.  

At this point, I decided on the floral paper.  The deep blue and pink complimented the paper perfectly.  Funny because I was originally leaning toward the teal and gold marbled paper with teal often being my go to color.  But there is something striking about this combination of blue and pink.  So bold it is!

Adding the Blended Colors

I know I said I was going to use the hombre but I really am an uber distressor and love to see a stark difference in paint layers.  So I decided to use more of a dry brush technique instead of strict hombre.  There are sections of the legs, however, that are blended more smoothly in true hombre fashion.  I will tackle a future project with the purest hombre technique using only colors in the same color family.

I started with a second coat of the pink in the center of the legs. 

While it was still wet, I dry brushed the plaster in a downward motion over the pink creating a blended color.  As the brush hit the pink, it picked up some pink and muted both colors slightly creating the hombre effect.  I allowed the pink and white to dry and then repeated the same process with a clean brush loaded lightly with plaster.  I dry brushed the plaster in a downward motion over the dried plaster and into the dried pink.  You can practice this technique to see how much of each color you wish to be visible.  The best part is…if you don’t like it then prime over it and start again!  Painting is very forgiving.

I kept playing with the paint until I got the desired look. Then I flipped the tables upside down and repeated the same process with the blue blending into the pink.

Decoupage on the Tops

I love the versatility of Mod Podge! 

You simply brush it onto the table top liberally.  Carefully lay the tissue paper on top of the Mod Podge.  Tissue paper is very thin and will most likely have bubbles that need to be smoothed over.  It is also very delicate.  Place a piece of wax or parchment paper over the tissue paper that has been laid onto the Mod Podge and gently smooth the wax paper from the center to the outside edges.  

I was not worried about the final product being lumped or bubbly since the tissue paper has a busy design.  You won’t be able to tell unless you put your face to the table and most folks aren’t going to do that.  But, if that will bother you, buy a heavier stock paper.  Tissue paper is so inexpensive that it was the perfect choice for me.

Allow the tissue paper to dry slightly and gently sand the edges of the table in an outward motion, away from the table.  This will gently removed the excess paper.

Once you have sanded the edges, wipe the surface with a dry rag to remove the dust and apply a liberal coat of Mod Podge over the entire table top.  Once this dries, apply a second coat.  

You can see the ripples in the paper in the photo above.  It gives some texture to the table top.  And, it is not really noticeable from a normal distance because of the pattern.  Again, for a smoother finish use a thicker paper other than tissue paper. 

Add Embellishments and Get Creative

The side of the table looked a little bland so I painted the inserts with my favorite blue.  You can get creative here and add more tissue paper or stripes or any complimentary design.  I went with the simple blue.  

I considered adding a little bit of gold metallic paint to the edges of the tables.  I also considered distressing the sides and legs because, well quite frankly I can never resist a good distressing.  It adds so much more interest and texture to a piece. And, it hides mistakes.  

But, for some reason, I like the simplicity of the painted edges without gold or distressing!  Can you believe it??  Could I finally be toning back my wild style?  I doubt it!

It is definitely a personal preference.  Which would you have chosen?  Distressed or smooth?  Would you have added the gold?

The final step is to seal the tables.  My go to is MinWax Polycrylic in Clear Satin finish. 

While it is super durable, go lightly over the white paint as it tends to yellow.  I also find that the darker paints can transfer onto the brush when applying the sealer.  So I sealed these tables in stages.  I did the white first and allowed it to dry.  Then I finished the legs.  The final step was 2 coats on the tops.

And here they are:

Can you ever really have too many cute side tables?  I think NOT!

Note:  For those of you who wanted to see a Pride project, check back soon.  I am working on that!

Thrift Store Decor Team Projects

As promised, here are the other 7 projects from my talented friends on the Thrift Store Decor Team.  Visit each for incredible inspo!  Leave a comment and tell them what you would like to see next!

DIY Color Block Vase – Domestically Speaking
Three-Legged Table Makeover – My Repurposed Life
How To Antique An Urn – Petticoat Junktion
DIY Aged Vase Using Coffee and Baking Soda – My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Coastal-Inspired Coffee Table Tray Decor – Sadie Seasongoods
DIY Faux Enamelware Basin – House Of Hawthornes
DIY Boho Painted Furniture Idea – Reinvented Delaware
Upcycled Vintage Nesting Tables – Shop At Blu (that’s me, You are HERE!)

I am sharing this post with the following Linky Parties:

• All About Home party at  Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Road
• Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
• Party at Karin’s Kottage
• Tuesday Turnabout at Reinvented Delaware, My Wee Abode, and My Family Thyme
• Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
• Creative Crafts at Creatively Beth 
• Wonderful Wednesdays at Hammers and Hugs
• Grace at Home at  at Grace at Home
• Wonderful Wednesday Weeklong at Oh My Heartsie Girl
• Sundays on Silverado at the The House on Silverado

The post How to Upcycle Vintage Nesting Tables appeared first on Shop at Blu.