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.

If you are a regular visitor here, I know what you are thinking. And you are right! It’s time for:

If you are new to Blu or the TSDT, we are a group of 7 creative bloggers who focus on the upcycle, repurpose, and reuse of older or previously used items. At the end of this post, you will find all of the other team projects. We share our posts on the second Wednesday of the month. This is our first post of the NEW YEAR! What new skills will we share this year?? Tools, products, DIY skills and fabulous tips are just a few of our favorites. We hope to see you as a regular visitor. Sign up for an email reminder when new posts are shared. See the signup at the top right sidebar of this page! We would absolutely be thrilled for you to follow our projects! Let’s get to our kitchen utensil decor project!

Inspiration

Shout out to my friend, Daphne for passing these pot lids along.

Daphne has a beautiful lake house where all of her older kitchen utensils retire and bring joy to the family and to friends…like Mr. Blu and me! At the end of every trip to the lake, Daphne grabs items that are no longer needed or, in this case, mismatched. So, I brought them home but, alas, could find no matches. Rather than donate to the endless pot lid shelf at the thrift store, I opted to repurpose them. So here we go! You never know where you will find your inspiration. But the lake really is the perfect place!

Mia say let’s go!

Build a Snowman

Amazingly, the three pot lids are a perfect combination in size to create a snowman! I needed something to mount them on so I headed to the garage where I have a wood pile with a variety of excess wood from previous projects.

I narrowed the selection down to these two:

Always check the front, back, and sides when you are selecting wood. Sometimes there will be a surprise on the back that can eliminate a choice. Like too many knots or rot or oil stains. And sometime you will find a good surprise like unexpected texture or fabulous woodgrain. Such is the joy of wood!

The lighter piece measured 18″ x 27″. It’s always a great idea to dry fit your items before proceeding…to help visualize the finished product, if you will. I set the lids on the lighter wood.

They fit did fit. But I would not be able to put a hat on my snowman. So I tried the longer piece.

The darker piece of wood measured 13″ x 40″. I could fit the snowman and there was plenty of room for a hat. There was extra room above for additional embellishments like a catchy winter phrase or maybe some snowflakes. I will decide later. But this piece of wood was a better fit for the project. I decided to leave the wood as is for a rustic look.

Clean Your Project Pieces

Yes, this is the real first action step whenever I am using wood or re-creating from used objects. Give the components a nice bath with warm soapy water.

Who knows where the items to be rehomed have been? I really mean the wood because the lids were at Daphne’s home. But when you grab an items from a thrift store, flea mall, or even curbside, a good cleaning is always a must. Even the wood from my own garage needed a wipe down. Dust, dirt, and the occasional critter are always a possibility regardless of how clean you maintain your storage area. The chipmunks in our yard are fast little buggers and have been known to seek refuge from the Alabama heat and storms. I gave the lids a cleaning too. I figured why not?

Allow the pieces to dry completely. I just allowed them to air dry by the sink.

Assemble Your Snowman

I laid the lids down to create my snowman. You can lay them straight or off centered for a whimsical look.

Use a sharpie to outline each lid. I wanted us use E-6000 which is a great craft adhesive that dries clear. But, I could not find it in my garage so I grabbed some Liquid Nails instead. Follow the sharpie line and squeeze out your adhesive. If you have outdoor adhesive already on hand, that will work too. Use what you have.

Lay the lid onto the adhesive. Outline the next lid, apply the adhesive, and set the lid into place. Complete these steps again for the third lid. Allow the adhesive to dry. You are ready to dress your snowman.

Embellishments

As I said, I wanted a hat for my snowman. So I grabbed some plaid fabric I had on hand from another project.

Years before I started blogging, I would create primitive decor.

This snowman angel is one of my all time favorites. I made a snowman version with a simple primitive hat was super easy so I decided to follow that design.

I cut out the hat. Just a rough shape will do. And then I rolled some fabric to make a droopy brim. This also give the snowman some more dimension. Lastly, I cut a few strips for a scarf for my snowman’s neck. It’s chilly on the front stoop this week! It’s been 28 degrees the last two mornings!

Next I laid out the pieces where I wanted them and then I used hot glue to attach the hat to the wooden background.

I started with the hat and worked my way down the front of the snowman gluing the hat pieces and then the scarf pieces to the wood.

Continue until you have glued all down of the hat and scarf pieces.

The pot handle in the center of my snowman’s face made for a cute nose. So I just grabbed a black sharpie and drew on some eyes and a mouth. You could also use some black craft paint.

Final Touches

I was putting away my Christmas decor at the time of this project so I kept out a few snowflakes and glued them around my snowman.

I think he turned out great. This was a quick project that did not cost me one penny thanks to Daphne and a garage full of old wood and craft supplies.

What have YOU ever made out of kitchen utensils or gadgets? I’d love to see!

Here is my after Christmas outdoor entryway.

I moved Frosty to storage and added my new kitchen utensil decor snowman.

It’s so cold this week here in Alabama that I could not resist adding my childhood Yankee Clipper sled and Pop’s ice skate. Great memories sitting right here in this corner!

Yikes! I need a winter doormat! Headed out to get one!

Vintage Oak Cane Chair Makeover-My Repurposed Life

How to Style a Glass Cloche– My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Paint A Bamboo Tray -Petticoat Junktion

Kitchen Utensil Decor– Shop at Blu

Using Restor-a-Finish on Thrifted Finds– Our Southern Home

The post Kitchen Utensil Decor – Build a Snowman appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Sarah – SADIE SEASONGOODS

I am starting with the literal queen of repurposing. Sarah has the keenest eye for repurposing thrift store finds. One glance at her blog and you will be amazed at how she visualizes and nails a transformation. With a mid century modern flair, Sarah reinvents new purpose for simple old things. Look at this paper towel holder. Am I right? Be sure to browse her upcycle and DIY projects…and yes, you are welcome!

Gail – MY REPURPOSED LIFE

While Sarah may be the queen of transformations, let’s call Gail Ms. Fixit. In every DIY project where she upcycles a piece of furniture or accessory, you will find a lesson in how to repair, resurface, or stabilize an item. In the midst of the how to lesson, you will be introduced to some fabulous paints and DIY products. If you find a fabulous items with great bones but some small issues, scour Gail’s pages and you will find the quickest solution and a guide to the tools you need.

Christy – OUR SOUTHERN HOME

If you are looking to upgrade your decor, Christy is your girl. She will walk you through the process of creating Pottery Barn style decor from your everyday thrift store finds. Spray paint truly is a girl’s best friend. Take a stroll through Christy’s beautiful home. You will be amazed by the thrift store projects sprinkled through out the beautiful rooms. Take these lovely Christmas village houses as an example. You will find Christy’s detailed DIY project tutorials easy to follow. And the end product…so rewarding!

Kathy – PETTICOAT JUNKTION

Kathy’s projects are always very simple but stately! She has a knack for quick projects that simply light up a corner. Take this project with thrift store vases…such an easy way to make a big statement anywhere in your home. With a little bit of spray paint, some painter’s tape, and thrift store vases, you are all set! From the front porch, to the guest bathroom, to the living room, Kathy’s upcycles are practical, useful, and beautiful!

Pam – HOUSE OF HAWTHORNES

Pam always hits a home run with her repurposed items. With a pension for vintage and an eye for practical use, you never know what she is working on but you always know Pam will find a creative new way to display her vintage beauties. In this project, she pairs two of my favorites…vintage kitchen items and succulents! Check out Pam’s projects for new ways to cherish your vintage finds.

Kristin – MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA

You tell from Kristin’s succulent, garden, beach themed, and garden projects that she is a West Coast girl! Her projects always leave me longing for sunny weather and outdoor beauty. While many of her projects are perfect for your patio or outdoor rooms, Kristin has completed some fabulous DIY projects in her home. From painting, to room renno to easy tips to get things done, you will find a fabulous mix of DIY and beautiful decor on Kristin’s pages. My favorites, of course, are her succulent projects and her fabulously thrifty decor upcycles.

Enjoy reading through the projects we have gathered for you! I can’t wait to see that new skills, tips, tricks, and always fabulous upcycles the new year will bring for us all!

Enjoy! And Merry Christmas!!

Here are links to the last 2 year’s “Best Of” projects:

The post Thrift Store Decor Team Best DIY Projects of 2024 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.

Welcome! If you visiting for the first time as part of the Amazing Creators network, I am so glad you are here. I hope you will browse through my other posts and take some time to visit my friends linked at the end of this post. You never know what kind of fabulous inspiration you will find. Who knows, maybe you will find a new favorite creator!

Let’s get started with our project!

Prep your Bottles

With any paint project, you will have to prep the surface of your project piece. Glass bottles are no different. This consists of removing any labels and cleaning the glass thoroughly, both inside of the bottle and outside.

I wrote an entire post about tips for cleaning your bottles and removing that stubborn label glue! Click on the photo below to read all about it:

What Paint to Use

Once your bottles are clean and dry, you need to select your paint!

My first thought for paint for this project was my go to Black Dog Salvage Furniture paint as it is suitable for ALL surfaces. I thought I would need something special for these glass bottles. However, My go to spray paint was sitting right here in my garage in a variety of colors needed. So, I went with Rustoleum 2X in the fall colors of Cinnamon, Warm Caramel, and Real Orange. I used a clear spray as a sealer. I highly recommend the Rustoleum Spray Handle. This baby keeps your fingertips clean from paint overspray. For larger projects it really reduces that index finger fatigue from holding down that tiny spray button.

I figured I would go ahead with the on hand supply, seal with a top coat, and see how the paint holds up.

Spray Painting your Glass Bottle for Decor Projects

Once my bottles were clean, I moved outside to my yard to apply the spray paint. If you are using spray paint indoors, be certain you have proper ventilation to avoid any excessive fumes and prevent repercussions of such.

I have an old metal bath room shelving unit that I have been using for years with my outdoor paint projects.

The open shelves allow me to spray much of the bottle and eliminate some turns of the project piece, reduce drying time, and even eliminate additional coats of paint. I can see a restoration project sometime in the future with this little MCM beauty.

I placed the bottles randomly on the shelves in a manner that would reduce overspray. Bottles to be painted the same color were placed on the same shelf.

I could hold the spray paint at the right angle to reduce overspray on different colored bottles. This saved so much time. Instead of spraying two or three bottles at a time, I did 6 and allowed them to dry. Streamline for the win!

Spray Painting Tip

It’s also important to try to choose a day where the weather is calm and not windy. You should also determine the direction of any breeze that might pop up to avoid spraying into the wind. Trust me…getting a direct shot of overspray to the face is no fun. Proper safety gear is always recommended. I love the mask from RZ Mask which is designed for comfort and use in DIY projects. Never underestimate the importance of safety gear.

I gave each bottle one light coat. With Rustoleum 2x, coverage is excellent. So I did not need two complete coats. I just gave each bottle one light coat, allowed that to dry (about 30 minutes), and just touched up any spots needing a little extra coverage.

I decided to keep some of the green glass exposed on one wine bottle. I used frog tape and paper to mask some of the glass. Then I sprayed the vibrant orange which made a great contrast with the green.

The orange spray paint covered so well!

I carefully peeled off the frog tape after the paint was relatively dry (maybe 20 minutes).

Frogtape is probably the best releasing painters’ tape. The lines are always crisp and clean.

You can really get creative with designs using frog tape and paper. My design was very simple and easy.

Be sure to seal your painted bottles with spray polyurethane or clear coat. I used a Clear Rustoleum. This will protect the finish and make it harder to scratch or chip.

Embellishing Your Glass Bottle

Once I had a nice selection of colored bottles, I grabbed some jute and some twine to embellish the necks of the bottles.

I used a variety of sizes of jute and twine. I even unraveled some thicker jute to make a wavy thinner jute.

The process was easy. I simply placed a dot of hot glue on the base of the bottle neck.

I place the end of some jute/twine on the glue dot and just wound the jute/twine up the neck.

Push the twine into place and keep adding rows.

Another small dab of glue at the top of the bottle neck kept the jute/twine from unraveling. I found these silicone finger tips on Amazon. They are a godsend for protecting finger tips from the hot glue. I use them to hold the glue in place until it dries. Great! Cheap! Effective tool!

The twine and jute added a nice texture to the project. You could even use buttons or ribbons or decorative paper or florals! Use what you love or what makes you happy! Give it your own special flair!

Next, I spray painted the bottle tops and caps to match the bottles.

The Finishing Touches

I grabbed some fabric with complimentary colors and cut some strips to tie around the bottle necks.

It didn’t take much fabric and this was so much more cost effective than buying rolls of ribbon.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND!

Be creative and mix all of the colors!

Cute, right??? Just crazy quilt those bottle necks!

Scatter those bottles around the house.

Bathroom…

The vanity is the perfect place for some fall decor bottles! You could even add a hand soap pump top!

How about the kitchen!

My plant shelf is the perfect spot for some color.

Buffet? Or piano top?

These cuties can literally go anywhere!

Other Practical Uses for Glass Bottles in Decor

• Olive oil
• Homemade seasoned cooking oils
• Bath oils
• Filtered water
• Hand soap
• Bath salts
• Body lotion

I could go on a bit longer but I’m sure you get the idea. How about some other fall and Thanksgiving fabulous projects? From tablescapes to decorating tips! Jewelry and Recipes! Planning tips and decorating tips! We even have a crochet project! Check out all of my creative friends! I know you will be amazed! And I know you will find some inspiration for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday!

Shop at Blu -That’a me! I’m so thankful you are here!

Cloches & Lavender

Sweet Valley Acres

Birdz of a Feather

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Gathered In The Kitchen

An Organized Season

Everyday Edits

My Home and Travels

Now Choose Life

From Farmhouse to Florida

At Home With Kristy 

The Stylish Maker 

HouzewizeBushel and a Pickle

The post Creating Glass Bottle Decor for Fall appeared first on Shop at Blu.

And how about that price!

Am I wrong or is this not the reason we keep returning to the thrift store?

If I am transforming a Thrift Store find, you can pretty much bet that it is the second Wednesday of the month. We call that day Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! Each of my fabulously creative friends on the Thrift Store Decor Team shares a new post once a month as part of our Thrift Store Decor Team collaboration. Each post had an upcycle or repurpose theme. Check out this month’s projects at the end of the post!

What’s the Plan?

I had so many ideas with this little unit. At first look, I thought I would paint her in a rainbow of bright colors. How fun!

But then, I thought I would refine her with a Mod Podge of floral papers or fabrics covering each drawer front.

But, alas, I decided to go with the easiest solution that would actually best fit my work area where she will be used…a vintage industrial theme!

I actually made this big cubby unit as part of a challenge a few years back. Click the photo below to read about this fun project.

And so, I grabbed my favorite stain, General Finished Java Gel, some sandpaper, and an old cotton rag. Let’s stain this baby and give her a vintage industrial look.

Supplies:

• cotton rags (one for dusting, one to apply stain
• sandpaper
• gloves
• small paint brush or sponge (for corners and tight spots)
• General Finishes Gel Stain in Java (or your choice of colors)

Prep for Stain

Anytime you are going to use a stain on a wooden surface, you should prep the piece as follows:

Clean the piece of any dirt or debris with a cotton rag or wipe with TSP.

• Lightly sand the surface that will be stained.
• Clean the piece again of any residual dust or dirt and follow up with a TSP bath if necessary

Apply the Stain

There are many many types of stains available. When I first started working on furniture back in the 90’s, I used MixWax stains. My favorite color was Special Walnut. It is a very dark brown.

MinWax is still a great brand. But I now prefer General Finishes Gel Stain because it is a thicker stain in gel form that is easier to apply. The classic stains are very watery thus harder to control the application. Gel stain is much thicker so it stays where you put it and does not run all over the surface of your piece. My go to is now General Finishes Gel Stain in the color Java.

Applying Stain

You can apply stain with a brush, a sponge, or a rag. I prefer to use a rag for the same reasons that I prefer gel stain. With a rag, the stain only goes where I want it to go and I have control over where it lands. Make sure you wear gloves! Stain loves to settle into your skin and it can take days to get the stain off!

I removed all of the drawers before starting. This gave me a chance to inspect the unit a little bit better.

Use a lint free cotton rag. Dip it into the stain. In a firm straight wiping motion, apply the stain in the direction of the grain of the wood. This motion helps the wood absorb the stain in a natural way. If you apply stain across the grain of the wood, it can appear blotchy, streaky, and unnatural. Applying your stain with the grain helps the wood better absorb the stain.

I continued around the entire unit until the whole outer surface was stained. Be careful to get into the corners and under the legs. In these areas, a small brush may come in handy.

I start with a heavier application on uneven surfaces. In this case, I started where the dovetail is at the corners of my piece. Then I pulled the stain across the smooth grain. It is always easier to apply the stain into the cracks and crevices initially rather than go back and fill spots that you missed. Whenever you reapply stain to an area a second time, you run the risk of that spot being darker than the single application areas. That said, the beauty of gel stain (being thicker) is that it takes a little longer to be absorbed into the wood. Consequently, if you apply too much gel stain, usually you can wipe it off thus correcting the over application.

I apply the stain section by section, ensure complete coverage, and then wipe away the excess. The final step is to buff with a fresh rag. This ensures that the stain has been absorbed into the wood and that there is not any residual stain sitting on the surface, which can be messy.

I didn’t stain the complete outsides of the drawers as the drawers will normally be closed. I only applied stain to the fronts of the drawers.

I didn’t think it was necessary but you most certainly can stain the entire drawer unit. This is totally your preference.

This little unit will be a convenient place in which to keep my most used craft and DIY tools like my favorite brushes, some sandpaper, screwdrivers, glue, gloves, etc. She is the perfect size to move onto a bookshelf or into the closet as needed. Who doesn’t love a mobile storage option?

Here are some of the items that are normally scattered around my workspace:

I use this little wire basket to carry supplies from the workspace out into the yard or driveway or wherever I am working on a project. I think my new desktop storage unit will be a visual upgrade to this area.

There are several drawers so I can keep my supplies segregated.

This was a quick little project. I’m thinking I might take it a step further and flip the drawers around, apply some of that beautiful blue floral paper, and add some copper industrial handles. We always have to improve right? And a girl must have options! Stay tuned!

DIY Pedestal Stand Petticoat Junktion

Goodwill Antique Coat Rack My Repurposed Life

Desktop Storage Vintage Upcycle Shop At Blu -That’s me! You’re HERE!

Eucalyptus Grapevine Wreath My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Milk Glass Vases as Halloween Ghosts Sadie Seasongoods

The post Add a Vintage Touch To A Desktop Storage Unit appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Many of the most beautiful antique American furniture pieces from the 1800’s and 1900’s were created from tiger oak. Tiger Oak is characterized by very distinct horizontal grain and was featured in 19th-century oak veneer furniture. The stripes appear light in the dark wood because they showcase the medullary growth rings of the oak tree. Tiger oak is a distinctly American style, popular especially with the emerging middle class. Here is an example of tiger oak:

Another favorite antique or vintage wood is heart pine, often used for floors, pilings and poles in the construction of homes. Heart pine, before the 1900’s, was the go to wood for building due to its strength, hardness and golden red coloration. It was nearly extinct due to logging and overharvesting. Before the 18th century, in the United States, longleaf pine forests, covered approximately 30-60 million acres along the coastal plain from Virginia’s southern tip to eastern Texas. These pine trees, 80 to 120 feet tall, require 100 to 150 years to become full size and can live up to 500 years. An inch of heart pine requires 30 years growth. Due to deforestation and over-harvesting since colonial days, only about 3% of the original Longleaf Pine forest remains.^{(source: Google)}

The source of much of the available heart pine found on the market is longleaf pine from old buildings. Currently heart pine for building and woodworking is procured by reclaiming old lumber and recovering logs, felled pre-1900, from rivers. Here are some examples of heart pine:

Both tiger oak and heart pine are super strong and durable. I often find these woods in old doors and old furniture. Here is one project where I refurbished an old tiger oak mantle:

While old wood is fabulous when restored, there is something about old wood peeking from beneath layers of old paint that just sets my creative heart on fire. Look at these doors:

When I closed my antique and consignment store 5 years ago, I had many antique doors. Sadly, some were left outside due to storage limitations and recently, we cleaned up that pile. I was able to salvage a few pieces that resisted the heat and weather. I could not simply discard them.

Just look at that patina!

With fall almost here, let’s make some pumpkins from this antique and vintage wood!

Cut the Wood to Size

I cleaned the wood and headed to the miter or chop saw. This Ryobi compound sliding miter saw is battery operated and my new favorite Ryobi tool. I cut the wood to various sizes that I though would displace nicely together. After all, a pumpkin patch has pumpkins of varying sizes.

Here are pieces of wood that I was able to salvage. Some have more paint on them than others.

I did give these selected salvaged pieces a light sanding to remove some of the dirt that had built up. Light sanding removed the thin layer of dirt and freshened the paint colors.

Here is the practice pumpkin, before I sanded the surface to renew the paint.

Pumpkin shapes are quite easy and simple. I’m considering these to be funky and quirky because, really, when have you seen a chippy blue pumpkin? But isn’t decor about creating and matching your home to your very distinct likes and styles? It’s about making things unique and personal. So here we go.

Creating Your Pumpkins

I cleaned up the wood. I also gave some sections a very light sanding to make the colors pop and remove any lingering residual dirt.

Pumpkins need stems. I grabbed a tree branch from the yard and chopped off sections to use as stems for my pumpkins.

Perfect!

I needed some leaves for my pumpkins. My choices were to cut some leaves out of fabric or gather some leaves from my yard. It seemed so much easier to forage than to dig through my overflowing fabric stash. So I headed to the corner of my yard to grab some beautiful leaves from my neighbor Cindy’s gorgeous magnolia tree. I grabbed as many small magnolia leaves as I could find.

Last month I use some jute/twine to embellish some wooden crates that I made into pumpkins. l liked that look for the tendrils so I planned to use some of that for these vintage wood pumpkins.

I had this old wooden frame in my garage. It’s been waiting for a project. It will make the perfect backdrop for my mini pumpkin patch.

I gathered all of my supplies and began to create my little pumpkin patch right on my mantle. Here is the mantle before:

I added the wooden backing.

Then, I started in the center with the base pumpkins and arranged them to my liking…

I moved them around until I had the look I liked.

Once I was happy with the position of the pumpkins, I added my stems.

Once the arrangement was pleasing, I hot glued the pumpkins…

And the stems into place.

Next up, were the leaves. My Ryobi cordless glue gun was perfect for the job.

I found these silicone fingertip protectors a while back. They are perfect for protecting your skin from that hot glue. With the leaves it was necessary to hold each leaf in place until the glue dried. This only took a few seconds for each leaf but these little doohickeys are a literal godsend. No more blisters for me!

These leaves are the very best for projects for two reasons…they were free and came in a variety of sizes.

After the leaves, I had planned on adding the jute tendrils (YES, THOSE LITTLE SPIRAL FLY-AWAYS ON A PUMPKIN STEM DO HAVE A NAME). But with the chippy paint and the textured leaves, I though there was enough going on so I skipped the tendrils this time.

Sorry my little pumpkins, no tendrils for you!

I might add a little sign or some words later, but I sure do like her just like this!

I finished of the mantle by adding these wooden crates from a project last month for the Thrift Store Decor Team. If you love super quick and even easier projects, click on the photo to see that post.

The mantle came together nicely.

Here in Alabama, the temperatures are just starting to drop to the mid 80’s. Being from Pennsylvania originally (Philly girl), I have a hard time jumping into fall with the vibrant traditional fall colors when I still have my a/c running full blast. So, a few years ago, I started easing into the fall season with neutral colors. I always gravitate toward blues and pale greens so I start with those colors and, of course, whites and beiges. But the time I’ve enjoyed these for a few weeks, we will be into the 70’s. And I can’t wait!

Guess what? Are you ready for some more projects and fall inspiration? How about 11 other posts from my Amazing Creator friends??

I’m joining friends, some new and some old, in sharing some October happiness. Below is a list of blogs joining me. Please swing by and meet some new friends. Enjoy the projects. Maybe learn a new skill. and definitely absorb the inspiration!

Shop at Blu -that’s ME! You are here!

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Gathered In The Kitchen

An Organized Season

Everyday Edits

My Home and Travels

Now Choose Life

Birdz of a Feather

From Farmhouse to Florida

At Home With Kristy 

The Stylish Maker 

Tea and Forget-me-nots

Here are some of my favorite fall projects from the past:

The post How to Make Pumpkins from Vintage Wood appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I am so very excited to have this project at the top of my to do list! You find the most fascinating things when you are out scouting for things that you don’t know you need. I fell in love with this antique Frezone ice box at first sight. My dad would tell stories all about the ice box they had when he was a kid. He was born in 1934 so perhaps those stories gave way to my fascination for old things. It’s finally time for this antique ice box refresh!

It is the second Wednesday of the month! That means it is time for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team projects. This antique ice box refresh is the perfect example of taking something old and transforming it, in a thrifty manner, for alternate use. Renew! Repurpose! Restore! Let’s go!

History of the Antique Ice Box

Here’s what Google says about the ice box:

“The icebox was invented by an American farmer and cabinetmaker named Thomas Moore in 1802. Moore used the icebox to transport butter from his home to the Georgetown markets, which allowed him to sell firm, brick butter instead of soft, melted tubs like his fellow vendors at the time.”

Blocks of ice were kept in and sold by local neighborhood ice houses. There was an ice house as recently as the 1980’s in my childhood Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk. My dad would buy blocks of ice to cool kegs of beer for the famous Core States Bike Race that went past our house on Lyceum Avenue in Roxborough. Dad was a local celebrity during the event. But that’s a story for another day…a really long and fabulous story.

The Vintage Frig company website states that “During the early 1900s domestic electric refrigerators became available, and by the 1940s they were common in US homes.” Before that time, people used ice boxes.

“Ice was shipped to its destination city or town in block form to be kept in an icehouse and then delivery by horse and wagon in block form street by street through the city. The refined form of icebox as kitchen furniture or appliance was invented between 1850 and 1860 and remained in production in a similar form until the advent of the electric fridge in the 1940s.” (sourced from The Vintage Frig website).

Ice boxes were usually made of wood and had a zinc or metal interior lining that kept the cold inside and cooled your meets, dairy products, drinks, etc.

Here are photos of different styles of ice boxes:

I don’t have a spot right now for this antique ice box inside my home right now. It’s gonna take some purging to make space for her and I’m not quite there yet. In the interim, I plan to put her to functional use outside under our covered patio area.

Choosing a Paint

Being made of metal, it is important to make certain that this beauty will be protected from the severe Alabama weather. Although the patio area is covered, it does get some scattered rain and is definitely exposed to extreme heat. Both of these elements of nature are adversaries to metal items and can cause rust. So, I grabbed my favorite paint, BLACK DOG SALVAGE FURNITURE PAINT which was created for salvaged and antique objects. Not only is the paint fabulous for this antique ice box, BDSFP makes heavy duty sealer that, in my opinion, is second to none in protecting your favorite vintage items from the extreme outdoor elements. Crab Coat is my go to for protecting outdoor items.

Prep Your Project Piece

I won’t go into great detail about how I prepared this piece but if you are interested in ALL of the details, check out these other posts on how to prep items for paint.

As always, prep your piece in the following manner:

• clean with warm soapy water to remove any dirt and surface debris
• lightly sand the surface to smooth any inconsistencies or minor scratches, dings, or mars
• wipe or dust away any heavy dust from sanding
• wipe surface with TSP to remove any lingering dust, oils or dirt

There was quite a bit of cleaning, then sanding, then more cleaning to do.

Fortunately, most of the rust was just on the surface and sanded off.

Even the spots where rust was a little heavier cleaned up nicely. I was so grateful!

The degree and severity of rust is always a big consideration when I buy metal antiques. You always want to make sure that the integrity of piece is intact and that the rust is not excessive. I only buy items where light to minimal sanding is required.

For metal items, you should select a paint that is made for metals. Just check the label to see if your favorite paint can be used on metal surfaces. You always want to select the best paint for the job so that it adheres well and lasts a good long time.

I selected BDSFT in Clean Canvas, their version of pure white. I conducted a few tests as this piece is metal and I was super worried about further rusting of this antique, though most of the rust was just on the surface. I prepped the piece using the steps above. Then I applied two liberal coats of paint allowing each to dry between coats. I applied two coats of Crab Coat, BDSFP’s marine grade environmentally safe exterior top coat, allowing each coat to completely dry overnight. For final application, 3 coats are recommended. I allowed the piece to sit outside under the deck for what I intended to be about 2 months. It actually sat there for a year.

Here are the photos with the test coats applied.

And here is the piece almost one year later after withstanding the outdoor elements.

Once I cleaned off the dust and thin layer of dirt, the surface was virtually rust free. The paint had help up marvelously! I call this a win!

I should also mention that I used Bar Keeper’s Friend to clean up the handles/pulls. It worked fabulously! I also use it to clean my hammered copper farmhouse sink.

BDSFP protected this beauty from the harsh Alabama elements. I was confident that this antique ice box would be safe in this under deck location. So I started the process again by using the prep steps again. I lightly sanded the top coat and wiped it down with TSP. I applied two liberal coats of paint. Two were enough, and though I considered adding another for extra protection, alas, I was low on paint. So two coats of paint were followed by three coats of Crab Coat.

And here she is, ready to hold any items we need protected from the elements.

She adds a bit of nostalgia and class to the area. Just the inspiration needed to get the rest of this new patio spruced up.

I’d say this is quite an improvement.

I am missing one latch handle. So if you come across one for a Frezone Ice Box, let me know!

Be sure to leave them a comment as to what you liked and what you would like to see in the future!

Wicker Table Makeover

Welcome Wreath

Turn A Storage Bin Into A Planter

Antique Ice Box Refresh – You are HERE!

Old Mirror: New Look

Vintage Aluminum Wash Basin Hanging Planter

Framed Coastal Wall Art on…Sandpaper!

The post Antique Ice Box Refresh 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.

Some of the new skills we shared with you this year are mastering numerous paint techniques and finishes, creating garden art, working with cork fabric, creating frames for mirrors, altering and repairing furniture, restoring finishes on furniture and creating faux finishes, creating interest with stencils, using transfers, honing your decoupage skills, how to upholster. 

Here is peek back at some of the Team’s favorite Thrift Store Decor projects for 2023. I’m sharing my favorite project from each team member. At the end is a compilation of all of our projects from this year.

Renewing Family Furniture

There is just something about taking a well loved piece of furniture and transforming it into something fresh to love all over again. This really is the essence of this group. And my MIL’s bench is a perfect example. I guess at the holidays approach, these sentimental items mean a little more. This little bench sits at the piano in our living room among our 3 full sized Christmas trees. Flo loved her holidays. It’s only fitting that her bench be prominent where our family gathers.

Why I Love the Thrift Store

I can’t share a roundup of 100+ thrift store decor posts without talking about the thrift store and the art of thrifting! While I don’t get out to the thrift store all that often any more, writing this post rekindled my love for used and vintage things. Check out this post for some great tips and insights to wandering the aisles of your favorite thrift store.

Vintage Jewelry Art

The one thing every thrift store has in common is an overflow of common things. So many picture frames, candle sticks, kitchenware, furniture and decor items. But it’s the odd things that catch your eye. And it is the low prices that encourage you to return. Couple this with a taste for the creative and you have yourself a passion. So, when my friends and I are inspired by some of these fabulously priced common items, we love to share how we used them for practical and thrifty use in our decor. Hopefully, you will find some inspiration!

Speaking of picture frames.  I used some thrift store vintage frames to create custom art with old costume jewelry.   

Thrift Store Picture Frames Customized

Never again buy a brand new picture frame. Christy from Our Southern Home teaches us how to customize thrift store picture frames specifically for your home. Whether making a frame darker or adding some gold accents, you can transform a frame in just minutes while saving big bucks at the same time.

Cheese Dome to Decor

Pam from House of Hawthornes has a knack for grabbing the everyday item and transforming it into something fabulous.  Her choice of colors and seasonal items really makes her projects shine.  From garden decor to wall art, Pam can repurpose literally anything.

I mean, this cheese dome could be used for any holiday by switching out the chachkies and paint colors.

Upholster a Chair

I couldn’t resist sharing this additional project from Pam. Grab those worn chairs with great bones and create something stylish and lovely!

Side Tables and Stencils

Side tables and accent tables are more items that are always plentiful in thrift stores. Carlene from Organized Clutter has mastered the art of transforming that ugly dated table into something chic and fabulous. Her secret is great paint and highlighting the piece with a stencil to really make it unique. No thrift store item is off limits to Carlene when it comes to stencils. You will be amazed at how a single stencil, be it simple or ornate, can add interest to a project. Looking to take an item to the next level? Get your ideas from Carlene!

Custom Artwork

Sara from Sadie Seasongoods is that hip chick strolling the thrift store aisles with an eye for Mid Century Modern meets practicality. Her blog should be renamed Sara Sees because she can see into the soul of a thrift store item with one glance and restore it to a new and unimagined purpose. Sara’s vision is amazing and her ability to take a mundane item and transform it into contemporary fab is incomparable. And, she has a fabulous talent for creating artwork from unlikely sources in the thrift store.

Hanging Candy Dish

Kathy from Petticoat Junktion has a true love of things vintage and/or rusty. I love when she takes an item intended for specific use and juju’s it up. Take something simple and use it in another manner. She shows you how to change the color or cover the rust and revitalize you well loved and well used vintage treasures.

Thrift Store Decor Mirror Update

You can completely change the look of an item with just a little paint. Maryann from Domestically Speaking shares all of the tips and tricks and insights she used to create a stunning focal point out of a drab and dated mirror. Use these tips to paint just about any thrift store decor find and create your own stunning accessories. With a little practice, you can become a pro. No more walking past those old and ugly mirrors. Look at them with renewed interest and renew that finish!

Vintage Rattan Trunk

Gail from My Repurposed Life knows her way around any power tool, spray gun, and workshop. She is the master of simplifying building projects and can transform salvaged furniture pieces into something practical and useful with a just few screws and some wood glue. Here is another simple makeover with all of Gail’s detailed instructions. Gail has a knack for detailed tutorials that are super easy to follow. I don’t know why, but after reading one of her tutorial posts, I always feel like I can build a tiny house in my driveway. Be sure to scroll through her other projects!

Succulents! Succulents! Succulents!

You know I can’t complete a round up of my favorite projects without a succulent project. Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia made the most darling succulent display. This is definitely on my list for spring.

And that brings us to the team highlights! Click on each of my friends to see their favorite projects. At the end is a compilation of 100+ favorite thrift store decor projects from 2023. Here’s to many, many more!

My Repurposed LIfe

Petticoat Junktion

Our Southern Home

House of Hawthornes

Sadie Seasongoods

Domestically Speaking

Organized Clutter

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The post A Year of Favorite Thrift Store Decor appeared first on Shop at Blu.