I am an only child so my parents entertained me quite a bit. When we weren’t playing games or in Dad’s workshop, I was seeking creative fun in all of the corners of our sweet Philadelphia home. I dug through closets, under beds, through sewing kits and cupboards. But my favorite quiet time was spent in Mom and Dad’s bedroom, perched on the end of their full sized bed sorting through Mom’s vintage jewelry box. Inside, I found the stories of Mom’s past. There were trinkets and memories. Each one had a history.

Years ago, in the ’80’s, Dad bought Mom a new jewelry box for Christmas. You know, one of those fancy wooden 1980’s taller jewelry boxes with the swivel carousel hook for necklaces and a fancy place to put your rings. Of course, I grabbed Mom’s old vintage jewelry box. Because I was documenting stories of my own.

Like those once gleaming pieces of jewelry, Mom’s vintage jewelry box has seen better days. Today is the day she gets her makeover. And, if we are talking renew, upcycle, and refresh, that means it’s time for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team projects.

If you are new to Blu or the TSDT, we are a group of 9 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! And we have some bloggers joining our fabulous group! What new skills will we share this year?? Tools, products, DIY skills and fabulous tips are our favorite. Hope to see you as a regular visitor. You can sign up for an email reminder at the top right side of this page! Let’s get to our project!

You see these vintage jewelry boxes at estate sales, yard sales, and flea markets. They are roomy and still the best way to store your jewelry. Mine will sit on a shelf filled with treasures when she has been restored.

Selecting a Finish

The Francophile in me loves loves loves marble. I didn’t want to paint this jewelry box so I decided to cover it. Dollar Tree had these removeable peel and stick wallpaper strips so I bought a few. Cheap, easy, and I think they will work.

The instructions are conveniently on the back and are very simple.

There is some damage to mom‘s old jewelry box. Somehow over the years, a corner of the top padding was actually ripped away. That is the part that is sticking up on the top.

The inside shelf is a bit wonky so I’ll need to repair that.

The interior is still lovely, for the most part. The beautiful Asian print on satin is just darling.

The velour is still a pretty aqua thought there are a few discolorations and some divots where weighty pearls and baubles have rested over the years. Other than that, I think she’s in great shape.

The length of this wallpaper sheet was just a bit shy of the total width of the jewelry box.

I will use one whole piece of wallpaper for the top and piece it underneath, hoping to match the pattern. When piecing I will want to minimize the seams. So I will add those smaller pieces first. We will see if I have enough product to match the patterns perfectly. Cross your fingers! Here we go.

I took a piece of the wallpaper and basically laid it over each drawer, each side, the back and the top of the jewelry box. The plan was to apply each carefully measured piece onto the surface and fold over behind the door fronts, the back, and the entire the jewelry box.

I folded the paper along each edge essentially making a creating a new panel for each surface on the jewelry box. Since the wallpaper was just a little short in length, I started with the section that would go under the longest sides. I measured and cut carefully. I began to lay the pieces into shape.

I made my way around the Jewelry box peeling, sticking, wrapping, folding, and tucking the wallpaper into place.

I took special care to wrap the corners smoothly.

And I was careful to try to match the pattern when the wallpaper had to be pieced.

I did have to cut around the knobs and handles. But the process went pretty smoothly.

The beautiful decorative panel slipped off easily giving me access to the inside edges of the lid.

I used my handy dandy vintage Pampered Chef scraper to burnish the entire surface ensuring a secure bond of the wallpaper to the jewelry box.

And the decorative panel slipped right back into place once the wallpaper was installed.

And here she is with her new look!

I have to say I am quite pleased!

In this jewelry box, amidst the odds and ends, I found this little bracelet. When I was about 7 years old, my dad brought this home for me one day when he came home from work. My favorite color was purple. My heart is happy.

I also found a bit of my grandmother’s brooches.

And my great-grandmother’s watch bands. I had forgotten I had these!

Now to decide what she will hold long term. For now, she is in my jewelry vault, so to speak.

You can read about my vintage china cabinet turned giant jewelry box HERE.

My Repurposed Life Quilted Casserole Carrier Ideas Using Salvaged Fabrics

Our Southern Home Thrift Store Lamp Refresh with DIY Pleated Shade

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Stool Dupe that Looks Authentically Aged

Shop At Blu Mom’s Vintage Jewelry Box Makeover

Our Crafty Mom Heart Shape Paper Craft From Wrapping Paper Roll

Songbird Rubber Stamp Storage Idea

Funky Junk Interiors Upcycled Ceiling Fan Blade Wall Mounted Coat Hooks

Exquisitely Unremarkable Adorable DIY Pin Cushions

Redhead Can Decorate My 91 Year Old Dad’s Thrift Store Living Room

The post Mom’s Vintage Jewelry Box Makeover appeared first on Shop at Blu.

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.

She surely has seen better days.

She has lots of knicks and scrapes.

She is even missing one of her sweet little hands.

But, alas! I have a vision for her. I have a small collection of old clocks. I’d love to set up a little display area for them. I have so many little collections just sitting in boxes. It’s time to enjoy them by setting them out in my home.

Did someone say collections? And upcycles? And Thrift Store decor? That’s right! This is the perfect project to share for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday!

The plan is to either paint or decoupage this miniature grandfather clock with some sort of print, most likely a floral. And if I was a betting girl, I would say she will be blue and white…duh. I will see what I can find locally.

What’s the Plan?

First step is to find a pattern that I like. I considered using old magazine pages for a random but colorful look. Decoupaging magazine pages can be tricky, though, since the are often two sided. You never really know which side of the print will emerge. One option is to to browse the internet and find some floral patterns to print. I am fresh out of white paint so I decided to stop at Walmart to grab some white chalk paint. I will see if they have any decorative napkins or paper that call my name.

I found the paint!

I found these napkins! My next favorite color/pattern after all things blue would be gold and marble. Score! This is really my idea of the ultimate neutral. You can use inexpensive napkins for a variety of decoupage projects!

A Hidden Gem

This little beauty becomes more and more interesting as I move forward. I got excited when I saw this Made in Germany marking on the back. All of the best clocks are made in Germany!

I removed the back with a firm but gentle wiggle and pull. Yes, that’s a thing.

It is actually made of plastic.

It is also actually a working clock! Note the lever for a pendulum (arrow #1), though the pendulum is missing. Also note the chime mechanisms behind the pendulum. And last, see the actual clock manufacturer’s details (arrow #2).

I think this project will have a part two…restoring it to working order. I really only need to find the pendulum and a key for winding. How fun would that be??

But let’s get part one of the project finished first!

Prepping the Miniature Grandfather Clock

With painted plastic, you really have to be careful not to use petroleum based solvents because those will melt the plastic. You can see that the paint was both flaking and bubbling in many places.

In these areas, the paint just rubbed off. But there was much of the surface where the paint was still adhering.

So I opted to use a fine grade sandpaper of 100 grit to hand sand the clock.

[show_boutique_widget id="1296590"]

I stayed away from the face plate as it is metal and I did not want to scratch it.

A thorough gentle sanding over the entire surface removed all of the loose paint. I used a foam sanding block which is very pliable to get the curves around the arch and the crevices along the molded areas.

After a good rinse, she was ready for paint!

I used a small detail brush around the face plate.

I used a thicker brush around the rest of the miniature grandfather clock.

Here she is after one coat.

I gave her a second coat and allowed her to dry.

Up next, Mod Podge! I started adding the paper.

You can find my Mod Podge Tutorials in the following posts:

Lay the paper onto the Mod Podge.

Add another layer of Mod Podge and use the brush to smooth out the bubbles.

I used some white paint to cover the roses on the clock face. Then I mod podged some paper over the roses.

This will all be easily removeable should I wish to change the look of this beauty when I find the pendulum and key.

Fabricate A missing Part

I removed the remaining clock hand and made a copy on my printer. I used tiny scissors to cut it out. Then I coated it with Mod Podge several times to give it some thickness. I allowed my new hour hand to dry.

Then, I swiped the new minute hand with some more Mod Podge and set it into place. I popped the hour hand on and she looks pretty good!

Not bad, right?

The weights needed a touch up so I used some gold craft paint.

And here she is!

I found just a few of my clocks in the garage. Why not add them to the mantle?

I added my Mother’s Day flowers too!

I really was quite spoiled this year.

My boys really know that I love flowers. And Gbaby Blu had the most beautiful creation of succulents for me!

I will definitely give credit where credit is due…thank you to my beautifully thoughtful, creative, superstar DIL.

This personal touch simply melted my heart. Happy Mother’s Day, Hayden!

Petticoat Junktion-Rick Rack Home Decor

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 Thrift Store Miniature Grandfather Clock Upcycle appeared first on Shop at Blu.

As always, if we are renewing, repurposing, reusing, or upcycling you know it is time for the Thrift Store Decor Team monthly projects. I am excited to see some spring projects this month. Be sure to check out the team projects that are each linked at the end of this post.

Step one, I gathered my supplies:

• Craft paint in vibrant colors
• White paint for base coat
• Various paint brushes
• cup of water (to rinse brushes0
• paper towels (for drying brushes and blotting paint when I make mistakes ’cause there will be mistakes)

PAINT!

I started with the easiest flower to refresh…the daisy. I traced the edges of the petals with some bright pink. I just continued around the flower until I had highlighted every petal.

Then, I filled in the lighter areas with a paler color to add freshen those areas. I went back with a few darker swipes of paint to mimic shading.

Next up was the roses. Same process…add color on the edges, refresh the centers, add shading.

I worked my way through the types of flowers and moved onto the leaves and stems, highlighting and adding dabs of vibrant colors.

LETTERING

The last part was the lettering. I selected a bright violet red, a bright purple color.

***And here is where I will pause and say…USE THE RIGHT TOOLS! I was rushing so I grabbed a few paintbrushes that were handy.

Midway through the lettering touch up process, I realized that better brushes suited for lettering were needed. Did I stop and rummage through the supply closet to find them? NO! Consequently, the lettering was a mess. The lines were too thick. They were not crisp and sharp. So I had to wait for the paint to dry to fix the mess.

The good thing about paint is that it is always easy to fix. My patience, or should I say my impatience…not so much. Take your time! Use the right tools! Reduce your frustration level! Do it right the first time. (The project is finished, sort of, but I will still need to touch up the lettering a bit when my temperament is better). LOL.

Slow and steady wins the race! Even veteran creators make mistakes and have to pay the consequences of rushing a project! So give me a few days…and check back for the “really finished” lettering.

Ok, enough side notes…back to the project.

Load your brush and simply follow the lines. There are brushes for lettering and I would highly suggest investing in a few. Some have very flat bristles that will ensure crisp straight edges on your letters. Some are skinny long that allow you to follow the curves of a letter. PRACTICE! The more comfortable you are with the process, the easier it will be. PRACTICE!

Another reason to practice? Dark purples and red paints tend to stain a white canvas. Such is difficult to wipe away and just as difficult to cover. So, if you make a mistake, allow the paint to dry completely and cover the mistake several times. Several times means apply the white over the purple mistake and allow the paint to dry. Only when the paint is completely dry should you repeat this process as many times as needed.

When the paint has dried, use a smaller brush to fill in the letters. I would also suggest tracing out the lines where you want them and slowly fill them in with small strokes to avoid more mistakes.

Good lettering takes lots of practice. So, don’t get discouraged. The answer is PRACTICE.

FILLING IN SPACE

When you are touching up an existing piece of art, it’s really a game of color matching. If I can’t match a color, I get as close as I can and I try to blend. In the photo above, I used a light grey wash and covered the entire canvas OVER the design. This brought coherency to the project. And a little white wash freshens everything.

FINALLY

So here is the final project with the disclaimer that I will go back and touch up those letters a little bit more. Sometimes you just have to walk away for a minute and then resume.

I hope you enjoyed my not so perfect project! Every now and then, the project doesn’t go as planned and you have to pause and regroup and sometimes step away. And that’s okay!

Bundt Pan Bird Feeder My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Upcycle Thrift Store Art Shop At Blu –YOU ARE HERE!

Two Ways to Update Thrift Store Art Our Southern Home

Repurposing A Damaged Stoneware Crock House Of Hawthornes

Small Country Shelf Makeover  My Repurposed Life

Diy Easter Display Petticoat Junktion

The post Upcycle Thrift Store Art 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.

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.

Grab a puzzle from the closet, the thrift store, the dollar store or a yard sale. This is a great way to use those old puzzles that are missing some critical pieces. Repurpose!

Did some one say REPUPOSE??? That’s right! It’s THRIFT STORE DECOR TEAM Wednesday so it’s time for some thrifty repurposing projects! Remember to check all of the team projects at the end of this post.

Here is my inspiration photo from Pinterest:

I needed to make a cardboard heart shaped base on which to glue my puzzle pieces. But I decided to prime the puzzle pieces first so the paint could dry while I was creating my heart base. 

Spray Paint of Choice

I grabbed a variety of spray paint in Valentine’s colors from my garage. I suggest using at least 3 different colors to create depth and interest. I always recommend using colors in shades of 3. That third color really adds dimension to any project. I used pink, red, and white. And while any spray paint will do, I recommend Rustoleum 2X with primer. You will need less coats (most likely just one) as the coverage is phenomenal.

Separate your puzzle pieces into 3 piles. Start with your first pile and spread the pieces flat on a large surface. Remember to protect your surface from overspray. I often use a large piece of cardboard that I keep in the garage for projects just like this. But this time, I used a pizza box, a shoe box and some other cardboard that was in our recycle bin. 

As I said, my spray paint of choice is Rustoleum 2X paint with primer. It is my life’s goal to have a can in every imaginable color. If you don’t use a paint with primer included, you should first hit your pieces with a light coat of primer. This will reduce the number of coats of color required to cover the puzzle pattern. This is especially important if you are using white spray paint to cover a commonly used water or bright colored floral pattern that seem to be the preferred subjects of puzzle creators.

Apply several light coats of spray paint allowing the pieces to thoroughly dry between coats. The force of the spray paint was quite strong to I had to apply the spray paint with short quick spraying motion to prevent the puzzle pieces from being propelled around the room. This short tapping motion was successful and probably prevented me from excessive overspray and puddling of the paint. I was able to cover the original puzzle patterns with two coats of spray paint. Repeat for the remaining groups of puzzle piles. Spray lightly, allow to dry, repeat until you can’t see the pattern beneath the layers of spray paint. 

Create a Heart Base

While the paint was drying, I moved on to create my heart base. I used a piece of cardboard from our recycle bin. Just draw a heart and cut it out. I folded my cardboard in half and just cut out the half heart shape. This ensured my heart was symmetrical. I have never been able to draw a totally symmetrical heart. One side is always fat and one side is always tall. No lop-sided hearts for this project. I followed the outer line of the heart to remove the smaller heart from the center. so I was left with about a 2″ base for my puzzle pieces. If you don’t have cardboard in your recycle bin, you can use cardboard from a cereal box or even an old gift box. And if you are a planner, you can buy always buy a heart form from the dollar store or craft store.

I used the cardboard side without the design as the base for my heart.

Start Layering

Grab the Elmer’s glue and get started randomly gluing your puzzle pieces to the heart. There really is no hard fast rule. Just dab some glue on the back of your puzzle piece and plop it onto the heart. 

Continue all around the heart until you have one solid layer. Then start your second layer on top of the first still alternating colors. Keep adding alternating colored puzzle pieces until you have filled the heart shape. 

I used 3 layers but you can keep going or stop at two. Continue until your heart is sturdy and you are happy with the appearance.

Aren’t the colors magnificent? This would be a fun project for a St. Patrick’s Day shamrock shape too!

TIP: Here is where you can learn from my mistakes. You should spray paint your cardboard heart form with one of your selected spray paint colors. I didn’t and you can see the cardboard base if you look closely at my heart. So remember this step!

You can glue a piece of ribbon to the back of the heart and hang it on an interior door. I suppose you could use it outside but my front door gets direct Alabama sun all day so it would fry and fade. You could coat it with some Polycrylic to protect it from the direct sun but you would also need a stronger glue than Elmer’s. Use an exterior glue or maybe liquid nails. So indoor use is my choice.

She looks fabulous against the white door with or without a ribbon.

And she looks pretty cute just hanging out with this primitive snowman on the mantle.

I’d like to make some smaller versions to use as ornaments on my flocked tree as those colors would be incredible against the flocking. 

This was an easy project and would be fun with kids. Speaking of which, I had a little buddy crafting with me. This was an easy project for my grandson to complete. He made a heart for his sweet mom. I forgot to snap a photo. But we did continue our crafty Saturday morning by making this Valentine’s house from a left over Gingerbread house kit from Christmas.

Do you have a Saturday morning crafting buddy? I highly recommend them. They bring a whole new level of intensity and fun to Saturday morning crafts.

DIY Hobnail Milk Glass Candle

DIY Floral Mosaic Side Table

Winter Scenes in Silver Plate

Metallic Gold And Clear Glass Vases 

Updating a Thrift Store Lamp

Teak Wooden Bowl Makeover

Bar Stools Into Nightstands

Valentines Puzzle Heart Decor

Here is my favorite Valentine’s craft from last year:

The post Valentine Puzzle Heart Decor 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.

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.