There are two that are similar.

I had sprayed them pink and yellow and white. I had daisies on my mind. And this one is a little simpler

As you can see, they have begun to rust and have seen much better days.

Alabama sun and weather are absolutely brutal on your garden decor. Inevitably, everything fades and rusts. This being the second time to refresh these flowers, they have just about run their course. That said, I’m not buying new fence decor at the beginning of the season. So, I grabbed the spray paint and gave these sad flowers a much needed refresh.

Welcome! I’m sharing this post today with some friend in the Creative Craft Hop. This fabulous group of creator’s share monthly posts to help feed your love of all things crafty. If you are joining from Modern on Monticello…I know you enjoyed Donna’s patriotic florals. You will find all of the other posts for this month at the end of this post. Be sure to check out all of the great projects!

Let’s Upcycle Some Metal Garden Decor

First step is to prep your piece by removing any debris like leaves and vines that tend to grow on our fence where these flowers hang. After removing the debris, I gave each flower a good wipe down. It is also a good idea to give the item a scrub with a wire brush. This will remove and surface rust. And for more advanced rust, use some sandpaper and give the piece a good spot sanding. Then I grabbed the spray paint.

My go to spray paint is Rustoleum 2X with primer. It constantly does the job quickly and effectively with great coverage. I have a collection of vibrant colors from previous projects so I grabbed those.

The backs of the flowers were rusty so I started there with a heavy coat to mitigate the rusting process. I suppose the last time I concentrated on the fronts of the flowers and may have failed to spray multiple coats on the backs. Not this time. I layered quite a bit so they should be good for a while.

I am going with a multicolor look on these flowers so I sprayed the first flower and allowed it to dry. Then I laid the second on top and sprayed that. I repeated this process with the third flower. I gave each a nice thick first coat.

When the first coat had dried, I started over again with a second color. I concentrated on any areas I had missed with the first coat. I simply sprayed a spot here and a spot there and created random color. I used the layering method again until all 3 flowers had a second coat. I used 2 primary colors (pink and yellow) during this process.

Time for the 3rd coat where I used two other colors (purple and teal) as a highlighting or tertiary color.

This was a super quick project. I recommend this quick refresh for any outdoor metal decor that is still quite sturdy and exhibits minimal rust. Rustoleum colors are fabulous and the 2X coverage is incredible.

I placed the flowers back on their screws on the fence.

And I added some flowers in colorful pots to the galvanized shelf that I made a few years ago. I need to touch it up again since the Alabama heat has cause some more surface rust.

Did you know that in Alabama, portaluca will often return the following spring/summer like perennials? They don’t return after an abnormally cold winter but most winters are not brutal so we can get several years out of our portaluca. And being in the succulent family, they thrive in the Alabama summer. I have several posts about succulent and fun containers I’ve used over the years.

Updating the colors on your metal garden decor is helpful in several ways:

• Provide a new look to your preferred decor by simply changing the colors.
• Protect and extend the life of your favorite metal garden decor with Rustoleum.
• Upcycle gently used and inexpensive finds at yard sales or thrift stores.
• Make your decor items into a lovely vignette of complimentary colors.
• It’s hard to not justify thrifty upcycles!

So grab your spray cans and get to work!

Here are the rest of this month’s projects! Head over to Cecilia at My Thrift Store Addiction for some fabulous homegrown gift ideas!

Patriotic Flower And Decor Arrangement For Wired Basket Table

Crochet Necklace

Terrain Style Taper Candle Cuffs

Rooted with Love – Crafted Homegrown Gifts

How to Refresh Metal Garden Decor – That’s ME! You are here!

The post Refresh Metal Garden Art – Part Two appeared first on Shop at Blu.

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.

Did someone say THRIFT STORE? Let me hear it…UPCYCLE! Those words can only mean it is the second Wednesday of the month and time for the Thrift Store Decor Team monthly projects!

I have to admit that I am a little giddy this month. We have some new members joining us. And, I’m gonna say it, though it might sound creepy, I just know that you will all understand…I’m girl crushin’! These new gals to the team were seriously some of the creators that I would follow with awe and fascination back when I started to blog. Yikes! It’s been a minute but they are as fabulous as ever!

Welcome to Donna from Funky Junk Interiors, Kim from Exquisitely Unremarkable, and Julie from Redhead Can Decorate. I’m so grateful for this team and all of the past members. Creating is really a fabulous world and the blog world offers the best of the best. As we all evolve, we get to share on different platforms and graduate to new highs. We are all just living our normal lives. We have the same normal challenges of making a living, enjoying our families, starting jobs, leaving jobs, caring for family member, losing family members, raising families, becoming empty nesters. You know…all of the major life stuff. But we are impassioned by creating.

Beyond the actual process of creating, my most cherished part of this blog world is meeting new friends and making new connections. I am so elated that you are all joining us. I’m talking to our 3 new creators and TO ALL OF THE NEW FRIENDS WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY and, of course, to my devoted readers who help keep this little blog going!

WELCOME TO THE FABULOUS THRIFT STORE DECOR TEAM!!! We are going to have so much fun together!! I’m beyond glad and grateful that YOU are here! Can’t wait for you to see what magic happens in this community.

HELLO!

Hello! I’m Suzanne. I owned an antique store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment, for 10 years, here in Alabama near Birmingham. We closed it in 2019. I have loved creating for as long as I can remember. I’m an only child and my oldest memories are of puttering beside my dad in his workshop in our Philadelphia home. I’m back to work full time now for a regional bank but I still dabble with this blog every chance I get. My passion is for furniture but really any kind of painting gets me going. I love a good challenge and transforming old items into beautiful focal points is one of my favorite things to do. Enough about me, let’s get on with today’s project – the upcycle of this antique mahogany side table.

Upcycling Vintage Beauties

I’m sure you’ve all seen an old vintage side table like this. Maybe it was round like this one that I previously upcycled.

Maybe the side table was made of oak like this radio table.

We’ve all seen those old tables with great bones that just look sad and worn. When I see one that speaks to me, I feel compelled to grab it and give it new life. Much to Mr. Blu’s chagrin, these project pieces sit a while in our garage while life happens. But, I’m cleaning out corners and making space. So, you can count on some more of these reinvented projects in the future. And today, we are working on the mahogany side table upcycle.

To Paint or Not to Paint!

The big decision when working on old furniture pieces is always DO I RESTORE or DO I PAINT? So many people have so many opinions and I’m sure you’ve read the comments. When I had my store, it was easy. If someone brought me a piece of furniture and said “Paint it!”, I painted it. That was so easy. But when it was my piece, I found myself stuck. I finally realized that I was in the business to make money so if the piece was easy to restore, I would do that. If it was a piece that would take too much time and resources to restore, I would paint it. If it was a beautiful solid wood piece with little damage, I would restore. But as the number of these pieces dramatically diminishes and pieces are really damaged, I find my self wanting to restore which can take hours and hours of effort. You will never be compensated for that time because, let’s face it, folks want a good buy for a great price. So, I generally reserve the full restoration for sentimental pieces.

So this one was a quanumdrum for me. I saw the beauty. But she had so many issues.

Normal scrapes and dings and scratches covered this piece. There was not a single spot that didn’t look worn.

Burn marks on the leather.

As well as other damage to the top including the leather ends peeling.

So, I decided to paint. Don’t hate me. She will still be beautiful.

The Design Process

Honestly, this is sometimes the most difficult part of a project. I tend to put too much thought into colors and finishes. Should I go with a Mahogany wash to continue the authenticity of the piece? Blue wash because…well…it’s me and blue is always a priority. Or something that blends with the mint-ish green room where she will live? A watermelon accent color like that vintage table I upcycled, loved and just sold? A new accent color like a vibrant purple? Yikes.

Inevitably, the piece tells me what to do and in this case, she spoke loudly. The decision still shocks me. As I started to clean and prep her, it became clear that she is in much better shape than I had thought. Every issue was simply a surface issue. The legs and shelf were sturdy. No major dings or gouges. Just a bunch of finish issues.

Dang. Grab the stripper. She’s going to be restored.

FIRST STEP TO FURNITURE PREP

First step is always to clean and prep your piece. This girl had been in storage for years so a good bath of warm water and Dawn removed the grime.

I set her in the sun to dry.

The leather inlay top had two small burns and various discolorations.

I let the leather soak with some water for about 15 minutes and then tested to see if the spots seemed removeable.

No good. This would not be a quick fix. I could possibly dab with some stain to marble the top thus muting or possibly making the stains. But then I noticed the end peeling.

I decided to remove the leather.

Fear not, I am saving it (you know I salvage everything). This will make a great future project on how to restore and reuse leather.

In the meantime, looks like the project got a little more complicated as now I have to decide how to finish the top.

I grabbed the stripper and got to work.

SUPPLIES

• Kleen Strip
• paint brushes
• rags
• sandpaper
• steel wool, both coarse and fine
• scraper tool
• rubber gloves
• safety glasses, always protect your eyes.
• trash can
• newspaper to cover the floor of your work area

My Safety Speech

Always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Splashes occur when you lease expect them

Always wear thick rubber gloves to protect your skin when handling chemicals. Chemical burns are not fun.

Always work in a well ventilated area. I strip my furniture in my driveway.

Place newspaper on the floor under and around your furniture piece. Floors and work spaces need protection too.

Tips for Removing Stain

The best tips for using stripper…

• Be patient.
• Wear gloves and safety glasses.
• Don’t rush the process.
• Keep the area loaded with stripper.
• Allow the chemicals to work.
• Scrape, reapply, scrape, reapply.

2 hours later, the old stain was removed (sort of…see next paragraph).

In the interest of not repeating posts, here are a few more detailed posts on restoring wood and removing stain. These posts list all of my best tips,

She Spoke and I Listened

For a minute, I considered changing the stain color to something more contemporary, like a light wash. But, I have other antique mahogany pieces in my living room and bedrooms so I decided to stay strong and preserve the integrity of this beauty.

Remember I said, I often let the project piece guide me? Well, it happened…yet again. I had a plan and as I worked the plan, the plan changed.

As I proceeded through the stripping process, I actually liked the stained wood beneath the thick old top coat. I decided NOT to re-stain, but rather leave the wood as is. This provided a lighter wood color and the existing stain really brought out the beauty of the mahogany wood. So I simply sealed the wood after the oldest top stain had been mostly removed. In this process, I removed the old gummy stain. But I stopped shy of completely stripping ALL of the stain from the wood. The wood was so beautiful.

I mean, gorgeous! Why strip it completely when this is so lovely as is??

Right??? My project time was just cut in half! Whoohoo! Stripping is so labor intensive and takes so long. I’m celebrating! I sealed the wood with a nice coat of General Finishes Top Coat, made for wood.

Moving on to the Top

Knowing that I will want to restore that leather top and eventually re-install, I resisted the desire to create a faux marble inset with resin. I topped off a sweet little plant stand with a faux marble resin finish and she is just lovely.

Instead, I chose to go the easy route and faux paint the inset to look like marble.

Creating a Faux Marble Finish

I started with one coat of white paint. I used simple craft paint that you can find in the craft section at Walmart – Folkart multi surface acrylic paint, because I am out of my favorite white furniture paint, Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint.

The white was a little bright so I applied another coat with ivory.

Much better. I dabbed some white here and there to create some texture. Then I blended the paint by drybrushing across the dabs of white.

Next, I used a skinny art brush to draw some veining.

Use a sponge or rag or brush to blot the area muting the veining. Practice first if you are nervous. I’m more of a wing it and react creator. Do what works for you.

Keep blending, adding veining and repeating until you have the desired look.

Not bad, right? Seal the top with some polyurethane. MinWax Polycrylic is my go to.

How about that bright beautiful wood??!!!!

She looks great indoors by the window where the light hits that beautiful woodgrain.

She had a nice surface area for a lamp, candle, book, plate, or whatever.

And a little shelf for other whatnots or books.

I’m so glad I didn’t take the easy road an just paint her. She’s fabulous again!

Revamp a Lamp
Our Southern Home

Old World Santa Christmas Tray
Our Crafty Mom

Salvaged Jewelry Suncatchers
My Repurposed Life

IKEA Secretary Desk Makeover
Exquisitely Unremarkable

Mahogany Side Table Upcycle
Shop At Blu

Beautiful Thrifted Thanksgiving Tablescape
Redhead Can Decorate

DIY Christmas Bells
Songbird

Fry Pan, Tiered Tray, and Decorative Bowls
Funky Junk Interiors

Gingerbread Village from Christmas Houses
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The post Mahogany Side Table Upcycle 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.

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.

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.

Have you ever come across a fabulous glass bottle that makes your heart scream YES? Or have you simply wanted to use a pretty glass wine bottle for your dish soap in the kitchen? But then you try to remove the label and the whole project, glass bottle and all, ends up in the trash? Seriously! When did they start using atomic solutions to adhere labels to glass? Sometimes those labels may come off easily but the residual sticky adhesive that is left behind is enraging! I’ve gathered some tips for you to help minimize the elbow grease, time, and especially frustration with trying to recycle a glass bottle…or a glass jar. I mean, who can toss a super cute pickle jar? They are handy for so many things! Let’s remove a label from and clean a glass bottle or fifteen.

Clean your Glass

The easiest way to get started cleaning your glass bottle is to simply fill the sink or a large basin with hot soapy water (I recommend Dawn dish liquid). While the sink is filling, I run each bottle under the hot hot water. This helps start the release of the adhesive. Hot water is the best tip to remove a glass bottle label.

I fill each bottle and lay it on its side so that it won’t float. The weight of the water in the full bottle will keep the bottle sitting on the bottom of the sink. Lay the bottles or jars on their sides and fill the sink to above the height of the bottles.

TIP: The longer you let the bottle soak, the easier the labels will be to remove.

You can see where the label is beginning to release in the photo above. The corners of the labels are visibly wet. I turned the bottles over so that the labels were completely submerged in the hot water. It is a much quicker process to do all of the bottles at once in the full sink but I was only doing a few at a time.

Once the labels appear to be completely wet, you can start to scrape off the labels. Sometimes, the labels will peel right off and take all of the adhesive with them.

Often, part of the label is resistant. Soak these a little longer.

Tools to Help the Process

Here are some items you may have in your kitchen that will help with the label removing process:

• Pampered Chef Pan Scraper (they come in a cool blue color now)
• Scrub Daddy
• steel wool (be careful to apply minimal pressure as steel wool can scratch glass)
• butter knife or scraper
• credit card
• Goo Gone or glass cleaner
• Vinegar I keep a gallon on hand for convenience.
• Baking soda and it comes in bulk too.
• bottle brushes or miscellaneous brushes

Often the label comes off but that adhesive does not.

You can spray the glass with Windex and let it sit a while longer. Give it about 15 minutes checking to make sure the label stays well. Then scrub. Most of the time, this worked for me. I had Windex with Vinegar on hand and that worked well.

However, for the really resistant goop, I used Goo Gone.

This is a great product to keep on hand. Simply spray it on, let it sit, wipe off the glue.

Yes, that is a hammered copper farmhouse sink in the photo above. I won it at a DIY conference where Sinkology was a sponsor. You can read about the kitchen I designed around this sink by clicking on the photo below.

The vodka bottle had some adhesive on steroids. I’ll avoid these bottles in the future for sure!

Cleaning Inside the Bottle

For bottles and jars recently emptied, this process can be as easy as rinsing in warm soapy water. But, for bottles that have sit for some time with dried contents inside, this can be a real task.

I always start by filling the bottles with warm soapy water. After an hour or so, I will drain and rinse them. In a perfect world, this completes the process. And for recently emptied bottles this is usually the case.

However, I’ve also tried to clean antique bottles and jars. These are an advanced challenge. But here are a few tips should the soapy water not get you the desired result…

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Funnel one tablespoon of baking soda into your bottle. Be certain that you are at the sink for this next part. Pour one cup of vinegar into the bottle. This will cause the mixture to fizz up and foam, sometimes spewing out of the top of the bottle. Swish and swirl the solution in the bottle. If there are still debris particles inside of the bottle, add two tablespoons of rice and gently shake the bottle. The rice acts as an agitator against the sides of the glass and can help remove stains, etc. For soiled bottles that have been sitting for 20+ years, you may need to repeat this process many times.

Other substances to use instead of vinegar and baking soda are:

• Denture cleaner, which can be used to clean porcelain
• Alka seltzer, the effervescence can clean the glass

Other Helpful Tools to Clean Glass Bottles

Another handy tool is the skinny bottle brush or other kitchen cleaning tools. Check out your local home center and Amazon for great products.

Some power tools come with a skinny long brush to use in maintaining your tool. I always grab these at yard sales and antique stores. They come in a variety of sizes. You can also find tiny cleaning brushes online.

This one is approximately 12″ long with a bristle diameter of about 1.25″. But I’ve seen them in much smaller sizes that would work for antique pharmaceutical bottles. These are wonderful because you can bend and manipulate the handle to get to the correct spot on the inside of the bottle.

I am always looking for more tips for cleaning bottles, and especially for antique bottles with antique stains.

Be patient and LET IT SOAK for a while. Those are my best tips!

What are your favorite tips and tricks?

Here are some of my favorite bottles:

The post How to Remove a Label from and Clean a Glass Bottle 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.

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!

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