Upcycled Birdcage Light- Not Just For The Birds Anymore

One of my favorite finds at the thrift store is birdcages. There are so many different things that you can do with them.  This one initially  had been a wedding envelope holder, but was perfect for what I had planned.

Great Deal at 3.99

Items Needed: 

You will need a light. This one is pieces I had left over from a .99 light I had used the glass pieces from for the Upcycled Silver Plated Spoons Plant Hanger.

A small lamp shade that attaches to your light bulb, as well as any other decor you want to add.

Directions:

1. First dissassemble the light socket if using an old light, unless you are using a store bought candelabra or edison type and unscrew the cord.

On mine I had already cut the cord to reduce the length. 

2. Next feed your cord through your decorative hardware that you may be using if needed, then through the birdcage. You are now ready to reattach your socket.

3. To make sure that my decorative hardware stayed in place, I hot glued it to the top of the birdcage.

4. Then reconnect the top to the bottom of socket. I painted my lamp socket to a hammered brown color also. Make sure that when you reattach your socket to the cord that you put the bottom piece on first before rewiring the socket.

5. Then add your lamp shade. I chose a lampshade that clipped to my light bulb. Although, I think an Edison bulb would look great here.

• Thrift Store Bird Cage                       $3.99
• Thrift Store Light (on hand)               $  .00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT              $3.99

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Creative Chalkboard For The Holidays

Here is a cute idea for a gift for the person who loves shabby chic, or just likes to stay organized. Instead of buying that expensive chalkboard or the even more, expensive chalkboard that you find at your neighborhood craft store, why not make one? 

I found this cute wood display at the thrift store and loved its "bones", so I decided I would make it into a chalkboard that I have been meaning to make for my kitchen.

What a deal .09!!

Directions

1. I started out by sanding it down first.
2. Then painted it with a black spray paint to give it some aesthetic texture for the final result. 
3. After drying I painted it with a white wash; 2 parts paint with 1 part water.
4. Removed the backboard and painted with chalkboard paint.
5. While chalkboard is drying, I sanded the white frame for a distressed look and then applied liquid black antiquing. (remember a little goes a long way of this stuff.)
6. I then reapplied the chalkboard to the back of the frame.
7. Add any type of hardware, design, or stenciling.
8. Where the gap was, I added a piece of brass that use to be on an old vintage window and cut to fit. Giving it more flair as well as covering the gap.

There you have it!! A Custom Made Chalkboard for a fraction of store prices. Even if you were to give as a gift, no one will ever know that you spent next to nothing. All they will see is all the love that went into a custom gift just for them.

After I made this, the next morning my wonderful guy left me my first note to wake up to. He really is the best!

• Thrift Store Wood Display                       $.09
• Chalkboard and Paint (on hand)               $.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT                   $.09

JUNKIN4HUMANITY.COM

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#REPURPOSEDONPURPOSE

Not Just A Bed Anymore- Repurposed Bed to Bench

The thrift stores are filled with headboards and footboards and if your lucky an occasional side rail or two. But for upcycle fanatics all that doesn't matter. What we are interested in is it's design.

Nothing is more fun than taking old beds and making them into new items. In an earlier blog, I posted on Queen Size Headboard Turned Into A Coat Rack. Today I want to share with you my Bed to Bench project. I know this is not a new concept, but I thought I would share my project design.

This was actually my first attempt at this and found this headboard and footboard really cheap, so I thought "why not"!

 

The important part is do your research first before making any cuts. There are so many variations to end up with your final bench. I finished this project this past summer before I was blogging so I don't have step by step details on this project. But, hopefully this will give you some inspiration if you would like to do one for yourself.

It's just a matter of taste and design and you can make a bench from a bed as well within a day or two for yourself.

• Paint .50 at Lowes x 2               $1.00
• bed (thrift store)                       $4.99
• various vintage hardware            $ .00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT       $5.99

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Upcycling Mid Century Furniture Without Losing Its Flavor

I love mid century items and furniture. Not always for their look, but for their design. I come across alot of furniture that seems to sit around in the thrift stores and sheepishly sits in the garage of the neighborhood yard sales. Many times you can get them for next to nothing.

Two weeks ago, that is exactly what happened. My neighbor finished her garage sale and then asked me would I want to come over and get anything that was leftover. She knows how much I love to tinker with things. When I arrived, there sat a pair of  mid century end tables. Not exactly beautiful in color, but definitely had style.

I really liked how they were very deep and narrower across so to fit nicely between furniture. As I studied them, I did not want to take away from their "era", but did want to upcycle them into something more appealing than their drab brunette color.

They were topped with a laminate, so I knew there was not much I could do there. So I decided to match the paint with the laminate color.

First I taped off the area where the laminate was and spray painted lightly the entire surfaces of each. By doing this you help the next layer of paint adhere without having to do much sanding.

Then I painted a top coat of white latex over both tables and allowed it to dry. Doing a "dry brush" effect so that the wood from underneath could somewhat show through. Then I painted a color that was complimentary ( wheat color) with the laminate on top over the white paint and the spray paint showed below. Just as us women love to get our hair colored with highlights and lowlights, I love doing this with furniture as well. It allows the colors from underneath to show through. Always making sure to paint each coat of paint so not to completely cover the coat from underneath.

After these three coats, I then put on a final coat of a slightly darker color (yellow-gold)  overtop of the wheat color, once again letting the layers from before slightly show through.  As this was drying I removed the handles from the drawers and spray painted them a weathered gray. I then spray painted the drawers with spray paint followed by a coat of latex white paint. I allowed them to dry and then roughed up the face of both drawers and replaced the handles. Next I distressed both tables to give them a worn look and then replaced the drawers. I wanted to keep them white to give a contrast to the tables and the laminate tops.

I was very pleased with the outcome. The tables look more current, but have still kept their "mid century flavor".

• Paint .50 at Lowes x 2                $1.00
• tables                                 (donated)
• Spray Paint "Ollies Discount         $1.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT       $2.00

JUNKIN4HUMANITY.COM

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