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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Kitchen Remodeling Project Day 2 by Junkin4Humanity

Kitchen Remodeling Project Day 2

Tonight I want to finish up our kitchen project. Yesterday we got the wallpaper hung. Although, I never thought I would ever hang wallpaper again. Today I started painting the walls a lighter color over top of the light green walls. Don't get me wrong, I love the color of green, but this color had to been given to the person who painted this room. No one would have bought this on purpose, mismatched paint or not. I went with a white with beige undertones on the wall and it's amazing how much it brightened the room. 

On the other wall I needed to take care of the 2 holes that were hidden behind a unsightly curtain and paint the wall as well. I opted for a contrasting color above the uppers that complimented the wallpaper.

As far as the holes, I decided to go with a handmade creation. I found 2 mirrors (.99) in my "shed stash" along with some silver forks (bag for $1.00) I had. I flattened the forks out and bent the tines and hot glued them to the glass.

I then took a board that originally came from a dresser drawer bottom (donated). It was an antique newspaper that had been pressed onto the board years ago. I then placed the mirrors on top, measured my wall openings and cut to fit.

The plaques were hung over the holes and I also added chicken wire and a chalkboard sign (leftover from previous projects). I love to be able to change the bible verses their each day. It also helps us to learn them as well.

On this wall I took a old rod iron plate holder ($2.50) and painted it to go with my "metalware" look. I love all the old tins and brasses.

The curtain ($2.00) I searched high and low for at the thrift stores. I needed something with the colors of all the metalware that I had. This was the closest thing I could find but unfortunately was a panel, not a valance. I hate to sew so I took burlap (roll $3.00) and drew them up to make it more aesthetic. Then hot glued old vintage hardware (shed stash)  to the burlap.

Before and After's

.99 cent Thrift Store Canoe Picture

Miscellaneous Metalware (.49-2.00)

Starting on the Den Tomorrow's Blog!

• 2 mirrors                                                         $  .99
• silver forks (bag for $1.00)                           $1.00

• dresser drawer bottom (donated)                $  .00

•  chalkboard sign (leftover from projects)     $  .00

• old rod iron plate holder                                $2.50

• burlap (roll)                                                     $3.00

• Thrift Store Canoe Picture                           $ .99

• Miscellaneous Metalware (.49-2.00)          $6.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT              $14.48

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Wood and Rod Iron Coffee Table Upcycle

My furniture is always changing. I find my ugly duckling furniture pieces and drag them home a couple of times a week. But normally I fix them up and sell them after my project. As I went on my daily trip to the thrift stores today I came across this table which didn't need much done to it and I LOVED for myself!  Even though it was more than I ever pay for a table I decided to buy it for my sun porch.

As you can see it has wonderful simple design, but what I didn't like is the dark wood that was on the finish. I wanted something with a lighter colored look.

I sanded off the old varnish making sure to go along the grain. I then added a maple stain but kept the darker sides for depth and within a half an hour, I have a new table.

• table (thrift store)                 $10.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT   $10.00

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What To Do With Leftover Paint

My daughter came up to see me last week and we had a field day running to thrift stores and antique malls. I never realized I lived within minutes of the top 5 places in Ohio to do either one. That just made my day. Some of my daughters dabbled in a project here or there, but never seemed to take off with it like I have...I think the word is "addiction", so its probably just as well. But this day was different and I wanted to share with you what just a few hours and some leftover paint can do for a thrift store find of a chair and basket. We first found this chair and even though it needed some updating, it had good bones.

I let my daughter dig through some of my mismatched paint that was mixed with other mis matched paint and she began to paint away. It was so much fun doing something with her that I love so much! She decided on a blue and green paint that I had mixed together and had it and painted and distressed it within the hour.

We then took a basket which we also got that day and just dry brushed white paint randomly to match it up with the chair for a corner she wanted in her house.

The last thing she bought was a carpenter box at the antique mall. To some it may have just been a boring box, but to us it was a palette. 

She decided on white paint and we picked out hardware from my boxes of treasures and applied them.

`

Not only is shopping for treasures fun, but upcycling them and staging them are as well. Within no time she had a couple of new items to decorate her home with in just a short time.

• Thrift Store Chair                  $   .99
• Spray Paint (on hand  )          $   .00
• Project Paint (on hand)          $   .00
• basket (thriftstore)                $   .99
• Carpenter Box                       $10.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT    $11.98

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How to Cut A World Globe In Half For A Pendant Light

This is a project that I have been gearing up to do for sometime now. When my daughter asked for my help in redesigning their basement, I decided to get this done. I have been looking for that "just so perfect" lighting for the basement project, so I'm hoping this goes well with the final theme.

After much research in finding the easy way of doing this, I found very few. When I did find one there was not many pictures. So here is my attempt to show you step-by-step.

First you must unassemble the globe from its stand by taking and pulling on each end of the stand it should come out easily.
After removing it you will then be ready to cut your globe in half. (This is the tricky part). Depending on what type of globe you have there may be steps that you will need to follow or omit.

• First begin by removing the paper seal that is along the equator. This will be where you will need to divide your globe into separate pieces.  After that is removed you can may be able to see where the globe is joined together like mine. Underneath it is glued together with a band that gives it some sturdiness.
• I had to use a small hand saw to begin the "opening up" of my globe and then when I had enough room to insert a screwdriver I used it to help pry it open (but do this carefully).
• After doing this you will have what the picture shows below. Then remove the band  from the inside of the globe as shown below.

1. 
    

• If you are wanting to use these as globes then take your pendant light that you will be using and measure the cut you will need to make to insert your light. I am using lights I bought at my local thrift store. They are easy to insert because of the removable ring (shown below).
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I used a paddle bit to drill my hole, being careful not to push to hard to collapse the globe. Then used a pair of snips to trim the opening of the hole.

• What the other sites failed to mention is that at the top of my globe was a metal insert, I suppose to help the integrity of the globe on its rotating stand. I then had to snip out the metal little by little to remove the metal ring because I needed a large opening for my pendant. If you were going to run wiring down through the middle and connect it to your own light fixture you could probably use the metal ring instead. After removing the metal disc and cutting the hole to the measurements of the pendant. You will insert it as shown.

From the underside, screw the ring to the part that you inserted from top and screw together.

• Once that is done you should have a new light that is not only beautiful, but a conversation piece as well.
  
  
  
  
  

• Thrift Store Globe                       $5.00
• Thrift Store Lights                      $1.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT       $6.00

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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

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