My creative friend Jen Rizzo had a crazy idea for a blog hop and she was able to convince 20 other bloggers to go along with it :) The idea was, that we each went out and found something at our local thrift shop, sent it to another blogger, and then they had to make it into something new.
Heather from At The Picket Fence was the blogger who sent me my item and BLESS HER! She sent me something wonderful instead of hideous :) Whew!
This is what she sent me:
I would have been happy to keep it as it was because I loved it. But that was not the challenge. Plus I already have a very similar metal bucket/caddy that I have office supplies and coloring supplies stored in so I was ok with changing it up too.
When I went to grab it to work on it, I could not find it anywhere. I had temporarily set it on the mantel until I could get to it. I searched the house. I called my husband to see if he had put it somewhere. I was in full on panic mode. It wasn't like I could run to the store and replace it. While I was in the basement looking, I decided to say a prayer. I was in the laundry room at the time. When I opened my eyes I was looking out the window. I saw the bucket sitting on the picnic table bench. I never would have thought to look outside! Apparently my boys thought it would make a great worm pail. HA! Living with 4 little boys can be interesting at times :)
And this is what I turned it into!
I actually came up with three different ideas of what to do with it. But instead of choosing an idea that was "out there" just so I could have altered it even more, I chose to do the option that I knew I would actually use and love..... a planter :)
I roughed up the outside of the bucket with some sandpaper going in all one direction. Then I spray painted it with gold paint. I did two thin coats. Once it was all the way dry I taped off the larger middle stripe. I used a coral colored craft paint. Then I taped off the smaller stripes once the larger one had dried. I didn't measure. I just eyeballed it.
I love putting potted plants into a bucket or other container because it is A) decorative and B) allows that plant to to drain after being watered without getting water everywhere. So instead of planting directly into a container, consider setting another pot inside!
And here is a side by side because we all love to see comparisons.
Now my mantel is happy and ready for spring :)
P.S. I totally free handed the chalkboard saying! I have never had much luck making a quote on a chalkboard look good so I was thrilled.
Here are the other bloggers that are participating in the thrift shop makeovers today:
Funky Junk Interiors
My Sweet Savannah
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Four Generations One Roof
Home Stories A to Z
Jeanne Oliver Designs
French Country Cottage
Finding Home
The Inspired Room
The Handmade Home
Eclectically Vintage
Makely School for Girls
East Coast Creative
Infarrantly Creative
At Home on the Bay
Thistlewood Farms
Serendipity Refined
At the Picket Fence
I would have been so nervous to see what someone sent me. Yikes! That bucket is wonderful though and I LOVE the gold and coral together.
What a fun idea! Your planter turned out beautiful.
This is beautiful - chalkboard art and all (seriously, I admire anyone who has a hand that steady)! You and a couple of the other blogs I read were all part of this challenge, and thrift-upcycling is one of my favorite things to do, so I've been rifling through everyone's projects (and salivating just a little). This is so far my favorite, partly because of the staging. I think putting a ribbon around the center instead of painting would have given a little more dimension to the accent color; but then you would have had only one line instead of three, and you would have sacrificed some of its ease of cleaning. It also would have made it much more "cutesy"... which might not be appealing to everyone. Anyway, it's just lovely, and you did a fantastic job. Brava!
Cute idea! Love that it's simple but unique at the same time.
Love it - and I Love the chalkboard!
I love it Stacy, you made a rustic galvanized bucket look so sophisticated ! The stripe and the colors you chose make it!
;)
Cindy
It looks so cute and perfect for spring!!!! I love the coral stripes. Thank you so much for joining in on the party! I love my banana holder! :)
Oh, I love it! I adore the pink stripes. Perfect!
Oh my goodness!! It is so, so cute Stacy! I KNEW you'd make something darling out of it! Who knew an old galvanized bucket could look so chic and sophisticated. And I love that the boys used it as a worm bucket, hysterical!
Heather
Stacy,
What a great upcycle! Love the stripes....and that color!
You go girl. :)
karianne
Love it! Great job. I would have been tempted to leave it as is, too. But the paint job turned out to be a big improvement. Great story. God must have been chuckling when he listened to your prayer.
I love the stripes! You're going to get so much use out of your new planter! Great upcycle!
Wow, you really gave new life to this bucket, I love it!! Perfect for Spring!
Stopping by from East Coast Creative, I'm their blog assistant! :)
Oh my gosh.... so soooooo adorable! I loved the before too, but when I saw your after, you totally nailed it with your style. Just beautiful!
Super cute - much better without the worms!!
Kelly
Completely adorable, Stacy! And way to go on the chalkboard lettering! I usually don't have great luck with that either so I'm impressed :) xoxo Melissa
THis is so pretty and perfect for Spring, love it!
XO
Kristin
I love it!!!!! Awesome find, and awesome job redoing it!
Alicia
I love the gold metal planter. You did a awesome job.
That looks beautiful! You did a great job with it! Can't wait to see the rest of what everyone else did!
Hi! If you guys ever do this again, I would love to be included! Nicole ( The New England Girl ) http://www.thenewenglandgirl.com
GAWGEOUS! ;}
This is such a fun challenge! I love what you came up with!!
Very cute, love the way it turned out. Thanks for sharing with us today.
So darn cute! I love the stripes you added- it's a charmer for sure!
Just curious who you sent an item to for the blog hop. I loved following the "trail" of the team of bloggers, but there's no indication here on who you sent an item to.....
Nevermind! I just went to Jennifer Rizzo's blog to "start" where she explains the order. Very cool ideas, both in creativity and networking. Love it.
I'm reviewing all the projects in this challenge. I just came from "The Hangry Hippo-Bear" to this . . . a beat up old bucket turned into an elegant planter. This is sooooooooooo fun! I started at Thistlewood Farms, by the way.
Thanks, ladies.
Perfect idea for your cute springy vignette :) Nicely done!
That whole photo just makes me happy. :-) I'm new to decorating and DIY but seeing posts like this spur me on! Thanks