Faux Books

Months ago, like back in the fall, I picked up these faux wood books at Goodwill. 

I had planned to turn them into Halloween props...but never got around to it.  A couple weeks ago I ran across them in my garage and new exactly what I needed them for!  I only paid $ .50 each.

I painted the edges of these beauties, covered them in scrapbook paper and distressed them both.

This one is my favorite!!

What did I do with these new little beauties you ask?

I paired them with my topiary from last week and a Dollar Tree bird similar to this one and another thrift purchase I made many moons ago that has been sitting in my garage...a terrarium.  I only paid $3.99!! 

I got my terrarium at one of my favorite thrift stores here in Indy, Wheeler Mission Thrift Store (and it helps the homeless shelter and provides jobs for the previously homeless!).

I left it all rusty because I thought it was beautiful just as it was. :)

See how beautiful my little books look under the bird!! :)

And now you know what I did with my topiary ball too!! :)

Where is this sitting in my house, you ask?  Oh...that's a surprise for a much later date. ;)

Topiary Love

I've been a busy girl!!!  :)

Lots of projects completed....lots more in the works.  The good news...plenty to show you!

I made a stop at Goodwill this past weekend and found this little beauty for $1.99.

I loved the shape,  but it's coloring was very flat and cheap looking.

So, I set off to make it look more like a concrete planter.  To be honest, there is no science to this.  I used, black, white, brown, and gray acrylic paints and just painted, smeared, and dabbed them on until I liked the look.  Then I covered the whole thing in Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze.

This picture, if you look closely, is split in the middle.  The left side is the new finish, the right side is the old.  Subtle...but it made me much happier. :)

Here is the completed after.

I have been wanting make a ball topiary thingy for some time.  I'm not showing you where I'm putting this just yet, but I had my reasons for a ball topiary.

I was going to use a styrofoam ball, but it would have needed to be painted so the white didn't show through and I didn't have that kind of patience.  Luckily, I had this green ball I used in a vase filler awhile back.

I bought the greenery back before Christmas for $5 at a little store I stopped in one day.  I just clipped off 2-3 sprigs and hot glued them onto the ball. 

Drinking several glasses of wine while helping your friend do her college online school work is optional. ;)

I only covered half of the ball because I was going to be sitting it inside the Goodwill planter.

Here is the finished project!!

I am VERY pleased with how it turned out!!  And I can't wait to show you what I did with this little beauty! :)

If I had to guess a price I'd say $3 total...since I owned the ball for ages and I only used one full length of the plant...I've got tons left.

Stay tuned for more projects to come. :)

No Function Friday – Upcycled Mail Sorter

This week’s project actually does have function, but since it’s a crafty, redo, updo, kind of thing, I’m still going to post it today. :)

I purchased this sorter at Goodwill about a month ago for $3,99. I thought that was a little steep, but I usually think Goodwill asks a slight premium on their stuff.

I loved the curvy lines…it just made it a little more unique!

I spray painted the whole thing white, just cheapest Wal-Mart white. I wasn’t going to age this one…but after it was done I realized it needed it. So, of course I ran some Ralph Lauren glaze over the whole thing, wiped it off and used Jim Holtz Distressing Ink around the edges of the paper. I added cute scrapbook paper and Modge Podged it to the fronts and glued ribbon to each one to cover the seam between the papers…and that’s it.  Oh, and I always use a sanding block to sand around the edges to knock down any unsmooth edges left on the paper.

Super simple and a fairly inexpensive upcycle (less than $10)!

Side by side before and after:

Until next time...