Wednesday, February 13, 2013

~DON'T THROW IT AWAY! DON'T THROW IT AWAY!~

Sometimes I wonder just WHAT some manufacturers are thinking when they design gift-ware merchandise for the industry.  I've seen some pretty cheap and visually challenging things during my years in retail and I'm amazed some of those designs ever get past the prototype phase~  And yet, the thrift stores are filled up and overflowing with stuff we only use to love...
I found this [lovely] white wood factory-designed basket with the red check lining and robin's egg blue satin bow last week at Goodwill.  I walked by it three times before finally tossing it into my shopping cart.  It was priced at $1.99 and even though I thought $1 would have been a better deal, and despite the fact it whispered
CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP
I decided to haul it home.
First thing I did was rip off the blue bow.  The lining was hot-glued in place so I needed to use my blow dryer (set to HOT) to help heat up the goo in order to free the fabric.  After the lining was removed a few swipes over the rim with a piece of medium grit sandpaper took care of the remaining hot glue...
With a chip brush (super inexpensive at Home Depot) I dry-brushed the entire basket.  Gave it one coat and let it dry.  One more light coating and the basket was instantly transformed.  Dry brushing allows some of the original base color to show through and I love this not-too-perfect look! 
Now~after staring at the basket it seemed to need just little bit of SOMETHING EXTRA~something like a sign (similar to those seen around the neck of a wine bottle).  Then I remembered I had purchased some metal hangers on clearance at a local craft store last summer and hoped at least one would add the needed bit of pizzazz I was looking for!
I painted one with the same white paint and used a modified French graphic found online (Graphic's Fairy) for the inner label.   After a bit of distressing and the clipping of the hanger in half, the sign was gently wired onto one side of the basket!  Can't you just see it holding a loaf of fresh French Bread???  Yummmmm....

Total basket makeover cost was about $3.  Basket was $1.99.  Hanger was .25.  Ink and paper (for printing) and the paint didn't cost more than .75, at most!

This was a fun and easy project and if you decide to do something similar I'd love to see what you come up with!

Today I'm linking up with:

Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesdays
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesdays
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
 
 Winter finally came yesterday to Oklahoma.  The snow floated down in what looked like puffs of white cotton.  We sooo need the moisture and even though I'm not a winter-lovin'-gal (I'm a Cali native, remember?) I hope it snows again tomorrow...  Our red earth is so dry and that will mean a greater chance for fire come this summer...
We've so enjoyed the spring-like weather we were having that we forgot to put our Adirondack Chairs away...  I actually love how they look covered in the frosty-wintery-white-fluff.  If you look closely at my pictures you can see the falling snow~

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day...can't wait!

Love to you...

26 comments:

joanne said...

sweet little basket, you make it look so easy to transform those treasures! Loving the snow, it always looks so pretty. We haven't had any kind of winter weather here and I miss a good snow storm once in awhile. Of course, I'm not talking about the east coast snow...

Simply Debbie said...

HI rEBECCA,
sWEET TUTORIAL. i LOVE THE BASKET.
i DON'T BELIEVE i HAVE SEEN SNOWFLAKES THAT BIG IN MY 57 YEARS OF LIFE...IT WAS LIKE YOU SAID...COTTON FALLING FROM THE SKY AND ALTHOUGH THE GROUND WAS WARM THEY/THE SNOWFLAKES SPLATTED RETAINING THEIR SHAPE BEFORE THEY MELTED. IT WAS LIKE A SNOW TO GO WALKING IN...I LOVED IT.
HUGS

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Good Morning Rebecca!
I do believe that you could take an old shoe and transform it into something beautiful!! This little basket is just adorable and the sign made it very special.

Hope you have a nice Valentine's Day.

hugs
Sissie

sunnyskiesandsweettea said...

Another perfect makeover!

Blessings,
Amy Jo

Theresa said...

Gorgeous transformation! I love your vision beyond what it starts out looking like... to the beauty it turns out to be:) Wish I had a thimble full of that! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Such a pretty view of your snow covered yard, Rebecca. I always look at pictures like yours and imagine them being used on a calendar. Your basket turned out beautifully! Love the sign, too. I did something similar a few years ago. Wish I had thought of the hair dryer for removing things with hot glue though. I haven't seen any nice baskets at our Goodwill. I should probably look beyond what is in them {like faux flower arrangements}.

Anonymous said...

You basket turned out so pretty and romantic! I love a good make over.

Unknown said...

Well, it does not look cheap and manufactured now, my friend. What a great revamp. Thank you for posting my button! I know it's been there but I just wanted to say, thank you again.

Unknown said...

I thought I had your button but I did not see it on my blog. when I came back to grab it, your page gave me a 404 error message. Please check to see if it is just me or if something has happened to it on your end. I want to put your button back up on my page. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Ok, wait...I do have your code on my page but it is just your name with no graphic. Is that how it is supposed to be? I still get the 404 if I click on the 'grab my button' info on your page. Oh, dear. I am so not techy minded.

BrushedByAnAngel said...

So pretty! And sharing the tutorial is so generous. You have the knack for finding the unwanted and bringing new life to it. Quite inspiring.
Brenda

BrushedByAnAngel said...

Oh, I forgot to add that it must be delightful to see snow falling. I live in Florida and haven't seen snow in more than twenty years, although we get a few flakes every so often. The snow on the adirondack chairs is picture perfect, just as I imagine snow to be.
Brenda

Julie Marie said...

That is soooo beautiful Rebecca!... is it for sale?... or are you keeping it?... I L~O~V~E it!... xoxo Julie Marie

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Beautiful Rebecca!! I would have never thought to do that! I love how it turned out. You are the queen of transformations!

Love Debbie xo

Anne said...

What a great find and you transformed it into a lovely piece!
Wow look at that snow! Are snow is almost gone.Lots of sun here today!
xx
Anne

Deborah@Green Willow Pond said...

Oh how pretty! The metal tag is perfect for it. Thank you for sharing it at my party. Have a happy Valentines Day!

Hugs,
Deborah

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Rebecca,
Lovely the way your basket turned out, especially with that tag.
Wow, you got some snow. We got rain, way too much of it and had some flooding in the basement... Probably need to install better gutters that can handle ALL the water so it will get diverted away from the house.
Feel exhausted after an entire night of wringing cotton floor cloths... to mop up. After a Rotaract meeting this morning, Pieter came home with a 2nd wet vac so that helped. Still need to empty that every 20-30 minutes... We need some rest!
Happy Valentine to you!
Hugs,
Mariette

Karen said...

Oh that is beautiful, a truly inspired makeover!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Love, love, love the basket...Hate the snow!!!! LOL

Carol

Art and Sand said...

I am so excited that I came across your blog at the Savvy Southern Style party. I got the tip about using the dryer to heat up the hot glue. And, I have some of those metal pieces that I can use on some baskets. Thanks for giving me some ideas for the long president's weekend home with a husband just out of major surgery. I can't wait to get creative.

Donna said...

What a gorgeous makeover! I love baskets, but I probably would have passed this by. Now I am going to keep my eye out for baskets with potential next time I'm out thrifting! Thanks for the inspiration!

Anneke said...

such a gorgeous basket and your photos are beautiful.
greetings from ann.
great view on the backyard.

The Feathered Nest said...

Dear sweet Rebecca...you have the most amazing gift of beautiful transformation!!!! I can't get over how gorgeous the basket is now...you truly are gifted!!! I hope you and your family are doing so good, I'm sorry I've not commented in so long ~ sending you hugs and love, Dawn

Unknown said...

Awe my friend, we are such kindred spirits when it comes to repurposing what should have never been..lol Thanks again for stopping over and seeing what I have been up to. Now I even got my curtains hung...they aren't shabby chic, but its warmly chic for me, I guess. Thanks again for sharing this sweet basket, my oh so talented sweet friend!

Big hugs!
Lorena

Maggie said...

I really LOVE the transformed basket! I think the double handles make it really special, and the metal sign is the perfect finishing touch!! Now I want to dry-brush all of the honey-colored baskets I have holding supplies. So glad I stopped by!

Maggie
www.themagrag.com

Ivy and Elephants said...

The basket looks amazing! You really transformed it. It would sell in any home decor store! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.
Hugs,
Patti

Blog Archive