Oh how I love the challenge of a thrift store or flea market makeover. LOVE. Thankfully I’ve found similar minded peeps– the ones who also get all giddy at the idea of poking around thrift stores, discovering treasures, and turning something old and outdated into something shiny and useful once again. Meet the Swap It Like It’s Hot crew– we got together this month to find something old, send it to our swap partner, and do something new with it:
I got to search for an item to send to Caitlin at Desert Domicile. Her home has an uber-cool, retro southwestern vibe, so when I saw this stitched leather skirt (new with tags!) it was worth the splurge because I felt she could do something really spectacular with it– and she did, but she had a family emergency so you might need to wait a few days to see it. Stay tuned on that one!
My items arrived from Jessica at Decor Adventures, who knows me VERY well. When I thrift, I make sure to find things that are useful and she delivered. I received a wire basket and a cheese dome in the mail. Here’s the befores:
I ended up only having an hour to create BOTH projects due to my crazy schedule, so as usual I went for something that was useful and quick to make. First up, the wire basket.
After contemplating making a light fixture or even a little stool to match my wire table:
I ended up with copper on the brain and couldn’t shake it. So I wrestled the chain off an old flower basket and spray painted both the wire basket and the chain copper. Then I simply flipped the basket upside down and attached the chain. Suddenly , we had this:
an industrial style photo holder for my son’s industrial style train themed room, filled with photos and memorabilia that are meaningful to him.
He often talks about his Pappy, who passed away exactly a month before he was born. Now he has a way to stay close to him.
Train tickets. Obvs.
Daddy’s baby picture, a wringer for my son. It’s creepy. I mean, I know, GENETICS and everything but still.
He loves it. Especially since it sits above the reading chair where we say our prayers each night.
Next up was the cheese dome. This makeover is definitely outside of my comfort zone but I have to admit I dig it even though it’s not going to be for everyone. So I’m going to make you look through the tutorial before finding the AFTER because i don’t want you to not understand where I was coming from.
I began by painting the wooden base with chalkboard paint. Before you hate on me for painting wood, please know that this base was scratched and dented beyond repair. The stripes were created by staining the wood, not alternating types of wood. So could the wood lovers in the house settle down. 😉
While the chalkboard paint was drying, I worked on the dome. I started with a pretty yet subtle gilded edge on the bottom of the dome. At which time the voices in my head started screaming CARRIE, THIS IS SWAP IT LIKE IT’S HOT. YOU’RE GOING UP AGAINST MAKELEY HOME FOR GOODNESS SAKES. KICK THIS BABY UP A NOTCH!
So I did.
Woah. I poured gilding paint over the handle and helped it drip down the sides in a pleasing way. It’s like gold started crying tears of happiness that it could run free and not just be painted in polka dots and gilded edges.
Or something. Notice that when I put the cheese on it, I used parchment paper underneath to protect the cheese since I’m about 100% sure that chalkboard paint is not food safe.
Before you freak out, know that I actually have another cheese dome at home, ALSO thrifted, with a marble base:
I can simply switch out the tops at any time for a more formal less insane look.
With Halloween on the brain, I couldn’t resist adding a Dia de los Muertos skull my dad brought me from Mexico when I was a youngster. Yup, he gave me a skull that I promptly re-wrapped and hid in a drawer to avoid nightmares for the next 30 years, at which time I pulled it out and it was 2014 and lo and behold, skulls are super hot right again. How DID he know?
Too creepy? Or just right?
Here’s the rest of my buddies that are Swapping it Like it’s Hot:
2 Little Superheroes
Many thanks to Jessica for the great items and for swapping it likes it’s hot. Which is a little more fun than dropping it like it’s hot. Whatever that means. {wink!} What do you think, was the golden dome totally over the top? Is there a cheese board maker weeping somewhere? Is the skull a fun accent or creepers? Dish below!
Ha ha! These are awesome! I love what you did with them. I knew they would get your creative mind working. And so funny – I have the cheese dome with the marble base too! So that wood definitely needed painting, it’s perfect! Throw some glittery bulbs under it for Christmas 🙂
Great makeovers!
Those look great! And I only wish my tears were in Gold!;)
I absolutely LOVE what you did with that little wire basket! Great idea! And I happen to really like your skull 🙂 Very cool up-cycles!
these are both so fun, carrie! i love the memo hanger!
Super fun transformations! Love what you did! Stopping over to see what everyone came up with! Happy Fall! ~Michelle
NEVER would have thought to make that a display piece! Smarty pants. And the cheese cloche is perfect. I love that it’s quirky and different!
Your swap turn out so adorable! LOVE the idea of anything hanging!!! And that cheese dome… so creative!!!
Your projects came out great. I really love the hanging one with photos. x
WHOA, Carrie! Amazing and I LOVE the Halloween spin on the cheese plate! Bee sent me a cheese plate for the previous swap and I love her! I’m SO SO glad you joined us for this swap! xoxo
Omigoodness I love the Halloween skull!! The industrial photo holder is genius!!
I love your tears of happiness cheese dome makeover! Perfect. And the fact that you can switch the domes out for a less gold-leaf-crazy look is great too 🙂 And I am not judging…that is from one gold leaf luvah to anotha.
Oh my gosh, I am in love with your drippy gold cheese dome!! I love that you just let the gilding paint run where it may 🙂 And the basket-turned-photo-holder is pretty genius!
Thank you so much Emily! The gilding paint is really happy it was allowed to run free, haha! 🙂