Hello, beautiful friends! I’ve got a simple painted Longaberger basket makeover for y’all today!
Remember them?? You had to mortgage your house to get one back in the day!
This one belongs to my pretty mama:
She took it upon herself sometime in the late 90’s to add apples to the top to match her decor:
She did a really good job, but those apples have long lost their luster and so recently, she asked if I could make her basket pretty again.
Of course I can! And there’s no guilt about taking paint to this pricey basket because she wanted me to!
Painted Longaberger Basket
The apples on top had already been sanded a bit, but I sanded the top a little more just to smooth it out.
Then, while I was spraying this chair I shared on Tuesday, I hit this up too!
That’s my medium spray shelter and it is awesome! I just gave the basket a spray with Rustoleum spray primer to get a quick first coat on it.
Then I followed up with one of the Silk colors, Endless Shore, applying it with my Best Dang Brush:
This brush is awesome for getting in all those details super quickly and easily!
I gave the whole thing two coats.
Embellishing the top
I decided the top needed a little embellishment, so I went for one of my favorite go-to treatments…stripes!
I used FrogTape for delicate surfaces to add my stripes and filled them in with two coats of Cotton. I removed the tape as soon as I applied the second coat.
See how I line up my stripes easily HERE.
I sanded the top to smooth out the lines made by the tape and it was ready for the final step!
My mom really likes a classic French-country look and so I knew I wanted to add a mini transfer to the top, and the stripes were the perfect backdrop for that!
This is from the set of mini transfers called Classic Vintage Labels:
The Silk line of paint does not require a topcoat, but since I had sanded the top and I wanted to protect the transfer, I sealed just the top with clear Best Dang Wax.
The After
Here is how this simple makeover turned out…
Light and fresh…
But the top is where all the pretty is!
Right??
This mini transfer is by Prima Redesign and you can find it in a set of them in my shop HERE.
They’re great for embellishing all sorts of smaller items!
My mom prefers more cream tones rather than the whites I like and Endless Shore was just perfect!
And how cute is that vintage hobnail milk glass candy dish??
I’ve been eyeing at the antique mall where I have my booth, and finally bought it. I thought it would be a sweet staging piece!
The inside
As for the inside, I just painted the lid and left the inside as is…
Often, paint will ooze through the weave and leave it a mess on the inside, but luckily, that did not happen with this basket at all.
So that was that!
I hope my mom approves!
And that is project #2 from the freebie haul complete!
If you missed what I did with the chair, you can see that HERE!
You’ll find several more basket makeovers that are sure to inspire by clicking the photo below:
I’ll be back on Tuesday with this set of lamps I found on the curb!
Update: No need to wait…see how these curbside treasures look now here!
Have a fantastic weekend!!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Carla says
The basket update looks fantastic, but I must admit the milk glass piece caught my eye initially. It’s gorgeous…well bought!
Christy says
Thank you, Carla! I’m glad I finally picked that up…I would have been so sad if it had sold! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Oh La La, it is so beautiful now! I am sure that your mom will love it. She is so lucky to have such an amazing talented daughter, but I am also sure she knows that! Love this make over!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, my friend!! XOXO
Janice Holt says
I’m sure your mom will love this; after all you got your good taste and talent from somebody and I’m guessing her. You do stripes better than anyone I’ve ever seen. Now if your mom happens to not like it, then I’ll take it (ha). She wanted you to redo it because she knew it would turn out beautiful. Have a great week-end.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! Yes, I most definitely inherited my creative side from her! I think she’ll love it! Have a fantastic weekend too! XOXO
Christina says
Christy, you did a wonderful makeover!! Positively beautiful, your mom is going to love it!! Love the mini transfer.
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! I think she’ll love it too! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Donna Nance says
Your mom will love the basket! I have a few Longaberger baskets but I know ladies who signed up to sell them so they could get all the new ones.
Christy says
Thank you, Donna! Yes, my sister-in-law used to sell them and she gifted my mom this one! XOXO
Cara says
Milkglass, hobnail, longabeger basket with a French twist thrown in? I think you hit most all my favorites with this one!
Christy says
Oh yay! All the pretty things ha ha…thanks, Cara!
Cecilia says
She should love it! It turned out beautifully. Love the Paris transfer – just the right touch with those pretty stripes!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia!! She called a little bit ago and she does love it yay! XOXO
Peggy says
Very elegant 🖤 and clean. ( I am SO tired of the original Longaberger baskets I can hardly look at them! ) Honestly, Christy, if we were neighbors I would constantly be dragging stuff to your house for you to re-do.
Christy says
Thank you, Peggy! They have lost their appeal for me also. And ha ha!! XOXO
Charlene Godby says
You’re my biggest inspiration! I love everything you do with furniture and other stuff. I have a question about painting the basket. When you sprayed the primer on it first, what kept the paint from going through the cracks and showing on the inside? I can understand the brushing not going through but strange that the spray doesn’t. Just curious.
Christy says
Aww thank you SO much, Charlene! I love that! I think the tight weave is what helped to keep the paint from making its way through! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
Hi Christy, I love the makeover for the Longerberger basket! I have quite a few, and they keep showing up all over my house and my mom’s. The makeovers you have done with these baskets are very inspirational. I am really tired of the “orangy” color! I think a makeover will just right. Thanks as always for sharing your creative talents with us. Have a wonderful weekend!
Christy says
Hi Sue! Thank you! I know what you mean about the orange…and you just hate to part with them because they were so pricey and they are really well made, so this is a great way to enjoy them again! Enjoy your weekend too!! XOXO
Toby says
I cracked up when you mentioned having to take out a mortgage to buy the baskets!! Hahaha! Yes, I remember–I was there too…and how they were totally worth the investment and would increase in value…LOL! Not so much–but they are pretty well built baskets I must say! And though I am still not quite ready to paint mine yet…after seeing this…I am getting there! It looks beautiful!
Christy says
Ha ha right?? Thank you, Toby! They are really nicely made and you hate to part with them for what they cost! And for the same reason, it’s hard to take a brush to them…glad this was my mom’s ha ha! XOXO
Gloria Stage says
Love the striped top on the basket. I’m sure mama will love it too. You picked just the right color and of course, a small French decal make it all worth while. 🌹
Christy says
Thank you, Gloria! My mom called a bit ago and she approves ha ha! I always love a bit of French flair! XOXO
Janet says
Hi Christy
I usually like your makeovers and this one is fine. But sometimes less is more. I wish you would have left the basket natural this time. Getting rid of the apples of course! I know you live on the coast but some of us live in the Midwest and don’t decorate coastal. Maybe if you get a piece that would do well as a farmhouse design you could give it a try.
Thanks for your great ideas.
Christy says
Well now that would have been a make-under ha ha. I don’t know if you got a chance to read the post, but this is my mom’s basket that she asked me to paint for her. 🙂
Jackie C says
I know your Mom loves it! I do too! Wow, I have no clue how you managed to get no paint seepage on the inside. Did you pounce the brush or do strokes?
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! She sure does! I was very surprised that no paint seeped through also, but I think that is due to the tight weave of the basket! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Lovely job, Christy! Who else paid too much for multiple baskets? 🙋♀️ Yup, me. They are well made and I do still enjoy them, but painting would certainly bring more interest to them. Maybe the pantry baskets would benefit from a little color… It’s not like I’m going to reduce their value 😂
Christy says
Ha ha! You are not alone! Thank you, Marcie! They are really well made, so you hate to get rid of them…why not enjoy them again with a little paint!! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
The basket turned out great (but I *really* love the hobnail milk glass!! I have a collection of milk glass and hobnail is my favorite look!)
Christy says
Thank you, Sheila! I love it too!! It was a little pricey, so I kept passing it by, but I finally decided to just get it…so glad I did! XOXO
Karen Moore says
Very pretty. I think I do remember those baskets. Weren’t they sold at home parties? If that is correct, I bought a round one that was the size of can of beans. Ha!Ha! Only one I could afford.
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! Yes…that’s them and I couldn’t afford them at all, so you were better off than me ha ha!! XOXO
Lorrie Rochelle Koenig says
As always I enjoy seeing your creativity. Thanks for sharing with us.
I wanted to let you know the last few of your postings that come to my email do not have the link to click on to get to the post. I have to go to google your website and then look for the post. Not sure if you knew of this issue. Thanks.
Christy says
Thank you, Lorrie!! That is strange…thank you for letting me know! If you wouldn’t mind responding to the next one that has no link, it will come right to me and I’ll be able to see what you’re seeing. The photo is also clickable and should take you to the post. I’m still working out the kinks with my new email delivery provider. I really appreciate you going that extra step to stop by! XOXO
Shirley says
Oh my goodness, Christy. That basket 🧺 changed from Apple 🍎 Luscious into French Glam in a matter of moments.
Do you sleep 💤 well at night with all of those ideas of pretty transformations 🤔 running around in your head? 😊 You keep us guessing and inspired.
Christy says
You are the sweetest, Shirley! Thank you!! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
I’ve never seen a basket like that before! It has feet! I love what you did to it.
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! It is a great style of basket for sure! XOXO
Deanna says
so glad your mom is happy with the basket transformation. It is elegant and should bring her such joy! It’s like a totally new piece. Love how it didn’t bleed thru to the inside. Also Love your new to you hobnail candy dish. I’ve never seen that piece before, I can see how it caught your eye!! Great find!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Deanna! She really does love it! And how cute is that dish?? I’m so glad I bought it finally. I would have been so sad if it had sold! XOXO
Michele M. says
Looks GREAT Christy! I cringed when you said it was Longaberger – boy no kidding they were pricey! Longaberger is about an hour and a half away from me – I see them at second hand stores a lot and they are still pricey for secondhand, but sure as nice baskets. Well done! Your mom will ♥
Christy says
Thank you, Michele!! They sure were a pretty penny, but very well made! This one was a gift to my mom from my SIL, but it has just been sitting in her attic for years. Glad we were able to bring it out of hiding! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
So, I had a friend who sold the LB baskets. That started me collecting them, a lot of them, too many of them lol. When I was tired of how they looked, I thought I should paint them but they were so ‘valuable’ haha back then. Once I painted one, it was an easy decision to keep going lol. Only did three though so I love seeing what you do with them. This one came out so nice. I love the colors of the Silk line and should get some for the baskets. I do have a question. Would it not be safe to just use the regular frog tape for stripes on the lids? If not, I will get some of the delicate type, just don’t have any right now. Thanks again for the inspiration.
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! They were a big deal back in the day for sure! They’re so well made and at least by painting them, you can still enjoy them in your decor! I like the delicate FrogTape only because I use it over freshly dried paint all the time and it doesn’t harm the fresh paint at all, but you can definitely use the regular stuff if you give your paint time to dry well…like even just a day should do it! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
Thank you.
Christy says
You’re welcome! 🙂
Jeanne Barrett says
It’s a perfect makeover! Love the colors. Apples are for eating anyway.
Christy says
Thank you, Jeanne! And yes lol! XOXO
Becky says
Beautiful!
All I can think with that before picture is: hmmm… I see where Christy gets her talent from! Your parents are amazing DIYers too, what with all that painting and building! Nice of them to share it with you! 😀
Christy says
Thank you, Becky!! I am definitely influenced by my sweet parents for sure!! Enjoy the rest of your day!! XOXO
Robin says
I’m more of a creamy, off white, bisque person myself. Cotton is too white for me!
Christy says
Oh I get it…I used to do more off white in our old house but slowly made the switch. 🙂 XOXO