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Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer

Simple DIY tutorials and thrifty furniture and decor makeovers

Painting the Smalls #11

Who’s ready for another round of smalls?? Smalls are the smaller items I spy at the thrift store that on their own, don’t make for a very compelling blog post as they are usually very simple makeovers. However, when I group several together, they are fun to see! Awesome friends, I have six such mini makeovers to share today!

First, here is what these lovelies looked like before:

Painting the Smalls #11

I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.

Makeover #1

Let’s start with this clock that I paid $8 for:

I think this piece is from Hobby Lobby originally. It was over-priced in my opinion at $8, especially in this yellowed condition. Or perhaps, that is how it came? It just looks dirty to me!

I tried to remove the clock and the glass to paint it, but the glass was glued in place, so I taped it off instead and then gave it two coats of Cotton.

I removed the tape as soon as I applied the second coat, while the paint was still wet:

Much better, but I decided to add a little more detail using this decor mould and Amazing Casting Resin:

Decor moulds

I don’t have this mould in my shop, but I have several HERE.

These are so easy to use! You just mix equal parts from the two bottles and add it to the flexible mould. Allow it to setup for about 10 minutes or so and then peel it from the mould. I made a set of four to add to each corner of this clock.

I wanted to shabby it up a bit, but because the color was originally a yellowish color and I didn’t want that to show through, I chose not to sand to highlight those details.

Instead, I cheated the distressed look using my favorite cheat: the distressing block and Coffee Bean paint:

Read more about how I use it HERE.

Now it looks like the darker color is peeking through!

Painted clock

The new detailed pieces were glued in place with E6000 glue.

Decor moulds

I love how the resin pieces added a pretty detail to the corners!

Decor Moulds

Makeover #2

Up next is this metal piece I picked up for $6.25:

I knew it would paint up pretty!

I gave it a quick coat of spray primer first just to get a quick coat on it:

Now, you could follow up with spray paint, but the finish of spray paint on metal is very flat. I much prefer my final coat to be chalk paint because it has more texture.

I brushed on Dixie Belle’s Cotton:

Painting metal with chalk paint

Because the color was originally green, I also cheated the distressed look here with the  distressing block.

I decided this piece did not need any sealer, so I attached one of these small wreaths I found on Amazon, and this mini makeover was complete:

Painting metal with chalk paint

The faux distressing looks great on all these details!

Painting metal with chalk paint

 

Painting metal with chalk paint

Makeover #3

Next up is this little wooden box I picked up for only $2.25:

It actually has a plastic liner which means it was likely part of a canister set at one time.

The paper on it was almost dry rotted, so it scraped right off with a flat razor blade. I knew when I found it that a mini transfer would dress it right up! (From Classic Vintage Labels by Re-designed by Prima…find them HERE in my shop.

I gave it a couple of coats of Cotton, gave it a good sanding with 220 grit sandpaper, and then picked out this pretty transfer to adorn the front:

I sealed the outside with Satin Clear Coat using the blue sponge and this one was complete in no time:

Wooden canister makeover

Because of the liner, it could hold just about anything…

Wooden canister makeover

I think it would be perfect on a vanity holding cotton balls or makeup sponges.

Wooden canister makeover

It’s hard to tell it was once part of a dated canister set now!

Makeover #4

Our next makeover is this gorgeous and very detailed frame I picked up for $4.25:

Anticipating this one to be a bleeder, I started with a coat of White BOSS:

Then I used a 50/50 mix of Cotton and Manatee and painted the frame, trying NOT to get full coverage:

I wanted areas of white to show. Then, I sanded all over with 220 grit sandpaper to get a distressed/weathered finish.

And as you can see, I turned it into a mini chalkboard!

Turn a frame into a mini chalkboard

I thought the deep, detailed trim was a great place for the chalk!

Turn a frame into a mini chalkboard

You can see more on how I make my chalkboards HERE.

Turn a frame into a mini chalkboard

Makeover #5

This next piece was photographed with my haul here:

It’s in the basket in the front in that photo, but I forgot to include it in my big collage of all the pieces…oopsie.

Here it is anyway:

I paid $4.25 for it and it was actually cute as is, but of course, I paint everything!

I used Fluff and a 50/50 mix of Vintage Duck Egg Blue and Cotton on this one:

The paint just softened it up a bit. (You can see that Fluff is still white, but just a bit more subdued.)

I gave it a good sanding all over with 220 grit sandpaper and then sealed with Best Dang Wax in white. I like how it sits in all the rough crevices on this piece:

This is likely meant to hold mail, but it would be a sweet way to organize note cards, stamps, etc. also!

Makeover #6

And finally, this basket was the best deal of them all at only $1:

I found this at a yard sale last year. It looks like it was one of those inexpensive baskets you get with a cheese and Summer sausage gift basket, but it is quite sturdy.

You may have seen it in one of the photos above…here it is again:

I gave it a coat of spray primer first. Priming is not necessary under chalk paint; this was just to get a quick coat on it.

Then I followed up with a coat of Cotton:

I decided not to distress this one. I sealed just the inside with Gator Hide since it might take a little abuse depending on what it is eventually used for.

It makes for a really cute basket for guest towels!

Turn an old basket into the perfect place for guest towels!

That “5” came off of a 2015 New year’s banner I found at the thrift store for 45¢ a couple years back. I’ve used two of the other numbers on baskets as well.

I love the contrast of the black and white. I attached it with craft wire. (You can see how I did that on a similar basket HERE.)

Painted basket

 

Painted basket

And that’s six more smalls! I love sharing these in this way because it helps me get several smalls done for my booth quickly!

Painting the smalls #11

And I get to cross a bunch more off my list!!

Revisit any you’d like to see again, or see any you may have missed at the links below:

$8 Thrift Store Box Makeover & How to Apply Decoupage Tissue Paper
How to Properly Paint a Mirror
Painted Thrift Store Lamps & How to Cover a Lampshade
Cabinet Doors Repurposed
$3 Trinket Box Makeover
Piano Bench Makeover
$20 Thrift Store Desk Makeover
$5 Thrift Store Chair Makeover & How to Use Silk All-in-One Mineral Paint
Unfinished Wood Cabinet Makeover
Cabinet Door turned Shelf
Painting the Smalls, Holiday Edition (Five of these pieces are in this post!)
Kudzu Painted Side Table
REPURPOSED HEADBOARD AND FOOTBOARD
VINTAGE SECRETARY DESK MAKEOVER
$3 THRIFT STORE HEADBOARD REPURPOSED
WALL CABINET REPURPOSED
WINDSOR ROCKER MAKEOVER
DROP LEAF TABLE AND CHAIRS MAKEOVER

 

I’ll be back on Thursday with my Furniture Fixer Upper girls!

This piece I’m sharing is from my next haul. I didn’t have any exciting furniture options left in my current haul, and I was really excited to play with this one:

I got this for an absolute steal! Come back on Thursday to hear all about it!

UPDATE: It’s done and you can see it HERE right now!!

XOXO,

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Comments

  1. Oh be still my heart, I LOVE the smalls!! They are so beautiful now! The smalls are great because they are easy to find at the thrift stores and following the amazing transformations that you show us we have a easy time re-doing great pieces for our homes! I love how all these turned out! I love the dresser for Thursday, can’t wait to see what you do to it, I am sure that it will be beautiful when your done with it!

    • Thank you so much, Mary! I love doing them too! Have an amazing day and I’ll see ya Thursday! XOXO

  3. I always enjoy the smalls and was excited to see 6 of them. Great job on all of them. I know you will make the dresser look so much better Thursday. See you then.

  4. I love Paint the Smalls day! I’m sure I’m not the only one who enjoys seeing these little projects come to life, Christy. All of them turned out great – the frame is perfect for holding chalk, the canister is so beautiful now, but my favorite might be the clock. I thought it looked so fresh with the new coat of paint, then you added the appliques and it really sings now.

  5. Love them all! I would not have thought to use numbers off something like a banner! I have so much “I’ll use this one day” trash that one more something useful would not make a difference in the pile. I’ve tried the “cheater-distress” method but can’t make it look right. I may be putting too much paint on my block. You stage everything so lovely. Have a great week!

    • Thank you, Cecilia! With the distressing block, you do have to be sure not to have too much paint on it, maybe even try blotting it on a paper towel before taking it you your piece. The good thing is, if you don’t like an area, you can remove it right away with a damp rag and try again! XOXO

  8. Christy, all so beautiful. I have that same metal Demi-lune piece. I like how you added that little wreath. You’ve inspired me to make mine over. Thanks for all your great ideas.

  9. i JUST thrifted a mail organizer very similar to the one in this grouping of smalls – i didn’t have to wait long or search for your ideas! they’re all great updates and it was a good refresher that you use Rustoleum Chalk spray paint for chalkboards. thanks for ALL the ideas Christy!

  10. Good morning, Christy. Your posts are always fun and inspirational. Thank you for sharing your ideas and talent.
    I believe that cigar box is not a canister but a humidor; hence, the plastic liner. It was probably air-tight at the beginning of its life. I grew up in the Connecticut Valley, which was well-known, in its day, for very high quality shade-grown tobacco. The leaves were prized for the outer wrapping of cigars.
    It was a rite of passage to have a job picking tobacco for the summer. Child labor laws allowed for employment at age 14 in agriculture. Picking tobacco was the next employment step after babysitting and newspaper delivery. Teenagers were expected to spend summers working full-time. It was weird if you did NOT have a summer job. Tobacco-picking was hot, dirty and probably toxic work, due to pesticides. You have brought back a lot of memories with that little object.

  12. These are all fabulous, but the clock makeover is my favorite. Those resin pieces made ALL the difference in the overall look of the clock. They look like they were placed there when the clock was originally made. Super idea!

  13. You are the queen. These are all perfect.
    I wish I had one ounce of your creative vision. These are so awesome.

  15. Love them all……cuz you know what you are doing!!! I am seeing a lot of redos at the thrift stores and garage sales……from people that do NOT know what they are doing!!!! ugh!!!!! A paintbrush and can of paint does not guarantee a better looking piece in the end!!!
    LOVE~love that you used that “#5” off of another piece…I get a kick out of those details. I HATE waste!!! Keep going, Sister!!!

    • Aww thanks, my friend! You know I can’t let anything go to waste, or I try really hard anyway ha ha! XOXO

  16. Love the smalls and how beautifully you stage everything you do. It makes everything look so put together. Now I keep buying these kinds of items at the thrift stores, tho I know I can never make them look that nice.

    • I appreciate that so much, Shari! Thank you! Sometimes it’s the staging that really gives these pieces life! XOXO

  18. I love how you come up with such awesome ideas for each piece; you’ve given me so much inspiration for my own projects 🙂 I’m dying to see how you transform the metalwork piece…I have something similar and cannot come up with the right idea.

    • Aww thank you, Carroll! I had two of those metal pieces to start, and one I already painted and hung a wreath on it several years ago. I can’t get that idea out of my head to come up with something different, so that is probably why I haven’t tackled this one yet lol! XOXO

  19. Christy, I ALWAYS love what you do with the “smalls”! You know I love the white. Love the chalkboard, the resin additions and so much more. Inspiration on steroids with your beautiful makeovers. Zoom! There they went out of your booth! 🙂
    Be well, have fun and know I am always a fan!
    xoxo

    • Aww thank you, Christina! Ha ha that would be a funny blog name… “Inspiration on Steroids” lol!! Have a great rest of your week, my friend! XOXO

  20. Hi, Christy, I always love the smalls you makeover. You make them so pretty and useful. These did not fail to impress either!! I think my favorite is the last one, the basket refresh. I love white and the number on the basket is so whimsical. It does make a great towel holder in a guest bathroom. Everything you do is so inspirational! Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week.

    • Aww thank you so much, Sue! I’m glad you enjoyed this bunch! I’m a sucker for baskets, so I loved that one too! Enjoy the rest of your week too! XOXO

  22. soy una gran admiradora de sus trabajos y de su generosidad en compartirlos, me ayuda mucho para hacer reciclajes de pequeños muebles viejos o pasados de moda que tengo por mi casa, incluso he recogido alguno que otras personas habían tirado a la basura. Muchas gracias.

  23. Hi Christy. Thanks for sharing the “smalls.” Great job! Also, great idea with the painted sanding block. Need to try this. 🙂

    • My pleasure, Susan! I’m so glad you enjoyed them, and that block works so well!! XOXO

  24. Hi Christy! You create such beautiful makeovers… I am so happy that I have subscribed to your site for inspiration… I need to train my eyes to see potential in objects with pretty features and imagine it in a different way. Thank you for all of your ideas… I’m off to go thrifting!

    Diana C. (Massachusetts)

    • Aww thank you so much, Diana! I am so happy you found me too! I hope you had some success today thrifting! XOXO

  25. While I’m always excited to see what amazing makeover you’ve done, it’s especially fun when I have some of the exact same items on hand, just waiting for the perfect idea to make them look new and beautiful! Thanks for another wonderful post. You make me want to go thrifting every single day! Have a happy Easter, Christie!

    • Oh yay! How fun is that?? Have fun transforming yours, and have a wonderful Easter too!! XOXO

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