Tired of your existing decor?? You don’t have to be a painting whiz to start making small changes around your home!
Amazing friends, I am back today with another edition of Painting the Smalls!
I’m sharing the mini makeovers of these six thrift store finds:
These are mini makeovers that anyone can do!
Let’s get started!
Mini Makeover #1
First up is this set of plain black candlesticks I picked up at the thrift store for $8.75 minus a 20% coupon:
I almost always scoop up candlesticks when I find a deal on them since they are usually good sellers.
I thought it would be fun to play around with some Pearlescent glaze on these, so after giving them two coats of Sea Glass, I applied the glaze with a chip brush.
Then, I wiped away the excess with a clean soft cloth:
You can really see the pearl effect in that second photo where I was wiping compared to the top that had no glaze yet.
The glaze also acts as a sealer, so that was all this set needed…
I tried to capture the pearl effect once it dried here:
It’s so pretty with the Sea Glass!
Mini Makeover #2
Next up is this ho hum frame I found at the thrift store for $3:
It doesn’t look like much here and this makeover isn’t spectacular by any means, but just a reminder that thrift stores are full of potentially cute frames!
I gave this one two coats of Cotton using The Belle Brush which is great for smaller pieces with all the details:
I usually remove the glass etc, but the glass was glued in place here. I went ahead and painted and then just used a razor blade to scrape away the paint.
A little sanding and a quick wipe down with some Best Dang Wax in Clear and this is now a super cute frame for my own super cuties:
I can’t believe how much my boys have grown in the six years since this was taken!
The details in this frame show up so much prettier in white.
Mini Makeover #3
The third mini makeover in this set is this candle holder I picked up for $7:
It is heavy and solid. This one also got a simple shabby white makeover.
I started with a coat of Rustoleum spray primer just to get a quick first coat on all those curves:
Then I brushed on one coat of Cotton and sanded lightly all over to distress:
This would be perfect in a bathroom!
I can picture it hanging above a stand alone tub full of bubbles!
I have a hard time picturing pieces like this in anything other than white!
Mini Makeover #4
Next up is this very petite teapot I found for $6.75 at the thrift store:
It got prepped with Slick Stick since it’s metal, and then it got painted in Fluff.
It sat like that in my garage for about a month before I finally threw it in with this bunch!
I was undecided what to do with it at that point and that is why it sat, but then I grabbed the Classic Vintage Labels transfer set to see if anything in there would fit on it.
This transfer set comes with 27 mini transfers:
I knew something would work!
This one seemed appropriate for a teapot, so I cut it down to fit:
And then I cut this part off of another one:
Perfect! I sealed it with Best Dang Wax in clear and that was it!
It’s such a charming little teapot now!
I can picture it used as a vase for small flowers.
Find this transfer set in my shop HERE!
Mini Makeover #5
This next one I passed on a few times before finally buying it. It was $14 and that was just too much, but when it went to 50% off, I grabbed it!
I’m drawn to anything like this that has a glass/crystal element to it.
I taped off the glass parts and gave this candle holder two coats of Cotton also:
Then I sanded this one all over too…
I planned to keep this one for myself and I love a simple white makeover!
I stole two crystals to replace what was missing from an old lamp that was already missing a few:
Mini Makeover #6
Last but not least, is this metal trash bin I picked up for $4:
As soon as I saw it, I had an idea to repurpose it.
I drilled a hole in the top:
And it became a lamp shade!
Yes??
I had some of the 50/50 Cotton and Vintage Duck Egg Blue mix left over from this spindly bench I shared last week, so I decided it would be perfect for this lamp!
I painted the lamp solid, but the “shade” got a good dry brush:
What a unique lamp it is now!
Dry brushing the shade meant that I didn’t need to cover every single bit of it:
And how does it look lit??
Pretty darned cute!
I stuck with my usual blues and whites as most of these are heading to my shop.
Even the simplest of makeovers can still make a big difference!
All but one of these mini makeovers are from my current haul, so that is five more done!!
See what you might have missed at the links below:
How to Turn a Spindle Bed into a Bench
Dated Shelf Makeover
80’s Clock Repurposed
Stenciled Demilune Table
DIY Fabric Lamp Shades & $5 Thrift Store Lamps
Thrift Store Dresser Makeover
If you missed my last edition of Painting the Smalls, it was a good one:
You can see that HERE!
I’ll be back on Thursday with the dirtiest tray ever!
UPDATE: See how sweet this tray looks now HERE!
XOXO,
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Vicki Lombardi says
Omgosh Christy!!! I love all of these! They are so inspiring and show what a difference a simple paint job can make. I think painting the smalls are my favorite posts but then you get me with things like that awesome bench last week! (Oh and the black serpentine chest with French transfers!) Thank you for all your creativity and inspiration! ♥️
Christy says
Thank you so much, Vicki!! I really enjoy the smalls too! It shows what a difference even the simplest of makeovers can make! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy!! Yes, they are white or blue but they are so pretty. I love the hanging candle holder and the one with the crystal. I also now need to try the glaze. When you asked us to guess what you did with the trash can I guessed a hanging light. I was close. Thank you again for your inspiration!
Christy says
Ooh I never thought about making it a hanging light…I love that!! Thank you, Cheryl!! XOXO
Charlene says
All of it was beautiful but my favorite is the trash can turned into lampshade! What an inspiration you are!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Charlene! I’m so glad that worked out! XOXO
Linda K. says
These are all relatively simple but such dramatic improvements! Loved them all, but the waste basket turned lampshade is brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and talents. You are appreciated!!!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Linda!! I appreciate you too!! XOXO
Charleen says
I love the smalls. Love the candle sticks,the tea pot ,but that trash can turned lampshade was the winner. I love the sea glass and duck egg .There are so many colors to choose from the pearlesence(?) added so much to the project. Beautiful!!!!!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Charleen! That pearlescent glaze is so pretty! XOXO
Niki says
How fun! I enjoy it when you do a set of smalls. The pearl on the candlesticks gives them a nice shine, and how cute are little Jack and little Brennan in that picture frame!!! I think the all metal lamp is unique and the other candle holders ended up looking a whole lot better.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! I’m still amazed at what a little paint can do! And yes…my babies aren’t babies anymore! XOXO
Rebecca says
Fabulous job on all of the makeovers. I love the converted one to a lampshade.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rebecca! I was so tickled that that actually worked lol! XOXO
Christine says
Ok, the lamp is amazing!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Christine! XOXO
Catherine says
Oh my gosh, Christy! I LOVE everything today…especially the candle holders and the picture frame! And I love what you did making a lamp shade!! Just love your inspiration!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Catherine! I’m always amazed at what a little paint can do! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
That teapot makeover! Gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you, Robyn! It never knew it could be so cute ha ha! XOXO
Cecilia says
I’d never have guessed a lampshade but duh. It makes a perfect one. Just love it. I love how paint transforms the most bland pieces to something special. Will the tall candlestick with crystals show up at Halloween? 😊
-Cecilia
Christy says
Thanks, Cecilia! It fit that lamp just right! And you just never know what will be bespooked at Halloween ha ha! XOXO
Caye Cooper says
I just LOVE them all Christy! But I have to say that the lamp really blew me away! I would never have thought of that. I still have to either make or rewire a lamp as I’ve never done that (slightly intimidated).
Just love your blogs and hope we see it for many years to come.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Caye! I really appreciate that! I hope I’m here for many more years too! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
OMG, Christy, that lamp! I was admiring the sheen on the candlesticks and simple update on the picture frame, never expecting such an amazing finale. You always surprise me with your inventiveness. Who else could re-imagine an old trash can as a lampshade? Another fab smalls collection, I’d say.
Christy says
Thank you so much, my sweet friend! I always enjoy doing the smalls. And I’m so glad that trash bin actually worked as a shadelol! Have a great week! XOXO
Julie A. Henry says
BEAUTIFUL AS ALWAYS….LOVE THE LAMP SHADE!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Julie! XOXO
Sandi Allen says
Love these all! Just amazing what a little paint can do!
I think my favorite is the last one! The metal lamp. And that color is beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sandi! I’m really tickled at how that lamp turned out too! XOXO
Lizzy says
The teapot is my favorite, but they are all so pretty!
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! The teapot might be my favorite too! XOXO
Laura says
Hello, my friend! I have to say the ‘lampshade from a trash can’ was terrific. What an innovative idea! Many thanks from the Ca. desert.
Christy says
Thank you, Laura! It was really fun seeing that one come together! XOXO
Jackie C says
Only you would would think of turning a metal trash can into a gorgeous lamp shade. Wow.
I am in love with the wall sconce. You had me at 🛁 and 🫧
Amazing after all the years I’ve followed you, that I am still blown away with the things you transform.
Christy says
Aww you are the sweetest, Jackie! Thank you so much! I’m so glad that I can still surprise you lol! XOXO
Constance Colvin says
Well, Christy, I know you’re just gonna say “Aw shucks” but I keep getting blown away by your inspiring ideas! 😀 I love each and every one of these up-cycles…….wow, the hanging candle holder that you imagine in a bathroom, what a different response it evokes now! And these same for the other re-do’s ………love the lamp shade!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Connie!! Isn’t it absolutely amazing what a little paint can do? And yes, if only I had a stand-alone tub lol! XOXO
Cory says
I’m a longtime fan and lover of small flips. Yours always delight me, and also help me feel vindicated (?) on some level. A lot of people get a lot of attention for their big flips, and that’s good. I totally get it. They’re like “BAM!”
But I equally love (if not prefer) the smalls. And seeing yours always reminds me that they’re important, too! They completely deserve the attention bigger projects get. Thank you for always inspiring us with projects of all sizes!
Christy says
Oh I love that perspective so much, Cory, and I couldn’t agree more. The smalls can make such a big difference too! Thank you!! XOXO
Debbie says
Just lovely….everything you do.
I’m curious if the picture frame that is on the wall (with the larger frame of mesh metal behind a smaller frame of your boy on the beach) is a DIY? If so, where can I find a tutorial?
Thanks for always inspiring me.
Christy says
Thank you, Debbie! That is a DIY! I get a question or two about it each time I share in a photo, so I redid a set of mirrors more recently with decorative sheet metal to show the how-to, and you can see them here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/update-a-mirror-or-window-with-decorative-sheet-metal/ XOXO
Denise says
All are adorable but that trashcan lamp oh my goodness super cute!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, my friend!! XOXO
Robin says
All were terrific, Christy! It’s funny, I picked up a set of 3 wooden holders just like yours and painted them black (for Halloween) LOLOLOL.
Christy says
Thanks, Robin! Ha ha…I never even thought to save these for Halloween duh! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
I love all of them, but the tea pot is my favorite! I am so glad that the post finally came through. I couldn’t get it to come up this morning at 4:30am when I was having my coffee. Happy to see the beautiful transformations tonight after work!! So inspirational, thank you for that!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary!! I’m so sorry about that, it was my error…I had it scheduled for pm instead of am. I’m glad you got to enjoy it after work though! XOXO
Jamie B says
Christy, I agree with everyone that your smalls are always amazing and yes, the trash can turned lampshade is brilliant. But the teapot is my favorite. When I saw the before, I immediately thought of the teapot in Beauty and the Beast. Ha! It was already cute, but the after is so pretty! Love it and love your blog!
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Jamie, thank you! The teapot is my fave too! It was so petite and cute that I just had to have it lol! XOXO
Michele M. says
BRAVO!!! Giving these “smalls” a new beautiful life painted is just grand.
Every piece looks amazing, Christy!
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Bev says
Would you look at that! I have a small lamp and a very similar trashcan I didn’t know what to do with. Now I do! You are always so inspiring. Thank you and I’m kicking myself for donating those metal hanging candleholders now! Look what I could’ve done.
Christy says
Well now if that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is ha ha! Thank you so much, Bev! And oh no…a little paint can do wonders for those pieces we no longer love! XOXO
Cyndi says
OMG! I want all of these! 🙂 That lamp is brilliant!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cyndi! XOXO
susan says
Love the lamp! What a great idea!
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! XOXO
roe squire says
Christy! These are so amazing! Every single one of them!
Love them
Christy says
Thank you so much, Roe! I’m so glad you enjoyed them! XOXO
Linda Hickey says
Love how you took every little thing and restored them to a new life.
Christy says
Thank you, Linda! The smalls are my favorite! XOXO
Donnita Alexander says
OH MY!! I love them all. I love to craft and repurpose things. I love the little tea pot with Paris on it. I have one of them. I can’t wait to refinish it. I also have my mom’s little tea pot . I live the one you did with the flowers. You are amazing for sure. Thank you for the inspiration.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Donnita! I’m so glad you enjoyed this round! XOXO