Who’s up for a round of smalls today?? Sweet friends, I have SIX mini makeovers from my current haul coming your way! It’s also Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday, so be on the lookout for more makeovers from my friends at the bottom!
Here’s what I’m sharing today:
I don’t usually share a smalls post for Trash-to-Treasure day. It’s always the second Tuesday of the month, and it totally snuck up on me this month! I already had plans to share these so here we are!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Mini Makeover #1
Up first is this spice rack I picked up for $5.99. That’s probably the most I’ve paid for a spice rack, but this one was very large and in great shape:
Everything started with a good cleaning with White Lightning. It’s a degreaser and a deglosser for the best paint prep possible.
I mixed one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water and wiped everything down, starting with this spice rack:
I opened a brand new pack of applicator pads which are awesome for cleaning your pieces. Then I wiped everything down with clean water to rinse.
I spray primed it with Rustoleum spray primer first just to get a quick first coat on:
I also like it as a base for the custom gray I mixed next which was made from 75% Cotton and 25% Hurricane Gray.
It got two coats and then I added stripes across the top with FrogTape for Delicate Surfaces, removing the tape as soon as I added my second coat of Fluff.
Once everything was good and dry, I sanded liberally all over to smooth and distress.
Then, I found a mini transfer that I cut down to fit from the Classic Vintage Labels set of 26 mini transfers:
I sealed the transfer with Satin Clear Coat and once that was dry, sealed all over with Gator Hide since this will likely be a hard worker!
I think it has a little more personality now!
Mini Makeover #2
Mini makeover #2 is this lamp I picked for $6 at the thrift store:
It was missing the little knob that you use to turn it on and off, but that was an easy fix.
It was also missing a shade. When I started on this piece, I remembered that my neighbor who moved recently had given me a very large shade that was in excellent condition and it ended up being the perfect size!
I set out to embellish it with these leftover pieces I had from the Antique Damask transfer:
I had used the larger damask pieces on this lamp shade and only had these smaller pieces left.
You have to keep your hand underneath the shade while you’re burnishing, but transfers do great on shades.
Once I had the shade done, I went looking for something to tone down the shine on the lamp and found Dried Sage was a good match to the transfer:
I painted it on…
And then wiped it away with a cloth, using the paint more like a wash…
I like how it took the sheen down.
I gave it a quick spray with Easy Peasy Spray wax and this lamp was complete!
When I was given this shade, it was so huge that I had a hard time imagining what lamp I could use with it, but this was a perfect fit!
Here’s a closer look at the transfer…
There is no need to seal the transfer on the shade.
Mini Makeover #3
Next up is this tray I found for $6.98. I just loved it when I saw it and grabbed it right up!
It folds flat for easy storage.
This got a coat of Rustoleum spray primer first also:
Then I followed up with Cotton using my Best Dang Brush which handles baskets and weave like this so easily…
I sanded here and there and then chose to use clear matte spray from Rustoleum to seal the weave portion (easy!) and clear Best Dang Wax to seal the handles and legs.
I love how fresh it looks now!
It’s clearly a bed tray, but it could be a fun riser for your holiday buffet too!
Mini Makeover #4
Next up is this set of wall plaques I found for $4 each:
I knew these would get a super simple redo with Fluff:
Fluff isn’t quite as bright as Cotton, but still reads as white.
It took three coats and then I sanded all the details.
I used Easy Peasy Spray wax on these also:
I always forget about this wax. It’s so easy to just spray on, and wipe away…
Be sure to shake it until you no longer hear the liquid inside before spraying for the best results. It’s great for pieces like this with a lot of details.
I used the pretty tray set up to photograph these too!
And in these photos, you can see the differnce between Fluff on the wall plaques and Cotton on the tray.
And here’s a peek at the backs…have to make them pretty too!
I found a huge roll of that pretty kraft paper on Amazon HERE.
Mini Makeover #5
Mini Makeover #5 started out as this recipe box that I picked up at the thrift store for $3:
According to what I found inside, this box has been around since at least 1984:
Which doesn’t seem like that long ago, right?? That’s almost 40 years! Ha ha!
I was really hoping to find some good recipes in there but no luck.
After a good cleaning, it got two coats of Secret Path:
You may remember the gorgeous dresser I redid in Secret Path HERE.
I sanded lightly all over with a sanding sponge once the paint was dry, to smooth everything out. The sponges are super fine grit and are great if you don’t want distressing on your pieces.
Then, I pulled out some pieces I had left of this pretty Translucent Garden transfer:
This transfer has a TON of pieces you can cut apart and arrange any way you like!
Once I had it adorned the way I wanted, I sealed with Satin Clear Coat.
Here is how this forgotten box looks now!
Aren’t those dainty feet everything??
They take it up like five notches!
Those and the pull got gold gilding wax to brighten them up:
The top got a little love too…
And the inside…
I just kept wanting to snap photos of this cutie!
Mini Makeover #6
And finally, this Recipe book stand was a steal at $2.50:
That’s like pre-Covid prices!
I did what I always do with these black wiry pieces. I gave it a dry brush of Sea Glass…
It gives these pieces a faux patina look that I love and they always sell quickly for me.
SO simple! I don’t even bother to seal these ones.
Here is the after:
I love the details on this stand, but they didn’t stand out at all before they were painted.
Here it is naked…such a pretty design!
And that is SIX more mini makeovers complete!!
And Six more I get to cross off my list!!
Here is what my friends have for you today!
I’ll be back on Thursday with this old flatware box that got a holiday redo:
UPdate: See what it looks like all fancied up HERE now!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh I LOVE the smalls!!! My favorite in this round of smalls is the recipe box!! The secret path color is my favorite on that new color line!! You always do such a good job on everything, but you took the box over the top with the feet and painting the inside to match!! Every thing turned out so beautiful. That was awesome that there were things in the receipe box for 1984, My oldest son was born in October of 1983, he turned 40 this year!! I have 4 children the other ones were born in 1986 1987 and 1989!! All in the 80’s!! That was a busy time!! I had the 3 boys first, and then came my daughter, then I was done, LOL!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary!! I had way too much fun with the box lol. There are just so many possibilities to bring them to life! I graduated high school in 1989. It was a great time to be a teenager, and it sounds like a very busy decade for you lol! Have an amazing week, my friend! XOXO
Janette Deans says
Such sweet make-overs, I love to see the new looks, amazing.
Its always great to go to the link ups too, although I noticed that Prodigal Pieces is link is never working, still, great to see what you ladies do. xx
Christy says
Thank you, Janette! Oh no…here is the link to her post. It seems to be okay now: https://prodigalpieces.com/diy-sewing-box-makeover/ XOXO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
Wow! What fun to see all these fabulous makeovers! Great job, Christy.
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Carla says
They all look great, but the lamp is my favorite.
Christy says
Thank you, Carla! I was so excited to have a free shade to use! XOXO
Janice Holt says
No disappointment today (well it never is) but I do love the mini’s. Hard to pick my favorite. I do wonder how you space the transfer on the lamp shade to come out even. It looks perfect. Great job as always.
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! I just eyeballed the transfers and hoped for the best lol! XOXO
Nana Diana says
It’s always fun to see what you have been up to with all the ‘smalls’. Love them! I have passed up some of those little index box things several times (beause I already have a half dozen of them)….lol. Great job!
Christy says
Thank you, Diana! I love the smalls too. Those little boxes are so fun to redo! XOXO
Jackie C says
In love with these smalls! That LAMP! You are the best, girl! 🧡💛
Christy says
Aww thank you, Jackie!! XOXO
Niki says
Great round of smalls Christy! Hard to pick a favorite-I like the the diversity in each piece!
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! That’s what fun about the smalls…you get to do lots of things! XOXO
Michele M. says
WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!
Every one of those looks amazing, Christy! And that recipe box is the winner for sure. Very well done!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend!! I really enjoyed that one! XOXO
Shari Clines says
Loved the mini makeovers! So many I would’ve passed up but you turned them into something beautiful. My favorite is the box. I’m always looking for boxes and rarely find them. The transfer you used is one of my favorites!
Christy says
Thank you, Shari!! I love little boxes and grab them up whenever I see them…so many possibilities! And I love that transfer too! XOXO
Cyndel says
It’s the recipe book stand that spoke the loudest to me today. Amazing how different it looks with just some subtle dry brushing in Sea Glass. I’d been eagerly waiting to see what you’d do with the lamp, thinking it was much smaller than it now appears to be. It, too, is lovely, along with all the other smalls.
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndel! I’m always surprised at what some subtle brushing with Sea Glass can do. XOXO
Sandi says
Love the lamp, 2nd love is recipe box, wonderful color and rub-ons. I’m retiring in a couple of months and I’ve been gathering ideas for projects I want to do. Thanks for your inspirations.
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi! How exciting!! You are going to have so much fun creating when finally have the time! XOXO
Caye Cooper says
Oh WOW! I’m sure glad I don’t have to pick a favorite! I love all your “smalls”, Christy. Woot-woot! As a group, you get a 10+.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Caye!! I really enjoy the smalls, so I’m glad y’all do too! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I see I’m not the only one who loves the smalls, Christy! Maybe not trashy, but they all became treasures. I have to add my vote for favorite for the purple box, it’s lovely. Although I give honorable mention to the lamp. Every time you show something I think is dated and dreadful, that I’m sure there’s no hope for, you prove me wrong. The lamp looks so good now and the shade is amazing with it – excellent pairing!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Marcie!! The lamp sure is getting some love this round, and I’m so glad. That free shade could not have worked out better! Have a great week! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
As always, all the smalls came out great. Love them all.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Debra! XOXO
Cecilia says
I just love it when you do a bunch of smalls! They all look fantastic but I think my favorite is the recipe book stand. Love the Sea Glass on the black. Plus it has such a pretty design. I’d snap that up in an instant if I could.
😊Cecilia
Christy says
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoy them, Cecilia! I do too…it feels like several small wins that really add up lol! And I am partial to that piece too…might keep it lol! XOXO
Janice B. says
The decals on the lampshade look like they were made specifically for that lamp. Amazing.
Christy says
Right? I’m so glad they worked out so nicely!! XOXO
p says
Wow !! 6 Great makeovers. 🙂 I aways look forward to your visions.
I do Love the lamp. Perfect color – and the shade made it perfect.
That would be a keeper for me. 🙂
As always, I love the small box makeover. ( and all the smalls actually !)
The color with the transfers is adorable. Gotta love the feet and the knob.
Sooo sweet.
The bed tray / riser, the book holder, spice rack and the tile updates look so fresh. I so wish I’d find a bed tray like that. Great find.
Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Thank you, P!! The lamp was a popular one this round…and I couldn’t have asked for a better free shade! There might be a couple of keepers for me in there this round lol! XOXO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
These all turned out so pretty, Christy!! And 1984 does not seem like 40 years ago, ack!! haha!! xo
Christy says
Thank you, my dear friend! Right?? So funny! XOXO