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3 Trash to Treasure Projects From the Stash
I love shopping in all the thrift stores! You just never know what you might find. Some days super treasures some days nothing. It’s always an adventure! I’m forever bringing things home, so from my stash, I’d like to show you 3 trash to treasure projects.
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Rope Wrapped Vase
So first I’ll start off with this vase. When I bought it for $1 it was half full of small brown gravel. I used it in my fairy garden for a path so this was a double score!
Here are the supplies I used for this project. I got the jute rope for 40% off at Hobby Lobby making that cost $2.39. I only used about 1/4 of the roll of jute so let’s say .60. Every good crafter has a hot glue gun so let’s say we use .25 worth of glue. That brings the total cost for the vase to $1.85.
Alright, beginning at the bottom, begin hot gluing the jute to the vase circling to the top. Check out my YouTube Video to see how easy this step is to do. It just takes a little time. Don’t apply too long a stretch of glue as it hardens quickly on glass.
Trash to Treasure Projects
Now I have a cute, farmhouse vase that I can use year round changing the contents for the seasons! Fill it full of Dollar Tree flowers for spring or tie a bow of your choice and fill it with pip berries for a farmhouse look. And for Christmas, swap them out for some greenery.
Wow! This vase could be a great part of your decorating year round! Super simple to make, just some time and patience and there you go! I love it! These would make great gift too!
Glass Etched Serving Plate
I came across 4 of these glass serving plates for $2! Had to have them because I had plans for projects! So for the first one, I’m going to glass etch the bottom of this plate with a design I cut from design space.
Thoroughly clean the area that you are going to etch using rubbing alcohol. Carefully place the design, centered on the surface. It is very important to really make sure the design is down and adhered to the plate with no bubbles around the design. You don’t want the etching cream to seep under your stencil. Once you are happy with the stencil, apply the etching cream. For more details check out Eliminate Your Fears And Doubts About How to Do Glass Etching
Brush a fair amount of the etching cream from the outside in covering the entire design. Let it set 10 minutes then rinse. Remove the stencil and clean the surface once again.
Chicken Wire Frame
I have bought up so many wooden frames at the thrift stores, my shelf is full of all different sizes. This is a great savings when you need a frame. I won’t pay over $2 for a frame and it has to be a pretty special one for me to do that! Most I buy are $1. When I have a batch, I like to spray paint them flat black. It’s quicker and easier for me to put the first coast of paint on them.
I use them for my machine embroidery pictures and for vinyl designs too.
n I’ve seen frames with chicken wire in them as a backdrop for a wreath or a sign and think this is really cool. Since we have chicken wire left from my garden fence and I have the frame already painted, this is a free trash to treasure for me, but pretty cheap for you too actually.
Begin by taking the frame apart and removing the price sticker. This frame had a print only in it so I turned it around for my backing piece. I cut the chicken wire the same size.
Well That Didn’t Work!
Once the chicken wire was cut, I just kept bending it until it was fairly flat. Next I took the backing and spray painted it white. I tried to make it look like boards and it turned out pretty good except when I put it in the frame, it just didn’t look right.
Next idea! I took brown wrapping paper and cut it just a little bigger than the backing piece.
Then I crumpled it into a tight ball. Hope to give the backing some character, I straightened it back out and Mod Podged it onto the back. First apply a nice coat of the Mod Podge to the back.
Lay the flattened piece of paper on it and smooth it flat. I used my big Cricut scrapping tool for this step. Apply a top coat of Mod Podge to the piece making sure to spread it evenly.
Simply tear the excess paper around the edges when the Mod Podge is dry. I waited until the next day.
Chicken Wire for Trash to Treasure Project
The chicken wire is difficult to work with, doesn’t want to lay flat. Get it the best you can and place the backing over it. If you get that backing secured tightly, the wire will be fine. That finishes flattening the piece by sandwiching it between the glass and the backing.
Alright, so there are 3 trash to treasures from my stash of supplies. I certainly hope they have inspired you to repurpose something you have hanging around your place. I would love to see what you create and your thought on these projects in the comments below.
Check out some of my items over at my Etsy Shop.
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