Swap: Eclectic Tray

Let's Swap it Like it's HOT!

No matter how much I try to plan, Swap Day always seems to creep up on me!  Confused about what I'm talking about?  Swap it Like it's Hot is a fun thrift/diy swap between a bunch of amazing bloggers.  We head to the thrift store with a budget of around $10 and then we send our finds to someone else for them to re-envision, transform, DIY, or generally make awesome.  This is my 4th time participating in this diy extravaganza organized by Charlotte of Ciburbanity.  Check out my previous Swap It projects: Dipped Art & Plant Holder, Rustic Lamp, & Book Planter.

This time around, I was sent thrifted goodies from Erin Spain and I have to admit, she had me pretty stumped for a bit!  She sent me a basket with ducks on it, a "wood" plaque, a white pot, and 2 small metal trays.  For quite a while I was trying to figure out how I could transform, combine, or reinvent one or more of these pieces.

Finally an idea clicked so I decided to give it a shot!  I left the ducks out of this project- maybe I'll paint the basket in the future, but not today... Sorry ducks!!  My plan was to combine the trays, plaque and planter into one collage of a tray.  Not the most remarkable reuse, but I think the pieces ended up looking a bit better in the end!

I started by taking the tab off the top of the wood plaque (which was sadly laminate, not a real wood that I could stain), and taking the handles off of both little trays.  I covered it with blue tape so that I could mark where I needed to drill- 4 holes on each side for 2 sets of handles and a 4" hole for the plant pot to sit in.

After all the holes were in place, I quickly sanded the surface with a high grit sandpaper, and wiped it down with a sander/deglosser.  Then came spray primer and paint!

And let me assure you, everything was done with the proper safety precautions.  I'm not getting this kid high on spray paint fumes!

After the paint was dry, I used super glue in the small holes to affix the handles in place, and added felt pads to the bottom.

I admit, this isn't my favorite swap result of all time, but I am pleased with the way the double brass handles look on the silver sprayed tray.  It would be totally cute on a night stand holding a glass of water and chapstick, or on a coffee table to help corral remote controls, don't you think?

Now please run, don't walk, and check out what Amanda at Prim and Propah did with the goodies that I sent her!  What would you create with these items?

The fun's not over yet!  Check out all the AMAZING transformations that have been happening ALL WEEK!  I haven't had a chance to check them all out myself yet, but the ones that I have will blow you away!!

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MONDAY

Ciburbanity

Windgate Lane

Vin'yet Etc.

Casa Watkins Living

One Mile Home Style

TUESDAY

Reinvented

ConfettiStyle

Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer

Addicted 2 DIY

Restoration Redoux

I Am a Homemaker

Maggie Overby Studios

PMQ For Two

WEDNESDAY

Two Thirty-Five Designs

58 Water Street

Create & Babble

Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

Gourley Girl and Guy

The Charming Farmer

THURSDAY

This is our Bliss

Southern State of Mind

Two Purple Couches

My Life From Home

FRIDAY

Erin Spain

Copper Dot Interiors

Prim and Propah

Sweet Tea Refinishing

Eveys Creations

On Fern Avenue

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Thrift Score Thursday

You guys know how addicted I am to thrifting, right?  I've been an instagram follower and participant of #ThriftScoreThursday for a while, so I was honored when the lovely thrifting ladies asked me to guest host with them this week!  If you're new to Thrift Score Thursday, here's a quick catch-up: it's a weekly instagram link up party of thrifty goodness hosted by The Gathered Home, Primitive and Proper, A Designer at Home, and Maggie Overby Studios.  The party goes all week- any day of the week, just hashtag any of your awesome finds from thrift store, antique shops, tag sales, estate sales, or even the side of the road with #thriftscorethursday.  Every Thursday, the hosts share their own finds as well as their favorites of what was posted with the hashtag throughout the week.

My Latest Finds:

I do have to sadly admit that tag sales and estate sales have been sorely lacking around these parts lately, but never fear, I still manage to find a few goodies!

Last week I adopted this sweet brass birdcage for a whopping $3 and a few weeks back the little glass bubble sculpture came home with me for $1.  I keep carrying the birdcage from room to room- it fits everywhere and nowhere at the same time... I'm just waiting for it to tell me where it wants to live.. that's not weird, right?

The thrift find that I'm most giddy about hasn't actually come home from the thrift store yet:  2 sets of these awesome vintage wood theater seats are heading for the dance studio that I told you about Monday.  Not my usual cheap cheap deal, but a great value and they're salvaged from a local building- I can't wait to see them in the studio!

My Faves from Your Finds:

(from the #thriftscorethrusday instagram feed)

I'm beyond jealous of @undecorated_home's craigslist night stand finds!  She's already lovingly restored the one on the right and the grain really shines now.  Nice job!

@littlehouseoffour scored this vintage campaign desk for $20!

AND can we talk about this amazing chair that @chelsea_stylemutthome got for FREE???  The heart eye emoji isn't heart-eyed enough for this chair.

On a non furniture note, @at_home_in_maywood busted this little lady's head open and I'm so glad she did.  Plants are a perfect headdress for her!

Pop on over to my awesome cohost's blogs to see what they've scored lately and what they're swooning over!

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Craigslist Treasure Hunting

I'm in dire need of a basement clean-out over here (when am I not?), so I've been trying really hard to put a thrift spending embargo on anything larger than a book.  That's easier to do when it's not tag sale season, but I've been seeing everyone else posting their amazing thrift finds, making it tough lately.  The struggle is real.  So instead of really torturing myself and hitting the thrift stores, let's go virtually treasure hunting together- it's been too long. If this George Nelson-style expandable coffee table really is in excellent condition as they say, it could be an awesome piece.  Not a steal at $250, but not a bad deal either.  Polish it up with some tung oil and enjoy!

Emily Henderson could work MAGIC with this quirky portrait for $150.

Don't believe me?  This gentleman would fit right in on one of her rooms.  She always seems to make weird and almost creepy portraits look chic.  It's a gift.

Emily Henderson photos from stylebyemilyhenderson.com

The runner up for find of the day that one of you should rush out to Halifax MA and purchase is this mid century credenza and hutch for $110.  In the right space, this would be AMAZING, especially for $110!  Seriously someone please buy it so I can live vicariously through you.

And the find of the day is a chrome and brass vintage chandelier for $99.  I'm trying really hard to rack my brain and see if any of my client projects, present or future, need this.  I think they might.  Or I might.  We'll see....

When I'm in the mood for a bit of Craigslist entertainment, I'll do a search for items for sale with the key word "beautiful" or "gorgeous."  If you recall from last year's Craigslist PSA, the items usually aren't....  This time, "beautiful" was the jackpot.  Don't you want a "Solid, Reliable, Beautiful Cream Color Fridge"?  (*spoiler alert- it's not beautiful*) But it's only $150!  My "beautiful" search wasn't all bad, though.  I see tons of potential in this "Beautiful Teak Grandfather Clock."  If you could get them down from their asking price of $200 it could be a really neat character piece!

Apparently I had mid century modern on the brain today.  I hope you've enjoyed treasure hunting with me!

Have a great weekend and I'll see you Monday!