Upcycled Toy Chest into Ice Cooler

Do you have an old toy chest that your 

kids have outgrown?

Upcycle it into a very cool ice cooler. 

See the makeover for this box 

on my new blog, Altered Artworks on Wordpress.

Upcycled Toy Chest to Ice Cooler

Vintage Tiered Planter Goes Tropical

Even though spring has just sprung, this vintage planter has hit the summer tropics with bold colors. To see its complete transformation, visit my new blog at Altered Artworks on Wordpress.  Hope you'll follow my new blog and continue to check in here for creative inspiration.

Jewelry Holder for the Tennis Fan

You gotta love a sport where each game starts with the word LOVE.  

Even though it means you haven't scored any points yet, it is a kinder way to say ZERO.

When DecoArt asked me to create room decor for a sports fan, tennis immediately came to mind.  As it turns out,  I am a decent player on the doubles court.  

I started this project on a search for a vintage wooden tennis racquet  You can usually find them hiding in the corners of thrift stores.  I paid $6, which was a bargain compared to the ones I saw at last week's flea market for $50 and more!

I sketched out my plan to turn the racquet into not only decor, but a useful jewelry holder.  

I chose colors that tied into tennis: blue representing the courts and neon yellow for the ball, with white & black for the trim.  The paints are Americana Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic.

 First, I painted the entire racquet (including the strings).

 Then I painted white stripes on the handle and sides of the racquet face

 and added rhinestones around the frame.

The ball was a bit tricky.  I didn't want to try cutting a real tennis ball in half. After some thought, I used a paper mache cupcake top, which has a flat bottom.  I painted it neon yellow with white stripes, added a sticker that reads, "Queen of the Court," and hot glued it to the racquet face.

 Lastly, I screwed small cup hooks into the holes where the strings are looped through.

Voila!  Not only will I kill it on the court, I will now be able to quickly accessorize my outfit before warming up.  

You might also like these handmade gift ideas for sports fans:

Recipe-in-a-Tennis Ball Can

Sports Fan Gifts

Pull Tab for Chocolate

Sharing this project at these parties:

From my Front Porch to Yours

Posed Perfection

Disclosure: DecoArt provided me with product and compensation for this project. 

However, all ideas and opinions are 100% my own.

Fall Porch Planter Decor

Another thrift store find gets a makeover!

This is an easy transformation. 

It started with this old wooden planter.

I added a coat of paint

[used Americana Decor multi-purpose satin acrylic 

in Pumpkin Patch]

and sprayed it with a clear matte sealer.

Then I transferred this typography printable from 

The Graphics Fairy,

using the freezer paper transfer method.

It looks grainy, because the wood is far from smooth, 

and I didn't sand it because I wanted to keep its rustic look.

Then I planted two mini pepper plants, bacopa, and a small palm.

If you look closely, I also added small pine cones and

 faux cranberry stems,

 because after all, the planter says 

"Cape Cod Cranberries."

This planter now sits on top of my garden stand on our front porch, 

above my Halloween sign.

This project is featured at:

The Graphics Fairy

The Answer is Chocolate BFF Open House

You may also like

Tiered Terra Cotta Planter

Altered Mailbox Decor

Garden Theme Chalkboard

Meet me at some of these parties as well as:

Brag About It

Life As We Know It

Romantic Home

The Sunday Social

The Cottage Market

Adirondack Girl at Heart

From my Front Porch to Yours

The Handmade Hangout

Posed Perfection

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

Kammy's Korner Trash-2-Treasure

French Country Cottage

Adventures Frugal Mom

Answer is Chocolate

Mad in Crafts

Tidy Mom

I Gotta Create

Funky Junk Interiors

Tater Tots & Jello

Juggling Real Food & Real LIfe

Game Night with Old Friends

I'm participating in the DecoArt Mystery Box Challenge.  

Please visit the site and vote for your favorite!

Hint:  My project is #9

My MahJongg group had just left when I received a mystery box in the mail from DecoArt.  I quickly opened it, revealing its contents: a paper mache box in the shape of a house, luscious fluid acrylics in four vibrant hues, DecouPage and Liquid Glass.   It was the perfect starting point for my project, “Game Night with Old Friends.” 

Game Night was, and still is, popular among friends and families.  Vintage games are resurfacing including MahJongg, Scrabble and Rummy-Q.  So I used iconic game pieces to turn my paper mache house into a FUN-KY candy holder, perfect for our next Girls Night Out.  

Products Used:  

Paper Mache House Box (by Darice)

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Quinacidone Magenta, Hansa Yellow, Cerulean Blue, Titanium White & Carbon Black

DecoArt DecouPage

DecoArt Media Liquid Glass

Supplies:

Rubber Stamps (from River City Rubberworks)

Staz-On Black Ink Pad

Paint chips

1” foam brushes

Paper Cutter

2-sided adhesive tape & glue dots

Embellishments:  Iconic game pieces

The How To

Paint sides and roof of paper mache house with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics.  I painted each side a different color.

Stamp images on paint chips using Staz-On ink.  Cut paint chips to fit box sides and adhere stamped images to house using DecouPage by brushing medium on back of paint chip and paper mache house.  

Add embellishments using DecouPage (it's also a glue!), adhesive tape or glue dots. 

Paint Scrabble trays with Media Fluid Acrylic.  Spell out “Old Friends” using scrabble tiles, 

and place on trays.

This MahJongg rule book from 1958 was a great flea market find.

Place finished house onto BINGO card and display on game board.  Fill box with old-time

candy and share at your next Game Night. 

 How many games can you find in this project?  Do you spot your favorite game?

Disclosure:  I was provided product from DecoArt but all opinions and ideas are my own.

Vintage Magazine Side Table Transformed with Chalky Finish Paint

If you're a regular reader of Altered Artworks, then you know I love a good flea market.  A few months ago, I found this magazine side table at the local Topanga Vintage Market.  

It had good bones but desperately needed a makeover. 

I was finally inspired when DecoArt contacted me to join 

their artist program and try their Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint. 

They have a good selection of colors and finishes.  

You can find their Chalky Finish paint at many retailers including Home Depot, which is where I buy all my painting supplies.  As much as I want to rush right into the project, it's important to prepare your painting area and gather all your materials including painter's cloths, plastic sheeting, hand sander, brushes, disposable gloves, and any hardware or other supplies you need.

First, I thoroughly wiped down the table with a damp cloth.  That's all the prep you need with this paint.  Its chalky consistency easily adheres and covers most surfaces.

Since I was going for a summery, beach look, I painted the entire surface with a 50/50 mix of "Everlasting" and "Treasure."  It only needed one coat to cover the old wood surface.  Then I lightly brushed a watered-down "Everlasting" to create the worn beachy look I was going for, and painted the edges of the magazine holders with 100% "Everlasting."

When this dried (which was very quick), I lightly sanded the table with 240 grit sandpaper.  I wanted the original wood to show through in some areas and especially along the edges and curves, and was amazed how easily the chalky finish paint distressed the table.

DecoArt makes beautiful vinyl stencils.  The Americana Decor stencil line is one of my favorites, as I love their vintage look.  I chose both the Cafe Paris and Old World Numbers for this project.

After taping down the stencil so it stays in place, I used a stencil brush, and lightly dabbed the paint in an up and down motion, completely covering the stencil design.  I used the color, "Carbon" for the designs.

S-l-o-w-l-y, carefully lift the stencil to see your image.

Just wash and gently rub the stencils under water to clean them to use over and over again.

I again lightly sanded the images to further distress the table.

Using Americana Decor Creme Wax and a dry lint-free cloth, 

I went over the entire table with the wax.  

After it thoroughly dried (allow about an hour), I buffed the table, creating a soft shine.  

This also protects the surfaces from daily use.

The last detail was to add sliders at the bottom of the four legs to prevent scratches on a wood floor and to easily glide over carpets.  

I found these Adhesive Spike and Stick Sliders at Home Depot that were easily hammered in place.  

The original sticker on the bottom of the table shows that it was manufactured by the 

Los Angeles Woodworking Company and made in the USA, probably in the 1930-40's.  

Here is the completed magazine side table.

As nice as the magazine side table looks beside the pool, it actually found its new home in our daughter's bedroom, which already has a beachy theme.  Magazines are now easily accessible while lounging in bed, and the table is just the right size for a cup of tea and/or fresh flowers.

Our scottie dog, Coconut, approves!  

I already have big plans for my next furniture transformation using 

Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint.   

Have you tried this amazing paint yet?

Disclosure:  I received product and compensation from DecoArt towards the transformation of this project.   However, all ideas and opinions are completely my own.


You might like these painted projects:

Framed in Chicken Wire & Burlap

Nightstand from Blah to Beauty-ful

***

Sharing at these fun sites:
A new linky party:
Adirondack Girl at Heart
Patina Paradise
The Painted Drawer
Diana Rambles Pin Me Linky Party (I've been Featured!)
Villabarnes
A Peek into my Paradise
Finding Silver Pennies
Polka Dot Poplars
The Answer is Chocolate
Artsy Fartsy Mama
The Cottage Market
French Country Cottage
Adventures of Mel Inspire Me Wed.
Stacey Embracing Change
Moonlight Mason Jars Linky Party
Wake UP Wednesday
The Crafty Blog Stalker
Crafty Allie
The 36th Avenue
VMG 206 Brag About It
Elizabeth & Co.
Purfylle
Art is Beauty
Optimistic Mommy Best of the Blogosphere
Merry About Town Monday Funday
Domestically Speaking
Life with Lorelai
Dear Creatives
It's Overflowing
Intelligent Domestications
I Should Be Mopping the Floor Inspiration Monday
Funky Junk Interiors
French Country Cottage
Coastal Charm
Diana Rambles
Common Ground
Summer Scraps 
Miss Mustard Seed FFF
What Erika Wears
Occasionally Crafty
Olives 'n' Okra
My Repurposed Life
Just Another Mom
From My Front Porch to Yours
my salvaged treasures
Organized 31
I Gotta Create