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

Thrift Store Table from Drab to Fab with Parisian Flair

Isn't it great when you're walking along, minding your own business, when you hear someone something call out your name?  That's exactly what happened to me last summer.

This little "beauty" stood right outside a tiny thrift shop, waiting to be rescued!  It was in good condition, just a little dreary-looking.  All it needed was a new home and some TLC...

and my
BIG GIRL TOOLS!

First, I sanded the table.

Then painted it with "oops" paint

I found at my local Home Depot for fifty cents. 

It needed three coats.

While the paint dried, I looked for a French transfer printable

to add some flair to the table top.

I knew exactly where to find a great selection:

The Graphics Fairy.

I chose this beautiful graphic

from a pastry shop advertisement

dating back to the 1880's!

The transfer method was easy:

Print the graphic onto freezer paper in a reverse image.

Transfer the image onto the table

by rubbing the freezer paper

with the back of a spoon.

I also decided to add a smaller graphic to the bottom of the table,

then finished the table stand with two coats of paste finishing wax.

The table looks right at home in our guest bath,

which is decorated with a vintage Parisian theme.

 

This was such a fun and inexpensive project.

One of my aspirations this year is to transform several pieces of furniture.

I've got a magazine rack just waiting in the wings.

[Well, it's actually waiting in the garage!]

You might also like my

transformation of this pugly step stool.

I'm partying here and

Miss Mustard Seed


The CSI Project Furniture Transformation Challenge

[Note:  This post first appeared in January as part of my Crafty Contributor Series on The Ivy Cottage Blog, which is no longer available.]

Hopping on the Furniture Before-and-After Bandwagon

I spend a great deal of my online time reading creative blogs.  Blogs that inspire.  Blogs that make me smile.  And blogs with great "before and afters."  These are my favorite!  I've been captivated with furniture transformations, giving cast-offs a new lease on life.

Well, after two years of reading about them, I've finally joined the bandwagon, scouring neighborhood garage sales, swap meets, vintage markets and thrift shops in search of potential victims beauties. 

And here is my very first furniture before-and-after:  the step stool.

 

The Before
(They should've paid me to take it off their hands.)
 

And with sanding, painting and a freezer-transfer, I present

The After
 

              

 

 

 

And I'm just warming up!  I've got a few more fabulous finds waiting patiently for my next makeover.

Thanks to every one of you (and you know who you are) for your inspiration.  And a special thank you to Karen at The Graphics Fairy for some last-minute hand-holding advice.



Partying here: Graphics Fairy, Le Chateau des Fleurs,Mod Vintage Life Mod Mix MondayOne Artsy Mama, Lil Luna, Domestically Speaking, Project Queen, Ginger Snap Crafts, From my Front Porch to Yours THT, French Country Cottage, Suzy's Sitcom, House of Hepworths, Katherine's Corner,My Repurposed Life, Craftionary, Doodles and Stitches, Miss Mustard Seed, Serenity Now, The Answer is Chocolate, Flamingo Toes