I’m excited to be a part of this month’s Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge! Scroll down to read about the Challenge, and see how this project evolved!
The Rules:
- Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
- There’s no monthly theme.
- There’s no budget to stick to.
Meet the Hosts
Amanda | The Kolb Corner Kim | Made in a Day
Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled Pili | Sweet Things
Debra | Shoppe No. 5 Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay Sue | A Purdy Little House
Kimm | Reinvented Ann | Duct Tape and Denim Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home
Dru | Polka Dot Poplars Toni | Small Home Soul Angela | Simply Beautiful by Angela
Michelle | Our Crafty Mom Marie | DIY Adulation Chelsea | Making Manzanita
Michelle | Michelle James Designs Denise | My Thrifty House Sara | Twelve on Main
Molly | Just a Little Creativity Chelc | Inside the Fox Den
Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek Florence | Vintage Southern Picks
Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!
Fancy Vintage Planter Made from Thrift Store Finds
One day recently I was in the Salvation Army Thrift Store to see if I could find something…ANYTHING to inspire me for the monthly Thrift Store Challenge. I’m a part of a group of DIY’ing bloggers, so I want my project to be worthwhile.
The rules are simple: transform a thrift store find, yard sale find, or resale store find into a new piece of decor. No theme to stick to and no budget.
Wouldn’t you know it…I couldn’t find a darn thing! Doesn’t Murphy’s Law say, when you’re looking for it, you can’t find it?? Out of the store empty-handed! All you like-minded shoppers know exactly what I mean.
A few days later, I drove across town to another Thrift Store I like, but don’t go to often because of the distance. I found mostly things for my Etsy shop, but nothing to repurpose. And THEN……I SAW it!
Finding the Thrift Store Treasure~
It was pricey, but at 30%-off-day, I got a beauty for $4.19.
I fell in love…and knew what I wanted to do…
This is wire and metal with a perfectly chippy look! You can see in the bottom photo that it is actually a sconce to hang on the wall like this! (below)
The Repurpose Plan
Simple. Hang it upside down and put a trailing plant in its little “tray”… (the top of the sconce).
Off to the nursery….
Since I live in the Deep South, planting season is over because it’s so darn hot. Nobody is in the mood for outdoor gardening! So it was slim pickings at the plant place, but I found exactly what I was looking for….”Creeping Jenny,” my favorite trailing plant. $3.74 for a little pot.
And then as I was walking past one of my junky piles at home, I spied a funky gold thing I’ve had in my stash for a whole year. I’d been pondering how to use it.
I’m talking about that gold thing on the bottom. I found it at a Thrift Store in Maryville, Tennessee. I think I paid 99¢.
These were part of my “Smoky Mountain Pickin'” haul…a bunch of fabulous vintage finds from a year ago with a little history of the abandoned town of Elkmont in the Smokies.
I’ve seen the gold thing repurposed into a cute necklace holder, so I planned to do that and list in my Etsy shop, but I never got around to it.
So what does this have to do with the sconce? I’ll tell you…I had a light bulb moment! Let’s put the gold thing on the bottom of the sconce to decorate it and add a bit of extra oomph! I got busy spray painting it white.
And by the way, here’s the “Cheapskate Picker’s” cheapskate spray painting station~
I asked hubby to drill a hole in the masonry for me, and here it is!
The Finished Fancy Planter
Don’t you think this would have been a bajillion dollars at Pottery Barn or Ikea??
And with the trailing tendrils of Creeping Jenny….
View from the driveway~
I’m so proud of the new fancy planter!
About Creeping Jenny
As you can see, it’s a pretty trailing plant, and ground cover. Though it looks delicate, it’s actually hardy and versatile if you give it plenty of water. During the Summer, I water and mist its leaves twice a day, and it’s thriving! I thought it was a shade-loving plant, and it is, but it also does well in sun. It’s easy to root, too, if you want to propagate. Just snip some tendrils and stick in water.
Hope you liked the fancy vintage planter made from thrift store finds!
And now, don’t forget to visit the other bloggers in the Thrift Store Challenge to see their inspiring projects!
Sharing with these link parties~
And now for more thrifty goodness!
Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!
—
Florence
Latest posts by Florence (see all)
- The Latest Vintage Hauls - February 10, 2020
- A Vintage Fall Haul - November 3, 2019
- September Sales on Etsy and My New Antique Booth - September 30, 2019
- Camping Trip Thrift Store Haul - August 2, 2019
Love this! Need to find some cool planter parts like that. Visiting from Thrift Store Challenge.
Thank you Victoria! I got lucky when I found that sconce thing!
Your planter looks great! I like Creeping Jenny, too. I like how the leaves are so tiny and how it trails down — and I live in hot-hot-hot Savannah, GA. You are so creative to think of how the pieces would fit together (a light-bulb moment?). I like the white spray-paint job, too. Kudos on a unique and attractive result!
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
Thank you so much Mimi! I love the Creeping Jenny, and I live in Alabama, so I got plenty of heat, just like you! Yes it was definitely a light bulb moment for me! Thanks for dropping by to comment!!
What a vision to combine those finds together, because they look as if they were meant to be one and to be used as a planter. Don’t say it too loud, Ikea or Pottery Barn may be listening.
Thank you Pili! I couldn’t believe either how well they fit together! Pottery Barn & Ikea, eat your heart out…LOL
It turned out so cute and I love creeping jenny!
Thank you Linda! It’s a great plant for something like this!
Wow, wow, wow! I never would have thought to put these two pieces together, but they work perfectly. I love it.
Thank you Dru! They work better than I thought! Almost didn’t do it…glad I did.
How ingenious! You really hit a home run with this one:) I’ve never heard of creeping jenny but now I want to get some. It looks great in your beautiful new planter, perfect!
xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Thank you Kathleen! Glad you dropped by!
Those pair together perfectly! And that plant looks way cool in it 🙂
Thank you Angela!
This looks great! Watch out because you might see these all over the popular stores next Summer! The creeping jenny looks great in it too. Hardy plants are my kind of plants 🙂
Thank you Amanda! I’m loving it! Ha! I’d love to see my creation out there, but then again…I probably don’t.
Well those two pieces were meant for each other, Florence. What a beautiful planter!
Thank you Marie! I’m so excited how it all came together!
Your project was great. I’m in Maine and I’ve never seen creeping Jenny. I think your sconce thing originally had a glass shelf on it to make a shelf to go with the candle sconces; those 2 pieces sure went together well. It would be pretty at Christmas with greenery in it, too! I.n bew to this aspect of DIY and I see that it will take me some practice to think outside the box!
Thank you Kathy! I was thinking the same thing too…that the sconce probably had a glass shelf at one time. Thank you for the comment about “being new to this DIY thing.” I STILL try to think outside the box myself…you have to train yourself I think. It’s not natural for me either.
Wow, it’s beautiful! Great job Florence! :o)
Tania
Thank you Tania!
I just love it when all the gears in someones head click together and a light bulb moment happens. Your planter turned out so beautifully Florence. The sconce and the gold thingy where meant to be together. Beautiful
P.S. I have a Cheapskate spray booth just like yours 😉
Thank you Michelle! Didn’t they go together well? I was so pleased! LOL on the paint booth!
Florence, This turned out so charming!! I did have to smile when I saw it because I have the same old Home Interiors shelves that you used for the base, in my Powder Room!! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and to leave such a kind comment!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thank you Debbie! I appreciate your comment so much too!
What a unique planter/sconce! The Creeping Jenny makes it look so cool. Great makeover.
Kim
Thank you Kim! I appreciate your comment!
What a great idea, Florence!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you Jodie! So sweet of you to come by and comment!
I love this Florence. What a wonderful combination of items and the plant is a fabulous choice.
Thank you Kim! Appreciate your visit & comment!
Florence, this is so pretty. I love how you put the 2 pieces together. I also love how it looks so delicate and showcases the plant.
Thank you so much Debra!
This is genius. I love how the trailing jenny brings this price to life. What a score.
Thank you Sue!
I love so much to “hack” items and give them a whole different use! I think it is the best you could do with this! Genius idea and excellent work my friend 🙂
Thank you so much Christina! I appreciate the visit!
Your planter looks great! 🙂
Thank you so much!!!
Well doggoned it, your upcycle turned out pretty spiffy I’d say. Little spray paint and imagination and you’re good to go. love plant you used. Wonder if they have those here in western CO. Is so darned hot and dry here so many plants can’t handle it.
Your project looks nice hanging on wall, great redo.
We lived in KY for 5 yrs., summers were 100 degrees and 100% humidity, the natives complained. For somebody that had lived in dry climates for years didn’t handle it too well, have arthritis, allergies and asthma.
Enjoy your Sunday
Why JaneEllen, thank you so much for the kind words!! I have no idea if this would live in CO…probably would….just give it water! You know, I live in Alabama, so I know all about heat & humidity! Are your allergies & arthritis really better out there in the dryer climate? I’ve heard it’s so, but always wondered. I have the same ailments!
Florence you´ve had such a great idea adding the bottom part. It looks fantastic and so beautiful with the creeping Jenny plant inside!
Thank you Katrin! I sure love it!
This is so pretty! I love the way you were so creative and combined two items to make one fabulous piece! I love the creeping Jenny! It’s a perfect home for it!
Jeannee
Thank you so much Jeannee! Thanks for the sweet words, and for dropping by!
Your fancy vintage planter is perfect!! It’s perfect with your plant!
Thank you Cindy! Appreciate your visit & comment!
Florence I love the way you have these light bulb moments. This came out so unique and no you would never find it in Ikea and if you did at Pottery Barn it would cost an arm and a leg. So you are a genius by coming up with such an original idea for a planter. The plant is also very pretty!
Thank you Mary! I love it when I have light bulb moments too…just wish I had them more often…LOL!
Wow Florence, this turned out beautiful. You are very creative. Now that is a way to showcase a pretty plant.
Janet
rosemary-thyme.blogspot.com
Thank you Janet! Appreciate the sweet words! Thank you for dropping in!
Love you planter, Florence–so pretty and creative to boot. You had a really terrific “aha” moment 🙂
Thank you so much Diana for coming by to visit! Appreciate the compliment!
I love this, and have the perfect spot for something like this on my patio. I could also kick myself in the butt because last week we stopped at a church sale and they had a wire wall planter that I could of used to make something similar to this but I didn’t buy it.
Oh, bummer Linda that you didn’t pick up the similar thing at the church sale. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that. I should be black & blue from how many times I’ve kicked myself!
I think those two thrifted pieces were made to go together Florence. Your new planter looks totally fabulous… a job well done!
Thank you for linking up at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring this project at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Thank you Kerryanne! I’m thrilled to be chosen at the party!
Florence, I love how you married the two items together to make the planter, so pretty and brilliant. I also love Creeping Jenny and have some in my back yard. I want to test plant it on a steep hillside and see if it can help keep the weeds down.
Thank you Toni! I’m just learning about Creeping Jenny too. I bet they would help with your weeds. I saw some used recently on a pathway at an estate sale. They were so pretty, and there wasn’t a weed in it that I saw.
Florence, this project turned out wonderfully. I loved that you showcased Creeping Jenny in your fancy vintage planter. Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle and I am featuring your planter at Saturday’s party!
Thank you so much Sharon! What an honor! I’m thrilled!
I love your up-cycle! It’s perfect by your door. I’ll have to look for the plant too. It’s hotter than you know what here in central Fl now too. Any plant other than a weed that can handle the heat is a winner in my book!
Thank you so much Wendi! Give Creeping Jenny a try! Thanks for dropping in for a visit!
Love this planter transformation! Awesome job!
Thank you Chelc!
This is so pretty. I love that you made a planter out of a sconce and a gold thingy. LOL! You are very creative!
What a surprise! Thank you, Michelle, for taking the time to comment on the planter! I appreciate it!!
This is adorable Florence, I love it and the creeping Jenny is one of my favourites – such a pretty plant 🙂
Thank you so much Sarah! Appreciate you stopping by!