It’s that time of month again, friends! It’s time for the Monthly DIY challenge! In case you’re new, here’s the scoop: On the 2nd Wednesday of every month, me and my bloggy friends get together and create something based on a common material or idea that everyone uses. The end results are so unique and fantastic! So far we’ve done Michaels crates, pumpkins, wood slices, clear ornaments, organizational solutions, plumbing pieces, and the dollar store. This month we decided to look in our dump or goodwill piles and see what we could salvage for a trash to treasure transformation! Be sure to stick around to the end of the post to see everyone else’s AMAZING projects!
When hubby and I moved into our very first house, we discovered that the previous owners had left something behind. Some things were useful – like shovels and tools so we didn’t have to buy our own, but other less desirable things were also left in the garage like broken bits of drywall, glass mirror, and an odd, dead little potted plant. I think it used to be an orchid. Here’s a picture of the pot in our ‘dump run’ pile that we reallllyyyy need to get rid of.
As you can see the previous owners also left behind a weird Roman-esque pot. I will not be saving that one. Haha. And here’s a bit more of a closeup so you can see this flower pot in all it’s glory:
I mean, it’s okay as it is – I mean, the base of it is my favorite aqua hue. But I wasn’t really digging the spikey blue tree branch thingies. So it was time, to switch ‘er up! I started off by dumping out the old dirt and dead orchid and wiping down the outside of the pot with a Clorox wipe. After that it was 2 simple and quick coats of Rust Oleum’s paint + primer in 1 in a brilliant white.
As you can see the little white branch ‘petals’ from the original design are still visible through the white paint because the ceramic is raised. Kind of looks like goosebumps! I wasn’t going for the “my flower pot is chilly” look, so I whipped out my gold sharpie and gold leaf pen.
At first I tried my gold sharpie, but it looked to dark and dull, as you can see in the dots on the left. I then tried my gold leaf paint pen by itself, but it wouldn’t adhere to the spray paint and just wiped off. My solution? Do the dots first with the sharpie and then go over it with the gold leaf pen and voila! Bright shiny peppy gold dots, as seen on the right. Bam!
I think this little flower pot has definitely gone from trash to treasure! The white and the gold polka dot combo is a real winner for me. It just looks so much more modern! Now to set about finding a new little plant to put in it. I went to Home Depot and went round and round in their ‘indoor houseplant’ section, googling the names of all the plants. You see, I have 2 cats. And these 2 cats LOVE, I mean LOVE to nibble on plants. No flowers my husband brings home for me are ever safe. Ever! So I had to make sure that my new fauna friend was non-toxic to pets. After googling like 10 a gajillion (yep, a gajillion) plants I came across the perfect plant – the Cat Palm! Haha, how fitting. It’s like it was meant to be. I think it adds the perfect amount of greenery to our home! Now let’s just see if I can keep it alive for more than a few weeks…
I’m glad I got the Cat Palm because my cats are definitely interested in it! They have seriously been all over it – sniffing and nibbling it and at the time of this writing it’s only been in the house for 10 minutes. We will see if it makes it.
I’m definitely glad I gave this guy a second look! It’s nice having some greenery to brighten things up. I will force myself to have a green thumb if it’s the last thing I do! I will!
Now that you’ve seen my trash to treasure challenge, head on over to all my bloggy friends’ pages to see all of their AMAZING creations. Seriously you guys, the creativity in this group just blows me away! Click on a picture below to be taken to a post and be prepared to be amazed 🙂
LOVE it Erica! It’s really amazing to see how something can change so much with just a little paint! And brilliant problem solving my friend!
Aw, thanks so much, Kristi! I’m so glad I didn’t throw it out – my husband keeps commenting on how much he loves the new plant in the house!
Such a great find! I love that you added the gold to the “goosebumps,” its like it was meant to be!
Thank you so much, Katie! I definitely think it was meant to be 🙂 Now I just need to focus on remembering to water the darn thing!
Pretty makeover, Erica! That’s a cute little pot… love the legs on it! Plonks like it’s a hit with your cats! 🙂
Thanks so much, Kendra! I think the legs are a lot of fun, too. And the cats totally dig it… maybe a little tooooo much 😉
So chic! And I LOL’d at the ‘my pot is chilly’ comment … haha
Haha, glad I could make you laugh! It really did look like goosebumps! I’m definitely glad I decided to give those bad boys a coat of gold haha
Ahh I love this! You should send a thank you to the previous owners haha. And more importantly, will you be using all that glorious scrap wood for next month’s challenge?! Love that it’s called a Cat Palm too, so fitting 🙂
Haha, I should totally send them a thank you note – they’ve been providing me with good blog material! Sadly all that wood outside is moldy and really bendy after being in the Washington rain :/ But I’ve got something else in mind!!
Amazing how much better it looks in white and gold! The plant you chose is really pretty too. And your kitties are adorable :).
D’aw, thanks Amy! My kitties are pretty adorable and also notorious plant eaters – my new palm already has so many nibble marks!
This is such an adorable trash to treasure project!! It sounds like your previous homeowners also used to own my home! They left us a TON of junk, too!! (Waterlogged couch in basement, broken down bar in basement, glass top kitchen table that was perched upon a strange garden column, a ton of pots and planters . . . the list goes on and on!) I love how you got those gold dots to stay on there, and I’m glad your kitties like their new palm. 🙂
Haha oh my goodness, Bre! They left a TON of stuff at your house!! Yowzah! Luckily they just left stuff in the garage and most of it was useful like tools and extra paint, but there was definitely a corner full of weird random broken stuff. Hah. Oh, people.
Lovely makeover my friend! Love the added gold dots! Let’s not forgot about your adorable little kitty’s too, they are so cute!
Aw, thanks so much Tara! I’ve decided I’m not going to try to keep my cats out of photos anymore – it’s too much work! Whenever I set something up to photograph they always have to come over and investigate!
Oh this is so cute! I love the gold dots! And I LOVE that plant!! Cat palm is totally appropriate!! I seriously can’t many love plants in the house because my cats EAT them! Everyday I’ll find leaves chewed off. They aren’t interested in my succulents, thank goodness. 😉 Hope it lasts!!
Haha, sammmeeee here. Any plant I bring into our house is a target! All my flower bouquets that my hubby brings home never make it very long before they are chewed to bits. This cat palm has DEFINITELY been nibbled (okay chewed) on a LOT since I brought it home, but it still seems to be doing okay. Fingers crossed!
Super cute, Erica!!! The pot looks so stylish now with the white and gold. Awesome job! And I know I’ve said it before, but I’m super jealous of all your awesome beadboard! It just adds so much character! 🙂
Thanks so much, Christina! And I wish I could send you some of my beadboard – I love it but it’s covering almost every wall in my house! It really is a nice texture for photos, though 🙂