Hey heeeeeeey!If you are popping over from Danielle from 2 Little Superheroes, thanks for coming!! And WELCOME to #SwapItLikeItsHot version 3.0! This is my second time participating and it is always a blast!
Danielle sent me: a wooden mail sorter, a wooden letter N, a flower plate, a ceramic round vase, and an old frame (not pictured):
So I was shocked I got so many things to work with and as soon as I saw that wooden mail sorter, I examined to to find that all the pieces were only secured with a couple staples!
So the first thing I did was pull off the back piece that was stapled on, and the rest of the pieces easily pulled apart.
After A LOT of thinking and procrastinating, I finally decided on making a mini plank board to put inside another old frame I have. I took cut off all the rounded corners with my miter saw, then cut the pieces in 2″ wide strips. They weren’t quite as long as the width of the frame, so I stagger-cut them, to make it look more like a plank. I was short by 1 piece, so I used some 1/4″ plywood to fill in that space (at the bottom):
Once all the length were lined up, I took that back wooden piece that I took off previously, put some wood glue on it, and hammered in those staples again to the back of the planks.
I added a couple more small tack nails to secure down the planks, then flipped it over and sanded the finish off.
I let it dry for a bit, then used Minwax Special Walnut stain and Minwax Weathered Gray stain to give a “reclaimed” look to all the planks. Then I placed the mini plank board inside the frame, tapped a few nails in the sides to secure it in place and hung it on my wall!
I think this will be the perfect place to hang an inspiration quote, or piece of art, seasonally, without having to worry about a mat or getting something the right size… just pin a picture in the center and voila! I chose this beautiful printable by my friend, Kristen from Ella Claire Blog, which has colors that I’m incorporating into my spring decor:
So, you remember that row of hooks that was on the bottom of that mail sorter? when I took everything apart, I decided to just use a nail gun to nail it into an empty frame I had, so I could hang something from the hooks. I didn’t like their light oak color, so I used GF Java stain to darken the frame and the hook board. After scouring all my drawers for something fun to hang, I decided on some loose crystal prisms I had. It adds a little unexpected sparkle to my gallery wall!
The frame that Danielle sent me was very similar to the one I used for the plank board, but longer and skinner. As I was thinking of what else I wanted to fill my gallery wall with, I found an old letter written to my husband by his grandma. It was a farewell/good luck letter before he left to the United States from Brazil when he was 18 (16 years ago), and it was full of advice and things she wanted him to remember about family, about himself, and about her. I love hand-written letters. They are becoming a lost art, and I especially love the hand-writing of older generations. The letter fit perfectly in this frame.
On my newly refinished restoration hardware inspired end table, I added the last thrift store makeover… the little ceramic vase that I spray painted gold!
It totally reminds me of something I’ve seen at Target, and I love how simple and shiny it is!
So what do you think? I only gave *true* makeovers to just 2 of the items and just used the frame she sent in my gallery wall…
Which one was your favorite?
Now are you ready to see what thrift store gems I bought for Erin from Live Pretty On A Penny?
Go check out her blog to see what makeovers she gave them!
This crazy awesomeness of swapping thrift store finds has been going on all week! Take a look below to see everyone’s posts!
Day 1
Run to Radiance
Decor Adventures
Year of Serendipity
58 Water Street
Don’t Disturb This Groove
Like a Saturday
Artsy Chicks Rule
Day 2
Two Purple Couches
While They Snooze
The Gathered Home
Black and White Obsession
Ciburbanity
Restoration Redoux
Confessions of aSerial Do-it-Yourselfer
Day 3
Primitive & Proper
Queen of Everything
That’s My Letter
Finding Silver Pennies
Migonis Home
Windgate Lane
Day 4
I Am a Homemaker
Town and Country Living
Thoughts from Alice
Our Southern Home
Chic Little House
SG Style
Two Thirty~Five Designs
Day 5
Gourley Girl & Guy
The Thinking Closet
The Charming Farmer
2 Little Superheroes
Shades of Blue Interiors
Live Pretty on a Penny
Danielle says
You did such an amazing job! I never ever would have thought about taking the mail sorter a part. You rock! I hope you didn’t feel like you had to use everything I sent. I just wanted you to have lots of options:)
cassie says
love how you created a beautiful rustic backdrop for beautiful art!
cassie says
ps- the link to gourley girl isn’t working. i started here to make the rounds so was going to go through and wanted to let you know!
Trisha D. @Black and White Obsession says
That wooden background mixed with the modern spring print is absolutely lovely!! I totally agree that that golden vase looks straight from target! Isn’t metallic spray paint just the best?
Bee says
Love it all! great job!!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
What a fabulous makeover!! I love what you did with your mail sorter!
Nancy
Charlotte @ Ciburbanity says
Wait… what?! That’s genius!! Love the rustic look and would never in a jillion years seen that mail sorter and come even close. Sneaky crafty lady! Thanks for participating again! xx
Heather @ Queen of Everything says
I love the planks in the frame AND the crystals! The stains you chose were gorgeous.
Kristen says
I love your whole gallery wall Rachel! And adding planks to that frame was genius! So pretty!
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
Wow I love that you tried to use all of your items and you did a fantastic job! Love that you framed the letter, so special, and love the “reclaimed wood” art!
Brynne@TheGatheredHome says
WOW. This is just brilliant!!! The rustic wood in that golden frame is my favorite, but really the way you used everything is lovely!
Cecilia says
Your pics look just great. I must agree, simple but elegant design is the best. Thanks for sharing.
Emily @ Two Purple Couches says
Your makeovers turned out awesome!! I think my favorite of the three is the framed hooks with the prisms, because it’s just so sparkly and unexpected!
Jessica @ Decor Adventures says
I totally thought you were going to repaint that thing and use it for sorting mail or something, but you took it apart and framed it on the wall! How awesome!
What a creative idea. And cute score on the little vase, it’s a Target knock off 🙂