Swap it Like it's Hot: Thrift Store Home Decor

Happy Friday! I am so excited about this particular post. You know I love to thrift shop and I love just rummaging through second hand treasures. Before I go into detail about this post, I just wanted to say, "I have been a Swap it like it's Hot fan" for like forever and now I am an actual participant!!! Yay! This challenge is hosted by Charlotte from Ciburbanity and the concept behind it is similar to Flea Market Flip minus the big DIY projects and the moola at the end. Instead of shopping the flea market for your items, another blogger mails you your item and it is your job to repurpose it. Think small scale--crafts and home decor.

You may remember, I participated in something similar back in December for a Secret Santa Thrift Swap, I loved that one too. Second hand gifts sometimes are the best! If you are visiting from Homemade by Carmona, Welcome...she is the blogger that sent me my items. Let me say, she blew me away, I was not expecting to receive all this thrift store goodness from her. I really wanted to keep everything in its original condition, but that is not the name of the game.

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Ursula from Homemade Carmona, sent me metal jewelry tray holder with little embossed roses, an acrylic letter holder, small vintage trays, a small framed mirror, and a mancala board. I had plans to show everything that I repurposed, but that would have called for a lengthy post. You will have to keep in contact to see how I flipped the other items.

Remember my big bathroom dilemma? In the moodboard I created, I included some lotus candle holders turned wall art. I cannot afford the real thing, so I recreated them using the metal jewelry holder as a base.

Materials

1-Large flower (I purchased mine from Michael's)
Tiered stand or plates
Spray paint
Plaster of Paris
E-6000
Sanding block

Steps

1. Make sure plates are cleaned of debris and grime
2. Take flower apart and separate them into 3 sections-be careful the leaves may rip easily. I have 2-3 sections of leaves for each flower I will create. Keep the stem in the middle of the large and medium size flower stacks. I kept the inner flower that creates the bud in tact.
3. In a bucket, follow mixing directions for plaster of paris. Once plaster and water are mixed properly, dip flowers in the mixture. Do this fast, the mixture dries quickly.
4. Using a cup or a bowl flipped upside down, have the plaster flowers rest on it upside down (see image above)
5. once the flowers are firm enough to sit on its own right side up, flip them over and let them cure for 24 hours.
6. Once dry, spray paint to your desired color and let dry.
7. Lastly, secure them to the plates using E6000.

All of my floral pieces openings are wide enough to place a candle inside. I do not think it would be a smart idea to light them, if you decide to recreate this. My plans for this is to actually use them as a form of sculpted art on the wall in my guest/children's bathroom.

Purely decorative, eh? If you want to see more simple DIY's from yours truly, please subscribe to blog so you never miss a beat!

Don't forget to finish up this #SwapItLikeItsHOT second hand party by stopping by Evey's Creation. Check out what I sent her...trust me you do not want to miss this...and see how she repurposed it. I am excited.