Organized Clutter

About 10 years ago, I found this old black metal lunchbox at a garage sale. My grandpa carried one of these to his job at the paper mill.  My dad worked there also but his lunchbox was hard plastic. I found this old lunchbox in my shed the other day and got an idea for a makeover.  Scroll on down to see it's new upcycle along with my Thrift Store Decor Team's April projects too!

I pick up inexpensive enamelware at garage sales and thrift shops all the time.  I find most of my enamelware for $5 to $10, sometimes less. Some are reproduction enamelware.  Pieces in excellent condition will not get drainage holes, but instead, become inside pieces.  Buying ceramic or terracotta flowerpots would be more expensive and would pose a winter storage hassle.  Enamelware works great for both indoor and outdoor planters, holiday decor, and farmhouse kitchens.

Here is an assortment of older blog projects and newer ones. Let's talk old suitcases! I scoop them up when they are clean inside and have a reasonable price.   I spray painted the one above with  Rustoleum Painters Touch Flat Black Spray Paint  and decorated it with   Redesign With Prima's Somewhere In France Transfer. Keep scrolling for more upcycles and ideas with suitcases.

I found this washboard style wall bin at our local thrift store in late 2023.  I couldn't pass it up, I love washboard projects! This blog post contains eleven of my washboard makeovers, as well as six more amazing project ideas from the Thrift Store Decor Team!                                         

I ran across this metal minnow bucket it in my shed.  I had purchased it at a garage sale, and used it in my junk garden several years ago.  It's not super old as it had a UPC stamped on it. I had previously drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. Scroll on down to see my minnow bucket makeover, as well as more October projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team !

I found this little wooden, unfinished, hinged stool at Goodwill on a February trip to the Twin Cities. I love hinged boxes and this little stool was perfect for a display makeover as well.

Last Christmas season, I purchased a 6 pack of 2" to 2 1/2" unfinished wood slice ornaments at Hobby Lobby.  They were $2.99 or $3.99.  I didn't make tree ornaments with them but I got an idea to create plant markers instead.

I found this wooden red sled recently for $4 at a local consignment shop. I think it was probably stenciled back in the 1980's or early 90's by the font used.

  I found this primitive country wooden canister set at Goodwill about a year ago. It is a nesting set, so the smaller ones can be stored inside the larger one.  The bottom has a tag that says "For decorative use only", so food can not be placed directly inside the boxes.

  Back in March, I created this Boho style stenciled planter box with Goodwill finds, chalk paint, and a mudcloth stencil  HERE. I actually liked the finished project but I was unable to sell it at our local consignment store so I decided to give it another makeover!

I found this wooden chest last fall at a Goodwill in the Twin Cities. I think I paid $14.99. It appears to be be a homemade chest in very good condition.

This wooden and metal sleigh Christmas decoration was thrifted by my mom several years ago. I decided to give it a makeover!

I found this 12 sided wooden bucket at the thrift store a while back.  It has a jute handle. Scroll on to see how I transformed this find into a cute Christmas decoration, and take in another great edition of projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team too!

I found this old stool at a garage sale back in 2018, along with a lot of other items for upcycling  HERE. Read on to see the stool makeover, along with seven other upcycled projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team!

I have been upcycling old suitcases recently.  This old Samsonite suitcase was found at the local thrift shop for $7.  Read on to see the makeover, AND how I used the suitcases as decorative storage.

  I found this little wooden decorative suitcase at Goodwill in August.  It was $3.99.

  I recently purchased the chip basket, DIY frame, and wood riser at Target's Bullseye Playground at the front store bins.  Everything in the bins is $5 or less.

I purchased a tiny Norfolk Pine at Christmas time several years ago.  It was only about 4" tall. (A Norfolk Pine is not really a pine tree, by the way) I kept the Norfolk Pine alive after Christmas, and eventually transplanted it into a bigger, but plain, plastic pot.  It has grown quite a bit, and spends its summers on my covered patio.

Last weekend I attended the annual Little Falls (Minnesota) Arts & Craft Fair . It was my very first trip to the craft fair. I purchased the botanical butterfly wall art above at the fair from  Salvage Sisters - A Repurposed Store .  The panoramic style frame contained distressed paper with a bee and several different black butterflies, along with plant sprigs on the sides. The design was most likely created with rubber stamps and ink. The perimeter (mat) of the frame was created with distressed book pages, torn into varied and uneven pieces.

I found this large wooden tray at Goodwill in August.  See below how I gave it a makeover! Also in this blog post, is the September Thrift Store Decor Team 's monthly party.  Be sure to scroll down to see my blogging friend's projects.