HOW TO UPDATE AND OLD THRIFT STORE BASKET USING 2 PAINT COLORS AND A CHEAP BRUSH…
If I could share these lilacs and apple blossoms with you – I would! We could all use a little extra kindness with what’s been going on in the world, right? So, along with today’s Thrift Store Basket Makeover I have a little something to offer…
First, I realize how lucky I am. I’m comfortable being isolated while working from home. I’ve been doing it for years. And even though my socializing and shopping habits have taken a big hit, I’m happy with my own company. I feel blessed for my work, my home, and my family.
That said, this pandemic hasn’t gone without affecting me and my loved ones.
My sister was ill for weeks and her lungs still aren’t up to capacity. My BFF (also known as my brother from another mother –we’ve been friends for over 27 years) is a PSW Personal Support Worker — one of our front line hero’s — and has also tested positive for COVID 19.
It’s been worrisome to say the least and I feel I’m on an emotional roller coaster ride. I wake up in the morning feeling inspired, and as the day wears on — not so much.
But I started thinking, the expectations we put on ourselves are enormously unfair.
For instance, there have been days I beat myself up because my creativity feels M.I.A. When this happens I tell myself I should be organizing my home, doing more laundry, cleaning my gardens, mowing the lawn, exercising more or getting my remaining inventory in order. The list goes on and on. And believe me, this doesn’t help my creativity OR make me feel better.
I wish I could say it’s just me feeling this way… but I know it’s not.
If there’s anything I can offer, I wish we could all be more kind and compassionate with ourselves.
This is a world pandemic.
Challenging and heartbreaking for those who have been affected whether it be health-wise, emotionally, or economically.
If we do nothing else other than get through this with our loved ones healthy and intact – that’s MORE than enough!
This was a project my sister and I worked on together. Aren’t sisters THE BEST?! 💕
I haven’t moved last week’s hall table makeover yet so it was the perfect setting to showcase the bouquet basket. These lilacs look gorgeous on this table!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SOURCE LIST
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- $2.99 Thrift Store Basket – SALVAGED
- Dremel Tool
- Chip Brush
- Shop Towels
- Driftwood
- Gravel Road
DIY BASKET MAKEOVER
This project was super simple and fast. Even though we used two paint colors, the paint was brushed on and wiped off. From start to finish this basket took a half hour!
To cut off the handles of the basket, we used this tool. It comes with different attachments and has been a lifesaver on numerous projects. I’ve used it to cut, buff, sand, drill, and sculpt. I’ll link to a few other projects I’ve used it on in the Related Posts below.
We started by painting a base coat of Driftwood. A beautiful neutral gray.
While the paint was still wet, we wiped it back with a shop towel.
Here’s a close up of what it looks like with the Driftwood base coat on it. Nothing special yet… but just wait. 😉
Once the basecoat was dry, I applied this Gravel Road and repeated the exact same steps by giving it a wipe down while the paint was still wet.
Once the Gravel Road was dry, I dry brushed with the original Driftwood. Two colors and voila!
I’m loving the effect. This basket looks so much more updated, don’t you think?
As a finishing touch, I painted the interior with Gravel Road to give it a fresh new look on the inside and the out.
This paint is durable enough that a top coat isn’t required – especially on low traffic items like a basket – but you could always wax it if you wanted to give some extra protection. I’m going to leave mine as is.
What do you think?
The bouquet is from my garden lilacs, lily of the valley and apple blossoms. I wish I could share. It smells amazing!
I’ll be back on Thursday with my Furniture Fixer Upper Crew to tackle these nightstands. See you then and thanks for reading!
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS PAINTED BASKET … OR FEEL FREE TO SHARE HOW YOU’RE DEALING WITH EVERYTHING THAT’S BEEN GOING ON. I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Wishing you a beautiful day filled with inspiration and Happy Painting friends!
Denise XO
RELATED POSTS::
DIY Faux Drawers w Dremel Tool
Painted Hall Console Table
How To Apply Gel Stain | Step by Step
Stop Bleed Through When Painting
How To REpaint Furniture
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How do you keep the flowers fresh in the basket?
I put the lilacs in small mason jars filled with water and then placed them in the basket. You could also use regular low ball glasses or whatever you have that is a little shorter than the basket height.
DENISE,
YOUR WORDS WERE TOUCHING,, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. WE CAN RELATE TO YOUR FEELINGS . SENDING YOU,YOUR SISTER AND BFF POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR A FULL RECOVERY.
THE BASKET WAS OVER THE TOP IN ITS SIMPLE RECREATION AND TURNED OUT BEAUTIFULLY! THE ITEMS YOU FIND DENISE, ARE AMAZING. WISHING YOU & YOUR LOVED ONES GOOD HEALTH.
CARLI E.
I appreciate you Carli, thank you! XOXO
Denise, you have a special gift, your restorations are beautiful and your kindness and caring shine throughout your posts. Prayers and hugs to you and thank you for sharing them to a world in great need.
Thank you so much Peg! XOXO
Hi Denise !
Fingers crossed that your sister and BFF get recovered very quickly, I`ll keep them in my thoughts …
Beautiful work with the basket, as usual !!!
Greetings from Spain !
Thank you Piluca! XOXO
I love this simple project. I have a basket with only one handle I was going to throw away. It is perfect for this project! I will take the handle ogg and use my IOD moould and create a beautiful clay embellishment, glue and paint! Perfect! I love the technique. I am new to painting techniques abd really like this. Finish. I appreciate all I learn from you..
Thanks so much Linda and I LOVE your idea using the IOD mould and handle!
Hi Denise! I know this is a little bit late but I’m stalking your blog again and I’m about to paint a basket. I’m going to use this technique and I’m also going to purchase the Dremel tool. This year has been rough. My daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in February, Covid started In March so we all have to be extra careful so that we don’t expose her of anything. The chemo has killed her immune system. Creating and painting takes my mind off of the sadness I feel in my heart and deep in my soul. I thank you for continuing to share ideas. I can’t seem to have any of my own right now. Stay safe my friend. Prayers for you and your sister.
Oh, Cheryl, I had no idea you were going through all this. I’m wishing your daughter all the best and you’re in my thoughts and prayers, my friend. If there’s anything I can do, please feel free to reach out. XOXO
Oh Denise, I am so sorry for the hardship you and your loved ones are going through. I lost several friends who attended a funeral in Albany, Georgia and my heart is so sad for all who are grieving. Our little county has been devastated by the virus 🦠. My prayers are with you and your family. Continue to be smart and safe.
Thanks my friend! I’m doing my best to be smart and safe and thanks for your thoughts. I’m so sorry for your friends and their families. So devastating. 😢
Tried to subscribe several times with no luck!!!
Hi there Martha! I went ahead and subscribed you. You will get a confirmation email. WELCOME to the #sifamily! 🙂
This was a fun project to see what you can do with an old basket. The Lilacs looks so beautiful in there too. Thank you for all the great inspiration you give us Denise!
Thank you, Linda! I always love it when you stop by. Stay safe. 🙂
Love how you painted the basket..and the beautiful display..🌿💐 as a matter of fact I had a couple baskets here that I’ve been wanting/needing to make over and this was just the inspiration I needed to get me motivated. I’ve already got them out and one has the first coat.😀 I don’t have the paint you used but just using what I have.🙂. Our lilacs are not quite out here in the Edmonton area, but can’t wait to bring them inside when they are ready… love their smell. Sorry to hear about your family members. Stay safe🙂
Using what you have on hand is always the best. Waste not want not, right? 😉 Have fun with your baskets Louise! And enjoy those lilacs once they bloom.💜
Hi Denise,
It sounds like the basket was the perfect project for the day.. Having your sister was the cherry on top.🍒 You have a lot on your plate , so please be kind to yourself.
Your work has meaning for a lot of people, me included.
Stay safe and be well.
Thank you, Jane and yes it was fun working on something together. I needed the little nudge to get motivated this time around. 😉 thanks again and I hope you are staying safe as well.
I just want to give you a hug after reading your post. I feel the same way! I just keep saying to myself that this will be over soon. This pandemic definitely makes you think about what you are grateful for. ,I love the basket and those flowers look just perfect!!! I have tons of lily of the valley (I never thought of putting them in a flower arrangement) and lilacs. My lilacs always look horrible as soon as I clip them.
A lot of people are feeling the same Wendy and I can’t wait for this to be over as well. I’m guessing things will be a new sort of normal when all is said and done but I totally agree, it good to stay focused on all our blessings. Lily of the Valley was one of my Dad’s favorite scents so my Mum used to pick little bouquets in the spring. They are super cute all on their own in a mini vase or small glass! And I’m with you! I don’t know the trick to keeping lilacs looking good for an extended amount of time either.I’m really hoping these last another few days. They smell amazing. 🙂
To keep lilacs longer shred the stems a bit so they soak up mor water. Do this with any woody stemmed flower. I miss my lilacs since I moved into my condo last spring😞
ahhhh, thank YOU…. great tip!
Love the basket Denise. Living in Florida, I miss all the spring flowers I grew up with in Minnesota.
As much as I enjoy your projects, I enjoy reading all the comments as well..
Thanks, Jackie! I LOVE reading all your comments as well! I learn a lot! It’s the best part of blogging and like I always say, this wouldn’t be any fun without you!
I love the look of the paint combination you chose for the basket. So pretty!
Thanks Carla! I have to give all the credit to my sister for the colors combo. She’s going to love reading these comments! 😉
First of all, my prayers are with you, your sister and BFF! The basket is beautiful; unfortunately AZ is not a good place for lilacs and apple blossoms – expecting 111 – 113 degrees this week – GRRR! I’m feeling the “lock-down” even though we are starting to open. I haven’t changed my lifestyle that much; I stay home a lot (and paint) but i think it’s the mindset – just knowing I can’t! Take care, stay well and look forward to your weekly ideas!
Thanks so much Jackie! And sorry for the mix up with the last email you sent. I don’t think I was much of a help… my brain must have been elsewhere. We’re having hot humid weather here in Toronto as well but not in the 100’s! OMGosh… I’d MELT! We’re in the mid 80’s and it’s too hot for me. 🤣
Beautiful basket makeover Denise. The way you styled the lilacs and blossoms is pure perfection. Thank you for the friendly reminder to stay kind and compassionate. Your heart is one of the reasons I follow you and look forward to your weekly posts. ~ Nicki
Aw, thanks so much Nicki! Hugs to you.
Virtual HUGS my friend! Yes, you are not alone. Our family too has been hit hard. Like you, I am comfortable at home and blessed to be able to work in a safe area but our creativity surely takes a back seat in stressful times. I pray that your sister and friend regain their full health quickly.
This project is right up my alley! DIY on a budget and you nailed this one for sure. Take care my sweet friend and if you need to chat, message me. I mean that. 🙂 xo
Thanks so much Do! I know many creatives who are having a challenging time. And it’s kind of a double edges sword isn’t it? I’d be going CRAZY if I didn’t have my projects and work to distract myself, but at the same time the ideas aren’t flowing like they usually do. Anyway, thanks again my friend. I appreciate this and BIG HUGS back!💕
Looks beautiful!! Especially with those gorgeous lilacs…my favorite. Thanks for sharing this make over. Maybe I won’t pass on some of those outdated baskets at the Goodwill!
Thanks, Nadine! Lilacs are one of my favs too! x
Thanks Denise. I hope your friend is better soon. I love this paint and look forward to everything you do. You inspire me and it makes me feel better when I have days where my creativity is absent and then I feel guilty sometimes. Thanks so much for sharing. I pray you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Thanks for this. Sometimes just knowing I’m not alone in my feelings helps a TON! I wrote this post as a friendly reminder to myself as well as anyone feeling the same… and I think A LOT of people are feeling the same as you and I are right now Lori! Anyway, thanks for you kindness and well wishes. I hope you and your family are staying safe and well. XOXO
cut, not cute. Sigh.
lol.. I figured.😊
Love the paint job. Well done! But sad you cute handle off the basket. Maybe b/c I was a basket maker and the handle makes a big difference.. I hope that those you care about survive and thrive,
You were a Basket Maker!!!! That would be a really interesting craft! I’ll keep that in mind for my next basket Mary. 🙂
Your pretty flowers in the painted basket cheered up my morning and gave me inspiration for the old wicker baskets I have! I understand what you mean as the weeks go by we can’t help but feel down. We are handling it by staying grateful for what we have and praying for those who are struggling with their health or finances. I hope your sister continues to improve, my sister lost her job and so will be coming to visit in June, yes sisters are special!
Sisters ARE special and I hope you get to visit with yours come June! I’m glad the basket-bouquet cheered up your morning and sparked an idea Peggi!💙
This looks Amazing and those lilacs!!! I’m sorry to hear Andrea got the crud and now your friend. We are very lucky that we are able to continue working, but I hear you…it is a hard time for sure. The uncertainty is the worst and like you, I feel like I should be accomplishing more. I’m glad you were able to work on something fun with your sister. Better days are ahead, my friend! XOXO
Thanks my friend! XOXO And I don’t know if that’s your auto-correct or not, but I love it… I’m going to start calling it the CRUD!😉🤣
As usual, any project you present is First Class! You are an inspiration to all! Hope your sister and friend recover soon and remember, ‘And this too shall pass”. We still have so many blessings to be thankful for .Keep well and keep creating!
Thanks Lana, that’s super kind of you to say! We DO have many blessings and I love your reminder that this too shall pass. Hugs
What do I think? It’s lovely, specially with the lilacs! Great color combination too!
Yay! Thanks so much Gwen! XOXO
I love the look you achieved with the two paint colors? Would those paints hold up on with an outdoor se o no problem action poys?
Thanks Hrita! I’m not sure how long this type of basket would hold up outdoors but you could probably get 1 or 2 seasons out of it. And yes, if I were going to use it outside I would use an outdoor poly to topcoat it. 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration and ideas! I rarely comment, just lurk. But your post had lots of things I really related to so I thought I’d respond and let you know that I thoroughly enjoy your blog and find so much inspiration and teachable moments. Your projects are very relatable and are typically things I can work into my own pieces. BTW your lilacs look beautiful in the basket. Mine bloomed a month ago and they smelled so heavenly.
Hi Laura! When I have time I do my fair share of ‘lurking’ on blogs myself. 😉 Thanks for taking the time to ‘chat’! I’m happy you’re finding the projects relatable. That’s a HUGE compliment! And yes, lilacs are heavenly. They are short-lasting here in Toronto area but that’s probably what makes them so special. x
Beautiful color combo! Thanks for the instructions.
Thanks my friend! It was Andrea’s color combo… she has a good eye!
Hi Denise. I’ve been following your creative ideas for a while now. I want to thank you for sharing your creativity with us. I look for ward to opening my email each Tuesday. It’s like Christmas morning to see what surprise you have for us. Right now, it’s hard to find anything to actually look forward to, so I felt it was important to praise you for what you do for us. I am the gal that cant throw anything away until I try to repurpose it first. You have given me many great ideas I would never come up with. Keep well and thanks again for all you do for us. God bless!.
Thank you Margo – this means a lot!💙 And it sounds like we are kindred spirits. I have a really hard time throwing things away if I see any potential!
That is scary to have two people in your close circle contract COVID, sorry to hear this, Denise. Praying they both have a full recovery. The basket upcycle is beautiful along with the handpicked florals from your yard. We are several weeks behind you here in the west for spring blossoms and I can’t wait to enjoy their heavenly scent.
I agree, this whole COVID ‘thing’ is scary. Ontario has started re-opening businesses but our numbers have started to increase again. ugggh I keep reminding myself this too shall pass. Not soon enough. And thanks for the basket koodoos. It was a nice relaxing project to work on with Andrea. Can’t wait for your spring blooms to start.. their scent is heavenly! I came downstairs this morning and my entire first floor smells like lilacs! XOXO
Love this pretty makeover. The flowers are simply gorgeous! Placed in the lovely basket makes a stunning display! I have a stash of baskets and you have given several ideas to redo them .Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sue… and have fun with your basket redo’s!
Love the basket
Thanks so much! x
This basket turned out beautiful! I would struggle with knowing what color or colors to use! I miss the scent of fresh lilacs and Lily of the valley. I grew up in Connecticut and would pick little bouquets for my mom. I love in Georgia now and lilacs and Lily of the valley doesn’t grow well here. I pray that your sister and BFF recover completely. I only know one person who contracted the virus. She lives far from us and is recovering. I really miss seeing my friends and hope we can take our annual trip to Connecticut this summer.
I enjoy your blog posts Denise and love your creativity!
Thank you so much Maryellen! I really hope you can take your annual trip to Connecticut this summer too. You may miss the spring Lilacs and Lily of Valley but you can take in all the summer blooms! I’m wishing your friend a speedy recovery as well. XOXO
Such a simple technique, but looks gorgeous! What is the basket made of? Is that some type of metal, or wood? Thanks for this thoughtful post, Denise. I’m sorry about your sister and friend and hope both are much better soon. You are right – we need to go easy on ourselves in this stressful time. Thank you for the reminder. Sending love from California!
It’s some type of woven wood and the applique which the handle was attached to is metal. It’s pretty heavy-duty which is why I bought it from the thrift store in the first place. It can hold a lot of weight. Thanks for your well wishes Marcia… much appreciated! Hugs from Toronto! XOXO
Keep well, and listen to your gut instinct. Do what you need to do and no more! Thanks fir the inspiration on this easy piece, I have a similar flat weave basket in need of a make over so will get round to doing that now! Have some metallic paint in cosmic teal left over from my ‘mermaid chest’ which is currently under construction so will use it for the basket! Warmest wishes to you Denise! Xx
You had me at leftover metallic cosmic teal paint! 😉 Thanks for this and warmest wishes to you Angeline. Stay safe and well and have fun with your basket. I know it’s going to look gorgeous!
Hi Denise. Your words hit a cord with me. You’re so right. The most important thing we can do right now is practice kindness. Your basket turned out beautifully. Totally updated. What a fun project to do with your sister. I’m glad she’s feeling better and give my appreciation to your BFF. He’s a brave man to be working on the front lines.
Thanks Monique! And ya, those front line workers are brave. My hat is off to everyone in the medical field and all our essential services. And thanks re the basket. I have to admit I wasn’t feeling overly motivated to start anything but my sister made it super fun!
Love the paint job. Well done! But sad you cute handle off the basket. Maybe b/c I was a basket maker and the handle makes a big difference.. I hope that those you care about survive and thrive,