On Monday I showed you this picture of a bunch of random items:
This is what I made:
Here’s another look:
Here’s how I did it:
I got this funky footed bowl with a lid at my local Goodwill.
I really like the bowl, but wasn’t too wild about the lid. I think it might have been the wacky curly-doodad on top. It was sort of antennae-ish to me.
So I broke it off.
An idea started formulating in my mind… I had a little glass vase/jar from an old reed-diffuser and decided it would be a nice base for a footed bowl. I figured some plastic beads from the Dollar Tree would be just the right thing to add some detail.
Since I knew that I would be painting this entire thing with a coat of Heirloom White it didn’t matter to me that the beads were purple, plastic and of the Mardi Gras variety.
I flipped the lid (henceforth, the “bowl”) upside down. I ran a little bit of glue around the edge. To “start” the beads I put a little dollop of hot glue to hold the strand securely. By having the strand rest along the counter top I had hoped it would provide a guide and that the beads would go on straight.
While the glue on the bowl was setting, I took more beads and glued them on to the neck of the little glass bottle.
Next I glued the bowl to the bottle to create a pedestal bowl.
I began to add a second row of beads only to discover that the first one hadn’t actually been all that straight. Oh well. It was already kind of craptastic, now it was even more of a challenge to make it something pretty.
I loves me a good challenge.
I spray painted the whole thing with my beloved Heirloom White….
Meh.
I added a coat of clear gloss…
Meh.
It definitely needed something. Not just to pretty it up a bit, but also to help balance out some of the wonky parts…..
Beads. This was kind of a pain in the arse because each one was placed by hand, with tweezers. However, if you do this at the dining room table, where you would be sitting and supervising homework anyway, it isn’t so bad.
I had filled the little hole that was made when I ripped the curly-cue off of the top, so I put an orchid in there, added green sheet moss (WHICH EVERY CRAFTER SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE ON HAND) and added a little silver pin with our initial.
Mommy like!
Is it perfect?
No. But that’s OK…. Like The Nester says, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
It’s a little on the fragile side, so I won’t toss a bunch of apples into it, or put it where boys can get it (Or where husbands need to move it off the coffee table so they can see the TV when they’re lying down on the couch and complain about the fact that decorative items get put on the coffee table in the first place….!) But I digress.
At any rate, I’m happy with my little Franken-Craft and think I’m going to create a label for this and similar posts.
Thanks for looking!
Prudently Painted Vintage says
This puts my dollar store craft from yesterday to shame! Seriously super cute! Loves it!
Jayna Rae says
Well, that’s pretty much amazing!!!
The Crafty Gals says
So freaking creative! It looks beautiful!!
~Mary
MiMi says
Holy craptastical idea! That is freaking amazing and you are SO weird! And smart! It’s a good thing, I like it!!!
Megan says
wow. so creative! I think it turned out great!
megan
craftycpa.blogspot.com
Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top says
Seriously? Seriously. I love it! 🙂
Impulsive Addict says
When I see junk, I only see junk. You see junk and turn it into something beautiful. HOW DO YOU FREAKIN’ DO THAT?
Myya says
I’m with IA… HOW DO YOU FREAKIN DO THAT??? That looks great, I saw the mardi gras beads and thought WTH is she doing. Guess I ate my thoughts huh!
Connie says
I’m really amazed at what you turned that into! WOW!
Hey…what do you know about painting furniture. I want to paint my entertainment center. First of all…I need to talk iKeith into it.
Jessica says
You are very creative!!
Happy Thursday! I am blog hopping today and I am so happy I got to stop by your blog!!
Please come by and visit either or both of my blogs and become a follower (if you aren’t one already):
So Stylilized is where I am currently offering FREE Custom Blog Designs at http://sostylilized.blogspot.com
Jessicas Lil Corner is my family blog at http://jessicaslilcorner.blogspot.com
Have a very blessed Thursday!! :0)
drollgirl says
what a transformation!
and the “antennae-ish” observation cracked me up! lol
Nicole@ Black Cab Designs says
Really great transformation, you can’t even tell what it was originally. I always pass up the silver section at Goodwill…maybe I should take another look. 🙂
slommler says
Visiting from Finding Fabulous and I just had to see this transformed dish. I am so glad I visited! It is beautiful!!!!! Amazing!! And the process photos are wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing
Hugs
SueAnn
Brandy and Fam says
The mardi gras beads threw me at first, but once I saw the finished project I was stunned! I’m visiting from The Shabby Nest and love your trash to treasure project!
That one girl says
Nice work girly!
Steph @ Crafting in the Rain says
Wow, who would have guessed what was under all that heirloom white! Nice job!
Pamela says
Beautiful! Your creativity amazes me. I can copy, but I wouldn’t have been able to “see” the finished project. Thanks for showing us how you did it.
I’m a new follower from Fingerprints on the Fridge.
Lindy@Itsy Bitsy Paper says
Wow, great job! I love how it turned out.
http://itsybitsypaper.blogspot.com
Kelley says
You did an awesome job! I love the when mixing up all kinds of ‘crap’ turns into something so beautiful! A+++
Have a great week!
Shawn says
I want to step inside your head for just a few minutes to just look around and steal some ideas but I’m afraid that with everything you have running around in there I’ll get hurt!
Crazy!
Amazing!
Aggravating!
Jealous!
Sarita says
That is pretty awesome! Looks like a vintage milkglass piece! Stopping by from The Weekend Wrap up!
Aaron says
What great vission you have! I love how it turned out.
-Aaron
mudpiesandmarigolds.blogspot.com
Tasha says
WOW! That’s such a transformation!! I love it!
Thanks for sharing!
Tasha
http://www.dotdotdotthis.blogspot.com
(I have a link party every Tuesday and I’d love it if you stopped by!!)
The Loops says
What a great idea! I’m a new follower. I’d love for you to stop by!
Emily {WhipperBerry} says
I absolutely love it! What a great post about turning nothing into something beautiful! Thanks for linking up!
Jamie says
That is absolutely amazing.
Don’t forget to join me for More The Merrier Monday and link up all of your great projects.
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com
the cape on the corner says
gorgeous-what an “after!” can’t believe you put those beads on one by one, that’s dedication!
Mandy Coffey says
looks awesome! i’d love for you to link it up at my party this Friday… i’m also hosting a giveaway!
http://www.smallfineprint.com
Heather@The Black's Best says
Ooooh, I love this! How creative were you? I love that you chose the orchid for it too…they go hand in hand.
Jen says
Vivienne that is amazing! I have to admit, I thought you maybe had one too many glasses of your favorite when I saw the first pictures but you definitely knew where you were going with the idea. It turned out beautiful! I am so copying this idea 🙂
Thanks!
Little Miss Penny Wenny
Paisley Walls says
Doncha just love goodwill? I just went today and got a bunch of stuff for $1 each! So fun and it looks beautiful on your table!
Natalie says
That’s incredible!! I would never be able to have that kind of vision! I’m your newest follower and would love it if you checked my blog out sometime!
http://aturtleslifeforme.blogspot.com/
MessyMissy says
Totally cool.I love how the beads look after a coating of paint!! I would love it if you would link this up to my Marvelous Mess party!! Each party I pick one project to feature on my sidebar for a week!! Here is the link:
http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/03/marvelous-mess-3.html
Green Door Girl says
great minds – LOL – I posted a pedestal bowl tutorial on my blog today! 🙂 I love the beading on yours – definitely can’t tell they are plastic mardi gras beads 🙂
greendoordesigns.blogspot.com
Mrs. Robinson says
I LOVE the Franken-craft!!! SO great that I definitely need to create one, too!! Will have to start thinking about that one!! Also, I just found you!! Great blog!!
Patti says
Just beautiful…I love the pearls, nice touch!
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
That is ah-mazing!! Love the use of the pearls!!
Shelley says
What the what?!?!?! How did you come up with that?!!! You’re probably able to pull random nothings out of your pantry and make an amazing meal too! I so wish my brain worked like this.
So glad you stopped by my blog today! I’m now your newest follower too 😀
Tammy @ Type A says
amazing! it doesn’t even look like what it started out as. thanks for sharing this at my party!
Judy says
What a great idea. So incredibly clever. Thanks so much for linking up.
Rebekah★All Thingz Related★ says
Wow! That turned out amazing!
Lina - Fancy Frugal Life says
This rocks! I love how you used the beads! So impressed!
Tabitha says
So pretty! It looks expensive. You did an amazing job on it.
Jaderbomb says
Awesome! I did one of these on my blog the other day!!!! It looks great!
imsteelefullofscrap says
Wow lovin your site just found it the bowl you made is just gorgeous!!!
Dacia says
Visiting from The Thrifty Home.
What a great idea! It turned out beautifully. I think I want to go make one now 🙂
kara@elements-interiors.net says
I LOVE this!! I would love for you to share it at my Linky Party!
*ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *
xoxokara
Shannon @ Creative Catalog says
Really pretty. Anybody who uses Moss in a project is my friend. 🙂 hope you will swing by for a visit. I have a Monday link up party, called Meet-up Monday at Thehousecreative.com Have a fabulous day.
Sarah @ Sarahndipities says
So awesome! Thanks for linking up at Make Something Mondays! Hope to see you again next week!
-Sarah
gail@myrepurposedlife.net says
wow! painting it made all the difference! It’s soo pretty!
gail
Amanda says
This is lovely, the colour just looks perfect!
Debra@Common Ground says
You have a great imagination, I would have never thought of that! Thanks for linking up with VIF,
hugs,
Debra
At The Picket Fence says
Wow! Everything we see from you just gets better and better! 🙂 This is just lovely and so creative. Thanks for linking this one up to Inspiration Friday too!
Vanessa
Jori says
What a clever idea!! I have never seen anything like that. Very unique. That turned out absolutely beautiful!!
MessyMissy says
I wanted to let you know that I featured this project on my blog!! If you would like to come and grab a featured button, here is the link :
http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/03/marvelous-mess-3-features.html
southernhomesweethome says
Wow that was a great project! Looks beautiful. Your newest follwer
Sheena says
What a creative idea! Love it!
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
Thanks for auditioning for OMTWI! 🙂 The rules state you can only link up one post. If you would please, let Mandy know which one you want to delete. I don’t want you to be disqualified! 🙂
Heather says
Such a great transformation, I love it! Featured this today! http://memakingdo.blogspot.com/2011/03/featuring-you-friday_11.html
Have a great weekend!
Heather @ Me Making Do
Anne says
LOVE IT! my kind of re-do.
Selina says
Your newest follower! Just clicking through your blog….commented on the cowhide too. You are so much fun. I just attempted my first tissue paper mod podge project (like your pears) – check it out! Pottery Barn Knockoff
http://creativejuicesdecor.blogspot.com/2011/02/pottery-barn-knockoffdistressed-clock.html
Christina @ The Tattered Tag says
Wow!!You make a bunch of junk look so chic! Thank you for sharing your great project by linking up to my blog bash K.I.S.S. @ The Tattered Tag. Please remember tomorrow is another fun blog bash, so drop by and link up more of your creativity! 🙂
Drop by The Tattered Tag
It's a Crafty Life says
Truly an amazing project…I kept wondering what you were going to do with colored beads, didn’t see the spray paint coming. 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up!
~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ says
Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing!! Have a great week!
PartyMom says
This may be the best use of mardi gras beads I’ve ever seen! I’m totally swooning! Thanks for sharing!
Betsy says
Amazing job, you’d never know how this beauty began life:) Thanks for the inspiration.
FABBY'S LIVING says
FANTASTIC!!! What a great idea, you’re so creative and talented! Anyone has a stupid whatever that we can go ahead and follow your tutorial to the end and do this and hey, I’m your newest follower.
FABBY
Erin says
You constantly suprise me, and in the best way possible, it makes me rethink things like beads spray painted and made to look AWESOME!
Janet says
This is so creative and looks so pretty! Great job. 🙂
Object of Maya*ffection says
LOVE it! Pearls are my fave – SO CLASSIC! I NEVER would have guessed there were so any components to it….you really thought outside the box!
Ashley says
another LOVED project, looks so classy!
kara@elements-interiors.net says
Thank you for linking up this great post last week! {Im a lil behind, eeekk!}
Its party time AGAIN!!! xoxokara
*ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *
Oh Gorgeous Baby says
Wow could you please come over to my place (Melbourne Australia) and make something out of all the crap, I mean stuff I have sitting around. It looks gorgeous! I took was a bit scared by those beads but you turned it right around.
My Daughter Airlie who is 5 would love your ‘making’ efforts, not only because you make some pretty cool things but this would mean she got to hold onto all the stuff that i throw out. Shall not tell her about this little post 😉
Fiona
Gail says
Now that’s turning a trash into a treasure…it looks awesome!
Happy St. Paddy’s Day,
Gail
Diann says
This turned out wonderful! I love it. I am your newest follower!
Nicole says
Wow….That is amazing!
Michelle says
So pretty! It came out great!
Susan says
That is amazing I would have never thought about doing that.
Amy@ServingPinkLemonade says
You are amazingly creative. That turned out to be so beautiful.
kara@elements-interiors.net says
This bowl was BRILLIANT!!
Thank you for linking this up to Whassup Wednesday! Hope to see you this week at my
Par-Taaaay!
xoxokara
Lolly Jane says
holy smokes talk about CREATIVITY!!!! wishing i would have saved my mardi gras beads now- lol
we’d love for you to link this @ our weekend party 🙂
lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com
lauren@WESTFURNITUREREVIVAL says
this turned out great what a great idea.
Phyllis says
I am always amazed at the creativity I see here…..this is really thinking “out of the box” !!
Lindsey @ Inspiring Creations says
Amazing!!
Robin says
Sweetie…this is over the top gorgeous! you’ve been asked to join lots of linky’s and I hate to ask again, but if you have an extra minute pls link up this Wednesday (linky goes up Tuesday by 7:00) I’d love to feature you in the wrap-up the following week!
xo
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
Allison Ringer says
I laughed out loud when I read your comment about husbands moving decorative items and then complain about decorative items being placed on the coffee table in the first place because they can’t see the tv when lying down…lol, glad to know I’m not alone in my decorating frustrations too! Of course, I have cluttered up his garage with projects…oops!
Jennifer says
Amazing!! I love it…Franken-Crafts!! I was drawn to your link on the At Home with K Tuesday linky due to the “W”! 🙂
Kindra-At Home With K says
Wow! I wasn’t expecting that tranformation from the before picture! Totally impressed! Thanks so much for linking up to Terrific Under Ten!
Carolyn says
That is amazing what you’ve done with an old piece of junk and transformed it into a beautiful item to decorate your home. It looks so clean and pure in white. Love it!