Simply Beautiful By Angela

creating simple beauty on a budget

Thrifted Hanging Bucket Upcycle

Hello everyone!  Let me tell you guys how extremely EXCITED I am for today’s post!  For the first time ever I am participating in the monthly Thrift Store Décor Upcycle Challenge with some seriously talented bloggers.

Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge

The Rules:

  • Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
  • There’s no monthly theme.
  • There’s no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts

Amanda | The Kolb Corner    Kim | Made in a Day
Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles    Pili | Sweet Things
Debra | Shoppe No. 5    Marie | DIY Adulation    Sue | A Purdy Little House
Chelsea | Making Manzanita    Ann | Duct Tape and Denim    Karen | Dragonfly and Lily Pads
Kimm | Reinvented    Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home   Megan | C’mon Get Crafty
Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled    Shirley | Intelligent Domestications    Angela | Simply Beautiful by Angela     Michelle | Our Crafty Mom    Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay
Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod    Ali | Home Crafts By Ali    Denise | My Thrifty House 

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!

Before we get started, I have a major confession to make. I am a project hoarder.  I always have at least 3 (on a good day!) project items stashed in my garage at all times. 

Sometimes it’s because I just haven’t figured out what I want to do with something yet but most of the time it’s because I find an item that I love and have great plans for it but then move on to something else before I even touch it. 

So for my first Thrift Store Décor Upcyle Challenge I had actually planned on working one of my abandoned projects. However last Friday we swung into Goodwill to kill some time on our way to an appointment and I spotted this guy.

I have been wanting something cool for our front door for ages and just couldn’t wait to make this  “me” and hang it up on our door!

Supplies Used: (Affiliate links may be provided for convenience.  For more info, see my full disclosure here.)

I began by giving the front and back a coat of Rust-Oleum Spray Paint in Weathered Steel.  I love that this has the primer built in and how it can make almost anything look like aged metal.

Once it was dry I taped off a rectangle in the center and then painted it with some dark brown acrylic paint.

Then it was time for some lettering!  I used my favorite website Canva.com to spell out the word “welcome” and printed it out.

I then ran some chalk along the backside of the paper, pressed it down and traced it with a pen. 

When I pulled the paper away I was left with a nifty impression.

I carefully went over the impression with some gray acrylic paint using a small paintbrush. Much better looking than if I had tried to freehand it!

Since this was going to be outside I protected it with a coat of Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Spray. 


Once that was dry I inserted a foam floral brick and popped in some olive branches.

I was sooo bummed to realize that our screen door won’t close with a wreath hanger on it.  I didn’t want to hide it behind the screen door (it’s just too pretty!) so instead I hung it next to our door.  Which I think I like even better!

(Please ignore the super awesome paint job on the house–it’s on the  evergrowing to-do list!)

It’s pretty much impossible for me to NOT distress something so I went back over some spots with a little bit of sandpaper to make it look a little more worn.

  

Once I get some flowers in our sad empty pot our entry will start looking nice and spiffy!

Linking up to these awesome parties.

And now for more thrifty goodness!

Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!

Comments

    • Thanks Amanda! Maybe when we put the glass door on during the cold months I can suction cup it to the door but for now it looks pretty happy here!

  3. Such a fun and unique welcome. I am a HUGE fan of door or entry decor that can be changed up with the seasons and holidays throughout the year. You have checked all the boxes here. Can't wait to see what you do next. Visiting via Creative Circle

  7. I love the final product and the idea of olive branches in a welcome sign is subtle but awesome. I feel like you ended up with something you could buy in a store!

    • Thanks Megan you are so kind! It's surprising how much it really does look like the fancy ones in the store!

    • Thank you Jeannee! Olive branches are definitely my favorite but I may switch it out for Fall and Christmas 🙂

  9. Those are sort of expensive in the store and yours is just way better. Rust-Oleum has the best paint products, don't they! I'm like you, got multiple projects in the hopper at all times. Love this!

    • Thank you Shirley! I'm always so amazed with their products they really are the best! Glad I'm not the only project hoarder out there haha 🙂

    • Thanks Michelle! Our old mat was super worn and hanging this guy up actually inspired me to splurge on a new one lol

  11. I love how you saw the potential, I do the same thing! I like where you put it better than on the door,too! Great job:) xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

    • Thank you Kathleen! I'm glad you like it there better–I guess things always work out the way they are supposed to right? 🙂

  12. Oh my gosh I love that paint! When I first saw this I thought how did she get all the crazy fall print off. I can't believe how great that paint made this look! Awesome project! Love it!
    Kim

    • Thanks Kim! It is crazy what good coverage this paint givss–it only took one coat to make it look like it was steel from day 1!

  17. I LOVE the outside light next to your front door. Can you tell me who makes it and where you got it? I need to replace mine soon and yours fits my modern decor. Thank you!

    • Thank you Beth! I got the light when we moved in 3 years ago so I don't recall the name but I do know that I got it from Home Depot online 🙂