What can you really get for $3? The story of a planter
You know its funny, in the kitchen, we rarely think of what’s in the backdrop.
The center of attention is normally the delicious food. We forget the kitchen needs a little attention to its decorative details as well. This can be accomplished of course in the detail of the cabinets, the counters and jeweled backsplashes. But it’s also about the accessories. Not too much. A little really goes a long way in the kitchen. But little elements here and there bring life to a kitchen. So while out shopping at one of my favorite stores, TJ Maxx, I spotted what looked like a broken branch from a floral display. Huh, I thought. I bet there is a planter box on the floor missing a great big chunk of greenery. And as I turned the corner, there it was, a broken beat up planter that had seen better days. I flip it over to check out the price…$3 WHATTTTT?!! OK I’ll take this, and go back to pick up the broken branch.
Consider this the next time you see something in the clearance area that looks a little beat up.
At first glance this planter looks like it probably should be trashed. But I saw potential. It was the perfect shade of green for my kitchen given my current color scheme. The box however, was not exactly the right color tone. The box was covered by a wood like paper. I wanted a wood look and tone but knew that wouldn’t be achieved by simply painting the planter box. So I went to my workshop and pulled out some old wood veneer iron-on edging I had bought from Lowe’s when I originally tried repurposing my kitchen cabinets.
That paired with various shades of green and black acrylic paints and I was ready to bring new life back into this piece.
First I cut the strips of veneer to the size of the box.
Then Iron the veneer on to the box being sure to not get to close to the wax leaves. I still need to use this iron for its intended purpose (To iron everyone Else’s clothes).
Because this is an edging it has to be lined up to cover the width of the box. Don’t worry about lining anything up perfectly. Wood is perfectly imperfect and so is this planter.
Once the veneer was adhered (does that rhyme?) to the planter box, I sanded down the edges and corners paying close attention to the seams.
Stain the veneer with your stain of choice.
I followed by applying a clear polyurethane to speed up the drying process.
Once the planer box was repaired I turned my attention to the floral bed. This is a simple greenery. It’s attached to the planter box by a large piece of foam. In a disposable plate I mixed the shades of greens and black. Using the stencil brush blot the foam with the paint mixture filling in all the holes and white areas that were missing pieces of the arrangement.
Once that was done I was able to reattach the missing branches to the arrangement by sticking it into the foam.
And there you have it. This $3 TJ Maxx Clearance area find, now restored to what I think is a better state of being, a decorative element of my new kitchen.
Article written by Ella A. Ella is freelance writer and home décor specialist with years of experience. She finds her biggest inspiration in all sorts of home renovation, remodeling and interior design projects. More tips read at: Removal Companies Barnet Ltd. Decorating isn’t always the easiest task especially when your a renter and possibly moving…
A step by step tutorial on how to make The Year We Stayed Home Personalized Christmas Ornament on the Cricut Maker. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cricut. All opinions are 100% mine. 2020 has pretty much been a crap show. From the pandemic to one bad headline to another. But…
Learn how to make fake birch logs to decorate around the holidays using pool noodles. Hey guys! It’s Bianca, an avid DIYer and I blog over at Bianca Octavia. I recently found a bunch of pool noodles on sale for 10 cents each and needless to say as a crafter, I bought them all. At first I…
Pinterest Hey everyone, I’m Mandy, and I’m really excited to have the opportunity to write for ToolBox Divas. I’m a lifelong ToolBox Diva and an artist who was fortunate to grow up with a “can-do” attitude that has carried me through today. I honestly believe everyone can accomplish anything with some simple tutorials and some confidence, no need…
Save money the next time you head out to get your oil changed by learning how to change your car’s cabin air filter. Cabin air filters help purify the air you breathe while in your car. Cabin air filters should be changed every 12,000-15,000 miles. Typically that’s done when you get your oil changed, costing…
The place where people converge and have dinner together is one of the most important of all places. It isn’t just a place where family and friends gather to consume food. The dining room area is also, the one place, where people come together to socialize and just be together in general. So the dining…