Turning Trash into Treasure ~ Bloggers’ Swap

It’s time once again for “Swap It Like It’s Hot!!”  Charlotte at Ciburbanity organized a thrifting swap where we purchased something at our local thrift store and sent it to another blogger. That blogger then turns that “trash” into “treasure” and we’ve been sharing all week. Today it’s my turn! Jillian from I Am a Homemaker sent a package of treasures to me to transform and I’m hoping I don’t disappoint!

Dessert bar made with thrift store finds under $15!!I turned Jillian’s thrift store finds into a dessert bar in my dining room!

Can you guess which items are from the thrift store?

 

Thrift Store finds ready to be upcycled into serving items for dessert bar.Here’s what came in the mail from Jillian. Two candlesticks, a silver serving piece, a tin platter, an old fruit box, Typerite letters, a large black frame, and a metal thingie that I have no clue what it is but I like it.

 

Cupcake and dessert server made from candlesticks and old kitchen tinsThe two trays and candlesticks were transformed into this cupcake/sweets server. Everything received a coat of Old White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint after the pieces were screwed together. I love it!

 

Old Frame is painted and turned into "Let them eat cake" sign for a dessert bar.I painted the black frame a sweet pink, using acrylic paint I had on hand. I then made a printable sign using the famous “Let Them Eat Cake” quote from Marie Antoinette.

 

Old fruit box gets lined with a vintage hankie. Perfect for serving dainty cookies at an afternoon tea.I love these vintage fruit and veggie boxes from farmer’s markets. I didn’t change it, other than to line it with a vintage hankie and then filled it with my favorite Milano cookies from Pepperidge Farm!

 

Old metal thing becomes silverware holder for a dessert bar.Even the metal thingie that remains elusive to me became useful for holding silverware. The other end opens up too, but it’s shallow inside. If anyone knows what it is, please let me know. Some kind of grater maybe?

 

How to create a dessert bar using thrift store finds valued at under $15.I was totally going to make a mini “Cupcakes” sign using those Typerite letters that Jillian sent and completely forgot!! A day later I saw them on the table … neglected and forgotten. Sigh.

 

How to create a pretty dessert bar using plain items from the thrift store.I think my favorite piece is the “Let Them Eat Cake” sign.

You can visit all the other thrift store makeovers at the links below.

But first, head over to Thoughts from Alice …

Thrift Items sent to Thoughts from Alice to transformThis is what I sent her and I can’t wait to see what she did with it!

 

Swap It Like It's Hot Blog Hop. See over 30 thrift store finds transformed into useful items for your home!

Day 1
Run to Radiance
Decor Adventures
Year of Serendipity
58 Water Street
Don’t Disturb This Groove
Like a Saturday
Artsy Chicks Rule

Day 2
Two Purple Couches
While They Snooze
The Gathered Home
Black and White Obsession
Ciburbanity
Restoration Redoux
Confessions of aSerial Do-it-Yourselfer

Day 3
Primitive & Proper
Queen of Everything
That’s My Letter
Finding Silver Pennies
Migonis Home
Windgate Lane

Day 4
I Am a Homemaker
Town and Country Living
Thoughts from Alice
Our Southern Home
Chic Little House
SG Style
Two Thirty~Five Designs

Day 5
Gourley Girl & Guy
The Thinking Closet
The Charming Farmer
2 Little Superheroes
Shades of Blue Interiors
Live Pretty on a Penny

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26 Comments

  1. Jennifer, I sent you that stuff and even I couldn’t pick out what was thrifted!!!! You did an amazing job! That metal thingie is a nutmeg grater. The little hinge on the top is where you store a whole nutmeg and then you use the grater to grate it. But for the record, I like your use much better!!!!

    1. Ohhhh! Good to know about the nutmeg grater! I actually could use one of those! So now I’m glad I didn’t paint it. 🙂 Thanks for the great thrift finds you sent me!

  2. Ooh Jennifer…i loved this last time and i love it again this time! it has given me an inspiration for a ladies group ‘trash to treasure’ party! thank you! 🙂

  3. I mean, it was hard to see past the dessert bar and actually notice all your amazing makeover! Mmmmm, dessert… 🙂 I think that’s a zester for citrus fruit, but 100 people may have said that already. Beautiful vignette. Thanks for joining the fun! xx

  4. The “Metal Thingie” is a nutmeg grater. You store the nutmeg nuts inside and use the rough exterior to grate the nuts to make ground nutmeg.

  5. Hi Jenifer, everything is so cute and wonderfully creative. I love the pink. The black metal piece is a nutmeg grater. I have had mine for years and it really works well. It is -15 degrees C. here this morning. Your lovely table makes me think of Spring. Thanks.
    Kim

  6. That’s a nutmeg grater…….the lid flips up to store the nutmeg bean……..they were very expensive so you only grated a little bit at a time and then stored it for future use. I have a couple of them and they work very nicely!!!

  7. What a beautiful vignette…you really are talented! Yes, I agree, the little grater thing is a nutmeg grater 🙂

  8. This is so cool, Jen! Making the tiered stand with the trays was definitely thinking outside of the box! Bravo! I love it all.

    Just came from Alice’s, she did a great job with the pieces you chose for her. What a fun swap!

    Jane x

  9. Wow! That was really creative, Jennifer. You did a good job. I don’t know how many times I had to keep looking back and forth from the picture of finds to the picture of what you did with all of it. I so enjoy all these trash to treasure swaps that you ladies participate in!

  10. How lovely ideas! I have some of these vintage fruit and veggie boxes rambling around the garage shelves, so finally can reuse them. I’m not a fan of throwing away old stuff, better keeping them and recycle when I find a good idea. Thanks for sharing!