Something Old - Something Renewed

Back in February, I showed you how I upcycled an institutional-sized measuring container into a decorative wastebasket. If you missed it, or want to refresh your memory, you can click the button below.

Talk About A Huge Waste!

After I completed it, I kept looking at it and looking at it and I just wasn't 100% satisfied. While I liked the way it turned out, I felt that it could use a little spice without going over the top. Not that going over the top is something I try to avoid typically. 😁

Since I have come to enjoy decoupaging as of late, I thought that this technique would be something that would work. So, I looked through my small stash of decorated napkins.

I decided to go with the flamingos below.

I liked the soft colors on these graceful birds being paired up with the bold wastebasket.

I love contrast! It's sort of like sweet and savory with a smooth bold flavor. Bird in a bucket anyone?

I started with cutting out the flamingos and adhering them onto the sides of the wastebasket. Then I cut a strip of the solid pink band from the end of the napkin, cut it in half, then glued them onto the underneath of each side in between the handles.

This is what it looked like at this point.

Looking better, but still not quite there yet. I wasn't sure if I wanted to paint on some squiggles or add some dots. The final decision came down to large pink dots scattered all around.

And for the final results...

Yes! Much better and I am finally satisfied. Since I had more napkins and something else that I wanted to upcycle, I decided to keep on going.

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Around 18 years ago, I purchased some gold-colored chargers. In those days, I had a penchant for having dinner parties. It allowed me the chance to 'play house' like in the 60s and I did it up really good. It also gave me a reason to use the 'good' china - you know, the ones that you can't even give away today. LOL! The chargers were ornate looking and added that little bit of over-the-top sprinkling even though they were only plastic.

Being in my minimalistic phase now, and not wanting to have dinner parties consisting of what I can afford now - bread and water and tap water at that, I don't need the charger plates any longer.

Here they are dressed in their finest gesso coating which I only used in the center, leaving the edges in their original state. I then ended up refreshing those edges with a fresh coat of gold paint.

After the gesso dried, I decoupaged some flamingos on them.

Once again, I wasn't quite thrilled yet, so I thought about trying something new. I poured a little pink paint out and used one of those small skewers that you can purchase in grocery stores to dab on tiny dots onto the decoupaged areas.

I still needed one tiny more bit of embellishing, so I painted a little on the embossed dots on the edges. It's very subtle, but here it is below zoomed up some.

And here's the finale.

Now this wouldn't necessarily have to continue to be used as a charger plate only, however doesn't it look like a charger plate with a decorative paper plate on it? I'm thinking that it would be charming to use as a small serving tray or a fun plate to place mini cupcakes or cookies on. In any case, just another way to upcycle something old into something new. 😉

Until we meet again next Wednesday, try your hand at upcycling something and have fun doing it!  

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