DIY Trash to Treasure Quick Projects

If you found a project particularly inspiring please email me.

Sometimes you might just need a "Project Fix". Well you are in the right place. I'm going to try and collect quick projects to get you thorough those times when you have more creativity than time. And you don't want to drag out the tool box.

Please check back often as I will be adding more items soon.

What qualifies as a quick project?

First, this is where the Quick projects of the week go when they are no longer featured on the cover page.

Second, I try to make them very easy with minimal use of tools. Hot Glue or Spray Paint may sometimes be required.

Just hanging around

I love these old (or new) Person forms for Artists. I picked up this one at a Garage Sale, I like the way he looks just hanging out on my bookshelf.

Got Junk?

The smaller junk trinkets dress up old bottles beautifully. And who wants naked bottles?

Test Tube, Stamp Holder bud vases

Simply find an old rubber stamp holder, and insert test tubes, fill with water and flowers and that is it. I'm also going to fill this one with little flags for the July 4th.

This project is nothing new to those of you in the "know", but I thought that someone out there might have never seen it before. The difference here is that I've got mine tilted at an angle. To acheive this I simply hot-glude the test tubes to the base before filling with water. As you know Hot-glue is not permanent and this is easily un-done if you wish. You could let the test tubes hang naturally as Joy has done in the picture below.

Stamp out a table

I had these 2 side tables that I had rescued, repaired, and painted, but I wanted to do something a little different. I saw a project on a blog that inspired me to do this. I took old letter press letters that I had and a regular craft stamp pad and stamped out this design on each one. You could use any stamps you want, this is just what I had. After the ink has dried, use a spray on laquer to protect it. Do not use the brush on kind, as this may smear the ink. I'm not quite finished with these 2 tables yet, I'm still trying to stabilize the legs, as you can see in the picture.

Common Objects

You've heard of Uncommon Objects, but I want to take a moment to talk about Common Objects. Those things found in every home, that can used in new and creative ways, to cheaply decorate and accessorize your space. I see a lot of this in the blog world, and you bloggers out there continue to inspire me with your arrangements. Here are a couple of examples... You've seen cloches, and conservatories with plants in them, but what about clocks???? This idea hit me one morning while I was getting ready for work. The clock faces were in an old gym wire basket, so I just moved them to this little conservatory I had removed from my booth. Then what to put in that gym basket??? Frames of course. Wooden frames are a favorite of mine to pick up at Garage Sales. These were in a box waiting for DH to give me his old ancestor photos for framing. Until that happens, they will reside here. Here is a glass jar filled with old finials waiting for future projects

That is just 3 examples of taking common objects and turning them into something beautiful, fun and different for your home.

Cake Plate

I had the base to a glass cake plate that had been broken. I finished breaking off the glass plate part, and then I attached an Old china dinnerplate to the top. There are many ways to do this, but I needed a transition piece, because the pedistal of the glass cake plate did not break off cleanly. I used a scrap piece of wood, drilled a hole, inserted the broken end of the pedistal into the hole and then glued the heck out of everything. This project could also be done with old wooden candlesticks that you find at garage sales.

Hymnal Wreath

This project was inspired by something I saw on someone's blog. I took a wreath form that you can get at any craft store. Made a lot of cone shapes from an old hymnal, and hot glued them to the form. Adding, staggering, and arranging until I was happy. This is a great project to work on in front of the TV in the evening.

Luggage divider, becomes memory board

I have lots of luggage parts around, and after removing pockets for a luggage pocket project, I found I had this lonely divider. When I looked at it it just screamed "memory board". I took some trim that I had picked up at a garage sale. I attached it by both sewing and gluing. Once the trim was attached it created a small pocket for tucking and clipping inspirations, cards, pictures etc. I hung it by a ribbon, through the grommet holes that were already there, and that was it.

Quick Photo Clip

Use old clip-on earrings to clip photos to a display board. The earrings could also be glued to anything, like a screen, or old piece of wood etc, to make a place to clip photos, clippings, cards or whatever else.
Much prettier than a clothespin, or a thumb tack.

This is a little project I picked up from the book Junk Beautiful. They used old hinges for all sorts of projects, and I adapted one of their ideas to my purposes. I've added old hinges to a couple of frames and a "shoe stretcher wall hook" project, to add a little something extra.

The one attached to the shoe stretcher is attached directly to the back and can be used to hang the item. The ones attached to my Earring Display frames, are simply attached to the wall and then the frames are hung to seem as if they are hung by the hinge.

The Quick Project this week is from Syd

Syd hung this old red dust pan from the wall, and uses it to display cards in her booth at Ye Old City Antique Mall.

So now all you've got to do is find a cute old dust pan like this and you've got yourself an instant wall pocket.

First I have these great spring flowers made from faucet handles, this project has been a big hit on the message boards. Since I've posted it over there already, I thought I'd give you a bonus quick project

I had this small old piece of luggage. I removed the lining and pockets for other projects, and decided to decopage this decorative tissue paper to the outside to dress it up. I think it looks much better than it did before.

Old Store Sign makes great photo display

I was able to get a whole box of these store signs

See how nice they look when spray painted. This is just one project I thought of to do with them. I had a friend suggest mirrors instead of photos. I think that is a great idea.

Jennifer shares this great quick project

"It is a picture holder using an old doorknob and some wire I had lying around. I just pushed the wire through the knob and then twisted around and stuck a photo in it. I have always enjoyed doing crafty things but since I found your blog I have been trying to be better at using found goods for my crafts. I hope you like them.....jenn g

Romantic Chandie

I made this little Chandie out of an old wire, work lite cage. I painted it white, added a glass knob to the top, crystals and prisms, and pearls to the bottom and some sweet ribbon to finish it off. All you need is some hot glue, spray paint, and some floral wire. And of course a great wire lite cage ;)

You're Just my Type

I love old Valentines, and here is a unique way to display them. I've used an old Typewriter (Family Heirloom) and just stood the valentines up between the keys for display. You could also use this idea to display photographs, cards, etc.

This Key has been Framed

For this project I simply took an old key, and a small wooden frame. to back it I copied (scanned) an old post card. Then I just glued the key to the postcard and then glued the whole thing behind the frame. Very simple project.

In the winter when the hanging baskets are not as attractive try this idea.

I recently found these old scales at the flea market. By hanging them from a hook and then hanging something of interest below them, like a suncatcher or wind chimes, it can fill the empty space, till Spring.

Old Chair Back becomes unique Frame.

For this quick project, I found a unique chair back that had lost it's chair, and it's slats. I decided to hang it on the wall and put this old ceiling tin inside of it. Very quick project

For this project I simply took an old child's chair that was missing it's seat. I attached some boards to the lower rungs, and placed a potted plant inside. I chose to paint the boards to match the chair, but you could leave them natural if you wish. This idea also works great for pet food.

Where are all the Christmas Projects? They've all been moved to their very own page here

To make this small garden chandies, just take a faucet handle and wire on some prisms. You can add a glass doorknob if you'd like. These items are now for sale in my store

My Friend Tina has this great dough bowl filled with crystal doorknobs and old keys. I love how it looks on her coffee table. What an easy project. Thanks Tina for the idea.

Things to do with an old bicycle basket

I found this bicycle basket recently at a garage sale for 25c. I can think of many things to do with it, and I thought I'd share them with you. It would be a great place to store files and stationary at the ready. Or what about gloves and hats by the door. It hangs perfectly on the hooks I have here. What about for mail, inside or out, or magazines in the bathroom. Lots of possibilities with this one.

Turn an old doll crib into a place for files

Table Centerpiece with old Locker Basket

This is a great simple project, that can be modified for the Seasons. For Fall a nice rusty basket does the trick.

Birdcage Still Life

I am so excited about this week's quick project. All you need is a birdcage and a little imagination. There are many things you can do with an old birdcage and below are several variations of one.
Turn an old birdcage into a seasonal display. Simply fill the cage with various items and arrange to your liking. The items can range from sticks and twigs from your yard, to shiney Christmas ornaments. The great thing about this project is that it's easy to change with the seasons.

For this first cage, I simply gathered stuff from around the yard, threw in a few seasonal gourds and I was done.

For this display, I spraypainted the birdcage and added Yard and Garden themed items

This is the same cage you saw above, but now I've added a chandie, and various found objects.

When was the last time you saw a chandie in a birdcage???

Here are several that have been photographed at various Antique booth displays, thanks TC

I love the flexibility of this project, now go find a birdcage and have some fun.

Old Flatware Key chain

For this project, you'll need an old piece of flatware (or new I guess). A pair of strong pliers, or preferably Channel Locks, and a vise. Place the flatware in the vice with the stem up and the spoon/fork side down, secure within the vice. Grab the stem and rock it back and forth until it breaks off. Discard spoon/fork part or save for future projects. Now take the widest part of the utensil and secure it in the vice. With your pliers proceed to bend the thinner part (skinny end) into a loop, as best as you can. This may take some practice. Once the loop is satisfactory, simply add a ring to the end, and you have a new keychain.

Or if you don't want to go to the trouble, you can purchase it from me. See my jewelry page for more information.

I made this coat/hat rack, simply by screwing some hooks into an old piece of bedrail. The bedrail is the side portions of an old bed that attached the headboard to the footboard. In this case it was a beautiful oak, and I don't have the footboard, so the side rails were un-useable.

I took an old sewing drawer, that was not in great condition. Added a wood applique to the front, from the hardware store. Painted the whole thing and now it would make a great display container for the bathroom, or photos, or anywhere in a cottage or shabby home.

Ugly Duckling

We've all seen ugly, antiqued brass and metal things from the 70's & 80's at garage sales etc. Well next, time give those ugly metal things a second look. If they have a releaf pattern on them, imagine what they might look like painted, and then distressed. Each of the items above was, in it's former life, ugly. But with a can of spray paint, and a little sanding, I feel I've given them a second life and a pretty one at that. I hope you can see the beauty of these things if you run across them in future junking adventures.

Turn an old bread box into a great office/desk organizer

With nothing but a can of spray paint you can turn old, unattractive metal bread boxes, into great desk organizers. Simply spray paint them, let them dry and you are done. As you can see by the red one. Spray painting the inside is a good idea too.

Spring mail sorter

I took a large spring and simply nailed it to a piece of scrap wood. It makes a great mail sorter.

You can find more Office Organization T2T projects on my Organization Page

If you need a finial for a lamp and just don't have one, use an old glass knob. I just hot glued this one on to the part where the finial would screw in, and I've got a great cottage look.

from TTRBB- HGTV MB The birdhouses are just leftover pieces of fence post. I have a ton of those old home interiors brass wall hangings with flowers, butterflies and hummingbirds and I just clipped of some of the flowers. I used a flattened bottle cap on one of the "bird" holes and the other is the end from a canned biscuit container. I spray painted them flat black, sprinkled with cinnamon and sealed for the rusted look.

Here's a quick and easy project, but you will need a hole saw. this is just an old wooden sugar canister. first I drilled the hole, then I painted it in the color I desired, and placed the kleenex inside.

Rosemary used old Corbels for this window topper, plate rail.

Bonus Quick Project

Tina wired a bunch of small terra cotta pots to make this wreath.

Does anyone remember this find?

Well if you follow my blog you will. I called it the Lamp thingy. I was not sure what I was going to do with it, but it had such a great shape and weight I had to get it. I took it all apart, stared at it for awhile, and after a few weeks it finally came to me.
I spray painted it, cut down the pole added a glass knob and It's a paper towel holder. Works great too, because the base is so heavy, I don't pull it over tearing off the towels.

Turn an old Mug Tree into a jewelry organizer or an ornament display. I spray painted this one to give it a cottag-y look. Just imagine it heavy laden with beautiful necklaces and bracelets. Or used at Christmas to display those prized ornament. This was a very easy project, just some spray paint and It's done.

Scrabble tiles are great T2T accessories
Below are just a few projects using old (or new) scrabble tiles.

Top to Bottom, Left to Right
joyluck made this great wall art using old scrabble pieces and a game board. Bec4 shows how to use scrabble tiles in a mosiac. I think this idea would be great as a backsplash in a child's bathroom. Or even as a mosiac around a mirror. The possibilities are endless with this idea.
It's real quick and easy to spell out a word or short phrase with scrabble tiles. Use the stand that comes with the game to display your word. This would make a great desk name plate for Mom or Dad's day. And lastly I've made some earrings using scrabble tiles and some beads. So think outside the box with those old scrabble games and come up with some great home accessories for yourself.

Look for objects you have around your house to make Basket Tie-Ons. Ornaments wooden hearts, jewelry, or an iron star can all be used to dress up baskets for the season or for your mood.

Think outside the box with Picture Frames

Wooden picture frames can be picked up at Garage Sales for a song. There are so many things you can do with picture frames. You don't just have to put a picture inside. Frames are a great way to display, Plates, Found Object, Books, groups of smaller framed photos, Post Cards, Coin Collections, etc. They also look great grouped by themselves with nothing inside. Above are just a few ideas, so keep an eye out for those frames, look for interesting details and shapes, and pick them up when you see them.

Top, Left to Right, Margo's Living room, Tina's Shabby White Display
Middle, AJ's Frame displays in her store. Folk Art originals by AJ
lower secetion, more of Margo's Frame displays. Frames in the right color can dress up a seasonal display

This web site has a lot of great frame display ideas

Take the hymnal holder from an old church pew and use it as a book holder. Mine is in my guest room, Tina uses hers in the bathroom. These also look nice painted for that cottage look. I've seen them used in kids rooms to hold thier story books. Have fun with this one.

Just take a folding ruler and bend it until it makes a star, You might want to hot glue the 2 loose ends together. This is a really simple project. Although it would look great on it's own sitting on a shelf or above a cabinet, It would also be nice added to a wreath with a patriotic theme, or with flowers etc. Thanks Theresa for the inispiration.

Look for old store displays to use in your home. I've used this one to display photos, and momentos. You could even use it for jewelry or ornaments during the Holidays. To hang the photo's I simply attached paperclips and then left the loop slightly above the picture, using it as a hook.