Thrift Store Transformations: Chalkboard Cachepot

Paint is one of the easiest and fastest ways to upcycle old items you find all the time at thrift stores, flea markets, estate sales, and…well, you get the idea – anywhere that people are getting rid of stuff.

Some of the items are so, um…odd, I find myself shaking my head and wondering, “what were they thinking?”

But then the next thing that usually pops into my head is, “what do I have that will be thrift store fodder in the future?” Ha – as my grandma used to say, “what goes around comes around” and that saying is probably double true in the realm of home decor.

Anyway…when you’re looking at shelves full of figurines, vases, pots, and boxes, try to look beyond any hideous colors or designs to see the shape of the item.

And then picture it covered in another color.

When looking beyond the dated and garish holiday graphics on this cachepot (a container made to hold a plant or potted flowers), for instance, it’s easy to see the classic shape. And since it’s tin, it’s lightweight and will take paint well.

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But the garish holiday graphics? That’s why I was able to pick this up for $2.99.

I knew I would paint it a classic black, but when making my chalkboard tags a while ago I discovered that regular flat black paint works just like chalkboard paint on smaller surfaces (I haven’t tried any larger applications) and the pot had a smooth front that would lend itself to writing.

It was sort of an “a-ha!” moment ’cause I didn’t plan it in advance, but I really like the result of my spontaneous decision.

When spraying containers, start spraying on the inside and then move to the outside (being careful to get under all the edges). No prepping is needed on an object like this that will get very little handling.

I did about 3 to 4 light coats to try and minimize drips and runs. But here’s one thing I’ve learned over the years of spray painting:

This is one time you do get what you pay for.

Those cheap, no-name spray paints really do go on heavier and are prone to runs and splatters. I happily pay the extra dollar or two for a quality brand.

That’s it. Even with drying time, this little project was complete in less than an hour. I did wait a day to write on the front with the chalk, though.

Pretty dramatic, don’t you think, for such a small item? And it pretty much made my fall porch decorations.

I’m seeing “Joy” or “Noel” for Christmas, maybe with a lighted tree…

This is day 3 in our series (you can click on the buttons to see all the posts in the category). If you’re wondering what’s up, you can read the introduction to 31 Days of Thrift Store Transformations here.

This is linked to Transformation Thursday.

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