Another score at my favorite thrift store. I was so excited when I spied this plain Jane bamboo utensil caddy for only $2 last week. It’s well constructed, and very sturdy but it sure is drab and boring. This sad little caddy was shoved behind several wooden trays and overlooked by all the other shoppers that day. As soon as I spotted it, I knew I could easily transform it into something special. I love taking ugly ducklings that nobody else wants and turning them into beautiful, useful items for my home. Thrift stores are my favorite craft supply stores. You can easily find items to upcycle for just a few dollars.
Even though it’s cold and rainy outside, I know this caddy will come in handy during the hot summer months that are just around the corner. I can hardly wait for the weather to turn warm so I can spend my days outside again.
Supplies:
- Wood utensil caddy, or any wooden object with a flat surface
- Rag
- Water
- Acrylic paint in white and gray
- Paint brush
- Foam roller
- IOD Stamps
I used these IOD stamps to embellish this caddy.
IOD carries a variety of stamps to choose from. Check out their website for loads of ideas and products you can order directly from them at ironorchiddesigns.com. It’s a small business run by two women and their website is chock full of design inspiration using their products. I’m not paid to promote them, they carry high quality products that I love to use and I love supporting small businesses.
Start by wiping down your wooden piece with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or grease. Once dry use a paintbrush to paint the piece in the color of your choice. Use two or three thin coats of paint instead of ones really heavy thick coat for the best results. I chose white for the base since many of the serving pieces I have are white and keeping with a similar color scheme will provide a cohesive look when serving meals outside. Plus white coordinates with just about everything.
TIP: Remove handles to make it easier to paint smooth, even coats onto the entire surface.
The hardest part of the entire project? Deciding which stamps to use.
The back of the IOD stamps will stick to a smooth surface, and are easily reposition-able. Arrange the stamps in a layout that will fit the surface of your piece on a smooth piece of plastic. Some overhang is ok, it actually looks quite nice if a leaf or blossom gets cut off along the edges. It doesn’t have to be perfect! You could also use each stamp individually if you don’t have the plastic to mount the stamps onto. The IOD stamps are clear, making it really easy to place them in just the right spot on your piece.
TIP: If using several shades of paint, and to avoid smudges, allow each color to dry completely before stamping with the next color. If you’re impatient or short on time, use a blow dryer on low setting to speed up the drying process.
Use a foam roller and load the stamp(s) with paint. I kept it really simple and chose to use only one color; a light gray shade of paint. You could easily use a variety of colors, different shades for the flowers, leaves, branches. It’s your creation so you get to decide what colors to use.
Roll the paint onto the stamp, pressing very lightly. The goal is to get the paint just onto the raised parts of the stamps and not into the valleys for the best results. A roller is the best way to load the stamps with paint, you get a much more even layer of paint than if you use a brush.
Turn stamp over and place it directly onto your piece. Set it straight down, don’t move it around once it has made contact with the surface. Press the stamp firmly onto your piece using your fingers and then gently lift it straight up off the surface.
Let everything dry completely. If there are spots of paint that transferred onto the piece in spots where you don’t want it, just use a dab of the base color paint to touch it up and cover it. It’s an easy fix!
You can use stamps on numerous items like this tray. Any items that have a flat surface can easily be embellished with stamps.
I love how this inexpensive thrift store find turned out! My ugly little duckling has been transformed into a swan, and all it took was some paint! Never underestimate the transformative power of paint. You can update almost anything with paint! Add some decorative embellishments and you have a one of a kind item for just a few pennies and an afternoon of your time.
The hardest part of this project was waiting for the paint to dry and deciding what stamps I wanted to use. This is an easy beginner craft project that you can easily do in an afternoon. Not only is it an easy way too embellish small items like this utensil caddy, but once you gain a little confidence using stamps you could use this same technique to embellish furniture pieces like dresser drawer fronts, a wood headboard, night stands, a bed tray…the possibilities are endless! Just use your imagination and don’t let anything hold you back.
Did You Try This Technique?
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And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
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