I know my husband and kids are always dumbfounded by the “junk” that I think are treasures, but occasionally I even dumbfound myself! All it takes is the sight of some old wood, or rusty metal, and my common sense completely disappears.
Last year I was at an auction, and there was a large crowd around a flatbed trailer full of stuff up for bid. I’m not very tall, and I was frustrated because I couldn’t get a good look at what was being bid on. All I know is I heard the auctioneer say something about an old metal thing, and I usually like old metal “things”. The bid wasn’t going high at all, and I foolishly stuck my hand up to bid without knowing what I was bidding on.
The next thing I knew, I had just become the proud owner of a dirty, rusty, vintage dustpan, that looked like a box on a stick. Now, what the heck was I going to do with it?!
Well – I did nothing with it, that’s what I did. I stuck it behind my antique piano desk, because isn’t that a logical place to hide a metal dustpan you feel embarrassed you bought?
It’s been sitting there for over a year and every time I reach behind the piano desk to retrieve a big piece of foam board I use for photography, the dumb dustpan comes tumbling out with it.
I finally got sick of putting it back, so I pulled it out and put it on my kitchen table where I stared at it for awhile.
It’s sort of box-like, so I supposed it could be used to hold file folders, but that didn’t seem very exciting. Suddenly it hit me. With a little “primping”, it might make a really cute flower holder! It was worth a shot anyway.
I slapped a little paint on the flap first, which covered the instructions that were originally there. I left the cobwebs there – no point in cleaning them until I knew if my idea was going to turn out.
Then I added the word “Welcome” with a vinyl stencil. I removed the wire handle, because that just make it too long to hang on a door or wall.
Now, to put flowers in it…the moment of truth.
It was either going to look adorable, OR I was going to throw it away…
Adorable wins!
Isn’t it amazing how the addition of JUST PAINT can transform something, and totally change its purpose?
This thing started out as a dirt collector, and ended up as a wall pocket for flowers!
There’s hope for all of us, isn’t there?!
It’s available in my shop HERE.
See more of my Repurposed Projects HERE.
Oh Angie- you sound so much like me- particularly the paint it with the cobwebs on it part!! That is so cute! If I ever see an old dust pan I will snatch it up!
Funny, amazing, and adorable!
Hey Angie … that made a really pretty plant or flower holder. I love those dust pans with the long handles to actually use for dust pans … but, I tell l you … it is much prettier with flowers instead of dust bunnies.
Good job … love that you painted Welcome on the flap.
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
You turned that into something so cute! Great re-use project, Angie!
I just love the way you always see the beauty in everything!
Thanks Mary – I honestly didn’t see much beauty in it to begin with – it was a stretch for me this time!
Looks great! Kind of like an old metal mailbox.
Thanks Melissa! 🙂
I like the story on how you bid on something you couldn’t see just because the auctioneer said “old metal thing!” I’m not sure, but maybe there is a name for that disease? LOL Regardless… you turned it into something lovely.
LOL – you are right Julie, I think it’s called “metal hoarding obsession” …or something like that!
Hello, this is my first time responding, and I love your sight. I love things you can turn into something beautiful. I am a decorative painter and a regular ole crafter, I LUV IT.
Thanks so much Jacqueline! It’s nice to “meet” you, and I hope you’ll comment often – I love hearing from visitors! I wish I was a decorative painter, but my skills are pretty limited there – I’m a regular ole crafter!
Great re-purpose! I love the flower holder.
You are a clever person and i love what you did.
Angie, you did it again. Good thing I didn’t know you when I was hitting the auctions in the Texas Hill Country. We would have been “trouble on wheels”.
A lady with a vision.
I would never buy that before your creation and now I am searching my brain to see what I have that I can slap a little paint on and come out as dreamy as your dustpan.
It is lovely!
I am always amazed what a little paint can do to transform something – even a rusty dustpan!
Hi, love that about put your arm, and bought it ! I am not tall either, sounds like what I would do.. well you have a great eye, and turned it into something cool. Love your news letter blog, inspires me to get busy. I have the same thing too with family, (they don’t see it and think your crazy ! ) yup Audrey 🙂
I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only impulsive rusty metal buyer, Audrey!
You amaze me with your creativity! That is so cute!
AMAZING IS RIGHT!!! BUT, I WOULD HATE TO COVER OLD DIRECTIONS – I THINK THEY’RE SOOO INTERESTING. AND I WOULOD HAVE HATED TO TAKE OFF THE HANDLE – I LOVE TOKEEP THINGS AS ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE! HOWEVER, I STILL ADORE YOURS, AND NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT COULD LOOK SO PRETTY WITH JUST A SWISH OF PAINT!! FABULOUS AND CLEVER!
Your intuition is so fine-tuned towards recognising overlooked treasures that it even gets ahead of you sometimes! 🙂 Anyone would be very fortunate to have this lovely dustpan turned beautiful flower holder proudly hanging on their front door or entrance-way! You can bet that I won’t ever pass by an old dustpan now…in fact, I will actively look for them, thanks to you! And btw, I had a look at your piano desk, too…it is just off-the-hook amazing, Angie! Oh, to have just 1/10th of your ingenuity…but I can only dream…that’s why your blog is such a blessing…we can let you do all of the creative thinking for us! 🙂
Oh it is wonderful! love how you painted just a bit of the front!
Beautiful! I’ll certainly be featuring it on my next ‘5 of the best’ – if you don’t mind? x
I’d be honored, Nikki!
Well, I’ll be dag-nabbed–you sure did make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear! With hardly any work at all! I’ll be switched! But, you know, Angie, this is not a good example for me as I am going to have a harder time than ever getting rid of some of my junk, like my daughters remind me quite regularly to do. I guess I”m just gonna have to get busy and make some neat stuff so maybe they’ll leave me alone! You rock, girl!
I just love your blog & the creative ideas you come up with out of the most ordinary (& sometimes not so ordinary) things. This one is no exception! I can’t believe that I’m now going to have to add this to the ever growing list of “junk” I NEED to pick up if I see it. Lol You’re one of my favorites!
This is so perfect ♥ Alexandra
Great idea! Do you ever stop? LOL