Today’s the big day! The $5 Challenge is live at Lindsay’s! (Click the glue gun graphic to go see all the wonderful projects.)
Earlier this month, I posted a tutorial for bamboo vases, and after using them for three weeks, I have to say I’m still in love with them. This week, I finally got started on my second project.
Here’s the second half of my haul from the dollar store:
-One small oval serving tray
-One set of four small bowls
-Two bags of decorative “accent gems” – a nod to the current decor trend of teals and aquas
-One resin birdie on branch
Items on hand that I used: Spray paint, spray poly, and a bag of tea lights.
Yesterday, while the weather was beautiful, I took the tray and bird outside to my high-tech painting booth (*cough* *cough*) and gave them each a couple of coats of paint & poly. (I wanted a glossier finish than the paint alone would give. I also planned to put things on the tray, so hopefully the poly will protect the paint from scratches.)
I went in wishing I had a brighter white paint for this project, but I only had Heirloom White on hand. It always goes on creamier than I want it, but now that it’s dry, I’m pretty happy with it.
Learn from my mistake – prime the bird. I used way too much of the precious Heirloom White trying to cover up his darker feathers and the branch. (Also, if you come over to my house, don’t look underneath his tail. I kind of missed a bit. Shh.)
After they’d spent a couple of hours basking in the sunshine, I brought them inside to cure overnight.
This morning, it was time to play. It did not go quite as planned. My original thought was pebbles on tray, bowls amongst pebbles, tea lights in bowls. I didn’t like it, so I started messing with it. (That’s how the pros do it, I promise! Mess around with it until you like it!)
Hmm. Seems I didn’t need the bowls after all. Okay, so it’s a $4 project! If you have clear cup tea lights on hand, I think it would be even prettier. I’m fresh out.
And there you have it – a $4 candle arrangement, suitable for end tables, very wide mantles, breakfast bars, and kitchen tables.*
P.S. I’m also linking this up to the Frugal Friday Linky Party over at The Shabby Nest. Have fun looking through those projects, too!
*This isn’t the steadiest candle arrangement in the world…As with all candles, please don’t put this anywhere a child or animal could disrupt it and get burned or spread the flames. And, of course, don’t leave it unattended! You knew that, right?
13 comments
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March 25, 2010 at 10:23 am
Meg R.
really cute! I love candles…always lookin for new ways to display them! thanks for the idea! 🙂
March 25, 2010 at 11:03 am
Mom
Aimee, I love your solution. Personally, my favorite is the one with the bowls with pebbles in them and candles on top. I love the reflective quality the glass brings and the simplicity of the three candles. But, I am always partial to 3s and glass. I especially love that the bird takes on a whole new classiness (is that a word?) when painted white and the tray too. Love that white paint. Reminds me of when your greatgrandma Ella use to spray paint everything gold. Trust me, white is better!
Love you, M
March 25, 2010 at 11:06 am
aimeewrites
Thanks, Mom – while I didn’t follow the rule of three, you’ll note there are [very purposefully] an ODD number of candles! 😉
March 25, 2010 at 11:22 am
The Little Brown House
I love it!! You are right – it is funny that we both did the same platter and paint!
You did a great job!
March 25, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Barb
Wow, nice job! The birdie totally looks vintage–I thought it was vintage iron at first glance!
March 25, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Laura Ingalls Gunn
What a sweet project. You are one clever and crafty girl. Have a happy spring!
March 25, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Kim@cheapchichome
This turned out pretty – I like the candles with the clear glass marbles.
March 26, 2010 at 5:15 am
Marsha
I like this!! I have to say I like the one with the bowls 🙂
I ALWAYS “forget” to prime first . . . I must have a thing about not doing that!!!
March 26, 2010 at 7:38 am
Lynda @ SportsMadGirl
What a great project! I just bought that exact bird yesterday on one of my two trips to the Dollar Tree.
Thanks for stopping by!
March 26, 2010 at 11:55 am
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
So cute…love that bird!!
March 26, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Jess @ Just a Blink
Ohhhh! So charming and a little romantic!
April 4, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Jen
I am imprsesed! you took that from gaudy to beauty in what looks like a very short amount of time.
can you heal my finger now? I cut it while gardening today and its causing typos!
p.s. thanks for stopping by my blog! how did you find it?
April 14, 2010 at 6:24 pm
aimeewrites
Thanks, Jen! I’ve been following you for months and months and months! I don’t remember how I found you. I really haven’t commented before?? I’m SO sorry. Comments are what keep us going, aren’t they? I’ll try to be better. 🙂