Flea Market Swap Roundup

I hope you took some time last week to pop by the other bloggers who participated in #swapitlikeitshot.  Let me tell you- when you give creative people a $10(ish) budget and the task to give thrifted treasures new life, you end up with some pretty amazing projects! ***As always, please click through to the original source and pin from there.  Give the credit where it's due!***

First of all, I just LOVE with what Colleen at 58 Water Street did with the items that I sent her!  Those items were a turned wood bracelet (I think?), a fun shaped box adorned with some unfortunate horsies, and a deep wood frame.

Looks like she was inspired to use plants just like I was.  The simple graphic nature she gave to the items is spot on, don't you think?

Nancy over at Artsy Chicks Rule takes the prize for the most transformed.  Those pineapples should have always been gold (but weren't!).  Let's just say, I need to play around with some chalk paint myself.  Head over to her blog to see what these items were in their past life!

Another crafting tool that I'm just itching to play with now is a Cricut.  Allison at Two Thirty-Five Designs used it to create gorgeous hoop art.  I'd like to be friends with that chic little bird.

Jillian from I am a Homemaker turned simple wood placemats into an unexpected table runner.  I may see a DIY table runner in my own future- maybe one with some chalkboard paint?  Hello dinner party!

The amazing organizer of this whole event, Charlotte at Ciburbanity even transformed the box her items were sent to her in!

It was so fun to be a part of this event and I hope you've had a blast checking out the results!  I'd love to hear which project (from these or any of the projects) was your favorite!

To make it easy for you to go check out all the amazingness once again, here's the list of last week's Flea Market Swap participants.  Great job ladies!!!

Day 1- Monday Run to Radiance Decor Adventures Year of Serendipity (That's me!) 58 Water Street Don't Disturb This Groove Like Saturday Artsy Chicks Rule

Day 2- Tuesday Two Purple Couches While They Snooze The Gathered Home Black and White Obsession Ciburbanity Restoration Redoux Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer

Day 3- Wednesday Primitive & Proper Queen of Everything That's My Letter Finding Silver Pennies Migonis Home Windgate Lane

Day 4- Thursday I Am a Homemaker Town and Country Living Thoughts from Alice Our Southern Home Chic Little House SG Style Two Thirty~Five Designs

Day 5- Friday Gourley Girl & Guy The Thinking Closet The Charming Farmer 2 Little Superheroes Shades of Blue Interiors Live Pretty on a Penny

DIY Book Planter

As I mentioned last week, we had around $10 to go thrifting, then send those treasures to another blogger for an awesome makeover.  The time has come to reveal what I've done with the treasures that Jessica at Decor Adventures sent me!

Of the 4 items sent, the frame and the book called out to me.  The task was to transform these thrifted items.

The frame was the simple transformation.  From the moment I saw it, it said "tray" to me.  What does a frame need to turn into a tray?

Feet (which are actually IKEA knobs) and a little spray paint, clearly.

I put some scrapbook paper in place of the photo.  You could also easily put a fun fabric there or switch it out with your decor.

My pet project, though, was the book.  I'm addicted to styling with books if you haven't noticed.  My first thought was to hollow it out and create a secret 'safe,' but that project, while useful would have been, well, safe.  And let's face it, plants are always more fun.

This was such a simple project but was more time consuming than I anticipated.

The most tedious part of this project was hollowing out the book.

page.  by.  page.

I cut a hole to fit the tupperware, then trimmed the tupperware to the height of the book.

Once cut, I glued the interior, put a piece of parchment paper between the pages and cover to prevent it all from getting glued together, then I clamped.

While waiting for the glue to dry, I made a big mess with succulents.  Fingers crossed that if I ignore these, they'll stay alive!

With the book dry, I put everything together and started swooning.  Why didn't I do this sooner??

Thanks Jessica for the challenge!!  Head over to 58 Water Street and check out what Colleen did with the items that I sent her!

There will be a week full of these awesome projects, today's the first day, but you should head over and check out what these other lovely ladies are doing!

Day 1

Run to Radiance Decor Adventures Year of Serendipity 58 Water Street Don't Disturb This Groove Like a Saturday Artsy Chicks Rule

Day 2 Two Purple Couches While They Snooze The Gathered Home Black and White Obsession Ciburbanity Restoration Redoux Confessions of aSerial Do-it-Yourselfer

Day 3 Primitive & Proper Queen of Everything That's My Letter Finding Silver Pennies Migonis Home Windgate Lane

Day 4 I Am a Homemaker Town and Country Living Thoughts from Alice Our Southern Home Chic Little House SG Style Two Thirty~Five Designs

Day 5 Gourley Girl & Guy The Thinking Closet The Charming Farmer 2 Little Superheroes Shades of Blue Interiors Live Pretty on a Penny

Swap It Teaser

Another week, another snow storm.  I'll spare you the whining this time, though. I'm so excited to be taking part in the latest round of Swap it Like it's Hot (#swapitlikeitshot)!!

The lovely Charlotte over at Ciburbanity is organizing an awesome group of 30 bloggers who love thrifting and creating.  Check out this adorable little teaser she put together:

And now I have that song stuck in my head....

As the video explains towards the end, we had $10 to find anything our little heart desired that could be remade, revamped or redone and then mail it to another blogger.  Admittedly, I went a little nuts at the thrift store, then once home decided which gems to send off to Colleen over at 58 Water Street.  You'll have to wait and see what I sent!

I shared the goodies that I received on instagram when Bear opened the package (ok, maybe he had a little help)

Jessica at Decor Adventures was my generous sender.  My project supplies include a set of red corduroy place mats, a Buddha statue, a book, and a gold metal frame.

We aren't required to use everything that was sent, we just have to get creative and transform something.  Bear's already claimed Buddha as his BFF and I have my target lock on the frame and the book.  I have a few ideas, but you'll have to wait until Monday, March 2nd to see what I ended up doing!

I'd love to hear what you would create with these items!