A Junk Garden Makeover for a Dated Birdhouse Planter
July 29, 2017
This cutesy country birdhouse planter was at a neighborhood rummage sale on Friday. It was priced at $2.
My first change was to the "Welcome" sign. It had the old country font with dots on the ends of all of the letters. Luckily the back of the sign had never been painted and it was pretty grayed from the outdoor elements. I painted the "Welcome" side with a black latex enamel paint I had on hand.
I used Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black, 
one of my Dreamweaver stencil brushes and Delta Squiggle Stencils
to stencil on "GROW" to the unpainted side of the sign.
one of my Dreamweaver stencil brushes and Delta Squiggle Stencils
to stencil on "GROW" to the unpainted side of the sign.
Next, I removed, (no I didn't) my husband removed the original birdhouse. It was both nailed and screwed on, and he used a crowbar to remove it. This old birdhouse (free) at the rummage sale was then attached to the top of the sign holder with a 1/4" x 2" dowel screw. A dowel screw has a point on each end. Starter holes were drilled in the bottom of the birdhouse and the top of the sign spindle, and then the birdhouse was turned round and round until tight.
He also toed in a screw from the side into the sign holder as the birdhouse was a little wobbly.
After cleaning up the planter and the birdhouse with water and a scrub brush (I didn't use soap, as I was afraid to remove too much of the weathering), and sanding the edges and other areas of the spindle with sandpaper, I darkened the weathering even more with some of my white vinegar and steel wool stain. Then I added a vintage wire coat hook for a perch.
I love the planter with the more rustic birdhouse and sign.
Now this is a junk garden planter!
I sealed the entire sign, planter and birdhouse with Thompson's Water Seal and Wood Protector spray. I used Thompson's Water Seal over my stenciled deck table and it has been holding up well.
I like the my garden junk very rustic, rusty and neutral colored so the flowers are the stars of the flower gardens!
Would this makeover be called an up-cycle or a down-cycle? LOL!
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It turned out great - I love it! You have such a great eye for detail and all your projects turn out so good.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week.
Mary
I love it!
ReplyDeletelove this, especially the 'grow' stencil font that looks like it's burnt into the wood!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an UPcycle!
ReplyDeleteCute!!! I love it! Mary Caliendo @beautyisabeastblog htt//www.beautyisabeasthing.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love it and I want one!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous makeover! I love everything about this! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like to invite you to share this at the Farmhouse Friday link party which starts tomorrow morning at 6am PST. When you link up, I will share it with a direct link back to your post on all my social media, including on the DIY Farmhouse Style Facebook group, which at this writing has 222,000+ members. I hope to see you there! :) www.thepaintedhinge.com
I was looking for stuff to make over my front yard, and these ideas are beautiful and so refreshing. Also I can afford it.thanks.
ReplyDelete