Thrift Store Decor Upycle Challenge

I’ve paired up with 19 other talented ladies to bring you a monthly Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge. Each month we will create a new home decor piece from an item(s) we’ve found at a thrift store, yard sale, resale shop etc. There is no budget or specific theme so we are free to let our creativity run wild!

Meet the Hosts

You can also follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!

Upcycled Candlestick Cake Plate

Don’t you just love a good upcycle makeover project that comes together without a hitch?!

Yeah, this was not one of those projects!

Oh, don’t get me wrong, everything turned out in the end, but it wasn’t before I almost heaved it all into the trash bin more than once.

And that was after I actually found what I was looking for at the thrift store in the first place.

You see, I love cake stands. I have several, mostly ceramic or glass and one wood based one that is basically just a wood plate with a dome.

What I was looking for was one kind of like this. Not exactly, but a turned wood pedestal was my focus. The actual plate part I would figure out later.

Houzz.com

When I set out to the thrift store I was focused on finding some wooden candlesticks to use for the base. This is how my creative process works when it comes to upcycling!

I get an idea. I zero in on the main element and then somehow make it work. Sometimes this gets me in trouble.

Take this thrift store decor project for example. I knew in my minds eye exactly what I wanted the base to look like. Which essentially means there is no way I was going to find it!

Oh, you can bet when I wasn’t looking for short squatty wooden candlesticks they would be in every thrift store in town.

Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Candlestick Project

Oh, no. Not this time. A couple of Goodwill Stores and a Value Village later, I found these beauties! Some chalk paint, distressing and some wax and we have a winner!

Not so fast. I didn’t count on the black zigzaggy lines running and mixing with the chalk paint as I tried to cover them up. And they still showed through coat after coat. Ugh!

I finally resorted to using my palm sander to sand out what I could and coming to terms with just embracing what I had to work with.

After the bases were done, it was time to decide on what to use for the plate portion. I immediately went for a small square plate I had picked up at a thrift store for styling photo’s some time ago. I really wanted a wicker or wooden plate for the shorter one, but I had this little bowl in a collection of white dishes I got at a yard sale last year.

The little nails on the top of each candlestick were easy to pull out with some pliers before hot gluing the plates in place.

I am actually really happy with how they turned out.

The provide a pretty perch for some summer kitchen linens like dish towels and cloth napkins, keeping them in easy reach. The one with the bowl holds some fresh grab and go fruit!

If you find yourself face to face with some pretty wooden candlesticks and want to try this DIY upcycle project, let me leave you with a few tips:

look for wood candlesticks free of any embellishment or decoration
be sure to gather all the needed supplies to complete the project before you begin
apply several thin coats of paint rather than 1 or 2 thick coats – it is much easier to sand

and finally…….(note to self!)

do not expect perfection- this is a thrift store decor upcycling project, you are not trying to create something to look brand new!

Until next time……

Looking for another neat upcyle project? Check out this upcycled cupboard door turned chalkboard project! And, don’t forget to check out all the link from 19 other bloggers below!

An InLinkz Link-up

24 Comments

Maureen, these are adorable! Good thing you didn’t heave them into trash….LOL.

Maureen says:

May 19, 2016 at 7:42 am

Thank you Julie!

Reply

I love the way these turned out and they are going to be perfect to use for decorating in any season.

Maureen says:

May 19, 2016 at 7:50 am

Thank you! I already have lots of plans for them!

Reply

This is a great idea. Now I am sorry I didn’t buy the candle holders I saw yesterday but it will be on my radar now.

Maureen says:

May 19, 2016 at 7:51 am

Thank you! I know exactly what you mean. From now on if I see something that sparks my interest When thrifting it is coming home with me!

Reply

They turned out so pretty. I like the way you are using them also. I’ve been searching for similar big candle holders in my thrift stores forever with no luck.

Thanks Heather! The little nail pulled right out with a pair of plyers! That was probably the easiest part of the whole project

I love how you used the candlesticks, and I love how you distressed them. This is beautiful!

I’m still keeping my eyes open for a nice looking wooden headboard set to do the pinterest bench for my yard

This turned out great! I totally want one of these for my kitchen 🙂

These turned out great! I love cake plates too! Great Upcycle!

Maureen says:

May 20, 2016 at 9:34 am

Thank you Michelle!

Reply

I laughed out loud when I read this! I completely know what you mean about looking for something specific: it’s nowhere to be found when you’re desperate to have it, but when you’re not, it’s in every shop in the city. I I call it the thrifter’s curse 🙂