TJ Maxx Lantern Makeover {with a little paint}
Happy Friday All!
I’m so glad it’s the weekend again, aren’t you? The only problem is they go by way too fast. Always do.
Too many projects & activities …never enough time.
I really think weekends should start on Thursday!
Who came up with the Monday-Friday work week anyway? And where are our
3 hour afternoon siestas? I definitely think we should implement that.
Ok….and back to the real world…..
…this weekend I hope to actually make a dent in that landscaping project(s) we started a couple
weeks ago. Maybe! I might even make some progress on the porch overhauls. We’ll see.
But today I thought I’d share with you this little lantern I picked up last week.
I’d been looking for one for awhile….but couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for.
You know those times you have something in mind? You can just see it. You know exactly what
you’re looking for but can not find it?
Yea, that happens to me all the time.
But no worries, I can usually come close with a little finagling …and some paint.
Of course, right?
Like this lantern I picked up at TJ Maxx, for example.
It’s black, as you can see.
Which is a great color. But I wanted white or off white, sort of weathered looking.
I could probably find that all day long if I wasn’t actually looking for it.
Isn’t that how it always goes?
So I bought this one. I knew it would work okay, even though it wasn’t exactly what I
had envisioned. It just needed paint and a little weatherin’.
So paint is what it got.
Valspar Paint & Primer in one, flat finish from Lowe’s.
This was one I had left over from another project so just used it.
Spray paint and not Annie Sloan! Surprise. See? I told you I really do use other paints besides
chalk paint…sometimes.
I removed the glass inserts and started spraying.
It probably took about 3-4 passes, drying in between, to get everything covered.
Inside and out.
After it was dry I took some fine grit sandpaper and lightly sanded every single edge and detail.
I wanted it to look a bit “weathered”.
The black underneath really makes the edges “pop” where
I sanded them. Nice!
Once that was done I sprayed it with a coat of Minwax Polycrylic….
That sealed all the sanded edges and gave it a nice Satin sheen.
So, although this wasn’t quite what I had pictured in my mind exactly…it did turn out
quite well, I think!
The message here is never discount something. If you can’t find exactly what you are looking
for, find something close to it and/or make it, paint it, change it!
And in that same way, if you have something you no longer love, or love the color of, paint it!
It’s easy to do and can really change the look of something.
And it’s so easily done with all of the products we have available to us these days.
Think you might pull out the spray paint this weekend? Got something that needs a little refreshing?
Sharing with: Uncommon Designs, Between Naps on the Porch, Domestically Speaking, Tatertots & Jello, The Happy Housie,
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What a great transformation! So simple and yet it brought out so much of it’s character. Loved what you put in it as well!
Thanks Mandy! I’ve been leaning more and more towards coastal decor. It was only in one or two rooms, it’s now taking over! ;) I do live right on the coast so it makes sense. ;)
So pretty Nancy!! Great idea:) I will have to use this. Love the beachy fillers too.
Krista
Thanks Krista! :) I’m such a paint addict! ;)
Love this idea! I am tired of my black porch lanterns. Think I’ll give them spray! Pinning and sharing on FB! Cheers to the weekend :)
Awesome, yes, Christy!! Change em up!;) Thanks for the pin & share, friend! :)
It turned out so cute!! It definitely has the beachy look when it’s white. You are just so amazing with paint…want to come over and do some projects for me?! ;) Hope you’re having a great weekend, Miss Nancy!
~Abby =)
Aw thanks Abby…it’s a sickness! ;) Me and the paint, inseparable. This is why my hubby always says I’ll paint anything that stays still too long!! True!! Hope your weekend was great.
Love that, and I love TJ Maxx! Wish we had one here in town…
I love TJ Maxx too..and Home Goods! Can always find great things there….every time!
LOVE the makeover! Awesome job, Nancy! Thanks for sharing at Give Me The Goods Monday! Can’t wait to see what goods you bring next week! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
These r great ideas ……. Thanks ya much
Thanks!! :) I love to paint and transform things into what I envision them to be!
Great call to paint it white! It looks so beachy and pretty! Thanks for linking up to the “Get Your DIY On” link up party! Bring your chalkboard crafts Sunday at 7!
Yes, and it actually worked out well that it was black underneath! ;) I like it much better white! Nancy
Nancy, I know I told you before how much I love this but I wanted to let you know that I featured this lantern on my blog today! Thank you so much for linking up your spray paint projects with us. I hope you’ll join us this week with some chalkboard projects!
http://www.thehankfulhouse.com/2013/10/get-your-diy-on-week-5.html
Mandy @ The Hankful House
OH thanks so much Mandy!! :) I do have a chalkboard project or two!
Nancy
Love this!!!! Super cute!
Thanks Beth!! Easy little change up! ;)
Nancy
I love this! I couldn’t see a color on the can. What color did you use? It is exactly what I want to do with my black lanterns
Hi Julia,
I believe it was the Flat Riviera Dune.
Good luck! :)
Nancy
How did you get the glass out of the lantern without breaking it? Looks great! Love what you did!
Thanks! I was able to open up it from inside and just easily remove the glass pieces. They were held in like a back of a picture frame. :)