DIY Decor – DIY + HANDMADE + VINTAGE

Railroad crate coffee table.

Published on August 21, 2017October 31, 2020 by Kelly Whitman1 Comment

I love it when something ordinary jumps out at me and I instantly see how it can be extraordinary.

Last month I came across something that stopped me in my tracks, (pun intended)… An old Railway Express Agency shipping crate. It was worn, dried out, beat up, and begging for some true old fashioned TLC.

Without hesitation I hauled it home, where it has been sitting in the corner of my living room, until last week when I finally decided to move it out into my workshop where I have a line up of projects ready to tackle. I figure if I added it into the line up, there would be a better chance that I would be inspired to work on it!

I immediately knew what this old crate needed and I got to work.

I started by scrubbing it down and using tack cloth all over to make sure there wasn’t any loose dust or particles before I went to the next step.

Next, I added two coats of clear Zinsser Shellac.

I was working in my work shop on a mid 80’s day, so the Shellac dried extremely fast. I was impressed at the dry time, and it didn’t leave any sticky feeling behind.

I added Shellac to the entire exterior, interior, and lid. Once the Shellac was dry, it was time to add on the caster wheels. I picked these wheels up a few years ago and have been waiting to find the right project to use them on. This was it!

Adding the shellac pulled out all of the historical characteristics, markings and words. I love the transformation that shellac does to wood! It is a beautiful process!

I remember during my childhood when my dad would ask me to assist him with projects and it would always make me feel so special to help him, even if it was just handing him nails, I felt so important. Now, when I work on projects, I try to find a task somewhere during, that my kids can help me with, hoping that when they grow up, they will not only have memories, but will have useful skills that they can use too!

I asked my son R to help me with the caster wheels. He is usually a little hesitant with projects, but with me showing him an example and putting the first screw in with the hand drill, he jumped right in and took over. He is 13 now, and I feel like time is flying by. I want to be the very best mom possible and teach him all that I know, while he is still here with me!

Adding caster wheels is not a complicated task! Don’t let it scare you! Caster wheels come in many different sizes and you can get ones that swivel 360 degrees, or ones that only roll backward and forward in a straight line. I always get the ones that do a complete swivel, this makes it so much easier when moving things around, especially if it’s something like a coffee table that gets pushed and pulled in all directions by everyone

After he added on the four caster wheels, it was time to add some pulls onto the lid, for easy opening. This is when my son ran way. Hah. I give thanks that he stayed with more for at least a small portion of my project!

The pulls were picked out by my 8 year old daughter. We were looking for something rustic that looked like it had always been a part of this old crate.

Since these pulls had a bit of a bump out on the bottom where it would meet the crate, I had to measure the size of that bump with the drill bit gauge. (Pictured above on the left). I used that size drill bit to go into the wood just as deep as the bottom of the pull needed to go in, then on the underside of the lid, I drilled in a hole that was one size smaller than the screw for a tight fit. I didn’t have any pull screws on hand that were the right size, so I made due by placing two washers in between the lid and each screw so it was nice and snug and secure.

One the pulls were installed, it was time to sit back and smile at another project well done and another piece of forgotten furniture brought back to life and rescued!

Tv dresser with Beyond Paint

Published on January 12, 2017March 30, 2019 by Kelly WhitmanLeave a comment

Today I wanted to share with all of you a great line of paint, called ‘Beyond Paint’.

I was recently contacted by Beyond Paint to give their furniture makeover kit a try.

On their website, Beyond Paint says the following about their product:

“No Stripping, No Sanding, No Priming
BEYOND PAINT™ your cabinets, furniture and accessories in one convenient kit!
Refinish almost any surface with this combination bonder/primer/finisher that cures to a durable, washable surface in just one or two coats. Application is foolproof, and the result is a beautiful, professional finish that will transform your home.
The amazing BEYOND PAINT™ Cabinets Furniture & More Makeover Kit also includes the best tools for the job for your convenience and ease of application saving you money and hassle on your home projects.”

The furniture makeover kit came with everything that I needed to complete my furniture makeover project, it even included an instructional dvd!

The Beyond Paint Makeover Kit Includes:

Paint (Quart)
Roller Handle
Roller Cover
Chip Brush
Tray
Instructional DVD
Brochure

For this project, I decided to update the TV dresser that is in our living room. My interior design style has matured a lot in the past couple of years, and I went from loving dark rustic colors only, to really embracing bright and light natural colors, with touches of wood tones. Last Fall I also painted our living room, for the second time. When we moved into the farmhouse 3 years ago, the walls were a dirty, smokey off-white, and I painted them a soft blue. After time I realized I didn’t like designing around blue walls, and now went with a super soft grey with blue undertones and it is so much easier to incorporate other colors into my space with that tone as a backdrop.

This is what our TV dresser looked like before I gave the makeover with Beyond Paint a go:

In the winter months, my furniture makeovers usually take place in my dining room (sorry family!). I am still working on getting my little workshop heated so I can tackle more projects even when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.

Since my dresser was previously painted, and Beyond Paint requires no stripping, sanding or priming, this was an extremely easy and quick project. All I needed to do to get started was wipe down the dresser with a wet rag, dry it off, make a big cup of coffee and I was on my way!

Here are the results of just two quick coats of the color ‘Nantucket’ by Beyond Paint!

This blue adds a nice pop of color to our living room, without being too overwhelming. When I walk into our space, my mind feels relaxed and refreshed and I am surrounded by colors that remind me of beautiful Lake Superior and colors found in nature.

I finally feel content with the gallery wall as well. If you have a gallery wall somewhere in your home, you will understand when I say that it is an ever changing and evolving project.

I absolutely loved the final result and the ease of use of Beyond Paint. The paint goes on nice and thick and has amazing coverage! I look forward to using Beyond Paint products again the future, and am hoping to give their counter top paint a try this Summer!

As always, you can follow along with my DIY projects by subscribing to my blog, and by following Anchored Way on Facebook You can also shop Anchored Way Trading Co. custom furniture, home decor, vintage goods, jewelry and art 7 days a week at my booth that is located at The Shed (1519 Mayer Road, Altoona, Wi – Booth # 56 ) !

Decor Sources:

Paint provided by Beyond Paint .

The “W” and deer print in the center are both from the amazing Hobby Lobby, the Hope canvas I found at JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store, the amazing scented soy candle is from PF Candle Co and was purchased at Reds Mercantile in Eau Claire,Wisconsin, the the rock canvas is my own photograph that I took along the shores of Lake Superior in Northern Minnesota, and the little clip board was my Grandfathers and I currently have a cute little vintage car picture that I actually reused and cut off of a Christmas gift bag!

Potato Sack Ottoman

Published on March 6, 2016March 30, 2019 by Kelly WhitmanLeave a comment

“The seeker embarks on a journey to find what he wants, and discovers, along the way, what he needs.”

Two weeks ago I came across a great little ottoman at Hope Gospel Mission Bargain Center in Eau Claire, Wi for $3.00! After my employee discount the total came to around $2.80! What a deal! (p.s. a tip for shopping there, if you are 50+, on Tuesdays you can save 20% off your entire purchase ! )

I just loved the style of this ottoman and knew it was a piece of furniture that I could breathe new life into. Below is what the ottoman looked like as I found it at the Bargain Center, and what was underneath that dirty green fabric!

I let it sit in my living room for a few days, where I could see it, and try to figure out a plan for it. I kept going back and forth between giving it a light beach cottage feel, or a Western rustic style.

As I looked around my home to see what I had for material to cover the top of it, I came across an old potato sack that I found last year at Oronoco Gold Rush Days, where I went on a hunt for anything that had a Western design or feel to it.
The potato sack was dirty and had stains all over it, that discouraged me a bit, but then I discovered that I could simply just wash the stains out!

Below are photos of the potato sack getting a bath. I simply filled the bath tub with warm water and a bit of laundry detergent and gave it a good 10 minute soak, then scrubbed gently with a scrub brush in the areas that it had dirt stains, wrung it out, then hung it out on the clothesline to dry over night!

Once the potato sack was fully dry, I cut it open along the seams on the side and bottom, laid it out on the floor, image side down, set the ottoman upside down on top it it and cut a circle about 4+ inches bigger than the ottoman, so I would have enough material to go over the sides, and underneath the ottoman where I then secured it with staples, using a Staple Gun. After the potato sack was secured, I then painted the legs red and topped them off with Minwax Polyshades stain + poly, and it was finished!

This was a really fun and easy project and the great part is that if I decide I want a different style, it is simple to removed the potato sack and recover the ottoman! But for now, it looks right at home in our old farmhouse.

I hope this blog post has inspired you to see beyond what something IS and to see what it’s potential can be!

Have a beautiful Sunday, get outside and enjoy the sunshine!

Remember, you can follow along with my DIY adventures over on Facebook as well!

Travel inspired desk.

Published on September 17, 2015March 30, 2019 by Kelly WhitmanLeave a comment

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

If you are a regular follower of Anchored Way Trading Co, you by now know that I am a lover of travel, adventure, wandering back roads and the outdoors. I find myself often day-dreaming of driving the car, down an old back road in the mountains of Montana, windows down, radio on, the wind blowing through my hair… (okay let’s be realistic, … * the wind blowing my hair into my face…) , and nowhere to go, ..but everywhere.

I’m a dreamer. A day dreamer, yes. A night dreamer, of course, but most importantly, I believe in the dreams that God has instilled into this heart of mine. Progress, no matter how slow, is progress. A step forward, is still a step, no matter if it’s a running step or a walking step. Little by little, we get closer to becoming who God created us to be.

With each piece of furniture I create, I feel more like me & I feel my wings opening further. This, an artist, is who I am. I am here, to create and inspire you.

I came across this lonely desk while I was working at Hope Gospel Mission Bargain Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and knew it needed to come home with me to my workshop. I knew, it had potential, I could see it.

I was originally planning on giving the desk a new life and selling it at my favorite little local coffee shop, The Living Room Coffee House in Eau Claire, but once finished and placed in a corner of my living room, it was like the desk looked at me and said ‘Let me stay right here,’ and there, it still sits. Now it has a new life, a new home and is once again loved and provides my kids and my family with a little school / home work station and organization for all of the papers they bring home from school every day.

There it is friends! Completely perfect for our family! I used an old Montana map, that shows two of the towns where my kids first saw the mountains a few years ago on a road trip. I was blessed to have been given my late Grandfathers chair that he used in his basement workshop at his desk, every time I look at it, my heart smiles, and every time I sit in it, like I am now, writing this blog post, I know my Grandfather would be proud of the work I do.

If you are interested in a custom furniture piece, like this for your home, or place of business, feel free to contact me with any questions; endlessacres@live.com

You can also follow Anchored Way Trading Co. on Facebook.

Have a blessed day- get out there and unleash your inner artist! Dream, Create, Believe in yourself!

Products used in this transformation;

Arrow Drawer Pulls – Junk Gypsy at Gypsyville.com
Paint – Sherwin Williams- Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Stain- Minwax

Red license plate dresser.

Published on May 27, 2014March 30, 2019 by Kelly Whitman1 Comment

“Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make. Good. Art.” ~Neil Gaiman

I love being an artist. It is my passion. I love the feelings that come along with creating and transforming a piece of furniture. It gives me such satisfaction to take something old, worn, and broken and restoring it and giving it a brand new life and a new purpose.

Last week I got an idea for this brown dresser and marched forward with the vision and the details came to me as I went along. Here is the before image of the dresser;

Before. Red license plate dresser by Endless Acres Farmtiques

How I transformed this dresser:

Sanded and painted red.
Applied a thin layer of Minwax stain + poly.
Removed drawer pulls and filled in holes with wood filler.
Attached rusty license plates to each drawer, for character.

Dresser after:

I hope you enjoyed this transformation!

TV Stand dresser.

Published on March 18, 2014March 30, 2019 by Kelly WhitmanLeave a comment

‘ The art of living is always to make a good thing out of a bad thing.’

~ E.F. Schmacher

Art to me is about vision. It is about seeing potential in something that others may not see. It is about taking something and changing it, making it unique , making it your own. It is about expanding your eyes to see beyond the norm and the usual. Today’s project is just that.
It is about how I took a normal little white dresser and made it into something different, and gave it a new life as a TV stand.

Here is the dresser as it was before:

Here is a list of what I did to the dresser to make it into a tv stand;

Sanded, and painted entire piece, including sides and insides of the drawers in Sherwin Williams ‘Light French Grey’ paint.
Removed the top drawer and added in old cedar fence boards using small finishing nails, to make a shelf.
Drilled small hole into back wall of dresser to allow cords to go through if used as a TV stand.
Replaced original hardware with yardsticks for drawer pulls. The yard sticks have been stained lightly.

Here is the dresser after;

Thanks for viewing my latest project! If you like what you see here on the blog, you can follow along with me on Facebook!

~Kelly

9 drawer dresser.

Published on March 11, 2014March 30, 2019 by Kelly Whitman5 Comments

“As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.“

~ Winnie The Pooh

My son just turned 10 last week. I am trying my hardest to not let his age make me feel sad about the fact that I am losing my ‘baby’ boy. It is a hard transition when they go from sweet little boy who follows mommy everywhere to becoming so independent and not needing their mommy as much any more. I miss those pounding little fists on the bathroom door every time I take a shower, I miss the tugging of the pant legs when I am needed for something, I miss the sweet calls of ‘Mommy come play with me’ from the other room. But I am also thankful to God that my son is a healthy, adventurous boy who has been with me for 10 wonderful years. He has now grown into someone who loves the Lord, enjoys a good conversation about anything that involves facts, loves getting dirty in the mud, and is one of the greatest travel buddies I’ve ever had.

Lately he has been really interested in my projects, and has been asking me what I will be working on next when I am in between projects. He has enjoyed going with me searching for my next project and I can see a huge change in him that has happened recently, where he is really understanding and appreciating the work and love I put into my furniture makeovers. As a mother, it is such a great feeling to have a son that wants to learn from you and also looks up to you. And now I also see, that even though he is getting older, he still does need me, just in different ways. This morning before school, he hugged me and said “Mom, thanks for making my new dresser and my other desk too, I really like them both.” Ahh, talk about melting a mothers heart!

I have slowly been working on getting his room together and out of all of the rooms in the house, his is still my favorite, and the closest to being ‘complete’ . Last year, I worked on making over an old desk from a thrift store for his room, and this year I have been in search of a long dresser with plenty of drawers for his clothes & toys. I was lucky enough to have a friend donate a dresser to me over the weekend and once I saw it, I knew it was exactly what I had been looking for , for my little mans room!

This is what the dresser looked like before;

I let my son pick out the colors and theme for the dresser. Below is a list of the changes that I made;

Stained the top of the dresser & legs with 3 coats of Minwax Polyshades in Classic Black.
Painted dresser & drawers in red satin paint.
Stained over the entire dresser & drawers with Minwax Poly-shades in Classic Black (which is stain + polyurethane) to give it a dirty/aged look as my son requested.
Lined the drawers with ripped out pages from a 1973 issue of Popular Science Magazine.

I decided to use the original copper pulls that were on the dresser, I just love the patina that they have and their simple, straight lines.

I completed this dresser in a day and today I am planning on setting it up in my sons bedroom to surprise him with the complete product when he gets home from school

I hope you have enjoyed my latest furniture makeover, and that you leave feeling inspired to take on a project at your house too!

Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

Pretty in pink vanity.

Published on March 1, 2014March 30, 2019 by Kelly Whitman2 Comments

Let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile.

My sweet darling 5 year old daughter is one of my greatest joys. For several months she has been asking me for a pink dresser. I’m happy to say that I finally found her a beautiful wood vanity that was in need of a major revival.

Below you will find the steps I took to transform this beat up brown vanity into a beautiful pretty in pink vanity for my daughter.

Sanded down entire piece, including drawers. Wiped off debris and dust with tack clothes.

Applied 3 layers of pink paint to entire piece, including the drawer sides and one top coat of clear Minwax water based polyurethane in Satin finish to add extra protection.

Lined drawers with old story book pages, using Mod Podge .
Taped off sides of drawers to add a 3″ turquoise strip sides of drawers.

Drilled new holes for new hardware. This time, the drawer pulls covered up the old holes, so no wood filler was needed.

I finished this project in 2 days time, and had it all set up in my daughters room for her to see when she got home from school today. She was so excited , she even started jumping up and down. Success! 🙂

Here are the after photos, enjoy!

I am really happy with how this vanity turned out, and even happier that my daughter loves it! Her room is finally starting to look like a bedroom!

Thanks for reading, I hope you all have a wonderful night and weekend!

~Kelly

Rope Dresser.

Published on February 25, 2014March 30, 2019 by Kelly WhitmanLeave a comment

Today I woke up with a huge burst of motivation. So I ran with it. I completed 5 somewhat simple furniture transformations between 8am and 4pm. All of today’s projects were completely spontaneous, I just wandered around the house and basement looking for items to re-do and had them all out at once, jumping from one project to the other as paint dried and continued on like that for the whole day.

This dresser was purchased several years ago, it was originally a light brown, but was in bad condition, I had painted a quick coat of white paint over it last year, and it has been sitting in my daughters room ever since. Today it was begging me to give it a new look, so I did!

I sanded down the entire dresser, drilled new holes in the drawers to fit the rope pulls, and painted in relaxing a grey-blue.

Below are the before & after photos, enjoy!

Dresser Before;

Dresser After;

If you enjoy what you see here on the blog, you can also follow my DIY adventures on Facebook!
Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

Tranquil Dresser.

Published on February 12, 2014March 30, 2019 by Kelly WhitmanLeave a comment

“The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.” ~ James Allen

I love being by the waters edge. If you know me well, you know that I am always going, always working on something, driving the back roads, or getting my hands dirty on some project. There are a few things in life that will slow me down, and bring a sense of peace to my mind, and water is one of them. I could waste an entire day laying by a lake, or walking beside a creek. There is something so serene and calming to my heart when I am around water in nature, in some ways it makes me feel so connected to God , and I love that feeling of contentment and tranquility in my heart.

My love for water, especially Lake Superior, has formed my love for shades of blues and greens, whether its on vintage cars, or in decor in my home, like this tranquil dresser transformation I worked on yesterday.

The color is called ‘Dinner Mint’ but I really think it deserves a better name, like ‘Beach Glass’ or ‘By the Sea’ , but unfortunately I don’t name paints, I just use them. 😉

For this project, I did the following:

Sanded, primed and painted the dresser
Lightly stained the dresser
Added a coat of polyurethane
Spray painted the original dresser pulls in a hammered oil rubbed bronze spray paint from Rust-Oleum.

Dresser before:

Dresser After:

I hope you enjoyed my latest furniture revival project! To see more of my creations and keep up with my latest DIY Adventures, you can also follow me on Facebook!

Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

Potato Bin End Tables.

Published on February 6, 2014March 30, 2019 by Kelly Whitman6 Comments

Have you ever had an ah-ha moment?! As an artist and entrepreneur, I find myself getting several… every single day. How do I know which ones to take seriously and which ones to let go?! That is the hard part. This can sometimes be overwhelming for many artists and entrepreneurs, but that is where focus and vision come into play. If I gave in to every single idea I had, I would either be A.) completely broke B.) completely tired or C.) go completely insane. I don’t want to be any 3 of those! I want to continue to love what I do. So, if I get an idea and I can’t make it happen right away, I will write it down in a notebook and sometimes, the idea never travels further than between the lines on a white piece of paper, but for me, that is enough, and I have come to be okay with that, for most ideas. Sometimes I will come back to an idea 1 year later and make it happen as well. Then sometimes, there is an idea , or an ah-ha moment like I mentioned above, that I see so clearly in my head, that I have to jump up at that exact moment and make it happen. These potato bin end tables, are one of those ideas.

I have had these old wood potato bins for about a year, they have traveled to two different homes with me as I’ve moved, and have been used in about 6 different rooms for different purposes, like shoe boxes in the porch, stacked 2 high for shelving in my daughters room, set next to each other to make a bench, put together for a coffee table in the basement, or filled with toys. None of those ideas, although neat, felt like they were how the bins were to be given a new life. They were meant for something more.

I took the bins and jumped into a project the day after the idea was visualized in my head.

I stripped the old paint off of the back side of the bins, which would now be the top part of the end tables.

Once most of the paint was stripped, I sanded down the tops so they were smooth.

I painted the bins in a beautiful green, called ‘Preppy Green’ (the same green I also recently used on a desk makeover ) ,

Next, I used a brown stain + polyurethane from Minwax , called Minwax Polyshades in Espresso brown to lightly go over every side of the bins. This worked great as the stain stuck in all of the imperfections of the bin, showing off their age and history and giving them a more antique look. I stained the new tops of the bins with 2 coats of the same stain to give them a unified look and make them be viewable as actual end tables, not just potato bins, and for a bit of sophistication.

I am completely happy with how they turned out, and even more ecstatic that the vision I saw so clearly in my head, is now in my living room and I can look at them every day, knowing I DID IT and I brought my vision to life!

Below are the after photos, I hope you like them as much as I do!

Thanks for reading, for more inspiration from Anchored Way, visit me over on Facebook!

~Kelly

Blue desk.

Published on November 9, 2013March 29, 2019 by Kelly Whitman1 Comment

“No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.” ~ Oscar Wilde

My 9 year old son [R] has been asking me for a desk for his room for about a year now. I finally decided now was the perfect time to grant his request. Now, I could have went out and purchased a brand new desk for hundreds of dollars, but that would defeat the purpose of my budget friendly and original home design style.

I picked up a used, normal-looking desk from Hope Gospel Mission Bargain Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin for about $25.00.

The desk has deep drawers and lots of space on top for him to work on-whatever it is 9 year old boys work on. (Think Legos, drawing, puzzles, games, etc)

Do you see any potential in this desk? I have been blessed with eyes that see beyond what an object is-and can see the shape and size of something and be able to picture the ways it could be up-cycled , changed, and used in unique ways.

Here are the changes I made to the desk to make it original and unique for my sons bedroom.

First, I washed the entire desk down, inside and out to remove any dirt and dust, and removed all of the hardware (knobs + drawer pulls).

Next I primed the entire piece, front, back, inside, out, drawers and all with Zinsser primer.

After waiting [very impatiently] for the primer to dry, it was time for the first coat of color!

I let my son pick out the color at Menards, he chose the shade of ‘Crater Lake’ .

I’m such a messy painter- at least you can’t tell by looking at the finished piece, just by looking at me..when finished! (hah!)

Yep, sometimes..I paint barefoot.

After again, waiting very impatiently for the first coat of paint to dry, I repeated the process 2 more times to ensure I had the desk 100% covered nice and thick to stand up to my sons use. (and of course had to quickly test and see how the new hardware looked)

Next, with Minwax Polyshades Stain + Polyurithane in the color ‘Espresso’ Satin, I brushed on the stain, working in sections. Letting the stain + poly dry for just 2-3 minutes, I took a lint free rag, and wipe away the portion of the stain, leaving behind a small amount of stain, choosing to leave more around the edges where most likely the desk would have been touched by the previous owner,etc. I repeated this process 1 more time until it looked just right.

Once the desk was 100% dry (I let it dry overnight about 12 hours before touching) I added the new hardware (had to bust out the ol’ drill and make the holes a little bit larger to fit the new knobs) …

…and then added a long vintage license plate on the front drawer to cover the flowery design that my son didn’t like. The license plate was cut down to size with tin snips, and attached to the front drawer by drilling holes in the plate where the knobs were able to be placed through and attach the plate securely.

I thought at this point I was done. But as I opened the drawers to look back at my work, I felt something was missing. It needed a bit more character. I searched high and low online and in stores for a drawer liner that would compliment this piece, and also make my son happy. I had found…nothing. I ended buying just plain black contact paper, set it in the drawer to see how it would look- and just wasn’t feeling it. It still, needed something more. I let the entire desk project sit for a few days and was hoping something would come to me if I walked away from the project for some time.

Then I was in my home office, and was looking at a map I framed of Montana, when it hit me, like a bolt of lightning. I would line his drawers with maps!!! Y E S! He was so very excited when I told him my idea.

After measuring, and cutting the Montana & Minnesota maps to size, I sprayed on spray-on adhesive, and place the maps inside each of the drawers. I finished by spraying Krylon Acrylic coating in clear matte finish on top of each map inside the drawer which will then make the maps water-resistant.

So, there you have it. Open your eyes to see beyond what an item is, to see how you can change it and make it unique-and completely YOU!

Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

Yellow dresser.

Published on November 9, 2013March 29, 2019 by Kelly WhitmanLeave a comment

About 2 years ago, I was at local thrift store, for no reason in particular, but to see if I could find any ‘treasures’ when a little white dresser with the most beautiful curves caught my eye.

There she sat on the thrift store floor, sad, lonely and begging for someone to bring her back to life. I knew- that someone was going to be me. I was in love. I immediately bought the dresser and proudly hauled her home in the back of my Jeep.

Right away I replaced the knobs. 2 years have passed, and I finally decided now was the time to give this ol’ dresser a new life!

Before:

Here are the changes I made:

*New oil rubbed bronze knobs (From Menards)

*Lined drawers with beautiful patterned shelf liner paper (From TJ Maxx)

*Fresh, new & beautiful paint , called ‘Sunstraw’ (From Menards)

The final transformation:

Thanks for reading,
~Kelly

Primitive tipsy pot planter.

Published on October 16, 2013March 29, 2019 by Kelly Whitman6 Comments

“In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ” ~Abram L. Urban

Oh, sweet Summer time. The sounds of bees buzzing around the yard and the laughter of children fill the air, the grass is warm on your toes and you are ready to plant some flowers, but aren’t sure what to plant to be different from every other garden on your block.

The tipsy pot planter is a great Do It Yourself project anyone can do, with just a few supplies and a bit of a green thumb.

Using these simple steps below, you can create your own primitive tipsy pot planter!

Primitive Tipsy Pot Planter

Project Cost: Under $60.00
Project Level: Medium
Project Supplies: Flowers, Potting soil, Primitive pots, 1/2″ steel conduit |Project Tools: Drill, 1″ hole saw.

1.) Pick the location where you want your tipsy pot planter. I chose to place mine in a place where the grass has never really grown well, right near my main entrance, which makes a great way to greet guests as they come for a visit.

2.) Drill holes into the bottom of each pot. If you are using the 1/2″ conduit, you will need to drill a 1″ hole in each pot. This is what allows the pots to tip from side to side.

I used a drill with a 1″ hole saw attached.

3.) Place your first, larger pot in the location you desire.

4.) Push your conduit into the ground, through the hole you drilled in the larger pot & fill your pot with potting soil.

5.) Continue stacking your pots, tipping them as you go, along the way. Fill them with dirt and whatever flowers your little heart desires. I mainly use flowers that will grow and eventually drape over the edge of the buckets (ivy, vinca vine, petunias, Calibrachoa etc).

Finished Project:

Your guests (and you) will LOVE walking up to your door and being greeted by such beauty and character, and don’t forget to add a sweet little sign to personalize your new tipsy pot planter :

Tips:

Your steel conduit should be even or below the top tipsy pot, if needed, give it a few good pounds to push it down into the ground farther.

Pack your soil nice and tight into the first pot, as the rest of your pots will be resting right in the larger of all the pots.

The more rust your bucket has, the easier it will be to drill through.

A primitive tipsy pot planter is a great way to up-cycle ,(be creative and design your own with whatever you have laying around or find for a good deal at an antique store) and will add beauty and character to your garden and yard, and leave your guests asking ‘How did you do that!?’

You can follow Anchored Way Trading Co. on Facebook as well to see more great ideas like this one!

Thanks for reading,

~Kelly

(Please note this was originally posted when I had ‘The Pink Hammer blog’ on June 1st of 2012, this is the new and only location of this DIY Tutorial by Kelly Whitman /Endless Acres Farmtiques – previously The Pink Hammer blog )