Organized Clutter

Goodwill Tiered Tray Succulent Planter

2024-07-10T05:57:00.000-05:00

I've run across a lot of these two or three tiered metal trays on Pinterest, Facebook, other blogs, stores, and even Goodwill.

They were/are pretty popular in farmhouse style decorating. Many people on Pinterest have amassed "smalls" for each holiday, and change out the tiered tray every few months.

Today is the July Thrift Store Decor Team's Party and my tiered tray receives a small makeover. Scroll on down to see my tiered tray along with my blogging pals projects.

Vintage Aluminum Wash Basin Hanging Planter

2024-06-12T06:32:00.000-05:00

I have a new, easy project today that started with this vintage aluminum basin or dish pan. I found it at the consignment store for $6. It was dinged up perfectly for a planter!

Also today is the June Thrift Store Decor Team's monthly blog party! Be sure and scroll to the bottom to see six more fun thrifted makeovers.

Vintage Metal Lunchbox Planter

2024-04-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

About 10 years ago, I found this old black metal lunchbox at a garage sale. My grandpa carried one of these to his job at the paper mill. My dad worked there also but his lunchbox was hard plastic.

I found this old lunchbox in my shed the other day and got an idea for a makeover.

Scroll on down to see it's new upcycle along with my Thrift Store Decor Team's April projects too!

Repurposing Ideas In The Junk Garden

2024-04-05T10:40:00.004-05:00

My very first blog junk garden posts were shared in 2012. While I still love flower gardening, new ideas are fewer and farther between than in the early years.

Here are some of my favorite repurposed junk garden project ideas!

Thrifted Candlestick Project Ideas

2024-03-31T20:43:00.001-05:00

Candleholders are fairly easy to find at garage sales and thrift stores, and they lend themselves nicely to upcycling and repurposing projects!

Here are 16 candleholder projects from over 12 years on my blog.

Rummage Sale Duck Plaque Repurposed As Wall Plant Pocket

2024-03-24T11:10:00.002-05:00

I found this $1 wooden duck plaque at a local fundraiser rummage sale.

I thought it was perfect for a makeover.

25 Unusual Junk Garden Planter Ideas

2024-03-17T11:58:00.000-05:00

Below is a compilation of some unusual junk garden planters that have appeared on my blog from my own yard and gardens, and three of my friends' gardens.

I think you will enjoy all the rusty, junky goodness paired with flowers!

Thrift Store Hinged Box Spring Makeover

2024-03-13T05:53:00.003-05:00

I found this long, skinny, wooden, hinged box at our local thrift shop last week. I paid $3 for it. I think it must have been a pencil box or paint brush box, maybe? The glossy red paint was in very chippy condition.

The shape and size of the box gave me an idea. Scroll on to see this box getting a makeover, and also check out more projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team's March blog party!

Junk Garden Whiskey Barrel Planter Ideas

2024-03-06T15:59:00.001-06:00

Do you have any whiskey barrel planters? I currently have two round ones and one horizontal one.

Oak barrel planters weather into an awesome grey patina that is perfect for a junk garden. Over the years, I have filled my barrel planters with a variety of annuals.

I like to layer some plastic milk or water bottles on the bottom of barrels. This saves on the amount of potting soil needed to fill the containers. The barrels also have drainage holes. I always empty the soil into a wheelbarrow first if I move a barrel planter to another location. (But sometimes the barrel bottom has rotted out so the barrel stays put!)

Above, my horizontal planter is filled with impatiens, asparagus ferns and filler vines. Several years ago, I decorated the barrel front with an aluminum cover. It's nailed on.

Decorating With Enamelware Inside & Out

2024-02-29T10:43:00.001-06:00

I pick up inexpensive enamelware at garage sales and thrift shops all the time. I find most of my enamelware for $5 to $10, sometimes less. Some are reproduction enamelware.

Pieces in excellent condition will not get drainage holes, but instead, become inside pieces.

Buying ceramic or terracotta flowerpots would be more expensive and would pose a winter storage hassle.

Enamelware works great for both indoor and outdoor planters, holiday decor, and farmhouse kitchens.

Junk Garden Galvanized Bucket Planter Ideas

2024-02-21T17:09:00.000-06:00

As winter winds down, it's time to think about flower gardening! Do you have enough galvanized buckets for planting?

Galvanized buckets are my favorite rustic outdoor planter.

22 Button Jar Decorating & Crafting Ideas

2024-02-13T11:22:00.000-06:00

My mom and both of my grandmas were button collectors. Besides inheriting some of their buttons, I have purchased my own cards and jars of buttons.

Over the last 10+ years, I have used buttons for both decorating and crafting. Take a look.

DIY Botanical Dollar Tree Reverse Canvas Decor Transfer Wall Art

2024-01-23T16:51:00.002-06:00

I purchased two 6" x 8" and one 8" x 10" art canvases at our local Dollar Tree.

I used them to create easy botanical wall art!

Vintage Suitcase Upcycling & Repurposing Ideas

2024-01-17T15:40:00.001-06:00

Here is an assortment of older blog projects and newer ones.

Let's talk old suitcases! I scoop them up when they are clean inside and have a reasonable price.

I spray painted the one above with Rustoleum Painters Touch Flat Black Spray Paint and decorated it with Redesign With Prima's Somewhere In France Transfer.

Keep scrolling for more upcycles and ideas with suitcases.

Eleven Washboard Upcycled Decor Projects

2024-01-10T05:59:00.001-06:00

I found this washboard style wall bin at our local thrift store in late 2023. I couldn't pass it up, I love washboard projects!

This blog post contains eleven of my washboard makeovers, as well as six more amazing project ideas from the Thrift Store Decor Team!

Raised Coffeepot Planters In Country Sampler Magazine

2024-01-08T14:20:00.002-06:00

I have a garden project featured in the Spring 2024 Country Sampler Magazine.

Country Sampler magazine has had a makeover from its all primitive country format, and it also features upcycling projects from many DIY bloggers. It's worth a read!

Here is my photo featured in the magazine.

The coffeepot planters on stakes idea is from my blog post from May 23, 2016.

I have planted annuals in old coffee pots for years now. But, last week, I got the crazy idea to add wood stakes to the bottom of three old coffee pots.

I purchased a 6 pack of rough wood garden stakes at Menard's for $5.00. I made the stakes three different lengths, allowing for part of the stake to be in the dirt. I attached the stakes through the bottom of the coffee pots with a washer and a screw. I then thought the wood looked a little too new and applied some vinegar and steel wool stain. (The recipe is all over Pinterest).

The bottom of this length-wise half barrel was planted with red zonal geraniums, bacopa and asparagus ferns. The coffee pots were planted with a white compact nemesia, another asparagus fern and a red verbena. How's that for adding vertical interest in the garden?

In 2017, I moved the coffee pots to the side of the house HERE.

Thanks for continuing to follow Organized Clutter!

Thrifted Finds Upcycled For Christmas

2023-12-15T15:04:00.001-06:00

The wooden basket on the left was found at a garage sale, and the miniature sled at Goodwill. Each cost $4.

I transformed the items with paint, stencils, napkin decoupage!

Over 100 Upcycling & Repurposing Ideas

2023-12-12T17:49:00.002-06:00

The project I was most proud of in 2023 was my junk flower gardens! It's a summer long project. That is a labor of love.

Thrift store finds can be found in every nook and cranny of the my yard and gardens. Take the full tour HERE.

Be sure to scroll on down for more of my projects, and even more ideas from the my teammates on the Thrift Store Decor Team!

Musical Washboard Christmas Decoration

2023-11-08T06:02:00.000-06:00

I found this washboard recently at the Minnetonka Goodwill. I have never seen an "Authentic Musical Washboard" in all of my previous washboard finds.

Apparently, it's not vintage. Columbus Washboard Company still manufactures this washboard.

See how I transformed the washboard into fun Christmas decor. Also, it's Thrift Store Decor Team's November party, so scroll on down to more projects below.

Dollar Tree Jack O' Lantern Box Makeover

2023-10-15T11:06:00.000-05:00

I found these little wooden Jack O' Lantern unfinished boxes at Dollar Tree.

I gave them an easy upcycle!

Minnow Bucket Pumpkin With Dollar Tree Stencil

2023-10-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

I ran across this metal minnow bucket it in my shed.

I had purchased it at a garage sale, and used it in my junk garden several years ago. It's not super old as it had a UPC stamped on it. I had previously drilled holes in the bottom for drainage.

Scroll on down to see my minnow bucket makeover, as well as more October projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team!

Junky Pumpkins On The Front Patio

2023-10-03T10:34:00.001-05:00

I recently decorated my covered patio for fall inspired by old wheels, like this one.

18 Repurposed Junk Pumpkin & Jack O' Lantern Ideas

2023-09-18T18:13:00.001-05:00

Besides decorating with real pumpkins and faux pumpkins in the fall, I like to repurpose junk and other items as pumpkins and Jack O' Lanterns.

In the first photo, I found an orange rake head, tied raffia on it, and hung it outside my front door.

Thrifted Pumpkin Basket Makeover

2023-09-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

I found this wood chip basket pumpkin at a recent garage sale. It was a little tired looking so I gave it a makeover!

Scroll on down for my basket makeover and 8 other September upcycling projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team.

2023 Garden Tour Close-Ups (Part 2)

2023-08-16T13:30:00.004-05:00

Deer seldom bother nicotiana annual plants but this year was an exception. For several weeks (even with spray repellent), deer ate the blossoms off of the nicotiana. They were sad little plants. But then, when the deer stopped eating them, they came in fuller and beautiful than usual. It was like they were pruned.

Here is Part 2 of the 2023 Junk Garden Tour, the Closeups!