BEFORE & AFTER: Look What I Found Next to the Dumpster!
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I’m not ashamed to pull something from the trash (as long as I don’t have to climb INSIDE…). If someone is throwing away something good, and I can salvage it with a little bit of paint and creativity, why the hell not??
Some of you might remember this commercial-style outdoor table that I posted on my Facebook back in August. I peeped it on a Friday while leaving work, sitting next to the dumpster. WHOA…..And there were 3 of them!! I rolled back the next day, with my new minivan (thank God for it!), and one of them fit PERFECTLY in the back! Too bad I didn’t get all 3, but scoring one was just as good.
There’s no such thing as TRASH–found next to the dumpster at work!
I’m sorry that I was slow to get this project started, because now it’s FALL and this is totally a SPRING table, but again–who the hell cares? I’m going to rock it all season, and I dare someone to say something about it 
So anyhow, I took it home and this is what it looked like while it sat in my garage for 2 months:
Who would throw this thing away?!?! It’s SOLID….
Two months later…..a big blue flower on top (using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint)…..and some Apple Green spray paint on the legs……and this is my new FREE table!
Painted outdoor patio table using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
I’m not in any way a floral-painting artist by trade, so excuse the free-hand imperfections. But I love it, and hell, for it being FREE– all the better! And what’s even better, is that in a year or two, if I totally want to repaint it something else, I can do that without any guilt or hesitation! WOO HOO!
Okay, so here’s a few pics of the process I had to go through with this table.
THE PROCESS:
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- There’s no such thing as TRASH when you’ve got a creative eye for something!
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- Who would throw this thing away?!?! It’s SOLID….
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- Ready for a makeover!
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- In great shape, with a little chipping
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- First, some light sanding
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- Used 150-grit “FINE” sandpaper
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- Primer and wood filler for chipped spots
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- Some chipping around umbrella hole
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- Filled with ample wood filler.
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- Sand out chipped umbrella hole.
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- Much smoother now!
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- Minor chipping on one side of the table.
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- Add plenty of wood filler.
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- Tried to sand out chips–pretty difficult to get totally smooth!
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- Making progress!
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- Next, I simply free-handed a flower.
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- Add various petals.
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- It turned into one big flower.
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- I wanted to accent the edges.
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- I painted the edges.
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- Use a Purdy brush for good, accurate angles.
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- Painted edges.
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- Layers shades of blue.
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- After layering shades of blue, I decided that I wanted a Green Apple green leg. They look like flower stems :)
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- The end result!
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- Flower petals on a table! Love it.
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- The white on the edges of the table give it definition.
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- Right side.
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- Top view.
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- There’s no such thing as TRASH–found next to the dumpster at work!
The last step that I will need to do is to WAX it, using the Annie Sloan Clear Wax. Supposedly this paint is suitable for outdoor use, so we shall see, huh?
This was a fun project! Next time, I would definitely not trust my “whimsical” calling and attempt it free-hand. I would buy, or make my own template. But again, who cares? When the kids have all their food stuck to the top and their are plates and/or wine glasses covering the top, no one will notice it’s not drawn to scale! HA!
Serena
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I LOVE IT! I wish we had people dump stuff like that around here. I may need to take a trip into the city one day and see what I can find. Inspiration! Thank you for sharing……and making it look soooooo easy. The flower is awesome by the way!
Thank you, Kris!!! HAHA, I could see you cruising the streets now looking for “trash.” LOL. I sometimes have to WALK.AWAY.IMMEDIATELY, otherwise I would bring everything home! What city do you live near?
We live in the Texas Hill Cuntry. We are closer to San Antonio. I had cervical spine fusion two weeks ago so I can’t drive but my wonderful hubby took me out garage saleing this weekend. I found a few things I can play with. I can’t wait to get back out in my shop and work on the “trash treasures” I have waiting for some TLC. My blog has even been neglected. I love seeing what you do. Thank you so much for sharing.
I found one just like it on the curb in my neighborhood. Raced home to get the truck before someone else snagged it. I love what you did. Gives me inspiration for mine. I am a painter and I think you did great on your free hand flower. Liked that you used a different color for some shading.
Janet, your opinion means a lot to me, considering your talent! Next time, a ruler will be my friend. LOL. So glad you got yours before the trash truck come! Be sure to let me know when you’re done yours. I would LOVE to see it!
Found you through Roadkill Rescue! What a great find. You did a fabulous job on the painting.
Oh, wow, DeDe, thank you!! It was definitely a fun project!!
This is beautiful!