This situations happens to me all the time. During one of my daily morning walks, I saw a middle age woman putting these planters next to her trash bins. I asked her if she didn’t want them anymore. She indicated that they were too ugly and she didn’t want them in her garden. Really? I hate it when people keep discarding items with great re-use potential, because they are contributing directly to mount up our land fields.  
 
So I asked her if I could have them and she was kind enough to give them to me. However, before I left, she asked about what I was going to do with them. I just smile and answer that I was going to make them pretty again and give them a chance to a second life. She smiled back and I left.
 
I went home quite excited about my findings and how to transform them. My husband’s saw me coming, laughed and went on doing what he was doing. (He knows me well, smile) I decided to sand them, give them a dark color to make them pop in the garden and plant something nice accordingly.
 
Well, this is how they are looking now. The ugly guys are pretty again and hopefully, for many years to come.
 
Let’s all work together, little by little to keep our earth beautiful, not only for us to enjoy now, buy for many generations to come.
 
Materials/Total Cost: ($4.50 to restore three planters) (I still have leftover paint)
1 Sand paper ($1.00)
1 bottle Spray Paint ($3.50)

​I love yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores. The feeling of finding old, dated or broken pieces with transformation potential gives me an unparalleled adrenalin rush. Not to mention a cost-effective bargain and the opportunity to be crafty, thrifty and creative.  Need I say more? NOPE!
 
I found this old ugly and dated night stand at a nonprofit thrift store for $10.00 and immediately I saw the potential. It came at the nick of time, since I needed one for a room that I was remodeling. So I purchased it and took it home. I knew exactly what I wanted, so I “commissioned” my husband to execute my vision. When you see the final piece, you will know why he didn’t disappoint me.
 
Therefore, I encourage you to make it your business to transform, recycle, repurpose and/or salvage pieces that otherwise will end up in our landfills and have fun while doing it. It is such a good feeling.
 
What I need to do to transform this piece of furniture:

1. Clean, clean, clean, well inside and out.
2. Purchase primer, paint brushes and sandpaper.
3. Give it a good tender loving care “massage” with sandpaper, smile.
4. Purchase paint, the color of your choice.
5. Purchase new and modern drawer knobs.

 
Total cost of this project: ($10. nightstand, and $8.75 materials) = $18.75