Today, I’ll be showing you how to update a thrift store find with paper flowers. My thrifted “treasure” is a small Ikea mirror that is in need of a fun makeover!
I’ve been saving a stack of magazine for crafting projects for awhile and was ready to start using them to make flowers for my project.
At least I thought I’d only had them for a short while. Apparently they’ve been in my craft room a lot longer since the magazines are dated 2017!
I don’t throw anything away if I think I can use for craft projects. I might be a hoarder.
Follow along with my tutorial and let’s get crafting!
HOW TO UPDATE A THRIFT STORE FIND WITH PAPER FLOWERS
The photo below is what my Ikea thrift store mirror looked like before the major update. It’s about 10×10 and only cost me $2.00. Score!
When you go thrifting, look for anything with a flat surface and wide enough to fit some paper flowers, for example, a sign that can be painted over, a wide frame, art canvas, or a wooded item.
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SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- thrift store find
- magazine pages
- Waverly yellow chalk paint
- Mod Podge
- Surebonder glue gun
- paint brush
- small artist brush
- large scissors
- sharp detail scissors
- pencil
- optional:
- white chalk paint
- sand paper
HOW TO UPDATE A THRIFT FRAME WITH FLOWERS
STEP 1: PREPARE THE SURFACE
My surface is wood and a dark color so I needed to sand and paint 2 base coats of white. I find if I’m using yellow and the existing surface is a dark one that the yellow shows better on top of white.
I painted 2 coats of yellow chalk paint. No picture of this step. No one likes to watch paint dry.
STEP 2: MAKE PAPER FLOWER STEMS AND LEAVES
Choose magazine pages with different shades of green. I chose green beans and lettuce.
I used large scissors to cut curvy stems and leaves. The detail scissors will be used later to make the flowers.
Place the stems in your desired areas. Take a picture of the stem placement so you’ll be able to glue them in the correct spots.
Use an artist brush with a small bristle head to glue the stems and leaves down with Mod Podge.
With the artist brush, apply the glue on just the general areas where the stems will go, and then do the same for the leaves.
Don’t Mod Podge over any green yet, as that will be done later in the process.
HOW TO MAKE PAPER FLOWERS FROM MAGAZINE PAGES
I made 3 different kinds of flowers. The turquoise flower was made with long paper strips, the orange one with very short strips. The purple flowers were made with heart shapes.
STEP 1: CUTTING STRIPS FOR THE FLOWERS
The photo below shows rectangles in 3 shades of turquoise that were cut in strips from magazine pages.
The strips are tedious to work with and to glue in place, but I think the final look is worth it.
STEP 2: GLUE THE FLOWERS IN PLACE
Use a small artist brush to apply Mod Podge to the surface only in the flower area.
I varied the turquoise shades as I placed the strips going around. I placed strips down moving around the circle about 3 times. You’ll need to apply the glue in some areas where the strips overlap.
As you can see in the photo below, I cut shorter strips for the orange flower. Again, use the artist brush to apply glue in the flower area and then place the strips.
The top coat of Mod Podge will be applied at the end of the flower process.
STEP 3: MAKING HEART FLOWER PETALS
Cut a paper square and fold it in half. Draw half of a heart at the fold and cut the heart out. Trace the heart on paper squares and cut out however many petals you need.
You can use 3 or 4 heart petals to make a flower.
The purple flowers are much easier to glue in place than the strips.
Apply Mod Podge in the area of the flower and place your petals.
FINAL STEP: APPLYING MOD PODGE
Use a paint brush to apply Mod Podge, in one direction, over the entire thrift store project.
As seen in the photo below, the Mod Podge will look white when applied, but will dry clear.
REALLY THE FINAL STEP is to use hot glue to attach the buttons at the center of each flower.
Now that you’ve gotten some inspiration for how to update a thrift store find with paper flowers, aren’t you ready to go thrifting and pull out your old magazines?
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THESE THRIFT STORE UPDATES:
TRANSFORM KITCHEN TRIVETS INTO MEMO BOARDS
DIY WALL PLAQUE UPDATE WITH PAPER
It’s time for another monthly Sustainable Craft Challenge, where my blogger friends and I create an eco-friendly project which we “use it up,” recycle, or upcycle a craft or home decor. Our April theme is “flowers.” Be sure to click the links below to see many more floral decor and craft ideas!
NOW, SEE MORE UPCYCLED “FLOWER” PROJECTS!
Julie @ Sum of Our Stories ~ Recycled Mini Art Collage with Crochet Flowers
Gail @ Purple Hues and Me ~ Ironed Pressed Flowers Glass Vessel
Christine @ Christine’s Crafts ~ Easy to Make Book Page Roses
Mel @ Decor Craft Design ~ DIY Flower Gift Bucket for Mom
Julie @ Treasures Made from Yarn ~ Flora Reversible Doll
Mimi a Great Name for Grandma ~ Mason Lid Fabric Flowers
Niki @ Life as a LEO Wife ~ Floral Wood Letters with Free Flower Cut Files
Sharing my thrift store update at these fabulous blogs!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AllysonAllyson is the founder and content creator of Southern Sunflowers which shares tutorials for DIY crafts and decor on a budget.
Allyson,
I love how you updated this frame. So pretty. Congratulations, you are being featured on TFT. I hope you stop by. https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2023/05/mothers-day-ideas-on-thursday-favorite.html
Hugs,
Bev
What a great use of an old magazine. I am always looking for ideas using them, I have quite the stash. I have to say, this would not have been what I thought of though. Since I am all about reduce, reuse, recycle here lately, I will be sharing this project tomorrow for Whimsy Home Wednesday. Thank you for sharing!
Super cute Allyson, I love the buttons!
Thank you, Jenna! I think the buttons add a little something extra to the look.
So adorable, Alyson! Smiles, Linda at Paper Seedlings
Glad you like my makeover, Linda!
A great way to do a special touch to a thrift store find.
Julie, those paper flowers really did change the look of that small mirror, for sure!
So cute! Great way to update an old frame! I love your creativity!
Donna, thanks for the compliments!
I love this upgrade idea! What a great way to upcycle an old piece!
Charity, glad you like my thrift store update!
What a neat upcycle! Love this style of paper flowers. Pinned!
Niki, thanks for pinning my upcycle! 🙂
What a great way to update a thrift store find with paper flowers. Your final project is a showpiece! I love that you found your books dated back to 2017….oh how I can relate! I would say it was well worth the save to end up with such a beautiful project! Great job!
Thanks for the compliments, Michelle! Yeah, I hang on to a lot of stuff because you just never know what you might want to make in the future – Lol.
I love how you choose particular pages to match the color of each element. Those flowers are very refreshing!
I’m so happy you like my paper flowers, Mel.
Wow, Allyson! What a transformation! I love it! And of course I love the flowers you made – especially the purple ones, lol! And I love that you used buttons for the center of the flowers – adding a dimensional look and feel! Well done!
Yay, I’m happy you love my makeover Gail! Yes, the buttons were definitely a must since the paper centers I tried looked horrible.
These are great as every one will be individual. I think I like the heart flowers best. I love the delicate finish of all these flowers and stems.
Christine, yes, I think those purple flowers turned out pretty good, too. It was fun flower hopping with you!