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Thrifty Seashell Container Idea | Thrift Store Decor

Make A Thrifty Seashell Container

Tutorial: Thrifty Seashell Container

Do you go to the beach on vacation? I bet you have a bunch of seashells and need a great way to display them. Vacation memories!

Thrifty Seashell Container Idea | Thrift Store Decor

The project today is a thrift store décor makeover. Nothing makes me smile like turning an inexpensive find into something pretty. My Thrift Store Decor buddies have projects today too. The links are at the bottom of the post. Be sure and check out their makeovers.

thrift store find for paint makeover

Thrift Store Find With Gold Foil Lettering

The glass container/jar/whatever was marked $2.48 but of course I got my “Being Older Is Better” discount. I didn’t care for the lettering on the container and I wasn’t feeling the aged metallic brassy classy look either. Not my style.

Removing Gold Foil Lettering

Removing Gold Foil Lettering

I took a putty knife (dirty but usable) and scraped the lettering off of the glass. I’ve also done this with older china cabinets that have the gold detailing on the glass doors. There was a faint film where the lettering was removed, adhesive or something although it wasn’t sticky. A little scrubbing with Simple Green and it came right off. The container needed a good cleaning anyway.

tape off container before spray painting

Next up is the spray paint. The color is Heirloom Satin. My favorite off-white from Rustoleum. I used FrogTape and brown packing paper to keep the glass free of paint.

distress white paint with sandpaper

Once dry I distressed the paint with 100 grit sandpaper.

apply dark wax to age or antique white paint

I planned to leave the paint as is but when I added seashells to the container the paint looked too white. A coat of dark wax, Howard’s Golden Oak, and the seashell filled container was perfect.

Remove Gold Foil Lettering To Update A Thrift Store Find 2

I can think of all kinds of uses for the pretty container. It would look nice filled with limes, or a tall white candle, or a tiny succulent plant sitting on top of glass beads.

Update A Thrift Store Container and add seashells 2

What else could I put in my newly painted container?

Seashell display home decor made from a thrifty find

Before & After, Thrift Store Decor

See how easy it is to distress home decor in this video tutorial I made…

Painting and Distressing Home Decor

I have another cool seashell holder display thing for you to check out here….Decorate A Clay Pot.

Leave me a note and visit my thrifty friends by clicking the pink text links below the photo.

thrift store before makeover projects

1. Vintage Suitcase Makeover – My Repurposed Life
2. Thrift Store Teacup Candle – Domestically Speaking
3. Banded Basket Makeover – Our Southern Home
4. Farmhouse Sign – Refresh Restyle
5. Painted Desk Makeover – My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia

Products used in this project:
FrogTape Painters Tape
Howard’s Wax in Golden Oak
Sandpaper
RustOleum Spray Paint in Heirloom Satin
Amazon Affiliate links are for your convenience. Read my disclosure policy here.

Don’t forget to enter the Big Craft Supply Giveaway by clicking here. See you tomorrow!

Author: Kathy Owen
Kathy Owen is the founder of the home decor blog Petticoat Junktion where she shares tutorials on painting furniture and upcycling thrifty finds into unique home décor. Her DIY projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines. Kathy’s newest website is HappyHomeDIY.com

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23 Comments

  1. This turned out really really nicely. It looks like a good size jar, what a great thrift store find. Love it.

  2. The transformation looks great! Isn’t it amazing what a coat of paint will do? Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday this week! 🙂

  3. That turned out gorgeous! And to think…..I would have passed that item right on by at the thrift store! My mistake!
    🙂 gwingal

  4. Love the shells! A smaller container could hold cotton balls in the bathroom. Thanks for sharing.

  5. I like it better this way. Anything will work in it as you said.
    Happy Easter.

  6. You come over Bliss and there will definitely be chocolate in it and hot coffee in the pot.

  7. What a very cool find and a great make-over! I think you could put lots of things in it, but I love it with the shells which are one of my favorite things anyway. Thanks for the tutorial! And for sharing your glass-cleaning method.

  8. You know I love those before and after redo’s from the thrift store and this one is fabulous!! I would call your container a cloche and it’s gorgeous with the white paint and sea shells. Thank you for brilliant ideas <3

  9. Wow! That turned out to be so pretty. Major improvement minus the lettering. Love it with the shells!

  10. Wow! Kathy–you had vision. That’s an amazing makeover on that thrift store container. I love the new color.

    pinned!
    gail

  11. This looks great, Kathy. Gave me an idea for getting our seashell collection out of the plastic tub stored in the bottom of our china cabinet and on display!

  12. I think that container makeover is perfect especially filled with shells….LOVE IT

  13. This is so pretty, I love the seashells and starfish inside!!!! I have a similar container, currently in a flat black paint, that will look beautiful refreshed like yours! Thank you for sharing!!!

  14. Ooooh, this is absolutely gorgeous! The Mister spent a summer helping fit windscreens and says that a little soap and water and a single edged stanley blade and scraper will take almost anything off of glass. He’s hates “sticky stuff” and has become quite adept at getting rid of it, so I’ll trust him on this x