Cincinnati Union Terminal Landmark Art created from thrift store wood placque

How To Turn Thrift Store Decor Into Landmark Art

Cincinnati Union Terminal Landmark Art created from thrift store wood placque

The possibilities for transforming thrift store items is truly endless. Today I’m sharing how I created a piece of local landmark art from a thrifted find, and then I’m teaming up with a bunch of other bloggers who have some pretty cool makeovers to share with you as well!

I’m so excited to join up with this Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge! I’ve teamed up with 20 other bloggers for this thrift store blog hop. The rules were simple–take an item(s) from a thrift store, yard sale, resale shop etc. and transform it into a new piece of home decor. There was no budget, or theme to stick to so we were free to let our creativity run wild!

Meet the Hosts

Spring 2016Thrift Store Upcycle

Amanda | The Kolb Corner      Chelc| Inside the Fox Den
Erlene | My Pinterventures     Kim | Made in a Day     Sara | Twelve on Main
Emily | Two Purple Couches     Shirley | Intelligent Domestications
Marie | DIY Adulation     Lindsay | Crazy Organized   Michelle | Our Crafty Mom
Julie | Live From Julie’s House     Debra | Shoppe No. 5     Dru | Polka Dot Poplars
Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles     Pili | Sweet Things     Channell | Hobnail House
Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek     Ann | Duct Tape and Denim
Paula | Virginia Sweet Pea     Sherry | Savvy Apron     Stacy | Anastasia Vintage


In my stash of random thrift store finds, I had this quirky wood watermelon placque leftover from a round of #SwapItLikeItsHot that I participated in last spring:

Flea Market Swap: Wood Watermelon Slice

At the time, it had me totally stumped. Somewhere along the line, someone suggested that it looked like one of Cincinnati’s most iconic local landmarks: Union Terminal, and this idea really stuck with me.

For the last couple of years I’ve been hoarding collecting artwork of local landmarks with the intention of hanging a Cincinnati-themed gallery wall in our second floor bonus room. I don’t have anything representing Union Terminal yet, and I knew that with a little bit of paint, this wood watermelon slice could become the perfect piece of landmark art to add to my gallery wall.

Here’s how I did it:

thrift store decor makeover - step 1

The back side of the watermelon was unfinished, so rather than sanding the paint off, I just flipped the slice over and covered it with two coats of acrylic craft paint. I mixed a little bit of brown in with white to make it look a little more like the stone exterior of the real building. Then I used a pencil to light draw on the architectural Art Deco details of Union Terminal.

thrift store decor makeover - step 2

Once I had the details penciled on, I mixed up a medium grey craft paint and began painting the pillars and windows.

thrift store decor makeover - step 3

When the grey was dry, I used a very small paint brush to add in some details, including the hands on the clock.

thrift store decor makeover - turn old wood placque into landmark art for your home

Now all I need to do is add a hanger to the back, and my Union Terminal landmark art piece will be ready to hang!

 

Cincinnati Union Terminal Landmark Art created from thrift store wood placque

 

Sharing with: Sweet Inspiration


Be sure to check out my fellow bloggers’ projects too!

36 thoughts on “How To Turn Thrift Store Decor Into Landmark Art

  1. Mary - The Boondocks Blog

    This is a really cute idea. And an economical use of resources. I love the art work and the colors you have chosen. I also did the same thing with wood slices, on one side I have Christmas decorations and on the other side the family initials. Emily, I am hosting a new link party and would love it if you could join us over at Sweet Inspiration it runs from Friday to Tuesday.
    Mary – The Boondocks Blog recently posted…Sweet Inspiration Link Party #2My Profile

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