DIY: In with the old

“Spring is the perfect time to upcycle,” says junior stylist Monica Mtshemla.

The first of September is my personal equivalent of the first of January, New Year’s Day. Many people feel that to receive the new you must part with the old. I say embrace your old items and make them work as if brand new.

I’ve expressed my love for spring countless times in my previous posts and I know I don’t stand alone. Spring symbolises a new beginning but this doesn’t always mean total discarding of the old. Spring is the perfect time to upcycle so let’s get to work.

I recently had a few mates over for a much needed catch-up session and not only did they leave me with a happy heart but they also left me with a sad mess. In that mess I spotted two Rose’s cordial bottles. Old Mon would’ve thrown them out without a second glance, but new Mon (upcycling wonder and home office/studio designer in the making) saw the bottles in a new light. The bottle is charming once you strip it of its tag and empty it out, so I put some flowers into them and voilà! I made two vases from bottles that could’ve called the bottom of the bin their home. These two bottles inspired me to think, “What else in this house could be made over?” then I spotted jars I bought for my sister’s baby shower and a light fitting my parents had kept from when we moved in. JACKPOT!

These are just a few of the items I used to give my jars, bottles and light fitting a facelift.
1. Chrystal pencils from Mr Price Home, which you could replace with paint brushes, a bunch of pens or kitchen utensils.
2. A tassel I received at the White House Interiors launch, which can be replaced with ribbon or a string of beads.
3. Gold spray paint. Paint will work as well if you want that dipped effect (which is very in vogue at the moment).
4. The items you wish to upcycle.

I bought some fresh flowers from a florist near our offices, snipped them to fit into the jars and bottles, and then laid out some paper for the spray painting process.

TIP: If you are spray painting your bottles and hope to achieve a dipped effect, use tape to map out where you would like the paint to stop running, wait for the paint to dry, and then remove the tape.

Before you know it…

These items are fit for any occasion, from candlelit dinners to gifts and decor for your own home; it can all be done in under an hour.