Another Garage sale find-$3.00

Teri
by Teri
Another cool item I found garage saleing. It is all metal and very heavy. Don't know what it was or even what it is. The lady painted it this ugly color and just had it sitting on the ground. What would you do with it if it was yours? I was thinking first to paint it a different color than maybe make it into some little gnome village.(It is almost knee high, so its quite big.)
All metal
  52 answers
  • Susie Hileman Susie Hileman on Aug 19, 2013
    cover the side with sphagnum moss or the coconut stuff then fill it with dirt and plant flowers, awesome planter
  • Wanda Forrest Wanda Forrest on Aug 19, 2013
    a planter is what I was thinking, too, and I don't know if I would change colors or not
  • Larose LoganOakes Larose LoganOakes on Aug 19, 2013
    I love it! If you can't figure out what to make out of it. You can send it to me in VA and I can make an East Coast gnome village out of it.We have gnomes here too! tee hee LOL:)
  • Paula Foelker Paula Foelker on Aug 19, 2013
    I would turn it upside down, add a cushion and use it as an ottoman for either indoors or outdoors. Or just use it as a side table with it upside down and depending on the finish, either add a top out of wood or glass, or just finish the surface and use like it is. Either paint or not paint, depending on where you use it.
  • Carole Carole on Aug 20, 2013
    Put a pot plant in it and leave it the colour it is or paint it white
  • Pat Pat on Aug 20, 2013
    oh I am so green with envy! LOVE this. Would paint it, turn it upside down and use it to put a planted up vintage piece (galvanized wash bucket ) on it. I'm not far from Ferndale if you can't decide what to do with it ;)
  • Terri Terri on Aug 20, 2013
    Would change the color and turn it upside down and use it for a plant.
  • Cindy Cindy on Aug 20, 2013
    I think it was used for wood for a fireplace.
  • Lori Lori on Aug 20, 2013
    I'd make a lamp out of it
  • Lisa Rose McPherson Lisa Rose McPherson on Aug 20, 2013
    Re paint this and glass top for a table.
  • Starla Swanson Starla Swanson on Aug 21, 2013
    No clue what it was in a previous life, but turn it over for use as a side table (depending on its height) or foot stool. Or set a large potted plant on it. Maybe find a pot to coordinate with the color or if you aren't fond of the blue, paint it to fit your decor.
  • Kim Alessandro Kim Alessandro on Aug 21, 2013
    Looks like an old umbrella stand...
  • Fran Fran on Aug 21, 2013
    I would re-paint and turn it upside and use it as an end table on the patio.
  • I love the color! A planter is a fabulous idea!!
  • Yvette Yvette on Aug 21, 2013
    Turn it upside down, use it as a base to start a bird bath or feeder. Goodwill, Salv Army or HH have lots of cheap glass, plastic and metal vases and teapots. Paint it, then cover the area on the bottom of the upside down base with Moss and gnomes and fairies
  • Patricia Miller-Darrow Patricia Miller-Darrow on Aug 21, 2013
    That is exactly why I love yard sales! So happy for you. I like the wood storage idea for starter wood by the fireplace.
  • Kim Hall Kim Hall on Aug 21, 2013
    I love the color too! I like the idea of turning it upside down for a quaint little table! great find!!
  • Chrystine Dimitry Chrystine Dimitry on Aug 21, 2013
    Fill the bottom with moss, as suggested above .. then place colourful plants in pretty pots on the moss, and put glass on the top for a patio table. I would leave it the blue, myself, but white or black would work, as well.
  • Pam Perkins Zirbel Pam Perkins Zirbel on Aug 21, 2013
    Great find!!! I would leave it that color, not a teal person much but do love it, maybe 'distress' it with a little black paint but the knome [sp !!] idea is awesome!!! Put little gnome [got it! LOL] people under it and fairies!! Oh how darling!!!! do it do it!!!!! thanks for sharing @Teri !!!!
  • Pia Lyotier Pia Lyotier on Aug 21, 2013
    Looks like the bottom of a birdcage or the bottom of a lantern/candle holder. What color are you going to paint it? Like the above idea of table stand if strong enough.
  • Ann Alba Ann Alba on Aug 21, 2013
    I would change the color ... Put a Shallow Galvanized container in it make a Fairy or gnome Village. Or make a Totem with this being the top piece.... Would love to see what you come up with. Ann.
  • Therese Ryan-Haas Therese Ryan-Haas on Aug 21, 2013
    I would paint it a bright yellow, line with moss and drop a potted plant in it.
  • KathrynElizabeth Etier KathrynElizabeth Etier on Aug 21, 2013
    Repaint it and put a big, showy succulent in it, or use for a wastepaper basket, or use for storage of gift wrap/wall paper/yarn/small wood scraps, etc.
  • Eleanor P Eleanor P on Aug 21, 2013
    Could be used as a BIG magazine holder.
  • April April on Aug 21, 2013
    My cats would love it with a soft pillow on the bottom!
  • Marci N Marci N on Aug 21, 2013
    You know, it could make a cute outdoor light too. Perhaps hang it upside down with fairy lights strung inside. Of you could put a regular light in it. Rustoleum makes this great spray can paint that gives it a texture, it would look cool in this perhaps in a old bronze? You could have a lot of fun with this piece, let your imagination run.
  • Stephen Andrew Stephen Andrew on Aug 21, 2013
    Oooh I'd leave it the blue and line it with moss and use it as a planter! Great find.
  • Gloria Gloria on Aug 21, 2013
    I really love the blue color, but my suggestion would be to paint it a color to blend in the room where you usually relax and use it for magazines.
  • Ester Age Ester Age on Aug 21, 2013
    That's why I love garage sale... so cheap! Planter I think is a good idea.
  • Jean DeSavage Jean DeSavage on Aug 22, 2013
    Looking at the shot down into the piece you can see where there was something rectangular attached there. It could have been the base of a floor lamp and this part was a magazine stand base. You said it's very heavy, and a lamp attached to it would probably be less tip-able with a heavy base. I like the blue. You could put a solid color pot inside and plant it with trailing flowers, it could be very beautiful! I like the ideas of turning it into a table also.
  • April April on Aug 22, 2013
    I hope that you will post a picture of whatever you decide to do with this gem!
  • Kathy S Kathy S on Aug 23, 2013
    I would leave it this color and put an antigue stain on it. (wipe on, wipe off)Attach tiny outdoor led's on it, attach a sturdy hanger on the sheet metal part, hang it in a tree or where ever you want. You could add decorations at all the different holidays.Go wild!! Have fun!!
  • Peg Peg on Aug 28, 2013
    The blue is bright and eye catching. It will add color contrast to your garden if you want to put it outdoors. Nice find!
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Aug 28, 2013
    @Teri Nice score! I'd mount it on a sturdy piece of wood tall enough for a pillar and put candles in it. Easy Peasy! xo
  • Amanda B Amanda B on Aug 28, 2013
    I would strip off all the paint and then you may have a better idea of what to do with it
  • Cathy Shaw Cathy Shaw on Aug 30, 2013
    I would put a plant (maybe an ivy) down inside it and put a glass top on it for a side table in whatever color goes with your decor
  • Darda Young Darda Young on Aug 30, 2013
    I would use it as a side or plant table.
  • Liudmila Kobunko Liudmila Kobunko on Aug 31, 2013
    ОтLooks wonderful. And you can paint it any color - all are very beautiful look.
  • Karren Brunell Karren Brunell on Apr 20, 2014
    this could be a house in a little nome village.....
  • Mary Howton Mary Howton on Apr 20, 2014
    Paint the color you like, and store flower groups of flowers in pots in it.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Apr 20, 2014
    I would paint it, put felt under the bottom and make a wooden platform for it. I would then use it in my den to store rolled up throws, the childrens' or pets' toys (always need a place for these things).
  • Yvonne Yvonne on Apr 26, 2014
    turn it upside down paint it a color that fits your decor and use it for outdoor side table. If its not wide enough you can put some glass on top.
  • Jennie Watterson Jennie Watterson on Apr 26, 2014
    Up side down put top on make a cool table If you need to under the glass add a nice pic or material to cover any thing ugly I love this but I like metal
  • Bit By Bit Shop Bit By Bit Shop on Oct 14, 2015
    Could you use it for wood or kindling near a fireplace? Perhaps paint & use near front door to change out seasonal plants, example fake Christmas tree. The weight would keep tree from blowing over & you could put lights through it as well as on the tree. February it is red valentine, March green St. Patty's, April Spring flowers etc. Any Fake tree would work. I love to incorporate some fake blooms & trees as they fool the eye when you actually have some nice garden plants or landscaping.
  • Linda Hornibrook Linda Hornibrook on Oct 15, 2015
    I like it the way it is - would use it as a magazine rack - paint it any colour you like and if you needed height to it - add a couple of old books underneath....
  • Pam Perkins Zirbel Pam Perkins Zirbel on Oct 17, 2015
    Well..all great ideas!!! I say put those clear rubber thingies on the rounded pieces and turn it upside right as a side table.. Then when your are sick of that.turn it back over as you will have those clear rubber pieces already in place and put a glass top on it with fake ( I love real at any time but.....!!) bushy plants as another look! If you DO keep the color...which isn't too bad in the pics....you could always tone it down with black paint to ' distress' and tone it down!! NOW GET TO WORK!! WE ALL WANNA SEE!!!!! Good luck and have fun!!!!
  • Mayra Statham Mayra Statham on Oct 17, 2015
    You could paint it a color you like and roll throw blankets in it and have in living room
  • Donna Page Donna Page on Oct 17, 2015
    Wow. I think this is so nice to have everyone come up with an idea to turn something into something different. I am loving all of the bright ideas that people are coming up with. Makes me feel like I could create something different too. Thanks for helping me expand my creativity and thinking.
  • Jbe2623618 Jbe2623618 on Nov 12, 2015
    I would put it in the bathroom.... fold towels of different colors..... some sachets.... scented colorful soaps..... the sky's the limit
  • Sherry H. Sherry H. on Nov 25, 2015
    l have 6 of these, I think they are for plants to sit in. Mine are a little smaller. This is what we did.Spray paint it a pretty blue, bottom too. Because like us you will have it outside on your porch, use Rust Oleum Paint. When it has dried take measurements of it. While you are out find a plastic pot a bit smaller , paint it white. The next day you can go to Home Depot and pick out. blue or maybe yellow flowers to plant in it. Bet you will love it!
  • Sherry H. Sherry H. on Nov 25, 2015
    Cheap pots below
  • Lorraine Lorraine on May 09, 2016
    Can you turn it upside down for a table ?