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Color Me Thrifty

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You are here: Home / Thrifted Finds / Living in the Joy of a Thrifting Moment

Living in the Joy of a Thrifting Moment

By Tuula McPhee (This post may contain affiliate links.)

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Have you ever found something a little bit off the wall and fallen completely head over heels in love?

Something so unexpected that you even surprised yourself?

That’s what happened to me when I saw this large pink vintage doll carriage frame at the dump.

I swear I heard it calling my name…

“T-u-u-u-u-l-a. T-u-u-u-u-l-a.”

 

I was so excited that not even John (if he had tried, which he didn’t because he’s the best enabler ever) could have talked me out of bringing it home with me.

I didn’t even think about what I was going to do with it. Honestly, I didn’t even care.

I didn’t care that it was plastic, and I didn’t care that it was a little bent on one side. I didn’t even care that it was missing its whole top cover. Maybe that’s what made me love it more.
Somehow this discarded doll carriage frame had touched my heart, and I was just living in the joy of the moment.
I’m allowing myself to do that these days. Just live in the joy of the moment. Any moment. Even a thrifting moment. Life is just too short to not embrace what brings you joy.

I know full well that some people will think I’m crazy for rescuing what was left of this carriage. But one person’s joy is another’s person’s yuck. lol. And I’m perfectly OK with that.

So I embraced my joy without questioning it, or rationalizing it, or adultifying it, and I brought this pretty home. The only thing I knew for sure was that this pink carriage was staying as is.

And then what to do with it just kinda fell into place.

 

I found this plastic bin in my greenhouse and it fit perfectly inside the doll carriage.

 

Doll Carriage Planter

I needed to add some supports at the bottom to fill in a gap under the plastic bin. I just sawed a couple of pieces of wood from our stash.

 

Vintage doll carriage planter

See how it fits so nice and snug.

 

Repurpose a doll carriage into a planter

I added 3 large pots of purply/blue pansies, and some sweet alyssum all around the edge.

 

Pink doll carriage planter

Here it is almost finished, but I can’t decide what to do next.

 

Doll Carriage Planter

 

I really want to do something with the plastic bin to dress it up, and to hide the wood supports. I have a few ideas, but I’d love some suggestions. I hope to finish it up next weekend.

So what do you think? What would you do? And don’t dare say you’d take it back to the dump. lol.

And while you’re pondering how you’d finish it off, here’s a pic of our sweet ornamental Cherry tree in full bloom last week.
Oramental Cherry Tree

Mother Nature is the best designer.

Thanks so much for reading and until next time… Think Pink and…

Embrace your Joy!

XOX

Filed Under: Garden Planter Projects, Thrifted Finds

Previous Post: « A Wind Chime Giveaway
Next Post: Finds of the Week #14 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Veralynne Malone says

    June 1, 2015 at 11:33 am

    I think a little ruffled skirt round it like there would have been had it been new would be cute. I had to laugh, as soon as I saw it I thought planter…great job!

    Reply
    • tuula@thriftyrebel.com says

      June 4, 2015 at 2:45 am

      Thanks Veralynne! A ruffled skirt would be very sweet. I'll have to definitely give that some serious thought.

      Reply
  2. Colleen says

    June 1, 2015 at 11:33 am

    How lucky of you to find such a wonderful old carriage. I absolutely love that as well as your flowers. What a lovely piece to add to your yard / garden. How pretty that would be using as a display for a baby shower.

    For the plastic bin; I think, if it where me, I would spray paint the bin in some sort of textured spray paint just to add texture to the piece and maybe paint the boards pink to blend in more with the carriage.

    Whatever you come up with I know it will be lovely

    Reply
  3. Gail @Purple Hues and Me says

    June 1, 2015 at 11:54 am

    The carriage looks adorable! I would paint the wood and I like adding a ruffle skirt, as suggested. Whatever you do I'm sure it will totally rock!

    Reply
  4. Cherie says

    June 1, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Oh I did smile when I read your post as it is exactly what I would have done. As soon as I saw the pram frame I wanted to fill it with pink and white pelargoniums

    Reply
    • tuula@thriftyrebel.com says

      June 4, 2015 at 2:42 am

      Oh, they would look beautiful in this carriage for sure. I think it was destined to be a planter for sure.

      Reply
  5. haneypp says

    June 1, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    I love seeing the pink frame so maybe decoupage the plastic container and wood with something simple. Such a lucky find!

    Reply
    • tuula@thriftyrebel.com says

      June 4, 2015 at 2:44 am

      Thanks so much for this wonderful suggestion. I have never decoupaged anything for the outdoors before. That might be fun to try.

      Reply
  6. Julie's Lifestyle says

    June 1, 2015 at 1:25 pm

    Wow the carriage looks so pretty as a planter for your flowers! I hope you have a nice Monday!

    Reply
  7. Junkchiccottage says

    June 1, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    Super sweet Tuula. Love this as a planter. Have a great week.
    Kris

    Reply
  8. Linda @ A La Carte says

    June 1, 2015 at 2:20 pm

    Love it and yes it's the perfect planter. Pink minds think alike!!

    Reply
  9. AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa says

    June 1, 2015 at 8:11 pm

    Love your new planter! I have no clue what to do to cover it all up! Love to see what you come up with.

    Reply
  10. Miss Paula says

    June 1, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    I love it! I would definitely spray paint the plastic some other fabulous color – I'm really liking pool blue right now :0 – I would also paint the wood pieces the pink. I love the simplicity of the project – great job!

    Reply
    • tuula@thriftyrebel.com says

      June 4, 2015 at 2:40 am

      Thanks Miss Paula! Spray painting is another great idea. It's amazing what a little paint can do.

      Reply
  11. Cynthia says

    June 1, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    This is a FANTASTIC idea. Love it and pretty, pretty, pretty

    Cindy

    Reply
  12. ARod Rodriguez says

    June 1, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    oh that is a darling find and i right away thought it would look perfect with plants in the garden i guess great minds think alike

    Reply
    • tuula@thriftyrebel.com says

      June 4, 2015 at 2:38 am

      Thanks ARod. They certainly do.

      Reply
  13. My thrift store addiction says

    June 3, 2015 at 12:21 am

    Love, love, love this! Great repurpose!

    Reply
  14. Sheila Phillips says

    June 3, 2015 at 11:10 am

    That is just too darn cute! I love that you salvaged and repurposed this doll buggy. It makes for a great flower planter. I love it! I wondered if you could put a clear plastic tray on top and use it for a table on your deck. Just another idea…

    Reply
    • tuula@thriftyrebel.com says

      June 4, 2015 at 2:37 am

      Thanks Sheila! A tray table certainly could work. What a wonderful idea.

      Reply
  15. Conniecrafter says

    June 5, 2015 at 2:19 am

    I would say that is a great find, and your plants look terrific in them. The only thing I can think of is to add some moss around the bottom edge to hide the wood, you could even cover the whole thing if you wanted too. Your tree is just beautiful!!

    Reply
  16. Stephanie says

    June 5, 2015 at 3:09 am

    Oh Tuula, you are so cute! I truly believe it was calling your name too….it's absolutely perfect for you! I love the flowers in, my friend. Thanks for sharing with Roses of Inspiration. Happy weekend!

    Reply
  17. Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures says

    June 5, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    What a treasure! I love what you did with it, so very clever. I like the idea of putting moss around it, maybe even some burlap? Thank you for sharing at VIParty.

    Reply
  18. Scrappy quilter says

    June 5, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    That is just the cutest treasure. I love how you've used it with such wonderful flowers. And I so enjoyed reading that you live in the moment. Great job!

    Reply
  19. Jo Kuner says

    August 22, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    Love the website

    Reply
    • Tuula says

      August 22, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      Thank you so much Jo! I appreciate you stopping in and leaving a comment.

      Reply
  20. Marie B. says

    March 24, 2021 at 9:58 am

    How did I miss this one, Tuula. I chuckled when reading how your husband just went with it. That’s what mine would do too. Your vision for the doll carriage is perfect as a planter. You’ve probably long since done something with the plastic tub but I could see it spray-painted a bold turquoise or yellow. Just my two cents.

    Reply
    • Tuula McPhee says

      March 24, 2021 at 6:01 pm

      Thanks Marie! Actually a while back I found it tipped over in the garden, plants and all, and one of the wheels broke. I think it was last summer, but with the way time goes I can’t be sure. So the other three wheels became garden art flowers. Of course, what else. lol.

      Reply

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