It’s the 12 Months of DIY: Thrift Day, and I’m upcycling wood bowls! What is the 12 Months of DIY? It’s when a bunch of fantastic Canadian bloggers get together once a month, and challenge ourselves with a new material. This month was April Thrifting, and that’s where my upcycling project comes in. Vintage wooden salad bowls.

You can also play along on Instagram with your own monthly challenge! Use the hashtag #12MonthsofDIY to join in!

We were so lucky to have Value Village join in on the fun this month, and they make it so easy. Their stores are loaded with second-hand gems, and we all took advantage! (This post may contain affiliate links. This means, should you end up making a purchase, advertisers give me a small percentage of that sale, at absolutely NO EXTRA COST to you. Click here for full disclosures).

I found these amazing wooden salad bowls on my visit to Value Village. I’ve seen similar ones like it, but didn’t quite know what I’d use them for (aside from salad I suppose), but then eureka! It hit me! Storage bowls. I needed these desperately anyway, so it was win-win.

Plus, did you know: North Americans alone throw away more than 81 pounds of clothing and textiles per person, per year?

• With the arrival of Earth Day in April, there’s no better time to think about ways we can do our part to reduce waste. Since shopping second-hand is one of the easiest ways to go green, we were inspired to make this month’s DIY challenge consist of thrifted finds from Value Village. The shelves and racks at Value Village are filled with the potential to be creative and re-useful.

• Value Village is one of the largest recyclers of used clothing in the world – keeping more than 650 million pounds (that’s comparable to 3,000 blue whales’ worth!) of clothing and housewares from landfills by selling reusable items in-store and responsibly recycling items unsuitable for resale.

• Making something new out of the clothing and housewares at Value Village also helps us make a difference for the environment.

I actually had all the supplies I would need kicking around the house, for this project. Yay me!

Supplies for Upcycling Wooden Salad Bowls:

• Vintage Salad Bowls
• Gold Leaf
• Mod Podge or Gold Leaf Glue
• Paint (of your choice)
• Brushes

I wanted to do two sweeping circles, one on each side, with the circle spilling over the edge so it could be seen on the interior and exterior of the bowl. First I started with my gold leaf circles. I applied some Mod Podge to the entire surface of the circle, and let it get a little tacky.

Then I pushed my gold leaf into the glue, pushing it gently with a paint brush, and then peeled away the paper.

Voilá! A perfectly rustic gold leaf edge. I love it!

Here it is, spilling over the edge.

Next up, the same shape, but with paint. I happened to use my Fusion Mineral paint, left over from another 12 Months of DIY project.

It needed two coats.

I used Mod Podge once again, to seal the gold leaf, once it had fully dried. Two coats over top should do it.

Now I have these perfectly modern, but somewhat worldly, rustic bowls. Does that even make sense? I don’t care, cuz they look fantastic!

And so useful…

The large serving sized bowl is perfect on top of a coffee table to hold your remotes!

A single serve dish is amazing at gathering those little odds and ends. Like… hair elastics. (Moms with five year old girls… am I right?!)

Or just a pretty dish for your fave jewelry items. I like having my everyday “go-to’s” close at hand. Usually sitting next to the bathroom sink. How about you?

Now it’s time to see the rest of the “DIY –  April Thrifting” ideas from my Canadian blogging friends…

From the top left, they are:

Upcycling Wood Bowls from Fresh Crush

Paint Dipped Brass Candle Holders from Life is a Party

Upcycling a thrift store leather coat into a DIY handbag from Sustain My Craft Habit

Pottery Barn Inspired Burlap Lamp Shade & Owl Bookends from Woman in Real Life

Thrifted DIY Jewelry Holder from Brooklyn Berry Designs

Upcycled Thrifted Mirror from New House New Home

Gold Wooden Treasure Box from Mommyzoid

DIY Roll-N-Go Travel Bag from Vin’yet Etc.

Scarf Throw Pillows from PMQ for Two

DIY Industrial Pendant Light from Love Create Celebrate

A Thrifted Shabby Chic Gallery Wall and Lamp Makeover from The DIY Mommy

Thrift Store Patio Table Tray Makeover from Time With Thea