I stopped in dollar store to pick up some stocking stuffers when my husband and I were out Christmas shopping. It’s a chain store, so I’ll have to go to one closer to home to see if they have the same or similar items. I found nice pieces for ceramic bath set there. I had promised myself not to buy anything that wasn’t Christmas gift related or a necessity, so I didn’t buy them at the time, but I rather wish that I had.
They weren’t the color I wanted but they were large, heavy ceramic pieces. I had seen what appeared to be the same ones, or very similar, in another store previously for $12.99 each. For three pieces, that’s nearly $40.00 not a number I feel is fitting for a soap dish, toothbrush holder, and lotion dispenser (especially not when I could have picked them up for $1.00 each). With four kids, I can find better ways to spend $40.00.
Even if they don’t have my color at a closer store, I have an idea. I like doing projects with texture paints like suede and stone. I want to gently sand down these items, enough to remove the shiny finish, and give them a stone finish instead. Even after adding $6.99 for the spray stone and $2.99 for the clear coat, the whole set will end up costing me about the same price as only one piece would at the original store.
*Always apply a coat or two of clear protection to projects like these and allow the coating to cure to a hard finish. This is especially important in damp areas such as a bathroom.
I also saw some neat hooks that I want to use in a different way. The top hook is a little larger than most, with a few smaller ones peeking out beneath, instead of the one big hook that is usually hung on a wall. I am going to install one in the shower to hang up bath sponges so they can drain. I’m going to paint the hook and the screws with rust resistant paint. This project will probably take about five minutes, that and enough time for the paint to dry, will give me a shower ready hook.