DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover

It’s the second edition of the Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge for 2017. As a quick reminder, we each take a secondhand item, and upcycle into something new and fresh for the home. You can really find so many treasures in a thrift store — and the affordable price point gives you freedom to be creative! This month, I’m showing you how to give a basic wood bowl a custom look. There are 30 bloggers participating, so you will have plenty of inspiration for your next visit to a thrift store.

The Rules:

• Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
• There’s no monthly theme.
• There’s no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts

Amanda | The Kolb Corner    Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles   Kim | Made in a Day 
Dru | Polka Dot Poplars    Erlene | My Pinterventures    Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek
Shirley | Intelligent Domestications    Debra | Shoppe No. 5    Marie | DIY Adulation
Chelsea | The Johnsons Plus Dog    Jes | My DIY Envy    Lindsay | Crazy Organized
Molly | Just a Little Creativity    Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods    Kimm | Reinvented    
Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay   Sue | A Purdy Little House   Sara | Twelve on Main
Claire | Pillar Box Blue     Chelc | Inside the Fox Den    Kim | Farmhouse Made
Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled     Michelle | Our Crafty Mom     Pili | Sweet Things
Sherry | Savvy Apron    Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod    Lora | Craftivity Designs
Megan | C’mon Get Crafty  Denise | My Thrifty House   Toni | Small Home Soul
Ann | Duct Tape and Denim

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!

[Tweet “30 Bloggers share thrift store upcycles #RepurposeIt”]

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What are your favorite items to collect at a thrift store? I’m a sucker for baskets, vintage art, and decorative bowls — to name a few. This black wooden bowl was one of those finds — and it has been handy to hold crayons, puzzle pieces, and more. It doesn’t have much personality, though, and I was ready to give it a more custom look.

**Affiliate links are included in this post. 

Supplies: DIY Tribal Wood Bowl

Wood Bowl {similar}
Chalk Marker
Clear Coat Spray

Instructions: DIY Tribal Wood Bowl

Step 1: Start by giving the bowl a quick wipe-down, making sure to remove dust and residue from the surface of the bowl.

Step 2: Settle on the tribal, or geometric design, you want to create. I liked a mix of lines, angles, and circles. My camera broke in the middle of this project, so I don’t have in-process shots, but I’ll do my best to explain.

Step 3: Begin by drawing lines with a chalk marker. I love Super Chalk Markers and have used them for several projects including an Aztec Console Table and a Prayer Chalkboard. I drew lines from the base of the bowl to the top edge, each approximately 1.5″ apart. I did not measure. To me, the imperfection of a hand drawn tribal design is part of the appeal.

Step 4: After I completed each line, I drew the angles to create a “fishbone” effect on the line.

Step 5: Next, I added rows of circles between each “fishbone” line. They looked busy, so I colored them in and made solid circles.

Step 6: At the end of each circle row, I added either a plus sign or solid triangle.

I should note, I was really making this up as I went. There is no reason to overthink a craft project, like this tribal bowl.  Be creative!

Step 7: To highlight the shape of the bowl, I outlined the upper rim and the pedestal base.

Step 8: Finally, to accent the pedestal, I added alternating arrows and dots on the base.

Step 9: In order to protect the chalk lines, apply a light coat of Clear Spray onto the finished bowl.

[Tweet “How to makeover a wood bowl with a tribal style. #RepurposeIt @CraftivityD “]

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And now for more thrifty goodness!

Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!