I’m always on the lookout for things that can be given a second life, especially when they cost next to nothing and have potential.
When I get my next house, my plan is to refurnish it entirely with secondhand, pre-loved pieces. But for now, more modest projects…
This project started with two cheap charity shop finds. The frame took longer, as it had to be the right size and shape for my chosen jigsaw. But speed wasn’t the point.
It wasn’t anything special. The faux watercolour it framed was pretty horrendous to be honest. That’s the joy. Most people walk on by, and the price comes down.
Also, that’s part of the appeal. There’s no pressure to get it absolutely perfect, no expensive materials to worry about and no reason not to experiment a little.
And the jigsaw?
Well, I loved the original picture, which made a change from a previous project where I’d painted, piece by very time-consuming piece, the back of an old, ‘ugly’ puzzle.
Yes, piece by piece.
That was one of those projects that sounded like a genius idea until I realised just how many individual pieces you’re dealing with! Perfect time to meditate or listen to a book, though.
This time, I wanted to keep the original image and find a way to display it.
A little paint and a different perspective
First, I painted the frame. A simple change, but one that helped bring the whole idea together with my decor. It made an inexpensive secondhand frame feel more suited to what I had in mind. A list of what I used is below.
Then came the fun part, well, after doing the jigsaw for a second time. Working out where I wanted the jigsaw to sit in the frame. I started thinking off centre, but there was a mark on a piece, so I went for symmetrical, trickier but doable. It meant treating the image a little more like a piece of artwork than a puzzle that had to remain intact.
I cut it down to fit the space I wanted to use, saving a few of the pieces that didn’t quite fit where they were supposed to. Instead of seeing them as annoying leftovers, I kept them for the final effect.
Sometimes the bits that don’t fit the plan turn out to be the bits that make the finished piece more interesting. A metaphor for life right there.
Why I love projects like this
There’s something satisfying about taking something overlooked and turning it into something that feels personal.
Charity shops are brilliant for this sort of thing. You never quite know what you’ll find, and not everything needs to be bought with its original purpose in mind. An old frame might need a coat of paint. A picture might look completely different with a new mount or a different setting. And a jigsaw doesn’t have to stay a jigsaw.
I like looking at things for what they could become rather than just what they are. It also takes away some of the pressure that can come with creative projects.
When you’re working with secondhand finds, you can experiment, change your mind and try something new and experimental without worrying about ruining it.
Not every project needs a shopping list full of specialist supplies or a perfect finish. Sometimes a bit of paint, a good find and an idea are enough to get you started.
Conversation Pieces
Art creates discussion. Having studied art history, I love that it’s always been that way.
As with my original back in the day, the spare pieces have already provoked a response. How cool is that?
Give your charity shop finds a second look
If you enjoy browsing charity shops, look beyond the obvious. Frames, old pictures, jigsaws and other bits and pieces can all be starting points for creative projects.
You don’t need to know exactly what you’re going to do with something when you buy it, either. Sometimes it’s enough to like or be inspired by the colours, the shape or the image and work out the rest later.
And if you already have something at home that you’ve been meaning to throw away, it might be worth looking at it again before you do.
Could it be painted? Cut down? Reframed? Combined with something else?
I’m a fan of making things my own, and this project was another reminder that you don’t need to spend much money to create art or a conversation piece.
Have you ever turned a charity shop find into something completely different?
I’d love to hear what you’ve rescued and reinvented.
Materials and Supplies
For this project, I used a few simple supplies to transform the charity shop frame and a jigsaw into something I am proud of.
- Charity shop frame
- Jigsaw puzzle
- Paint and paintbrush
- Cutting tool for trimming to size
- Glue to add random pieces
- Tape to seal jigsaw and frame
- Hanging strips / hooks
Want to try something similar?
Browse my recommended craft and DIY supplies on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/christieadamswriter
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