Thrift Store Basket | Leather Belt

It's time for our Thrift Store Decor projects! Mine involves a thrift store basket and a leather belt. Both are so readily available at your local thrift store, or maybe even in your own home! I love shopping my home for home decor projects.

I learned some things while putting this basket project together, I'll be sharing those as I tell you how this all came together. Be sure to check out all the other fabulous projects from the rest of the team before you jump off!

Thrift Store Basket | Leather Belt Project

I’m not sure where or when I got the basket and belt. I haven’t been thrift shopping since we shut down originally in March. I was looking for a way to rein in my linens in the camper, where space is a premium.

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First, I thought about maybe staining the thrift store basket darker, but with the color of the leather belt, I decided a bright white spray paint would be best.

Spray Painting Wicker Basket

Although, hand painting the wicker basket would give better coverage, I opted for the easy road and went with spray paint. So, IF you want good coverage I would suggest painting by hand.

Spray Paint Directions

Perhaps you’ve been spray painting projects for years, but did you know that directions vary across different brands of spray paint? This Rust-Oleum spray paint states the following:

• Dries to the touch in 20 minutes.
• Dries enough to handle in 1 hour and fully dry in 24 hours.
• Recoat within 1 hour or AFTER 48 hours.
• Apply clear 2-3 coats, several minutes apart.

Your brand of spray paint may vary. It’s always very important to read the directions, even if you’ve been spray painting projects for most of your life!

More Tips For Spray Painting Here.

Begin With Project Upside Down

As always, I start spray painting with my project upside down. I do it this way so that if anything gets scuffed, it’s the bottom. Following the directions, I set a timer on my phone for about 20 minutes, so I could do a light second, then a third coat.

Refresh Thrift Store Leather Belt

Because I felt the leather belt was a little dull, I used a very small amount of petroleum jelly to refresh and shine up the thrift store belt. This might be a good time to give you another tip. While shopping for leather belts at the thrift store for any DIY project, I recommend that you get a belt that is stitched, or solid leather. This belt is neither. You may see it separating in a few pictures.

Decide How You Want Your Leather Belt Arranged on Your Thrift Store Basket

I knew I wanted the buckle on the front side of my thrift store basket. I placed it where I wanted it to be.

Trim Leather Belt With Scissors

Cutting the belt with scissors was very easy.

Secure Leather Belt to Basket With Glue Gun

Carefully, I applied hot glue to the very bottom of the basket and attached the leather belt. To insure the belt was in the middle, I followed the pattern of the weave and counted each row to the left and right.

Continue adding hot glue. Here’s another tip for you. When looking at a woven basket, there is generally a front and a back. Mine was dictated by the upper rim. The back has a seam in the rim where the two ends meet.

Do You Want a Handle for Your Thrift Store Basket?

I wanted to have a dual use basket, so after gluing the first side, I laid the belt down inside and up the other side of my wicker basket.

Secure Second Side and Trim Off Excess

After laying the belt in the basket and on the other side, I knew just how much to trim off before I started securing this side with hot glue.

The handle of the scissors was very handy for holding the belt in place while the hot glue set up.

Thrift Store Basket | Leather Belt Towel Organizer

Wow! Do you love the thrift store basket with leather belt as much as I do? I’m so glad I chose white paint.

Which do you like better? The handle showing, or having it tucked away? Please let me know in a comment below.

What have you used a leather belt for? More uses for leather belts.

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