White Elephant Repurposed

For the last several years, every Christmas, my family has done a very simple gift exchange.

This year, my brilliant sisters jokingly suggested doing white elephant gifts instead.

But, being me, I couldn't just leave it at that. . .

Intead, we will be taking items that would typically be white elephants, and turning them into something cool. It's like a family trash to treasure project.

So, to inspire my family on our way, here are a few of my favorite trash to treasure makeovers that I've scoured from the inter-verse.

These tea pots and other goodies got a second life as lamps:

These tea cups got an anthropologie inspired makeover, thanks in part to my friend Becca:

Chicken wire becomes a bulletin board:

This paneled window turn mirror is to die for!!

This ugly brass chandelier gets a 2010 update:

And remember those old glass lamp shades that would fill up with dead bug bodies. . . well, clean 'em out and fill them with life:

Most of these inspirational projects came from the genius readers over at Design*Sponge.

Okay, family. . .

Let's get to work!