A friend offered these to me and I eagerly accepted the gift. My first thought, being an avid doll lover/maker was that I saw doll heads. However, I figured many of you would be creeped out if I used them as decor. tee hee! Instead, I wanted to make something simple that you could replicate on your own DIY adventure.
LET'S BEGIN
First, I dig into my stash and pull out a set of remnant pieces from an upright grand piano that was beaten into pieces and left for dead on the curb. I make use of the salvaged bits from time to time, like in my coffee table builds and this bench. More to come!
Since there's only three finials, I decide to make a set for a shelf that has even more of a story to tell. In order to do that, I add a bit more scrap wood to the base of three of them. Then, I drill pilot holes and attach the upcycled finials.
NEXT STEPS
Next, I need to make the wood look as if it is all similar, so I apply a reactive stain that ages the wood naturally using the tannins in each piece. You can see how I use it in these past posts.
Last, once the stain cures, I need to finish up with a layer of paint. However, this paint needs to have an aged appeal. In order to do that, I make a sawdust paint. The recipe is simple...
SAWDUST PAINT RECIPE
- ½ cup of plaster of Paris
- 4 Tablespoons of water
- 2-4 Tablespoons of acrylic
- 2-3 Tablespoons of sawdust
Place the plaster of Paris in a mixing container and add 2 of the 4 tablespoons of water and combine. Continue to add 2 more tablespoons and mix until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of paint and mix. Last, add the sawdust to get a thick consistency that has a chunky appeal.
THE REVEAL
After my mini DIY adventure reaches this point, it's time to show you the end result. Here's my dynamic trio of upcycled finials into farmhouse decor.
My many thanks, as usual, to my friend, Karen, at The Graphics Fairy for always having just what I need to make these fabric labels. I simple used a printable transfer sheet (iron-on) and made canvas labels to dress up the finials. Then, I applied the same waxes to age them a bit.
So tell me, are you inspired? I sure hope so! These were a fun find to work on using what I have on hand, and even more fun to make them available in my online store. woot!
In addition to leaving a comment below, do pin and share. Inspiring others is a beautiful thing to do!
Up next, it's Trash to Treasure Tuesday! This lil' cabinet will get a brand-new lease on life. See it's new life HERE.
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Also, more fun repurposed creations like these upcycled finials:
