Refinished Outdated Ceramic Bird Decor

BEFORE: ordinary, boring & forgettable street pigeons

AFTER: two unique, chic blackbirds with a bit of industrial flare

I'm not sure how I came up with their odd, Gothic bindings, but I knew I had the supplies on hand in the craft closet and decided to play around with it. I'm pretty happy with the result!

I wanted to set them apart and give them a little originality. After a couple coats of Rustoleum flat black spray paint and some tinkering with the adornments, they ended up looking like dark & mysterious ravens instead of TJ Max Clearance Decor.

DIY Funky Vintage Apothecary Bottle

DIY Painted Deer Antlers - Cheap Chic!

I have no idea why or how I recently became obsessed with the look of vintage, monochromatic antler racks and art...but the bottom line is that I am.  I fully admit that this look will likely become like my mothers black, red and yellow shag carpeting from the late '70s -- nothing more than a source of belly-laughter and eye-rolling from my son in about 15 years, followed by, "OH MY GOD, mom...that looks HIDEOUS!! You're SO OLD!!"  But, for the moment I'm willing to take my chances and mount this baby smack dab in the middle of my gallery wall and await the compliments and envy from anyone entering the foyer. Can I get a, "nice rack"?!?!?

When starting this project out, I did some extensive searching for affordable fake antler decor. I underestimated how difficult it would be to find said antlers. Who knew?  I did, however, find other DIY'ers selling finished antler racks -- only they were charging $60-$130. Really? It's resin & paint. Oh, and skipping ahead...it took me all of two coats of spray paint and they were done. I'm in the wrong business!!

So - here's all the info on how to create your very own West Elm/Pottery Barn/Restoration Hardware knock-off antler rack for $30 plus shipping. Yep. You heard right. They go perfectly with my DIY hand-painted deer head silhouettes. (I know, something's wrong with me.)

Supplies

• Resin Deer Antler Wall Mounted Plaque (bought on Amazon $29.99)**
• spray paint (I used Rustoleum flat black)
• fine grit sand paper

** There are various options when it comes to the antlers. Try using the search words, "Faux Deer Antlers, Resin Deer Antlers, Faux or Resin Deer Bust". Here's a few links on Amazon to help you get started:  Antler Plaque 17" tall for $30, 8-Point Faux Buck Deer Bust 23" tall for $57, 10-point Faux Deer Skull Bust for $50 and a Deer Antler Wall Coat Rack 17" wide for $27 -- an exact same coat rack (painted) sold for $55!!

Printable Vintage Apothecary Labels

 

DIY Time Out Vintage-Style Stool

Is it terrible that I made this chair before my son was able to crawl? Not to worry - it wasn't because I couldn't wait to punish him through toddlerhood. I thought of making a designated chair while babysitting my nephew in our new house and couldn't establish a good spot for him to "collect his emotions" or "think about his behavior". He's come a long way now that he's nearly 4 years old, but I think his first combined sentence was, "TWO MINUTES!!" -- which was what we said to warm him he was skating on thin ice. But I digress.  

I created this chair in one evening using vintage style clocks cut from scrapbook paper. Another suggestion would be to find free graphics online to match your personal style or decor (for example, these). I used a Cricut to cut the lettering, however, pre-cut alphabets are available at any craft store. You can also simply print letters and phrases using Word on your home printer. Try printing on colored or smooth cardstock to create a higher-end look. This project is perfect for the beginner crafter with limited experience, and it would make a unique and affordable baby-shower gift!

Supply List

• unfinished wood chair or stool suitable for a toddler (Michaels, Joann Fabrics $15)
• wood stain (Minwax Dark Walnut)
• old rags for staining
• Mod Podge- matte
• paper graphics 
• lettering (pre-cut stickers, printouts, Cricut, etc.)