glazing, Painted Furniture, painting, silver, vintage style

Easy Zinc Finish on Wood Furniture

Type in “Zinc Finish” into Google Images and you get this set of images:

20140725-185331-68011758.jpg

 

I really like the aged metallic look that appears it has been around the block a time or two.

20140725-185502-68102516.jpg

Source

I like the patina colored zinc the best.

I have been looking longingly at Restoration Hardware zinc finishes. I would love to have a giant mirror like this one if it were still available and did not weigh 80 lbs:

zinc mirror

Source

 

Alas, it was not meant to be.

I started looking for options to get the look I like at a price that I could afford.  You can read about that here Getting a Zinc Finish

I read, and read, and read some more.  Then decided that there had to be an easier way.  For once, I was right.  There is a much simpler way to get the look.

This is what I used:

soft iron

and Color Smart ( Michael’s) silver metallic paint mixed with glaze.  ( I used some Behr Faux Effects Glaze I had on hand.)

craft smart silver metallic paint

I had a part of a door that we turned into a coat rack hanging out.  It was hanging out because I never really liked the finish.  It was a perfect piece to practice the process on.

20140726-184228-67348354.jpg

The steps were simple:

First spray paint the entire piece with the metallic paint.

IMG_7816

 

Next, paint on the glaze then rub it in.  Follow the individual boards with the direction to rub in/off the glaze.

IMG_7817 IMG_7818

Spray the whole thing with a flat or satin sealer when you have the look you are going for.  Tah Dah.  Done.

IMG_7825 IMG_7826

 

 

This shelf is going to be a place to hang towels in the new and improved bathroom.  Photos soon to come, I hope!

This project was super easy.  Even easier than I anticipated.

 

I used the same process on a small table and I wish I had painted the whole thing first with primer to eliminate the look of the wood grain.   I still like the table as it is, but it does not have the “made of metal” look

IMG_7836 IMG_7835 IMG_7837

I will be taking what I have learned and looking for a mirror to do in the near future. It would be super easy to do this finish on some of those cardboard letters that are in every craft shop.  They would look like expensive metal letters.   I think there is a beautiful metallic mirror in my future.

Coldspring, crafting, Decorating, DIY Projects, home decorating, new home, Ornate mirror, resale finds, Reused frame, silver, Style, the guest room, Thrifting, Thrifty Art, Thrifty decorating, using bright colors

Ornate Frame Makeover

I went resale shopping Friday. Hubby and some buddies were golfing so I was on my own. I made quite a haul.

The projects will be showing up soon. The first repurpose from my weekend is a quick and CHEAP project. On my adventure I spotted an ornate frame with a broken mirror in it buried in a pile of paintings and frames. I dug it out of a pile of other frames. The pastor who runs the thrift shop told me he had dropped the mirror. He just doesn’t know what to do about me, he doesn’t get that I love the broken, chipped, old stuff more than the newer treasures. I asked for the price, he said fifty cents. SOLD!

ornate mirror1

Here she is with the mirror removed. The back of the mirror was marked May 5- 67. She is younger than me and considered vintage…sad.

I explained to the pastor when he asked that I would be painting the frame and putting a bright print where the mirror was…he said he would pray for my husband. Three times. ( He upped it to four times later in my shopping.)

I purchased a roll of coral wrapping paper at Marshall’s that I will be using to line the back of my milk glass display. It is perfect for the “mirror hole”.

I had left over paint from the giant ornate mirror and could not resist the bright shiny look on this silly frame.

Ornate mirror3 ornate mirror2

An old S from a wreath I took apart finishes the beauty off. Fun, huh?

Ornate Mirror4 Ornate Mirror6 Ornate Mirror5

Not bad for a total investment of about $1.50 in supplies. It will add a little silliness to the green bedroom. No seven years of bad luck here.

I like it.

Chalkboard DIY, Decorating, mantle, Owls, Reused frame, silver, The City House, Thrifty decorating, white and gray decorating

Decorating the Mantel Between Seasons

It is that time of the year that I struggle with decorating the mantel in our den. Now that we are getting ready to sell the city house, I wanted to decorate it for more mass appeal and for my own enjoyment. I took down everything Valentine’s Day related, moved some things around then went on a house hunt. The silver stuff came from the yellow and gray bedroom. I quickly drew an owl on the chalkboard, but it is only temporary. I am just trying to figure out what I want it to say. I do love the stack of Bibles. My grandfather and my grandmother’s Bible are there along with my “cradle roll” Bible I carried when Hubby and I got married. What do you thin? Be Honest!

20130301-174448.jpg

20130301-174541.jpg

20130301-174602.jpg

20130301-174624.jpg

crafting, Decorating, DIY Art, DIY Projects, home decorating, mantle, ornate chalkboard frames, painting, repurposed frame, reusing an old frame, reusing an old window, silver, Thrifty Art, vintage style

Valentine’s Mantle

I will bet that a few of you are thinking that you are tired of seeing my mantle. Well, here is the finished Valentine mantle.

Old windows from the garage, chalkboard from the upcoming wedding, silver candlesticks and pedestal from thrifting, string art,toilet paper roll art,ribbon wreath,topiary
I love it! It makes me smile.

20130129-214113.jpg

20130129-214200.jpg

20130129-214224.jpg

20130129-214250.jpg

20130129-214317.jpg

20130129-214334.jpg

I also brought home my chalkboard suitcase to welcome Cupid!
20130129-214403.jpg

DIY, Ornate mirror, Rub N Buff, silver

The Giant Silver Mirror

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you may remember that I found a huge vintage gold mirror at a garage sale for $10.00. I was amazed that we found this in August and it has been sitting in the Garagemahal since then.  I really didn’t have a home for the beauty but I knew it was too nice to leave behind.  The Southern Belle said she wanted the mirror and I was thrilled. She wants to replace the less than amazing mirror in her bedroom. Her furniture is solid wood, nice furniture her Me Mei bought for her bedroom 23 years ago. She painted the maple, much loved, furniture white recently. (We really are related!) The mirror to the set is nothing spectacular and really small.
All the metal in her home is silver including her dresser pulls, so the gold would not work.

The mirror became silver.

Two coats of Rustoleum shiny silver spray paint and a tube of Rub n Buff later, it looks amazing. I  really like the way the mirror turned out. The Rub n Buff on the outer edges really adds depth to the frame.   It is going to look great in her chocolate brown, tan, and white bedroom.  The big mirror will add some contrast to the rustic fabric of the headboard.

I think it may have to wait until it gets driven out in June because her SUV may not hold it, but we will see.  Hubby measured the mirror and it is 58 1/2 inches by 39 1/2 inches.

We will make sure to take pictures when it is hung in The Southern Belle’s home.

 How it looked when we brought it to the Garagemahal.

The mirror came a long way.