A basic craft store ampersand is given a farmhouse style makeover.
CREATE | Published August 22, 2016
Last night, I began sorting through some pictures I had taken for inspiration of what I could post today. I realized that I had done a simple project awhile back but hadn't been shared here. Score!
I've kind of gotten away from just sharing a quick "This is what I made" kind of project and that is something else I'm hoping to change. There are no fancy staged photographs and this post doesn't even show pictures of the steps I took. Not every post needs to be a time consuming and complicated DIY. Once in awhile, it is fun to just pop in with something easy to inspire you to try something on your own.
Awhile back, I picked up some MDF letters from Michael's when they were running their Alphabet Soup line on sale for 50% off. I loved that these ampersands that had a bit of real wood on the top and figured they would paint up nicely. They are a lot like my dough bowls.....I'm not sure why anyone would buy them as-is, but they become farmhouse perfect when given a little love.
SHOP FOR SUPPLIES
Wanting them to look a little beat up and shabby, I started the makeover by beating up my purchase with a hammer and screwdriver. I put marks and dings all over the surface
Then I stained the ampersand. Surprisingly, the MDF took stain well and created a lovely worn surface to show through the distressed paint.
After the stain dried, the edges of the ampersand were rubbed with a wax stick from Fusion Mineral Paint. (It is similar to Miss Mustard Seed's wax puck.) The wax creates a resist and allows the paint to chip away easily while leaving the stained finish intact
Then I painted the ampersand a clean white with two coats of Casement (from Fusion Mineral Paint). Dry brushing in areas with Lamp White (a very pale gray also from Fusion) provided a little more definition and interest to the letter.
Then I gently sanded away areas where I had rubbed the wax creating a perfectly distressed piece of decor.
Sometimes craft stores fully embrace a trend (in this case, the wood letter trend) or specific style, but the cost inhibits people from buying it. Often, you can later pick up some great pieces to transform for very little money.
Although I don't get to Michael's often (I live 1 1/2 hours away from the nearest store), when I'm there I love looking through the sections selling items at 50% off or more. A lot of people cannot see the potential in what these finds can become so you can pick up some unique things to makeover. (One of my favorite examples of using these clearance items for creative decor is this one from Liz Marie Blog).
Having a no-fail, quick project to do like this is so satisfying. There is nothing that could be done wrong as it is supposed to look worn and a bit haphazard. I love projects that I can do in an afternoon and feel good about. And as an added bonus, ampersands are such a hot trend at the moment and I was happy to be able to join in for less than $10!
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