DIY "Dipped" Wood Spoons, Take II

I picked up these wooden utensils for pocket change at Ikea (they're a lot more "pared back" than this more expensive set, but I don't have a "before".  Just picture plain wood utensils).  I intended to use them for the play kitchen Hubs and I DIY'd.  But then I realized how small kid's hands are (really, really small) and came to my senses.  These would be like lacrosse sticks for my wee little cousins!  I have a real issue remembering what size kids are.  Buying kid's clothes is a nightmare plus I'm always buying too-advanced books and games.

So the utensils sat, half-finished, in the basement for awhile, until I recently decided to just wrap up the project and use them for myself!  I did the same thing I did for my last set of dipped spoons (which had been grabbed from the drawer as an experiment, not like this squeaky clean brand new set I got to "dip").

Some folks have used food safe paint and varnish for their dipped spoons, which is a fabulous idea.  The painted part of my other spoons never touches the food, so mine haven't posed an issue even though I've used latex paint and regular varnish.

I'm happy to incorporate some more of the the mint hue I was mooning over.  Plus, look at what an awesome prop the recently made over antique chair is!

 

A bit of a repeat performance, I know, but I had to share.  Plus, you got a glimpse of my new Pyrex bowl.  I have two of the gooseberries on white - recently thrifted.  I'm missing the other two to make a set . . .

P.S. Don't forget, these are hand wash only.

DIY Bottle Dip FAIL

When I painted the wine bottles, I tackled a few beer bottles too.  But they somehow didn't look as pretty to me, so they hung out in the garage a bit, getting dirty and doing a good impression of the worst trip hazard ever.

Then I saw some cute dipped vases on Pinterest and started thinking maybe a little swim in some paint would make the painted beer bottles prettier.  But these were just thoughts.  Set to the tune of this song.

Woman's Day; Design Love Fest; Project Wedding; Whipper Berry

Because my "dipped" wooden spoons and "dipped" stool turned out so well, I got too confident.  I think you can guess how this story ends. 

I literally dipped my bottles in paint and they hung out for a bit longer in the garage, proving they could be an even more aggravating obstacle.  And no, we didn't buy this much butternut squash.



Behold the fail:

Some of my drippy-dips friggin' stuck to the cardboard . . .

 . . . and the others just looked cheesy:

Well, you win some and you lose some.  C'est la DIY.  Care to share any of your own less-than-successful projects?

P.S. Don't forget to enter my current giveaway - it's a real life saver.

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Pinterest Challenge: Dipped Leg Stool

I'm not good, but not really bad, about trying DIY projects I've pinned to Pinterest.  I pinned painted wine bottles before I tried mine and the many white ceramic things I pinned inspired my ceramic bird makeover.  I tackled a piece of artwork I pinned.  Heck, I even made a play kitchen after pinning some ideas!

But still, I have oodles of ideas pinned, so I really like the push to tackle another pinned project, instead of pining for it longingly and complaining about a lack of time (is it problematic that pinning DIY goodies takes away from DIY-goody-making time?).  So thanks Sherry, Katie, Kate and Michelle for another Pinterest Challenge.

Challenge accepted.



I really like "dipped" furniture legs (having already "dipped" some wooden spoons) but I was, I'll admit it, too much of a scared-y cat to try dipping the legs of a piece of "good" furniture.  Just in case.

Apartment Therapy; Design*Sponge; Design Love Fest; The Sweet Beast Blog

Secret: two of the legs above only looked dipped because the natural wood was left bare while the rest was painted.

Because I am slowly, but diligently, working on making the basement pretty (yup, still) I've been wanting to spruce up some of the furniture that dwells down in the pit of despair.  I have thought about axing this stool (a yard sale find) so many times, but it's ridiculously useful.  Such a workhorse: from holding my palette when painting to balancing a laundry basket when I am begrudgingly doing laundry, it's become a basement staple.  But it was a little plain . . . and paint stained.  And sad.

It was selected for the dip-experiment.

How-to:

The project was super simple.  After sanding off the dribbled paint with a belt sander, I spray painted the bottom of each leg using a brushed metallic silver (the same one I used for the stenciled mirror frame), applying multiple, thin coats.  Once dry, I measured and taped off the legs.  Then I applied my favorite mis-tinted black paint using a brush (leftover from painting the railing and the frame for my black & white DIY painting).  It took two coats to cover the bare wood stool.  In the next few days, I'll add a coat of Varathane clear finish to protect the surface.
 

Now this simple stool is chic enough to even spend some time on the main floor (oooo, what an honor), positioning our fan (right in our faces) to help keep us cool for movie night!

The verdict: now that I've dipped my toe (had to say it) in this trend, I love the look.  All furniture legs in the townhouse are fair game from now on.

Linking up at these Pinterest Parties:
Young House Love, Centsational Girl, Bower Power & Ten June!

And also linking up at the DIY Showoff Project Parade, POWW 100 & Domestically Speaking's Power of Paint Party

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