After a vacation (which was really needed), I got really sick with a doozy of a flu followed by complications so I have been out of my craft room for weeks! As I started to feel better, I eased back into my craft room the last couple of days and decided to work on a project that has been weighing on me for a ridiculously long time.
I had purchased a white wooden K in the clearance section of TJ Maxx about 4 years ago for $2. It was pretty beaten up, but I felt confident that I could revitalize it and make it my own. Then as other projects rose up on my crafting to-do/try list, the K got buried in my craft closet. So with small bursts of energy that seemed to work perfectly with needed drying times, I tackled this project — finally!
1. I cut strips of fun foam and hot glued them using my new Bojecher Glue Gun onto the K to form what I hoped would look like metal welded sheets.
2. I next used the hot glue gun to form little dots on the ends of the strips to form what I hoped would end up looking like rivets — to do both sides of the K I had to wait for the first side to dry to a full hardened cure.
3. I used a stiff stencil brush and DecoArt Media Modeling Paste in Black to not only seal the foam and wood, but also add some rough texture — again there was dry time of a couple of hours, especially where I had added thicker texture.
4. Because modeling paste did not fully cover the white of the wood, I next painted the whole thing with Artist’s Loft Metallic Black Acrylic Paint — more drying time, but pretty quick.
5. Lastly I had fun getting my fingers dirty with DecoArt Metallic Lustre in the colors Gold Rush and Champagne Ice. I first applied the Gold Rush to all the edges of the K, the rivets, and the strips, and it was like magic the way that shimmer made these odd materials look like metal. Then I did a light coating of the silvery Champagne Ice, over top of the gold and over more of the flat surfaces of the K, and this aged the K beautifully.
I could have stopped here, but I like Cutsie mixed with my Steampunk, so I pulled out those adorable TINY Dylusions Puppy Dog Tails images that I had Copic colored last month. I first coated them with a coat of Liquitex Matte Medium to protect the images and strengthen the paper. Then I futzed with them on the K until I found what I thought were the perfect placement of each pup. I really like this new addition to my craft room decor and I am sooooo happy to have that K finally transformed from trash to treasure!
The following is a video of the various steps to create this Cutsie Steampunk project:
Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!
This altered letter is being entered into the following challenges:
SanDee and Amelia’s Anything Goes Steampunk/Industrial Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Tiny Things Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Cute Challenge
Crafter’s Castle Anything Goes with Optional Add Glitter Challenge
I love Love LOVE this!!! It’s fabulous! You are so creative. I watched the video too. I will have to try your techniques on something some day 🙂 Hugs…Janie
Thanks oodles, Janie! I loved trying some new mixed media techniques with things from my stash. 🙂
This is such a lovely piece! I love how you combined the metal and rivets and rusty-goodness with the sweet doggie images. The dogs bring so much color and energy, too! I think the letter-K makeover was well-worth the wait and I love hearing these stories of creative redemption! Great job and I’m glad that you’re feeling better. Thanks so much for sharing such a delightful project with us for this week’s Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!
Awww you are so kind. Thanks so much Andrea! Yes, this was a long-time in coming, but I am so happy with the final results. 😀
That is amazing how you made that look like Rustic metal!!! I watched the video, and enjoyed seeing how you made it. Hope you’re feeling lots better! 🙂
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you watching the video too! 🙂
Awesome make!! Your K looks like metal welded with the brackets, so cool, and the dog images are wonderful! I love how you’ve colored them and turned them punk! Thanks so much for sharing your awesomely creative make with us at Sandee and Amelie’s Steampunk Challenges! hugs, Maura
I had so much fun with this. Thanks so much Maura!
Wonderful altered project! The colour looks fabulous, and the images are so cute.
I hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Mandy xx
Thank you so much Mandy for the kind words and the well wishes. 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us at SanDee&amelie’s Steampunk Challenges. Your K is really an upcycling of wood and foam to look like very heavy iron. The dogs have indeed invaded and found their favorite places. Hugs, Susan
Thank sso much, Susan! I loved the upcycling and all the mixed media elements. 🙂
Me again…already left a comment on this fabulous project and just came back to say….Thank you so much for entering our challenge at Crafter’s Castle this month….good luck 🙂
Hugs… Janie
DT
Crafter’s Castle
crafterscastle.blogspot.com
Oh thank you so much Janie!
Thanks for joining us at the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenges for our latest challenge. {Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenges}Good luck and join us again soon. Hugs, Kathy
Thanks so much Kathy!
Wow I’m not a steampunk kinda lady but this is great!!