The day has come…it’s time for The Pinterest Challenge, Winter Edition (yes, it’s 80-degrees out, but the calendar still says Winter!). This was Katie’s brainchild last year to encourage us to get off our computer-parked-arses and actually make something we’d pinned. In a nutshell, STOP PINNING AND START DOING!
My (p)insperation came from this pin from Jamie Laubhan-Oliver’s Houzz page. I’m not a hunting kind of gal, but I do love the look of antlers in decor. Jamie’s oversized white antler on the mantel is beautiful.
I was also smitten by this pin of painted antlers by talented artist, Cassandra Smith. I think she goes by Cassie….holla! So it was meant to be, right?!
For my Pinterest Challenge Project, I decided to combine the two pins. And since the suburbs aren’t teaming with wild deer (and real ones make me sad for Bambi), I thought to DIY some faux antlers! (Oh, yes I did!)
I’ll show you a few different methods, with each consisting of the same base. Gather a bunch of sticks…the more ‘antlery’ the better.
Using firm tape (I went with a combo of painters and duct), bind the sticks together to create a shape resembling antlers. This is the part I need to improve on, since Mr. Sugarplum said mine looked like arthritic hands of the Corpse Bride. Whatever. He just lost his antler back scratch!
For the first method, I covered the sticks in air-drying clay. Try to keep the layer fairly thin and consistent. Once covered, smooth out the lumps and bumps with wet fingers.TWSS
Since real antlers have that exposed marrow-thing happening (eeew), I added extra clay at the base and used these nifty pointed Q-tips to poke textury indentions. (Yes, I just make up words to better describe what’s happening.)
Allow to dry completely (I propped mine in front of a fan overnight), then use wet fingers to smooth out any cracks. The clay is slightly sandable, but not enough to change the shape.
Using craft acrylic paint, I painted the entire surface a bone color, followed by assorted colors.
Rub n’ Buff adds the perfect metallic shine, and I sprayed the whole thing down with clear sealer for a lacquered look. The clay is ideal because it allows for more flexibility in creating the shape…and more specifically, creating a pointed tip.
A second method was covering the assembled sticks with Plaster of Paris. I mixed it fairly thick, and applied three thin layers, allowing it to dry in between.
I didn’t bother to smooth out the plaster as it was drying because I figured I’d just sand it.
Turns out sanding this thick plaster is a beast, especially since you have to be gentle enough to not crack it. My right shoulder is now significantly more buff than my left. That’s a cute look for halter sundresses.
I followed the same painting method with these as the clay antlers. It was fun coming up with color combinations that accented our rooms. I prefer the solid, finished feel of the plaster over the clay.
These antlers are clay, but I left off the colored paint.
The last method was covering the sticks with paper mache (ala West Elm). But not even a vignette with my cute Brass Horse and Mirror Box can save this jacked-up version! These antlers have a job as fire kindling in their future. Burn, baby, burn!
When my kids saw the finished antlers, they grabbed them for the same pose. Each thinking they were clever and hilarious. I agree.
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| (I was dropping them at my aunt’s for a Spring Break sleepover, the house and beagle unfortunately aren’t mine. And yes, Babygirl thinks she’s a dog and therefore wears a collar and tag. Is that not normal?) |
These DIY Faux Antlers certainly aren’t going to fool anyone in to thinking they’re real, but they are cool. If I were to make another set, I’d use a combination of plaster and clay. The plaster creates a nice hard shell, and the clay provides a finished end and pointed tips.
Oh, and even though we say Pinterest so many times spell checker stopped correcting me, they aren’t endorsing or sponsoring this challenge.
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