Bye Bye Birdie

Ok, so there is absolutely, positively…no function to this post. Only pure cheap frugal beauty!!

As a matter of fact, I’m tossing around the idea of having “No Function Friday’s”.

Like many of you, I’m a crafter. Some of my crafting does, in fact, involve things that function. But most don’t.

I’ve been hanging out at the Dollar Tree A LOT some lately. There is nothing I love more than to take something inexpensive and turn it into something that looks like a million bucks…or four or five bucks works for me too. :)

Also, if it bombs…I’m not out much money. LOL

So my latest project involves the ceramic birds they have at the Dollar Tree.  I’m sure you’ve seen the birds. With their pinkish tinge and glued on sand.

First thing I did was sand my birdie to get as much of the sand off as possible, but leaving some is fine too…I want my birdie to look aged. Then I spray painted him white. Just plain old, cheapest I could find, white.

Then I started aging my little bird with my favorite ‘make-something-new-look-old’ product…Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze from the Home Depot!

I just used an old paint brush and put the glaze all over my little guy. I made sure I got into the detail good because I wanted that to stand out. After a second I wiped it off with a paper towel…but an old rag would probably work better. I’m lazy and grabbed what was close (because I never am fully prepared when I do crafts. LOL)

Then let it dry. You may have to repeat this step if you don’t get the aging effect you wanted. I think I did my little birdie twice.

Then I also used Jim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut and Tea stains (they have lots of colors to choose from…like red in the picture which I do NOT actually own) to make the details pop. This is actually for scrapbooking and paper crafts, but it works pretty good for crafts like these too. I’ve found the best way to apply this for a ‘natural’ effect is to use your finger. Warning – you will be stained for the rest of the day. ;)

I’m sure there is a much better product (like actual stain) that I will find one day when I’m not being too cheap thrifty to buy it. But I’ve just been using what I have on hand.

And here is my birdie in his after shot!

Not to shabby for a buck, huh? :)

I do plan to show you, very soon, how I made my Dollar Tree, unfinished wood box that my birdie is sitting on.

I'm linking to some parties for the FIRST TIME!!  I'm so excited!  So, hopefully I do this right.  I'm linking to the following parties:






Until next time...