{Post #888} New Flag Sign

Had a good, but very travel-filled day.  I found a new "used" piano at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore for my girls.  After I bargained down the price, I see a sign behind the register that said something like, "We begged for it, hauled it, cleaned it, stored it...now tell us again why we should take a lower price.  Don't even ask."  Well, in all honesty, if I'd seen the sign before I asked for a lower price...


While I was waiting for the piano to be rung up, I did a quick run through the store.  I had just been there a couple days before.  I saw this sign (which had not been there before), and it had potential.  I found it amusing that they had hung it with the wrong side against the wall--probably because it was so faded.  It was nearly the same style as one I saw and had planned to make myself one from "scratch".  I did not like the white stars painted on the blue.  One was obscured by a fleck of paint that chipped off on the top left one anyway.

When I got home, I pulled out these (the blue M & M cup was just there to give moral support)...

And started doing this (two reds stripes and blue painted)...

Then I did this (all but one white stripe painted)...

Finished except for one more tiny thing...speckling:

This is an easy way to "antique" a newly-painted item.  Just thin down white, brown, or black paint with water.  Protect the surrounding area with paper (I just tape a plastic garbage bag to the back of the backsplash and go at it in the kitchen.  After the paint dries, you can use the bag as intended.).  Use a very stiff brush (an old toothbrush works great).  Do some test speckles on a piece of paper, then go at it!


Finally, the finished FINISHED product:

Just to show how human and mistake-laden I am, here was my first speckling attempt:

See how the brown speckles on the cream are bloppy and fat?  I panicked momentarily, then tried in a nanosecond to convince myself that it was OK, then I grabbed a damp counter-wiping towel and wiped them off.  They all came off.  Then I (not) patiently waited for it to dry.  I added another drop of brown paint to my mix and did it again.  I am glad I did.


I toyed with the idea of painting "God Bless America" or "In God We Trust" on it, but I am leaving it as is now.


Why was I going to make something like this in the first place?  I want to make one of these for this summer to keep outside during the spring/summer months, and this is the perfect accent:

In time, little grasshopper.  The funny thing is that I have the EXACT same ceramic flower pot.  Meant to be, eh?


So, to sum up, I went from this to this:

I want you to know that you can do this, too.  It only took about 30 minutes of painting and a 25 cent sign!


~Joan