Saturday, September 15, 2012

Missing the DIY Gene

Remember this mirror that I was excited about painting?  In my vivid imagination, I would spray paint it a trendy aqua and it would be a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!

Wrong-y Dong-y.  How do other you DIY folks get such fabulous results?  I think I am missing the DIY gene.  Here's my oh-so-not-fabulous mirror after a couple of coats of spray paint.  Ewwww...it be fuggly.




Can this be fixed?  Isn't there some rub-a-dub-dub stuff I can apply that will give it dimension?

I bow to all you successful DIY-ers!  (I shall be packing the blue-boo-boo away for another day.)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Linda

18 comments:

  1. I honestly don't think it's that bad, it just needs to go in the right room!

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    1. Oh Beth, you are being kind. It really is BAD. I could crack on the kind of room that it might be 'right' in--but even I won't go there. LOL! Thanks, Sweetie!

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  2. Linda, I don't know what happened to my first comment? It was right after you posted. If you put a antique gold rub and buff into the lower surfaces, it would give it dimension. Sorry my first comment got lost.

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    1. What is the rub stuff called? Is it sold at Home Depot? I hope the directions are easy to follow....I don't have a clue...just remember reading it somewhere (ORC?). Thanks Patty. I have no clue where your comment went!

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    2. Rub n' Buff is sold at places like Michaels and Hobby Lobby. It has been around for years, eons! It is available in many colors. Don't like the Bronze. The golds, black, silvers, and other colors have worked for me. It comes in a small tub. Ask an associate what aisle they have it. That saves a lot of time! You apply it with your finger. You could use a cloth, but it's easier to control with your fingers. Believe, me it will take a lot of work removing the color from your hands. I'm not good with rubber gloves so I put up with the mess on my hands. It spreads very quickly and before you realize it the entire piece can be covered with the stuff. Practice with something with molding so you can get the "feel" of it. It's cheap, fast and basically easy! If you don't like it, just repaint it another color :)
      Reading down further, I noticed what Kerry said and she has a point! I have recently used rub n' buff on a picture frame. It didn't work so we are spray painting it. I have a lot of iron/metal pieces where the rub n' buff has worked great....depends on the surface.
      Keep us posted

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    3. GREAT instructions Patty. Who knew you needed to put Rub N Buff on with your finger and that I had looked at HD instead of Michaels. Thanks for all the details Patty. You are great!

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  3. haha Oh my gosh Linda, I can't even count the number of DIY fails I've had so don't feel bad!! I too have a mirror that I totally botched- I took mine almost to the brink of destruction before miraculously saving it with several coats of white paint. I know you'll get yours looking gorgeous!! The goofs just give us experience and make us better DIYers! :)
    You left such a sweet comment on my post about the lampshade- thank you so much!! It really meant a lot that you took the time to write something so thoughtful- it made my night! It's nice after spending so long typing out a tutorial to know that someone actually read it (as opposed to just skimming the pictures) and appreciated it, so seriously, thank you a ton for such a nice comment! :)

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    1. Brooke your projects have detailed steps. I managed to mess up using a single can of spray paint! I will cling to your words that the goof make us better DIYers. You create masterpieces. I'll keep studying your tutorials!

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  4. You have no idea how many times I've repainted something before it's presentable - there's a stack of pieces downstairs in my reject pile all the time.

    As for your mirror - either rub & buff (something we can't get here in Canada for some reason) or my suggestion is to dark wax it to give it some depth and tone down the turquoise a bit. Or dry brush it with a white paint.

    You just need to add some depth and it will be gorgeous.

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    1. I'll try the rub & buff and maybe the dry brush (like that idea-just don't know if I have the skill! The mirror looks so flat and cheap. It is comforting to know that you've had mess ups, too. Thanks again, Heather.

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  5. Linda, The other posters are talking about "rub & buff" found at most craft stores. Honestly, I would re-spray it with gold all over. I think maybe the turquoise is too pale and not the sophisticated turquoise we are used to seeing. I hate it when a DIY goes wrong...and it does.

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    1. I agree Kerry the turquoise is not the color I was hoping for. I love gold mirrors and probably have 10 of them in all shapes and sizes. Silly me, I was trying to get something a bit more 'on trend' for staging.

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  6. My feelings are so hurt... I live across the street for crying out loud. You know the mirror in my hall bath. It started out black and gold highlights. Rub-n-buff silver now works in the "new" bath. What about watering down some black. Very thin, just to collect in the crevices. Will tone down the blue, but it will still be blue. Just a thought.

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    1. Girl, come on over and fix this mirror mess! The rub-n-buff might work. Your mirror looks f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s. I don't think we really want to trust me to water down black paint and try to apply it. LOL! I'll fix your hurt feelings with a glass of wine.

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  7. Linda - I don't think it is bad. It would look great in a sunny room with pillows to pull it together. Maybe a different color if you don't like this one?
    Good luck!
    Loi

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    1. Loi, you have impeccable taste, but I really think it would take more than pillows to make it work. I may try another color. The main problem is it has no definition--looks like doll furniture! HA!

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  8. Linda, sometimes the best creations come out of something you don't like.. Its just not done yet. Keep going, you can always paint it white or ivory if you don't like it. Everything always looks good white.

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    1. Good point! I love your positivity! Thanks for your words of encouragement.

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