How to Avoid Mistakes When Up-cycling a Trunk
Disclosure: I was compensated for doing this post with product. However, all the opinions stated…
I’m always looking to try new things with these trunks. And sometimes I get myself into hot water. Today I’d like to share how to avoid mistakes when up-cycling a trunk.
Here is a picture of one of the many I have. They all look the same. And they were all filthy and full of scratches. I was itching to get started on this particular project.
What I used:
- Old Fashioned Milk Paint in Soldier Blue (safepaint version)
- Paintbrush
- Homemade Beeswax furniture polish (which you can make here)
- DecoArt Greek Key Stencil
- DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint in Antique White
- DecoArt Metallics in Bronze
The How To:
Look at the photo below do you see how uneven the surface is? Remember that.
But then I had a change of heart. I thought I would try my hand at stenciling after I received this one from the DecoArt Paint Company. They have lots of designs to choose from but I wanted to try out this one which is a Greek key. A girls gotta pay homage to her roots. 😉
And then I realized that I had waxed the trunk.
Hmmm… wax is used to protect the paint and seal it in. If I painted the stencil would it stay on the trunk or just slide around into a great big mess? I had come so close to amazing!!
I should have thought of this before adding the wax to the trunk. I hemmed and hawed and agonized over this for days. I went on facebook groups and asked their advice. I even had dreams about the stencil design dripping all over my beautiful trunk. I honestly don’t know what happened to me this time, maybe it was the excessive heat.
It was a rough week of procrastinating.
But finally I bit the bullet and just went for it. I figured if I mess up, I mess up. It is my fault for not sticking to my original plan. But these things happen and we have to go along with the flow. Of course that is easier said than done.I taped the stencil onto the trunk and then using two brushes, one to actually put the paint on, and the other one to push down the stencil, I went full steam ahead. Remember that photo above, the one I told you to remember, the one with the uneven surface of the trunk? Yes, that is why I had to hold down the stencil. It was like painting on hills.
Of course the right way to do this would have been to use one of those great spray glues; then there would have been no need for me to push the stencil down. And of course I had to dive right in and pick a tough one. I just went with it and kept on pushing the stencil down and dabbling the paint on.
I had become fearless I tell you! After all I had already messed up!
Could it possibly get any worse?
As I dabbled along all those Greek keys the color started to change. In some spots it was bronze while in others it was white and in between it came out a peachy color. And because of the aforementioned hills on the surface, I ended up with various intensities of color.
Was I going to let that stop me? Of course not!
A little color on the hardware and some wax on the straps.
And my trunk was finished!
No chips, no paint coming off, no more problems!!
Make sure to have a plan before starting your project!
Make sure to stick to the said plan!
Make sure you buy some glue spray!
And when all else fails, just go for it!!
I want to thank the lovely people in my Facebook group who offered their help for this traumatic time! If you need any help for your DIY projects or are looking for a community of like minded people join us here.
I guess good things can come from mistakes after all!
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Your truck turned out beautiful! Which I hadn’t a doubt that you would make it work. Love the stencil pattern, and how you added some at the bottom of the truck. Very nice work!
Thanks so much Linda. You have no idea how relieved I was to get it finished.
LOL, and when all else fails, just go for it!! Like only you can Mary. I always loved the book page trunk but I think this one is now my new favorite. It looks like something the Greek gods would have used to store their precious belongings
That should be my slogan “Just go for it”. Did I really have any other choice Michelle. The trunk had turned up in my dreams and not in a good way. Yes those Gods would have definitely used it.
I love how your trunk turned out, it is just lovely. I sure wish I had a basement full of trunks! Actually, I wish had a basement.
Oh those basements can be devious. If you have one you are tempted to fill it up with things you don;t really need instead of decluttering.
Your trunk is wonderful, Mary. I love the stencil. Running into issues during a transformation is no fun but, somehow we always get it done. Glad you found the support you needed. How did I not know this group existed?! I’m going to have to check it out 😉
Check it out and then join so you can share your awesome projects with us.
Hi Mary, I love that shade of blue and you pulled your creation back on track nicely by just going for it. I like the paint affect you’ve used for the keys. It looks nicely worn without the aging.
xx
Debbie that is exactly the look I was going for worn like it’s been around a while.
Well after all of that, it certainly did turn out well! I love that really, almost ANYTHING is salvageable. Sometimes when I think I’ve ruined something, I let it sit for awhile out of sight — maybe weeks or months and then, I figure out a way to fix it. Mostly 🙂
That’s how things work with me too Lauren. Sometimes you just need to let it stew for a while and then an idea will pop up in your head.
It looks great, Mary. And I’m especially pleased to learn that it hasn’t peeled or chipped so whatever you did worked! The blue is great and I think the variation in color makes it interesting and a bit unexpected. Nice!
That;s the funny thing Jeanie, I did nothing. I just let the wax sit there for a few weeks and then just painted it. I think it must be the DecoArt acrylic paints I used. They have proved to be very sturdy.
I’m glad you just went right ahead with your stencils Mary because this trunk is SO beautiful my friend! I think it’s my favourite! The colour and the stencil in it’s different shades are just stunning and it looks amazing!
These have to be the colors of the ancient ruins. I remember reading once that the earthy colors are what were used on the murals in Crete.
Ο επιμένων νικά! Forgive my Greek but the stencil got me! I really really love the end result!
Haha! I totally forgive you. I really wanted to do a Greek key stencil, it reminds me of Knossos. Yes?
I think it was used in many places! In Greek it’s Μαίανδρος https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9C%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82_(%CE%B1%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE)
Mary, when yiu showed thsr first picture of the stencil on the trunk, after you shared all the problems you had, I was thinking to myself “wait, I don’t see the problems, I think it looks fantastic!” I live the combination of colors you used. That bronze and white together is lovely.
It was a long and slippery road Lynn full of sleepless nights. Sometimes the journey is more exciting than the end result. It must be the paint I used for the stencil that saved the day because I had seriously messed up before that.
I love the fact that you have a basement full of trunks! I love trunks and don’t own a single one. I’d love to get one and I love what you did with yours. You are so right about planning. I think we’ve all done stuff like that and yes, sticking to your plan is vital!
Sticking to your plan or having lots of luck, as in my case. I am really happy with how it turned out the paint is as tough as nails. And Carolann you have not lived unless you have attempted to paint a trunk. 😉
Yes, I love it 🙂 . Especially the stencils at the bottom. Great color choice Mary!
Thanks Zografia, I was going for the Cretan look! Hope you are well!!
Ooooh, I love the variation in colors on the stencil and considering the unevenness of the trunk, your stencil went on pretty good. Sometimes those oops give us the biggest learning or welcomed surprises. Another awesome trunk makeover!
Thank you Marie, that’s what I thought too. The unevenness helped create that awesome look that makes the stencil unique.
Gorgeous Mary, I’m so pleased the wax didn’t stop the stencil sticking (I think it must be because of your magic touch!)
Sarah I certainly hope so. It was probably the magic quality of the paints but I can always dream that I have that special touch.
That really came out great Mary! I know what you mean about painting on hills…that’s exactly what it is when you have an uneven surface. I’m glad you went for it even though you’d waxed it…encouraging that it turned out OK!
I was so relieved Florence after all those weeks of worrying to have it turn out so great, actually even better than I expected was a happy surprise.
Thanks for sharing the problems you have faced with this trunk, Mary! The stencil turned out very nice at the end…I like the different shades of the colour! Did you re-waxed the trunk when you finished?
Marie Anne, thanks so much for your comment. I did not re-wax it. i just stenciled it and left it like that. I think it must be the great properties of the DecoArt paints. Those metallic paints must be super durable. Yes, it has been about a month and a half now and the trunk has no dents or chips at all.
The stencil was a brilliant choice. I love it!
Michelle I had to pay homage to my roots.
Mary, you amaze me! This turned out great. You find so many fun projects to do.
I am actually using all these trunks for storage Stacey so they might as well be stylish if I keep them on display.
Mary, you may call this a mistake but I call it a beautiful effect. So this is a happy mistake that is probably even better than what you had intended.
True Debra from now on I’ll have to break all the rules and just fly by the seat of my pants. Who knows I may come up with a masterpiece. Haha!!
We had one of these that my husband’s grandfather gave us. We carried it around when we moved in our younger years, but eventually unloaded it. Oh to have it today! Love how yours came out! Beautiful!
Janine I had it in the basement for over 20 years and if I didn’t have a basement I probably would have gotten rid of it. I guess its all about timing.