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Thrift + Paint

When my friend Jess emailed me last week with the subject line let’s spray paint animals, you know I was intrigued. While her man and my Scott often schedule weekend dude dates, we agreed it was time we took a girl’s day to ourselves. And when she suggested a day of thrifting and spray paint, the angels sang, emails flew, and my Saturday was happily booked.

Although the thrill of the thrift hunt will always have my heart, I knew there was one animal I had on hand that could use a facelift. As a total impulse buy, the puppy bust (picked up from HomeGoods for $15) has spent the last few weeks holding down the studio shelving:

With this guy in mind for my girl date, I surely didn’t need anything else. Of course this didn’t stop me from making a list of to buys – everything from a new belt (no dice) to patio planters and a catch-all for our loose change and keys.

After a failed attempt at a Wicker Park thrift (closed for the holiday weekend), we worked our way north to Andersonville and browsed the Brown Elephant with much success.

With the exception of my failed belt search, I did find everything else (plus some). The clear vessels will eventually make their way to the patio, the green basket has key-tray potential, and the milk glass plus pink bud vase (painted before I snapped this photo – oops) had no plans other than to live in the studio. Also purchased: a decorative plate (you know, for back-up to the green basket, of course) and a duck tin (yeah, really).

So, about the duck. After loading my basket with more than agreed upon with Scott, I debated whether or not he’d enjoy this tin as much as I was. But after counting all my goodies and realizing I’d still come in under $25, I crossed my fingers and brought him home. After all, it was a duck! And a tin! (Bonus: my clear glass vessels were on secret sale, bringing my entire purchase down to $19.)

Along with my bud vase, Jess picked up a duo of swans that were all sprayed with hot pink paint (leftover from T-Rexy). In between coats, we took my bust and gave him a layer of Liquid Leaf using a small foam brush:

And after Scott saw the results, he suggested “dipping” my newly pink vase in the gold, too. Using nothing but a foam brush, I applied Liquid Leaf with gentle pressure from the top, allowing it to drip down the sides.

My man is a genius. The pink + gold ties in with Rexy and the gilded frames on the alternate wall, and to say I’m obsessed with the gaudy gold (good gaudy, that is) is an understatement.

It’d been too long since my last thriftapalooza, and it only got me looking forward to summer yard sales, fleas and – no shame here – dumpster dives. And since I was able to find a few pieces for the patio, we’re hoping this Chicago weather will bring stable, sunny skies soon. (Patio, we have plans for you; yes we do!) As for the duck, well, more on him after we give him a good shine.

How did you spend the last few days? Any thrifty finds you’d like to share?

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  • I love thrift shopping! Love it! The Habitat Restore here in Memphis is my current favorite. Also make a couple trips a month to the local Goodwill to see what treasures I can find! It is so fun.ReplyCancel

  • rachael4.9.12 - 10:12 AM

    The pink vase looks so cool! I haven’t tried liquid gold yet, but now I want to try it out on a frame or two.ReplyCancel

  • Staci @ My Friend Staci4.9.12 - 10:49 AM

    That dog looks absolutely fabulous in gold! The drip effect on the pink is awesome too! Love seeing the pop of pink get repeated on your shelving. Kind of makes it “make more sense.”ReplyCancel

  • meg4.9.12 - 11:06 AM

    those look amazing!! if you can get yourself up to the Unique on Kimball and Addison, that is where all of my spray painted animal finds come from haha. Its huge, and so very rarely picked through! its worth trekking up there once in a while!ReplyCancel

  • Kim4.9.12 - 11:18 AM

    Thank you, ladies!

    Meg, I haven’t heard of Unique, but just looked it up on Yelp and saw they were all over the place! Good to know.ReplyCancel

  • meg4.9.12 - 11:44 AM

    oooh you are in for a treat. uniques are my favorite thrift stores in chicago, they are so organized! everything is really cheap too, they’re amazing.ReplyCancel

  • Trude4.9.12 - 12:34 PM

    They turned out so awesome! Love the touch of dripped gold, and that ducky tin is too damn cute. I haven’t been out thrifting in a long time but I hope to this weekend! I’m bound and determined to finally find a cute, smaller chair for my desk.ReplyCancel

  • dave4.9.12 - 5:30 PM

    Kimbo,
    That vase blows me away!ReplyCancel

  • Kim4.9.12 - 6:11 PM

    Meg, can’t wait to give ’em a go!

    Thank you, Trude and Dave!ReplyCancel

  • Kerry4.9.12 - 6:30 PM

    I loooove the pink and gold! I tried to do that gold dripping technique with a tea cup last week but it wouldn’t adhere :(ReplyCancel

  • Kim4.9.12 - 6:31 PM

    Oh, no! Have you tried Liquid Leaf? I am obsessed!ReplyCancel

  • Emily @ Our Waldo Bungie4.10.12 - 10:22 AM

    I seriously just want to pin your house and everything inside it on Pinterest. Or better get, I want to come to your house, sit at your feet, and have you divulge all of your thrifty wisdom to me. Can that my job? Can I be your thrift-prentice? Is that a thing?ReplyCancel

  • Kim4.10.12 - 10:30 AM

    Emily, oh my! That sounds like an awesome job, but I don’t know how much wisdom I could share! Scott’s actually pretty awesome at the thrifty knowledge, though :)ReplyCancel

  • Mandy@Cre8iveMotives4.10.12 - 4:41 PM

    I heard some wonderful things about gold leaf. I am now inspired to try it. That duck is too cute :)ReplyCancel

  • Sara Grace4.15.12 - 5:48 PM

    LOVE the lab! The vase is awesome, too!ReplyCancel

  • […] at Yellow Brick Home, I fell in love with the liquid gold leaf treatment they gave their dog bust. I knew it was […]ReplyCancel

  • […] mind had made the connection between Emily Henderson’s jars, my uncle’s bottles, and this post from Yellow Brick Home, and my muddled mind was ready to get some work done. I collected my strength and shuffled into the […]ReplyCancel

  • White and Gold5.5.14 - 9:58 PM

    […] Photos: 1.2.3.4. […]ReplyCancel

  • Janet Vowles8.2.20 - 5:51 AM

    I’m looking at getting a gold ‘drippy’ look on some dark blue curtains.  Do you think the liquid gold leaf would work for this type of project? Thanks!ReplyCancel

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