Boring to Bold Dresser With Unicorn SPiT #SPiTchallenge #CREATIVEJUICE

Sandi Jones
by Sandi Jones
6 Materials
5 Days
Easy
I saw an article on Hometalk featuring Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain and Glaze in One by Shimmershell's Eclectic Inc. and immediately knew I HAD to try this vibrantly colored wood stain.
$20 Craigslist Find
I ordered my Unicorn SPiT (www.unicornspit.com) and began my search on Craigslist for the perfect project piece. When I ran across this beat up beauty, I could see the potential. And the price at $20 fit the bill.
I started sanding the piece using 120 grit sandpaper, followed by a second sanding with 220 grit sandpaper. I used an orbital sander on the flat surfaces to speed up the job. After doing the top drawer, she was looking better already! I wiped down the dresser using a tack cloth to remove any dust particles.
Although Unicorn SPiT can be used in a variety of ways, I knew I wanted to use it as a true wood stain to allow the beautiful wood grain to come through. I mixed about 3 parts Blue Thunder to 1 part Dragonsbelly (green) and added 30% water to get a thin stain. The SPiT is very concentrated so a little goes a long way. I use inexpensive chopsticks as stirrers, which also lets me test the color. I sprayed a light mist of water on the dresser to help the SPiT move, then brushed on two coats with a foam brush, allowing the first coat to dry before adding the second.
Polyurethane makes the magic happen!
The SPIT dries in a dull matte finish. But when you add oil based polyurethane, SPiT magic happens. I used Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane in Clear gloss. It's important to use an oil based product as water based products could reactivate the SPiT and muddle the color. I applied 5 coats of poly (yes, 5!) with a foam brush to get the high gloss shine, sanding very lightly between coats with 400 grit sandpaper and using tack cloth to remove any residue. After the first 2 coats, I was in love! Look at all that beautiful wood grain! So worth the time and effort of so many coats!
All that was left to do was add new hardware. My grand pup, Farrah, gave her seal of approval!
Beat up to Beauty! I just love the wood grain! You can see other people's Unicorn SPiT creations at www.unicornspit.com.
Suggested materials:
  • Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain and Glaze in One   (www.unicornspit.com)
  • Minwax Fast Drying Oil based Polyurethane in Clear Gloss   (Home Depot)
  • Sandpaper
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 7 questions
  • Nicole Allison Nicole Allison on Feb 11, 2019

    Does the stain work without sanding?

  • Ed Ed on Mar 15, 2019

    Hello, really nice looking piece. So to clarify, you mixed the colors together and then put them on already mixed, correct? I ask because it's amazing how the green pops in certain areas.

  • Bonnie Velazquez Bonnie Velazquez on Apr 07, 2020

    Hi there!

    I love what you did to this piece and I just wanted to know what it looks like a year later? Have you had to repaint it or has it stood up to everyday use pretty well? I'm planning on using this exact color on my dining room table so I'm just curious.

Comments
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3 of 38 comments
  • Deb Deb on Dec 04, 2018

    This is a gorgous piece. I love the way you see blue and green hues with the Spit. You are the furniture whisperer

  • Hag86106259 Hag86106259 on Jul 17, 2023

    This is simply GORGEOUS! Thank you for sharing the color mix ratio used. How much Unicorn Spit was used for the entire project? I would like to do a similar project and this would assist me in having enough on hand for my project. Thank you.

    • Sandi Jones Sandi Jones on Jul 18, 2023

      It wasn’t much at all. Less than a quarter of the bottle. The finish still looks the same today. No issues at all.

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