Trunk Transformation
3 Materials
Medium
We gave this old trunk new life using Unicorn SpIT Gel Stain.
I started by cleaning the inside and out of this old trunk. It had really gross paper lining that peeled right off with a little water. (I found out later it is easier to take it to the car wash and use the power sprayer.) This trunk had thin fabric and a black sealer so we stripped off everything we could and sanded it. (By far the hardest part but it pays off in the end!)
Now we are ready for the fun part! If you haven't tried Unicorn SpIT, you are missing out. It is my favorite stain. It comes in fun bright colors and is water soluble for easy use and cleaning. You want your wood to be smooth and clean. I prefer for it to be raw with no laquer or Polyurethane on it (no shine). Before you "SpIT", dampen the wood. It helps the color blend and adhere to the wood grain. I used Zia Teal and Navajo Jewel.
I didn't dilute my SpIT. I squirted straight from the bottle in an L shape with one color on top and one on the bottom.
I used my hands (like finger painting) to blend the SpIT. When the SpIT was to think, I wiped it away with a rag. The great thing about this Stain being water sociable is that if you make a mistake or the Stain is thick, use a spray bottle to add a little water and keep blending. I wanted my wood grain to show so I applied my SpIT thin.
These two colors blended perfectly together. In spots that were too dark I blended in more Teal and Moved the colors around until I had the look I was going for. Because Unicorn SpIT is water based, you need to use an oil based sealer to finish your piece. These sealers give it a 3D effect and make the colors and wood grain pop. I prefer Polyurethane. I wanted extra protection and a little shine. I applied three coats with a foam brush.
I was really pleased with the finished product! The colors played beautifully off of each other. My 6 year old daughter calles it the "Fairy Trunk" because it looks like something a fairy would have. When I first read about Unicorn SpIT, I honestly thought it was too good to be true. I am a true believer now. There is no turning back for me!
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I have trunk like that, want to use it as a coffee table. The fabric on the outside is perfect, I haven't looked inside. Could I wash it and use unicorn spit like an antiquing glaze? Would you put plate glass on top to make a better surface for my plan?
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Thanks, if the cloth tears, I will work with the wood and a glass top. This will be fun
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I Love What You've Done! I have 2 old trunks with like a burlap on them. Do I remove the burlap? Or do I put wanes coating over it? Thank You!!
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This one had fabric and sealer on the outside but the wood was underneath. Without seeing the truck, it's hard for me to tell you exactly what to do. You can chalkpaint over the burlap then SPiT over that. To get the exact look, you you need wood to stain. There are a lot of tutorials online about using Unicorn SPIT over chalkpaint.
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