Chippy Garden Art
by
Gary Hardman
3 Materials
$25
4 Hours
Easy
So this idea came as I was cruising garage sales. I picked up a faucet from a 100 year old claw foot bath tub. With the dollar tin from the Dollar Tree and a chippy cabinet door I could picture the next masterpiece.
The first step was to distress the shiny new tin. I wanted it to look as old as the faucet. I went on line and tried equal parts ( 1 tbsp) of hydrogen peroxide, table salt and white vinegar. It worked a little so I decide to pull out the Brillo pads and use brute force. Sucess! If you want the words to stand out again, use a permanent black marker. It is also better to treat with this mixture in the hot sun.
The next step, I sealed the door with Tung Oil. You want to preserve that distressed look on the cabinet door. I then mounted the faucet onto the door by tracing around the back two pipes and cutting holes with a 1 1/2 inch drill bit.
Here is a view from the back with the faucet showing. I also added screws and picture wire to be able to hang it. The last step was to drill 2 screws to attach the tin container on the board.
Here is the finished piece at home on my patio. You could make it into a fountain or plant flowers in it. If planting flowers, drill holes in the bottom of the tin for drainage.
This was an easy fun project that takes less than a day but truly stands out in your garden. The vintage faucet was one of the stars of this piece. However you could use faucets from any hardware store.
Happy Gardening!!!
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Comments
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4 of 44 comments
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Love this!! Great job. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks Jina
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What a nice piece to personalize your garden retreat! I enjoyed following you in my imagination, Gary, as you found complementary recycled/upcycled items to create a unique focal point. Keep those creative juices flowing.
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Thanks D
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
I already own a similar shabby chic piece similar to this. I would like to use it outside on my patio. The only "finish" on my piece is old white flaking paint. Should I use tung oil first and let that absorb in then spray the entire piece w/clear matte spray paint?
Love it but I have a question, does the faucet work>????