It's Giraffing Me Crazy! (Giraffe Wine Holder Re Imagined)

Charlee Hunter
by Charlee Hunter
When we first bought our house (21 years ago.. wow time flies!) , my Nephew bought us our first house warming gift. It was a beautiful Giraffe statue that held a bottle of wine. Even then it looked out of place in our mostly 'country' home (he is a very modern, retro fellow and has very good taste, just not quite the same as mine : ) But, it was given with heart felt care and I was not about to think less of it because it did not fit in : ) For a while it sat upstairs here and there until it finally just didn't make sense in the décor and made it's way to the misfit pile in the basement.
I always liked it though, and it was sentimental, I just couldn't part with it. Last week I finally decided to do something about it and bring it back to live again upstairs.. but the gold had to go.
I know, I know, gold and sparkly is in right now, but it's never been my 'thing'...sparkly yes, gold .. not so much. Gerald (that's a good name for a Giraffe don't ya think?) had to be painted.
Here is Gerald as he was originally.  Like I said, lovely, just not for me. (The tape you see is because originally I was not going to paint the base, but decided that I would prefer him all one color)
Painted Black with Americana Decor Carbon
The first thing I did was paint him with Americana Carbon Chalk paint. This would be my base color.
Next I used a crackle medium and painted that all over.  I let that dry for 30 minutes, then painted him with Anne Sloan Old White.  This is how he looked as he was drying.
Here you can see the crackle effect beginning.
Next I added an antiquing  medium over the entire piece.
Here he is getting clear coated with Krylon Crystal Clear.
And here he is , front and center , literally! 


The 'tray' he's sitting on you might recognize from my "I've Been Framed" post (here: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/craft/centerpieces/i-ve-been-framed-frame-goes-from-plain-jane-to-fab-centerpiece-28270992), and has also changed. I added 'fairy' lights under glass! )
Welcome to your new space Gerald! Hope you like it here : )
Some of the materials I used.  The antiquing medium also came in that crackle coat kit by PLAID.  (got it at the hardware store years ago)
As stated , I also used Americana in Carbon and clear Krylon spray.


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