Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Ballard Inspired Finial Knock Off

A little break from map projects to bring you a fabulous Ballard inspired finial!  Homebody Holly is having a Knock Off party and I have to join!  Y'all don't miss it...it will start Friday October 29th.  She is going to start having them once a month...yippee!
(insert drum roll here...)
My finial...
See all the great Ballard ones here.  At anywhere from $39 to $79 -- they better be great!  My inspiration came from this one...

Lovely don't ya think??  Wanna know how to make one from thrift store cast offs??  I know ya do!!  The total cost of mine?  Under $2! :)
First you have to gather all your thrift store cast offs.  I am the type of person that buys little things when I see them cause I think I can use them "some day".  Folks...this is your some day!  Also grab ya some good glue!  I used E-6000, you can choose gorilla glue, it is your choice.
Now start playing with them like puzzle pieces.  Fit this one to that one.  Turn pieces upside down.  It makes no difference what color or material they are.  All that matters is you get the look and height you want.  Once you figure out what arrangement works best, I suggest you glue two pieces together at a time like so....
Let these dry the recommended amount of time before assembling all of them together.  I know...that dry time is killer...but it will be worth it!!
And here is my junk all stacked up and glued together!  Have no fear...it is about to be junk no more!  Now to give them a patina.  I started with a base coat of brown spray paint.
Then I went over that LIGHTLY with antique brass. 
Then LIGHTLY with black.  I love the patina.  And it was soooo hard for me to capture in pictures.  Can you see how it almost looks metallic??
Well it does...trust me...those light coats let a little of the other coat show through and it looks fabulous!
 Break out the glue and get started!
My finial found it's home with my map candle wraps.

So what have you knocked off lately? 

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Looking for even more knock offs of famous catalog originals?  Head on over to our knock off project gallery for lots of inspiration and tutorials.

Angie
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24 comments:

I LOVE it! Oh my how I love it. It reminds me of my candlesticks and more! :) Had I painted them black....
so fun! I don't think I have any bits and pieces laying around for this project. I'll have to start collecting!
gail
btw that owl really etsy shop that Jane featured today... my baby girl! Thanks for leaving a comment.

That's so awesome Angie. I like Ballard's but yours looks way better. I love how it turned out.

Oh my gosh, so so so cute! I am totally a collector of the "someday I might use this" stuff! This finial looks like the perfect project for me! :)

That is great, what a wonderful idea!!!

What a wonderful idea. I mean, I never knew such decorations existed, but it looks just fabulous. Maybe that is the thing to do with those Christmas tree top decorations I bought last year? You've got me hooked. Thanks for sharing!

Wow! Visiting from Holly's and I actually like yours better than the original, it has a lot more detail and interest. :)

ANGIE!! I've been wanting a really, really tall finial. . . and I've been distressed at how pricey the tall finials are. . . but I've never thought to put little pieces together to create a tall finial! This is BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for sharing!

That is just lovely! Don't sell yourself short - not just everyone has an eye like you. I would never have thought all those odds and ends could turn into something so beautiful!!! Thanks for the inspiration!

You are freaking amazing! I would never see these little odds and ends at Goodwill and think to buy them because someday I can stack them together and make gorgeousness from them. You are a genius! :)

Corinna

Angie, that is fabulous! Honest to goodness, I never would have thought of stacking everything up like that to make a finial!
Thanks so much for linking up.

That is gorgeous!! Unbelievable that it's made from a stack of junk!!!!! :)

Bravo, Angie!! That is a lovely piece. :) I like the finish you chose too.

Wow! I NEVER in a million years would have guessed how you put that together.

I'm SOOOOO impressed that you thought of doing it!

I'm off to check out the details of your maptastic party!

You are very creative. I love Ballard and Pottery Barn knockoffs. You did a great job. Thanks for sharing.

That is so gorgeous! I like yours much better than the original! What a great idea with the stacking! You have my creative juices flowing! Thanks for sharing!

Visiting from Amanda's party.

Just genius! I have random things around the house that I am now thinking about glueing together. Thanks for sharing! This is lovely.

I need to copy this! You did a great job Angie. It looks like you used both wood and ceramic...?

LOVE THIS! I just know I can copy your copy using my own stash of this and that, thanks for the inspirational spark.

Hi Angie- that is gorgeous! It came out beautiful and so much like the inspiration one!! Really creative and Fantastic job!! :)

Great idea, has come up a treat!
alicia

Nice! Amazing how much cheaper you can make it than buying it! I love the way you did the layers of light coats of paint. It looks great!

LOVE this! It's the best puzzle ever!

This idea is truly inspiring. I see these pieces at the thrift store for next to nothing and always pass them by. Well no longer! Can't wait to do a few.

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