Trash to Treasure Makeover

Hi, hope you are all having a great weekend!

Normally when I share with you one of my makeover projects, I like to begin by showing you the "after", as so often the "befores" are so darn ugly that I'm afraid I'd scare you off!  Well, I just couldn't resist starting out by showing you what my latest transformation began life as:

 See, I wasn't joking!  What an ugly duckling this wooden coat rack was!  

(or should I say "ugly gosling"?!)

I actually found it a few years ago at a church rummage sale, and had it in my stash, just waiting for inspiration to hit.  I knew when I first spotted it, it had potential, as it's made of solid wood, has good lines, and the pegs made it functional.

I'm sure that many a person who spots me purchasing these oh so hideously ugly treasures in the making thinks to themselves:  "That poor, poor woman!  She has absolutely no taste!"

So here is what I used to make over this puppy:

A great Frenchy stencil, black chalky finish paint, brown cream wax, clear wax, and white acrylic paint, all from DecoArt.

Are you ready to see the finished product?

Viola!

 After sanding the entire piece, I painted several coats of the chalky finish paint, then used the white acrylic to stencil a French street address, as well as the wonderful fleur de lis at each end.  I then gave it a generous dose of distressing, and followed with several coats of cream wax.  I used the brown wax to tone down the white stenciling, so that it had more of an aged appearance. Then I used a few coats of clear wax, buffing between each coat.

 I must say that I like this a whole lot better than the 1980's country geese!

 I'll be putting this in my Etsy shop.  You can be sure that I'll be looking for more ugly ducklings to transform, as I had so much fun working on this project!

Ok, here is one more look at the "before":

 And the "after"!

I've not been compensated for writing this post, though I was provided with the products from DecoArt.

Now go out and have a creative day!