Altering Found Objects

Hi Julia here with this weeks inspiration post. I love finding objects which others have no further use for and giving them a new lease of life. My post shows step by step (as far as possible!) how I have transformed my latest find. I have mainly used DecoArt products but you can substitute any similar products you have in your collection. I love to incorporate a variety of techniques when creating so please scroll down to see how developed this piece. I should warn you that this post is photo heavy in order to show most steps and supporting close ups!

My purchase from a charity shop which is in dire need of a makeover!


A good price for a useful object even if it needs some tlc!


The final piece - a notepad holder - which is a far cry from the original. I should add that I don't think this photo does the piece justice. Make your own mind up when you've seen the close up shots.


The entire piece is given two coats of gesso with some light sanding in between.


Die cut some shapes from scrap card and trim as necessary.

Glue die cuts into position. I decided not to attach any to the area below where the notepad goes as it may make writing more difficult. I drew a pencil line around the pad so I knew where to avoid anything other than flat decoration.

To make 'stud' style embellishments add 'googly' eyes and half pearls.

Paint everything in your chosen colour then add colour to the die cut sections.

Add stamping using archival ink - you don't need to be too particular! 

Detail shot to show stamped images.

Use a pen lid and acrylic paint to stamp circles over the previous stamping. 

Detail shot of pen lid stamping.

When stamping with paint, always brush the paint thinly onto your craft mat and tap the stamp into the paint. Remember to clean the paint off a rubber/clear stamp before it dries.

Add stencilling and 'stamping' (using the top of a pen) as required.

Detail shot to show stencilling and small dots made by the top of a pen.

Add crackle glaze to all the red stencilling and stamping. Also apply to the die cut pieces and 'studs'.

Detail shot to show dry crackle glaze.

Antique the crackle glaze by rubbing in some acrylic paint and wiping back with a baby wipe. Dry brush some metallic gold paint over some of the crackle glazed areas. When dry brushing always add paint to a dry brush and wipe most of it off onto a scrap of paper/tissue and apply using light strokes in all directions. If the brush is too loaded with paint the effect will not work. Build up layers gradually to enable the previous layers to show through.

Add layers of stamping using a chalky paint and when dry, cover with background paint to blend into the design. Do this several times to build up layers. 

Detail shot to show layers. Note the diagonal line across the centre of the shot. This was made using a credit card and some chalk paint then layer upon layer of translucent paint are added. The final stamping with the chalky paint has only been partially covered with translucent paint.

Use layers of Burnt Umber paint and the dry brushing technique to build up an aged look. In this shot you can see the dry brushing being built up around the diamond plate.

Detail shot to show layers of dry brushing built up around the die cuts. The metallic paint adds a warm tone to crackled areas too.

More detail showing dry brushing with both burnt umber and metallic gold. Note gold layers on the 'stud' and the clip.

The diamond shape is cut from foam board. Use a knife to carve out notches. Make faux screw shapes with a sharp knife. Paint the background and stamp as before. Stencil using acrylic paint and chalky paint. Apply crackle glaze. Age with a thin layer of Quinacridone gold paint.

Detail shot to show faux 'screw' and carved notches. 

Detail showing stencilling, stamping, crackle glaze and ageing layers of paint.

Use metallic gold paint and a sponge to finish the edges of the holder. Apologies the focus is not clear over all the photo!

Allow the sponged paint to overlap onto the top surface to give a 'gilded' edged finish.

The notepad holder already has a hole for hanging it on the wall. I have decided to thread a double length of jute string through this hole to hang the holder with.

Detail shot.

Detail shot.

Detail shot.

I do hope this post gives you an insight into how I alter and transform a found piece. I get great satisfaction from working on projects like this, even if I'm often not sure about where I'm headed until I get there! Many of you already make such projects but if all this is new to you, then why not have a go? It becomes addictive!