I Love Rust

 I had a few extra minutes between steps I was working on to fill some cracks in my front porch so I was perusing my screen shots and happened upon a "flower shop" sign I had seen and loved so much. I had a momentary thought of perhaps treating myself for my birthday until I looked up the price and found it was well over $100. I am sometimes willing to spend way more than I should if the item justifies the purchase but, for a decorative item that would only be in use one month a year, justification couldn't quite be found. And then, I remembered this!

This picture is from last year and kind of helps make my point. It is nowhere near as large as the sign I was coveting but, it was very much along the same lines. I bought it a few years back in Michaels. I liked it then but I almost didn't use it last year. I think it is because of how very bright and shiny it is. The contrast just seems too much!

And so, I thought I would get it out and see if I couldn't rust it up a bit. You wouldn't think that would be so difficult but this sign must have the image baked into the metal. No matter what type of sandpaper or rasp type tool I used, I couldn't get that shiny finish off. 

I probably could have found some kind of grinding attachment for either my Dremel or power sander but, considering the fact that I have lived a very long life without ever needing any of that-and probably would never need it again-I decided there had to be an easier way. Not to mention the fact that I probably would not be the best one to be dealing with cleaning up metals shards as my entire sunroom floor is pretty much covered in spilled cinnamon and I keep walking through it and dragging it everywhere. Lol

That is when I decided to try my "cheat" way of creating rust-good old ModPodge and cinnamon. I wasn't sure the ModPodge would even adhere to this shiny surface but, I knew that since it is water soluble, I could probably scrub it off if I hated it and I could work on another idea. I was pretty sure I could smear on E-6000 and then cover it with cinnamon and I would be good but that would be a last ditch effort as that stuff doesn't come off easily-if at all!

I was amazed at how well the cinnamon adhered to the metal with the ModPodge. After I shook off the extra cinnamon, I was kind of happy with the rust results but, for me, the sign was still too shiny. And so I decided that instead of just sealing in the cinnamon with more ModPodge, I would paint over the whole sign. The ModPodge I was using was a matte finish.

And, voila, I got my non-shiny look. And, something else happened. There were some places where I guess I didn't get off all of  the extra loose cinnamon so when I started painting the whole piece, it dragged through the wet ModPodge and gave the look of metal truly just starting to rust in some areas and really rusted in others.

And now I am happy and will use this again this year when the spring decor comes out. I have to chuckle every time I add more rust, chips or grunge to things. I have always been drawn by the "lived in" kind of look-the chippier, rustier or grungeier the better. Lol Whenever I would rush home with a treasure that I found that fit one of these categories-or better yet, all three-my husband would ask, jokingly I think, how much did they pay you to take that off of their hands? Lol 

I might be signing off for the rest of the week but if I am, I will be back with a picture overload. For a week that only had one thing originally on the calendar, the week is now almost full. Last night found us at our livestock pavilion for the youth fair where, for the first tine ever, we were involved. Grandson #2 decided to raise a steer this year with his school's FFA program. He had spent many hours, for many months-at least twice a day but usually more-out at the school where the agriculture department has a whole new facility with barns, pens, etc. He has worked so hard and become kind of attached to Big Chief.

Last night was the showing of the steer and today will be the auction-not something he even wants to think about.

I am so proud of him. He did this with no real prior knowledge of cattle and their upkeep and put his whole heart into it. Big Chief came in 6th in his division which was wonderful for a first timer. Hud didn't get medical clearance to actually "show" Big Chief because of the size and strength of the animal after his recent surgery but he was able to have a friend show him and Big Chief had on his best manners. I think Hud is already looking forward to this again next year.

The rest of the week is filled with another lacrosse game in Gainesville, a birthday lunch out with a friend, family coming to town to help me celebrate and then the Anchor Club fashion auction on Sunday where grandson #2 has been asked to be an escort of one of the Anchor girls. The escorts are usually senior boys but, following in his brother's footsteps, he has been asked as a sophomore. I'm guessing that's an honor? Lol

In any case, I will be one year older when this week ends so I'm sure I'll be ready for a rest on Monday and I'll be back to share. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.