Wednesday, May 29, 2013

DIY Tortoise


I bought a bamboo chippendale chair at the Habitat Restore for $12.00 a few months back. Finally there was the perfect day to spray paint so with some inspirational pictures as guidelines  I sprayed away.  My goal was a faux tortoiseshell look.  Here is my dreamy inspiration:


                                            (These 70's horn chairs cost thousands of dollars.)

 I took black and brown spray paint and began to cover the chair, front and back using the black at the rattan "knots" and the brown between the knots.



I liked working "wet" where I would use both cans darkening the black then hitting the light areas again with the brown and blending them.



Not having any other spray can colors on hand, I took to my acrylic paints.


I love a fat "makeup" brush to brush on color, but fingers worked best. I added gold, orange and a chestnut color between the knots, smearing it all together with my fingers.


Possible finished product....I'm 'marinating' on it for a day or two. The seat cushion is not working for me.


Before I design a new cushion, I need to # 1 have a plan as to wear I'll put the chair, #2 pick out a fabric #3 make or have a pro make a cushion cover. I'll post pictures when that is done.  Not sure if I want to go more "colorful" with higher and lower highlights, so I'm going to live with it a bit til I declare it's "done"!

Update:
I had several sessions adding more color since it was so deceptive bringing it indoors where it looked so dark. Here it is now with more highlights added:





31 comments:

  1. I'm not sure what multicolor highlights are, but I think it looks amazing the way it is.

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  2. I think it looks great right now and I am kind of coveting it.

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  3. This is amazing Nancy, you have a great eye. Can't wait to see what fabric you choose!

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  4. I love this idea! Any fabric is going to look killer with it!

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  5. Whoa, that is a great transformation, you awesome artiste! :)

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  6. OOOH you looked like you were in a shoot out with those two cans of paint!! I love this treatment ... your "highlights" are magnificent!! Go Bold on the cushion!! xo

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  7. Wow Nancy! That is an amazing job. I think you nailed it!

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  8. That's awesome! Don't touch it!
    Cushion? haven't a clue. Something "neutral" so it can move around the house!

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  9. All I can picture is a graffiti artist that goes around town faux tortoising the entire town.

    That's so cool!

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  10. I'd love a bold pattern/colour cushion and the way you transformed the chair is simply amazing!! You are really inventive, and I think it looks great like this, kinda dark and mysterious...:)
    Kisses,
    Ozana

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  11. omg, are you serious! I am jumping up and down over here. i have never seen such a thing. First of all, that chair is amazing. Such a score for 12 bux. And I LOVE that photo of you with two cans of paint in your hand...hilarious! i picture a karate kid type "wax on/ wax off" maneuver with the paint colors. Lastly, that end result came out incredibly! Just wonderful! I love the tortoise effect. I think it looks amazing and I wouldn't touch it! Great job

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  12. OMG....it came out so good...love this chair...I want one for 12 dollars!

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  13. $12?!!!! Lucky lady and chair is lucky too that you have the talent for painting!!! I love your inspiration and I love how it's looking now, but I think it needs MORE hightlights. the cushion will be another story, your right about how to choose the fabric- where the chair goes, the fabric follows. Or maybe not, if you choose texture over color, then that chair can go anywhere! good job and good luck Nancy!

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  14. Nancy

    That chair is perfection personified! I bet your hands look like mine most of the time...paint under the nails...and everywhere else...I am bookmarking this one...amazing!

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  15. Love the chair, love the inspiration and love what you did to it even more. Just wow. Gorgeous.

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  16. It looks fantastic, Nancy!
    I'm in awe.

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  17. such a good find and it looks great! i might do a few more highlights, but it really just depends on the look you're going for. bravo!

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  18. Wow! very impressed.... it looks like a million bucks!

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  19. LOVE IT!! Looks so fantastic...my Re-store has too many toilets and pink tiles....nothing as cool as this!

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  20. I wouldn't change a thing. I love how it turned out!

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  21. Looks amaze balls!!!! Love it!!!

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  22. Oh, Nancy, it's awesome! I wouldn't change the chair one bit. I agree with others, keep the cushion neutral and let that beauty shine! I have a rattan chair also, but it's a different style. Wondering if this treatment would look as good on mine...

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  23. Wow, that chair looks like the real thing. Must of took some coordinating using two cans at once!

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  24. I say don't touch it!! It looks fantastic -- wow -- you have some skills Nancy! I think a blue cushion would be pretty with those wood tones.

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  25. It looks amazing! I love a good DIY. Still deciding what to do with my cane chairs...might have to consider this.

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  26. This is amazing! So, so fabulous!

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  27. This is incredible Nancy! I can't believe this chair cost $12 + paint. Amazing!

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  28. Love the results. I may have to try this on some similar chairs in my attic!

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  29. Fabulous! One of the best DIY's I've seen in a while - great job!

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  30. This is beautiful! I would never have thought to faux tortoise shell anything! Brilliant my dear.

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  31. Awesome! This is why I love this community. If you have an idea, it's a safe bet somebody else more talented did too and they've posted a tutorial. I've got a small bamboo bookshelf for our powder room that needs some tortoise finish. Thanks!!!

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