Faux Coral Centerpiece DIY (Tony Duquette Inspired)

I love the work of Tony Duquette, I always have.  He was an amazing designer who could create magic from absolutely nothing. Definitely look him up if you get the chance.  Today we're taking twigs from the backyard and creating faux coral centerpieces that are perfect for your next fancy dinner party.  When it's not in the center of your table, just put it on the fireplace mantle and enjoy it!

Now get outside and start gathering twigs.... This project is just plain fun.

Tony Duquette also loved malachite 

I decided to have a little absinthe while I was taking my photos (kidding)

Watch the video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Fish tank rocks

Seashells

Twigs

Large plastic lid

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint in Lipstick and Dark Scarlet

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics in Glorious Gold (great stuff, btw)

White glue

E-6000 Glue

Hot glue gun

Paintbrushes

Pearls (optional)

Score your lid with a sharp object like a craft knife

Hot glue your twigs to the base with a generous amount of glue to create your coral

Apply a generous amount of white glue to the twigs with a paintbrush

Sprinkle with fish tank rocks and let dry

Paint the coral with the Dark Scarlet and Lipstick

Using E-6000, glue seashells and pearls to the base of the coral

Paint any exposed lid with the Glorious Gold metallic paint

Beautiful!

Something different........and a little weird

GOTTA HAND IT TO YOU MIRROR

There are a couple of things I like about this photo.  First, I love the white table! How many times do we pass up furniture that would look amazing coated in white or black paint?

I also love those weird little hands sticking out of the mirror!

Seems to me it might be time for a little interpretation. 

Just a thought!

A little heads up, there is a terrific project using a mannequin arm and hand in The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2!

WOW-Butterfly Chandelier

Imagine your little girl or boy (remember, I made this) looking up at night right before bed and seeing sparkling butterflies hovering above her head.  This chandelier is perfect for any little kid who loves sparkles, flowers and butterflies.  I’m pretty sure that includes them all.  In fact, you don’t even need to install a light.  Remember to make magic, add sparkle and always 

Make Your Mark!

Imagine your little girl looking up at night right before bed and seeing sparkling butterflies hovering above her head.  This chandelier is perfect for any little girl who loves sparkles, flowers and butterflies.  I’m pretty sure that includes them all.  In fact, you don’t even need to install a light.

YOU’LL NEED:

Tomato cage with 3-5 rings from a garden store

Sandpaper or sanding block

Krylon Silver Crafter's Metallic spray paint

50 feet of cheap plastic pearls (Got mine at the 99c store!)

12 Feather butterflies

12 Faux flowers

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

E-6000 glue

Toothpicks

Scissors

Wire cutters or heavy duty pliers that can snip wire

HERE’S HOW:

1. Clip the larger rings off of the tomato cage with your wire cutters leaving 2 rings connected by extending wires.

2. Sand the wires to remove any dirt, rust or oil.

3. Curl the wires sticking out from the smallest ring of the cage like you see in the picture.

4. Bend the wires sticking out from the large ring toward the center so they meet.

5. Glue the wires together at where they meet with a big gob of E-6000 glue.

6. Hot glue your strings of pearls all around each wire of the now bent cage.

7. Once these strands are attached, take your E-6000 and carefully dab the glue all along the pearls so they are permanently attached.

8. Cut 6 strands of pearls in 12” lengths and attach each end of the top ring so that you have two drapes in between each wire.

DON’T WORRY! This is the fun part.  Just start draping any way you want to and you’ll see how beautiful it will be.

9. After you’ve attached about 6 drapes, dab on more E-6000 with a toothpick being very neat, but making sure to attach the pearl to the wire with the glue.  

WARNING! Hot glue and metal don’t work well together, so you are just using this to tack the pearls in place while the other glue dries.)

10. Once all of the pearls are in place, spray paint your chandelier with Krylon Crafter's Metallic.

11. When it dries, attach your butterflies and flowers evenly all the way around first with hot glue and then with the E-6000.  I only used 12 butterflies and 12 flowers, but go crazy if you want to and use a ton.

12. OPTIONAL:  Wrap your 6’ Snap-in Socket and Cord set around the top where the wires meet and hang from a hook in your ceiling.  Sweet dreams.

This and 100 more projects in THE BIG ASS BOOK OF HOME DECOR!

  

INSPIRATION! Dark Brown Walls......Blue Accents.

Dark brown walls mixed with vibrant blue.  Wonderful!

 I have a very tiny living room off of my main living room and I'm seriously considering painting it dark brown.  I'm pretty sure the cozy factor will be kicked up a notch if I do.

Did you know you can buy these Cobalt Chinese Foo Dogs on Amazon!  

And how about that beautiful antique mirror?  I'm pretty sure you can find that almost anywhere.

For some reason, I think this mirror I made for THE BIG ASS BOOK OF HOME DECOR, may actually work in my new dark brown living room.  

What do you think?