While browsing through Sundays in Bangsar Village II, I came across a corner of the store filled with wooden letters made from repurposed wood. As an avid collector of cool “N”s (for obvious reasons), I was quite thrilled to find a single lone N amidst all the other alphabets. The trouble was, it wasn’t blue, but thankfully I remembered I had some paints back home that I could use to get this find just right. So I handed over my money to the cashier and headed home with a little DIY in mind.
Here’s a step-by-step guide of what I did, and what you can do too to uplift a found item or something that needs a new look:
Step 1 : Clean your letter or object thoroughly with a damp cloth and allow to dry. You don’t want any dust sticking to the surface.Step 2 : Using a fairly wide brush, add a coat of paint. I used Martha Stewart’s multi-surface craft paints and they’re really great! Allow to dry.Step 3 : Using a fine grade sandpaper, gently sand away across the entire painted surface, putting extra pressure on the areas where you’d like the background colour to come through a little more. Wipe down with a damp cloth once again when you’re happy with what you have, removing any dust and grains.Step 4 : I repeated step 2 and 3 again so I could have a stronger blue on my letter and less of the background colour showing through for a ‘scratchier’ effect. This step is entirely optional though and can be repeated a few times if you like.Step 5 : You’ll need to seal the surface next and you can do this either by using a spray gloss or lacquer, although be sure to use one for wood or multiple surfaces. I used Martha Stewart’s high gloss finish. You can even use a matte finish if you so prefer. Follow the instructions on the finish you’re using and let it dry thoroughly.Step 6 : Display your final work wherever you please!
I know some may prefer the original to my updated version, but I like it and that’s what counts 😉 Plus, this blue looks much better on my bookshelf anyway and given time and heaps of handling, who knows how cool it might look some years from now?
