June 13, 2011

✥DIY Anthro Zinc Letter w/Foil✥


A few little issues at hand. We finally had a sunny afternoon- but alas it was too windy to spray paint off my third floor balcony. I currently have 5 unfinished projects around the living room and kitchen. This drives me crazy. I'm a "1 and done before you move on" type a gal.

Now, onward to a real, live, actual completed project.
Can you believe it?

Typography has been huge for awhile now. I bought this 12' cardboard B from JoAnn's almost a month ago. I originally planned on doing a moss covered PB inspired  look, but after sitting with the idea for awhile it didn't feel like me. I think I like to look at other people's, but it's not really something I love.
Does this ever happen to you? It's hard sometimes to see all these good ideas and then edit them down to what you would chose if you had to pay full price for it.

Longest intro ever, but I decided I wanted a metallic letter. Something that looks like steel, not fake paint steel. ;) Anthro has these sweet Zinc ones- prices range from 18-98 bucks.

There are several tutorials online for faux zinc painting-mostly a black or blue base with silver paint on top.

I wanted to experiment with something else.
I used aluminum foil, putting shiny side towards the cardboard and mod podged it on.

For a good final result you want to do the edges first and you want to make sure they are well adhered- no bubbles!
 As you can see, I did the top first and then the edges and did NOT like it. Fail!
So plan B- edges first, then top.


First: Put a sheet of foil, shiny side up, on a cutting board, then put the letter on top of that. Then cut around the letter with the knife. Remove the letter and carefully finish cutting through the foil wherever needed. Make sure you use a new blade and use a ruler for the straight portions to get a clean cut. You don't want the foil to crumple. I have heard from others that if you handle the foil a lot or if it's not cut out carefully then the end result won't look right.
  Once the foil letter is cut out, it can be laid on top of the cardboard letter. I sealed it with a coat of mod podge over the whole thing.

Note: if the aluminum foil was wrinkled from handling it or from cutting it out your results will look like an aluminum foil letter! NOT a zinc one!

I had some wrinkling when I applied the mod podge, a similar effect to when you use it with paper. This light wrinkling is fine and adds to the textured look of real zinc.

After the Mod Podge I wish I could say I was 100 percent stoked with the result, but at this point I thought it looked too plain.

I dry brushed a little black paint on- and then kicked myself. Did I just end up faux painting after all that?
Yuppers.
This is the end result.
Now I'm happy with it- amazingly, it does look like metal. That layer of mod podge changed the feel of the aluminum foil tremendously- in a good way!

If you go to the Anthropologie site and click on the zinc letters, then zoom in you can see the texture is very similar.

Yay!

Thanks for looking!
Can you believe all these features? I feel so lucky!


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81 comments:

  1. It looks great. I picked up one of those letters yesterday at Joanne's but could not think of anything to do with it - so I put it back. (By the way, they're having a BIG sale.)

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  2. Love this! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Neat, easy, cheap! What is not to love! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. What a really good idea! I like the way it looks on your table. It's such a pretty vignette!

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  5. Wow! who would have thought of foil? I think it turned out great!

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  6. This looks great! I'll be bookmarking this idea!

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  7. oh this is fabulous! I never would have thought to use foil, and...I've been wanting one of those anthro letters for a while now. I'll definitely have to give this a try! I'm visiting from Tip Junkie- hope you're having a great day!

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  8. I was just in Anthro yesterday looking at the zinc letters and was thinking I could make these and Tin foil came to mind for me too! Thanks for the great tips!

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  9. That looks totally awesome! Would never have thought to use foil to create that effect.

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  10. Great idea! I love the "B" as well as the cute wreathe. So fun! I found ya from Vintage Wanna Bee!

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  11. Bec, love the "metal" B!!! So clever! BTW, love the display you did w/it, mirror, wreath, photo,etc. Very cute! Can't wait to see it in person...love,Sue

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  12. Love it! It looks amazing. I bought some things (spray paint and such)the other day to try to make an anthro look-alike too...never thought of using foil. I am going to try this out and can't wait. Thanks for the great idea!!!
    -emily
    nestnestingnested.blogspot

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  13. This looks so nice! I found you on Simply Designing. Creative people like you inspire me so I decided to follow your blog. I hope you will follow me back http://talesfrommyjournal.blogspot.com I can be found in facebook too http://www.facebook.com/DeniseMartin.LillaRose and twitter @DeniseLillaRose If you like/follow me there I will do the same for you. When you stop by my blog, please check out my kind of fashion (hair jewelry).

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  14. That looks great! I Love big letters!

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  15. Wowza! That turned out so lovely - No one in a million years would ever guess aluminum foil. Nicely done ;)

    MJ @ MD School Mrs.

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  16. Love this! Your end result is great - I always end up faux painting too!

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  17. turned out so great!!! i love it:) big letters are so fun!

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  18. You did a great job with a little tinfoil and some mod podge! I love this! I want one for our house now too! I shared your blog and this post on my Friday Favorites today. I hope some readers will come check out this tutorial and discover your great blog! Have a fabulous weekend!

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  19. At first I thought you wrote aluminum leaf, but then in the picture it was clearly aluminum foil. I misread. But you're GENIUS! Fabulous results - love it :)

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  20. The modge podge kind of made it look weathered. Looks great!

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  21. Awesome! How the heck did you keep your foil from getting all wrinkly?? Did you use heavy duty foil??

    Love the effect the modpodge gave it! Too cute!!

    Found you on Show & Tell this morning.

    Come visit me!

    Hugs ~~ Suz

    inspiringcreativeness.blogspot

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  22. Very Creative! I love the look of it, modern and comfy for a home! Thanks for linking up at Unwansted Homemaking.

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  23. Your letter is so cute!! Although I'm a little bias since you used a B which is my initial. It turned out really cute though!

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  24. You've heard it a zillion times from the above comments, but I had to tell you that I just love the "B"! It is gorgeous. Really like the fact you had an idea and realized it just wasn't YOU. Stick with your gut and you will make inspiring pieces like your new "B"! I bet stores all over are running out of tinfoil thanks to your handy tutorial! jules

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  25. Very cool! I wasn't in love with the silver paint versions, either, but this looks amazing! Well done!

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  26. This looks wonderful! I'm going to try to see if I can pull this off sometime. Awesome project! I'll be featuring your LETTER at this week's Terrific Under Ten Tuesday!

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  27. Great idea using good old tin foil! Looks fabulous!

    I would love if you came over and linked this project to my weekly Round Tuit party at:
    http://jembellish.blogspot.com/
    Have a great week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success

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  28. I love it! I've come across your blog a lot lately..definitely a follower!

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  29. Thank you so much for participating in our linking party.
    you are featured!
    http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/06/beautiful-furniture-redo-pop-up-cards.html
    Maggie

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  30. Oh my gosh it turned out AMAZING! Awesome job. I saw this up on Running with Glitter's Link Party and immediately had to click on it!

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  31. Super fabulous!! Love them!! Thanks for the tutorial!!

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  32. Oh emmm gee... I LOVE these. Anything Anthro is fab, but I need all kinds of ideas to copy because the store is so dang expensive! We have one opening soon here, and I can't wait to go spend an afternoon there to myself. Ha! The book wreath next to this is so neat too...love it!

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  33. very cool. I never would have guessed it's aluminum foil!

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  34. Monograms... swoon!!! :) Great job!! I will def be trying this! Thanks for sharing!

    We host a linky party "Strut Your Stuff Sunday!" We would love for you to link up! We appreciate it!!

    Kristine
    www.jandmseyecandy.blogspot.com

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  35. I like the old patina they have nice job.
    Lisa

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  36. This looks wonderful! What a great idea. Much less expensive than silver leaf I am sure.

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

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  37. Great idea. Also want a zinc letter and I know what you mean. So expensive. Thanks for the idea.

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  38. WOO HOO!! So lovin' this idea! Who'd of thought? I'm picking some letters up my next trip to JoAnne's. Thanks for the EASY idea;)

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  39. OMG...just stumbled on your blog...love the "B". awesome idea. i collect "B"s (last name starts with B.)

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  40. Wow! This is a great idea! I actually have three of the letters from Anthropologie, and you're right, this looks JUST like them! Much cheaper too!
    Thanks for sharing your idea with us, love love love it!

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  41. Thanks so much! Just made my own. I can honestly tell my husband I saved him about $295 as my letters only cost $3! Love it!

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  42. It looks fantastic! Awesome job! Thanks for linking up to this week's Catch a Glimpse party.

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  43. WICKED! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!

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  44. I love the letter and the green elephant!! Both are great for decorating! Thanks for the tutorials!

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  45. That is just plain awesome! Great tutorial, adding it to my list of things to try on Pinterest.

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  46. That's awesome! I'd love to have you link up sometime: http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/time-to-shine-link-party-no-24.html

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  47. This turned out great!!
    Thank you so much for linking it up to {nifty thrifty sunday} last week as well!
    xoxo,
    Vanessa

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  48. Looks very professional! I love it. :D

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  49. uh yeah thats totally awesome that youve gotten featured all all of those places! you did an amazing job :)


    the style projects

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  50. So fabulous! I bombed when trying to use foil and modpodge once upon a time, but I recently did a project with wallpaper paste and foil that I liked...think I'll use your inspiration to finally do something with a giant "B" that's been in a corner of my room for about a year!

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  51. Thank you for doing the work for us. It looks great!

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  52. Looks just like the real letters! Great knockoff!

    -caroline @ c.w.frosting

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  53. I like it! Thanks for showing how you did it.

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  54. I really love it. I was going to use mirror pieces, but too much work & maybe blood!! I'll be trying this for sure.

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  55. Very Cute, great idea! I just covered a nightstand in foil via vintage revivals. :)

    http://domesticcharm.blogspot.com

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  56. I'm in love with this! I bought an actual Anthro letter for my son's nursery and I've been wanting another one for our entryway but I just couldn't stomach the price, I'll have to try making my own. I would love for you to link it up at "Do Something Crafty Friday": http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com/2011/09/do-something-crafty-friday_09.html

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  57. Looks like zinc to me! How smart of you to have a knock-off Anthro off so well!

    I am so pleased that you linked to Potpourri Friday. Your participation certainly makes the party more successful . I appreciate you and hope you will make this one of your regular stops each week!

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  58. That looks fantastic. A little time, a little fiddling, and it cost you a whole bunch less than the store-bought variety! :)

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  59. Wow! Looks so awesome!!! Thanks for linking up to Things I've Done Thursday! Hope you'll join in again this week!

    Melanie
    bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com

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  60. Love all your projects you linked up this week at Craft and Tell! You have great taste! Thanks for sharing : )

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  61. I noticed a while ago that foil that I used to cover a pudding basin prior to steaming it for an hour, looked very much like zinc and not at all like foil, when it emerged. Maybe I'll experiment with boiling foil for a while!! :)

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  62. I came to your blog via Pinterest and have been here for so long and loved so many things that you do that I had to start following you!

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  63. i just love this. ive been so obsessed with letters recently. this is beautiful, and you are making me totally want to try this

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  64. Very Clever! I'm pinning this. Little Bit from DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

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  65. Love this project, and I followed your method to create a project of my own! Check it out over on my blog!!

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  66. OK, I canNOT find a carboard letter!!! I looked at JoAnne's online, called them, can't find it!!! =(

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    Replies
    1. Mama2two, they have them at Hobby Lobby. Michael's should have them as well.

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  67. What a great idea! It looks great. I'm your newest follower via the link party at 504 Main. Megan

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  68. what a fun project. Thank you for sharing with us. Hugs and happy weekend wishes. P.S> Happy St Patty's Day

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  69. Thank goodness you did a "B" it'll go great in our living room...Thanks for linking up to the Repurpose-Remodel-Reveal Transformation party!
    Whitney - The Rooster and The Hen

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  70. I love this, I'm going to make it! I'm a new follower and I'd love to have you stop by my brand new blog and follow too:) My first link party/give-away is going right now and ends tonight at midnight. I hope you'll stop by and link up!

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  71. That is awesome! Yours looks better than the inspiration. I like the depth of yours too.

    I just did a faux galvanized finish that I posted last week you might like. Have a great week!

    Deborah

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  72. This looks great, I love all your typography projects! Thanks for sharing.

    Kelly, herringbone lane

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  73. This does look awesome! I love the way it turned out!
    I am getting close to doing a faux metal project.
    Glad to see that you used aluminum! I'll be keeping that in the back of my brain!

    Thanks for linking it!
    --Katie

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  74. I'm a new follower, love your blog! This is a great project, did you modge podge the foil shiny side up? I've been looking at the zinc letters and been wanting them, but didn't want to spend that much. I'm looking forward to doing this,

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  75. wow great use of modge podge! another fab idea my friend!

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