November 29, 2011

▪Anthro Hack▪ Easy Faux Zinc Letters


Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good DIY! Tis the season to be merry. And boy am I ever! Shortly after Turkey Day, my husband and I rushed to Joann's. While he played with bells, lights, and Christmas trains, I scoured shelf after shelf in search of more cardboard letters. Tragically, the letters for "Merry Christmas" had already been taken.
After countless minutes of begging, an employee finally searched the store's back room for any additional letters, but alas, it was in vain. Black Friday had left hardly any remnants. Down, but not out, I did what any respectable DIY'er would do. I adapted and overcame. Of course the inspiration this "Noel" was Anthropologie's zinc letters.
If you're a long time follower, then you may recall the last time I used aluminum foil and mod podge to create a metallic shine. Next, I dry brushed black paint on top for definition and for imperfections.

 Check out this tute for all the tips to make yours work on the first try.


I used silver, artists' grade, acryllic paint and painted two light coats. You could see cardboard through a little after the second coat. Where are the pics you may be asking? Well, I did this project in between visits with all the family that was in town. Perfect time to start a painting project, right?



After the silver paint was dry, I used a black glaze. You can wipe it on, then wipe it off with a slightly damp cloth. Try to apply your glaze in inconsistent, haphazard ways. You want them to each look a little different in the end. As my Professor used to say in Hawaii "They should be same same, but different."

I like the end result of both techniques. But I like thealuminum foil faux zinc "B" I made just a little bit better. It's really hard to tell that it's foil and it looks legitimately metallic. 


What about you guys?  Do you have a preference between the 2 styles? 


A fun little update- I went ahead and added a "L" so that I can display my letters the rest of the year, too! You can check it out in my bedroom reveal
Have you worked on any fun Christmas projects yet? Let me know.



54 comments:

  1. This is so great! I have got to try this! I love the look you were able to create for much less than the original!

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  2. I love Zinc letters, your's look fab!

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  3. Hi Becca,
    Thanks for all the great comments on my site! Your site is great. Love those letters! New follower.
    Kelly

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  4. Your letters are look really cool and sophisticated!

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  5. Becca I am so doing this one, they look wonderful anywhere you would put them! I am with your professor,"same but different", is a good thing!

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  6. Saw your posts on AKA Design link party and love them all. Now following you! Can't wait to read more.

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  7. Ooooh! I LOVE this!! I am so going to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
    I found you from Flaunt it Friday!

    Jessica
    thevelveteenrabbitblog.blogspot.com

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  8. Love them! I was thinking about making some to say jOY!

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  9. I LOVE the way your letters came out. So fantastic! I'd love for you to link this up to me Feature Friday Linky Party
    http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/search/label/feature%20friday

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  10. Wow! I just so love your style, well done! Can't wait to see whats next.

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  11. Awesome!!!! I love both ways!!! They really DO look like zinc!! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  12. Love this!! I think I'm going to try the foil one...it seems like it may be a bit cheaper too :) Popping over from TT&J! Have a great weekend!

    michelleleeinteriors.blogspot.com

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  13. These look terrific! I made a "B" during the summer (inspired by you), but I STILL haven't hung it up--keep waiting to redecorate a room for it ;-)

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  14. Both techniques are great, but I think your painted version is no ka oi!

    a hui hou, Shelly

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  15. I love how the letters turned out! Now, if we could just learn how to make the cardboard letters!

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  16. I absolutely loved how they turned out I need to make myself a set. I'd love you to add it to my link party at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-party-what-we-wore-and-made_29.html .

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  17. Love it!!! Thanks for linking up!

    Shannon
    www.akadesign.ca

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  18. Wow! That is cool! Great job!

    Kara (your newest follower :)
    www.petalstopicots.com

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  19. The letters look great. Beautiful technique. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Sharon @ mrshinesclass

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  20. Beautiful! Thank you for the inspiration!

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  21. Love them! If you have time I would love it if you would stop by and share this at my linky party starting Wed.

    micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com

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  22. Those are awesome! They look perfect next to that fan too!

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  23. Great! I think they are all awesome, but agree, the foil has that real metallic shimmer. Happy Holidays!
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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  24. Great adaptation! A nice short word too - so you've got more places you can put it!

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a great week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  25. I Love it! It looks so great! I've been looking for a Christmas word project and this looks fabulous!

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  26. I can't decide between the two methods but I'm leaning toward the foil. All I know is I've gotta try this! Now I just gotta find some letters :p

    Dropping by from The Shabby Nest!

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  27. I love them both! Great job! I'm a new follower, and I'd love for you to share this at my Friday link party!

    http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2011/12/shine-on-fridays-5-and-some-fabulous.html

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  28. Those are awesome! I definitely will be making my own!

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  29. I've been dying to make some of these! They look great!

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  30. Oh man ... I've been coveting these at anthroplogie for months! I hope if I ever get around to making them they turn out like yours did!

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  31. Hi there...I have a question...what program do you upload your blog photos into, I like how when you click on an image, all of the images from that post are presented on a black screen, almost a gallery feeling. Thanks Suzi

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  32. You are featured on New Nostalgia's Anti-Procrastination Tuesday! Thanks for linking up!

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  33. I adore the NOEL letters! I like the painted ones best (from the photos). I've been wanting to do this forever and finally have a word to use it on... HOME ... for my daughters first house!

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  34. Oh wow I really like this. I might have to try it out! Thanks

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  35. I really really REALLY like the outcome of these letters. TINfoil! Amazing. :)

    Shared on FJI Facebook and pinned for SNS 112. :)

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150513948506141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater

    Donna

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  36. Great idea! I have modpodge and I have tin foil. Finding the letters will be difficult for me too!

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  37. These look fabulous! I wanted to get some of these letters for my son's room - so glad that I can make them for so much cheaper! Thanks so much for linking up to The Creative Spark. I'll be featuring these tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
    Jenn ;)

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  38. Oh my goodness, your faux zinc letters are AMAZING! I'd be thrilled if you popped by and shared this at the Head to Head Showdown, going on right now at www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com Feel free to link up a few of your favorite projects! ~Jen

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  39. LOVE!! Well done~ thanks for linking up at FNF! :)

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  40. Those are awesome! Who would've thought?? :)

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  41. Love these thank you for your awesomeness! xoxo

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  42. Becca,

    These are awesome and I am so glad you linked them up to the party! I am pinning these :)

    blessings,
    karianne

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  43. Awesome! I really like the "letters" look and just bought a "B" at Hobby Lobby for my office to represent the "B" in BELLA.

    Now I wish I had seen your tutorial! Great job.

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  44. This are amazing!

    Thanks so much for linking it up at our "It's a Cinch" party!

    :)

    Linda
    www.itallstartedwithpaint.com

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  45. I'm absolutely trying this technique to create zinc letters. Or zinc anything! It looks so realistic. I'm also planning to try your "recipe" for chalkboard paint to make over and old table. Every time I visit your blog, a new project gets added to my to-do list!

    Kelly

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  46. You know I love this! Thanks so much for sharing it at our party. :)
    Karah

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  47. These are amazing!! Gotta love a good anthro knockoff!

    So glad you shared at our Cinch party.

    Kelly

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  48. Love those NOEL letters! Between your 2 "faux metal" projects and another I saw, I'm really wanting to paint something faux metal!

    When did you live in HI? What island? I lived on Oahu from 05-07.

    --Katie

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Thoughts? Questions? Opinions? Let's talk about it!