Elk Elk Baby–Spring Pinterest Challenge!

I’ve been into antlers lately…

They’re sprinkled around the house.

I collected them from my Dad who had them in his house growing up.

Then recently I got a very happy call from my Grandma who offered me a set of elk antlers. She got them from Jackson Hole, WY several years ago and said they have been collecting dust for the past couple of years.

I told her I’d love to have them but gave my usual disclaimer that I couldn’t guarantee they wouldn’t be painted. She okay’d it and I started brainstorming!

My first thought was to paint them a gorgeous glossy white but then I came across painted antlers. More specifically, Katherine Nichols at The Painted Antler.

Via

Gorgeous, no? Seriously, you must go check out the eye candy on her site.

Anywho, that’s when I decided I wanted to paint mine in a color-block fashion too.

I brainstormed forever on colors and ended up with Silver, White and Sea Glass green. I used acrylic paint from Hobby Lobby.

First things first I taped off the sections with painters tape. I tweaked them along the way but decided on this general design.

Helpers are not required for this part but it’s always nice to have company.

I went back and forth but ultimately decided not to prime them. I’m glad I didn’t. It wasn’t needed, the paint covered really nicely. One coat would have been just fine, but I put two on to make sure it was a solid layer.

Doing what I love!

Weird stuff…according to David.

I planned to paint the natural sections white but I re-evaluated and decided to leave the small sections original. I wanted it to still look authentic and not store bought.

I bought a $2 wooden plaque from Hobby Lobby and painted it white. I should have sanded the edges, but I didn’t think about it until it was too late. I decided after some googling that a European Mount was how I needed to mount it to the plaque.

I picked up a nut and bolt from Walmart as well as a pack of washers.

Oh and I used the back to test paint colors!

There were two prong like pieces sticking out from those back corners but a few clamps of the pliers and they broke right off. I needed a flat backside to mount it to the plaque.

 

I drilled a pilot hole and put the bolt through….

I then set the antlers on the plaque, and fed the bolt through the hole and put the washer and nut on top and screwed it tight.

Now that the skull was attached to the plaque I had to figure out how to put it on the wall.

But first, and most importantly, where would it go?

This is when it’s handy to have a helper. My hubby held it everywhere I could possibly want it and I took pictures so I could analyze it later.

He loves this part of my projects. Or not.

Fast forward another week and I finally got the balls courage to hang it. That sucker is heavy and more than two feet wide. I had to make sure it was hung sturdy.

Enter, my can-do-anything-Dad!

Every time my parents stop by for a visit, my Dad somehow gets put to work. What starts as a “Hey Dad, I am planning to do X,Y,Z…what do you think?” always turns into a “Let me take a look…oh well here just let me do it!”

Works for me! Thanks again Pops!

So that’s the story of the antlers on the wall.

Oh and we’re not hunters, in fact we feed the deer on the lot next door with corn! We love zee animals.

Taken a few days ago out of our bathroom window.

I do love a good antler decoration though, if it’s given to me I’ll take it.

That peeking stenciled wall always makes me smile.

So what do you think? A little weird? Or right up your alley?!

I really love them and the fact that they’re from my Grandma and a place that’s so special to her, it makes them even better!

PS that giant succulent on the counter is REAL. I l-o-v-e it. For $10 at Home Depot and my added succulent obsession, I couldn’t pass it up!