Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Make Colorful DIY Bookends

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! We’re celebrating with Burger, Clara, each other, and a photography crew in our house for the third straight week. But there’s a twist today: we’re trying not to vomit! Poor Clara got sick the entire evening on Saturday and into the morning on Sunday and now it appears that John and I have the bug… but the show must go on! The good news is that we finished all of our secret projects so we just have to get the last 20 in the can by Friday and we’re done-zo. Oh yeah and we’re supposed to shoot some cover shots tomorrow (ahhhhhhhhhhhh) but we won’t think about that right now. So Happy V-day from our slightly green household to yours! Now let’s horse around a little…

I’ve started to realize that my little self-imposed “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge should probably just be called “So I’ve Been Hoarding Little Animal Friends And Now I Get To Spray Paint Them.” Here’s Exhibit A and Exhibit B. Although, in my defense I’ve apparently been hoarding other things like coat hooks and old light fixtures too, so it’s not like I have a spare room full of ceramic animals. Yet. But I did have these guys that we bought for $2.50 each almost exactly a year ago in Delaware in a whirlwind thrift-store-palooza. And then they sat in our playroom for 12 months. Poor guys.

Horses Before

But I had big plans for these little orange and black sponge painted horse heads from the start. First I gave them a few thin and even coats of primer (slippery ceramic things like this usually do best with some spray primer before any spray paint).

  Horse Bookends Primer

Here they are all primed up and steely gray:

  Horse Bookends Primer2

But spring is in the air! So some happy yellow spray paint was just what the doctor ordered.

  Horse Bookends Sprayed

It took about five thin thin thin coats (more of a mist than a real coat of paint). You really want to just hold the can about 12″ away and keep your arm moving the whole time (there are more spray painting tips for ya right here). After a few days of letting them cure outside in the carport I brought those babies in and put them to work:

  Horse Bookends Done1

Yeehaw.

Horse Bookends Done2

Who’s ready for warm weather and cherry blossoms and birds singing? This girl (points to self with yellow spray painted thumbs).

Horse Bookends Done3

So that’s the story of two $2.50 thrift store book ends that sat in the playroom for a year collecting dust. One more thing off the ol’ list and out of that room. Hurrah! At this rate the room will be empty and ready for a big makeover in about three years. Haha. Kidding. But I still have a ways to go, which is why I love forcing myself to tackle one small thing we week. It’s do-able and not too overwhelming, but it definitely adds up to 4-5 little accomplishments each month along with some other big projects that we’re juggling (like zee book and zee kitchen). Did I just get French for a second? Anyway, the weirdest thing is that sometimes these little projects make me beam the most. How strange is that? It’s the little things.

What have you guys been up to? Are there any other Dude Get On That Already challengers who have tackled things that need to be cleaned/organized/painted/etc? Anyone else trying not to lose their lunch on V-day? Do tell.

Comments

  2. Sami says

    It doesn’t look like the rooster is in the kitchen anymore – in the molding pics. I LOVED the aubergine rooster. I think it would look great with the other colors in the kitchen – but that’s just me. Are you guys not so keen on it?

    Reply

  4. Jordan says

    Will you take Clara with you to Portland? Are you bringing a sitter, or will she be answering questions up on a panel (ha, that would be cute)?

    Reply

  5. Emily says

    I am crazy jealous of your sweet ceramic animal collection. I never find good ones out thrifting, but I’m keeping my eye out! Feel better everyone, my husband had the bug and it was no fun!

    Reply

  7. Heather W says

    Love the horse bookends in yellow! You know what is funny when I firts pulled up your blog I could just see the tip of the first picture and it looked like a heart.hmmmmm coincidence? If you put the bookends together they would be in the shape of a heart! Good Job on Valentines day. Hope you both feel better soon!

    Reply

  10. Alicia says

    Those add a perfect pop of color to the books, great job! And I love how a little addition like that can make you smile every time you look at it. It’s like your brain gets so used to seeing the same ol things and when you add something new it’s like it says, “Wow, thanks!” As a funny coincidence I bought a set of horse head bookends at a yard sale about six months ago and they are still sitting in my closet waiting for some paint. Maybe this post will motivate me, thank you!

    Reply

  11. Jenn A. says

    “So I’ve Been Hoarding Little Animal Friends And Now I Get To Spray Paint Them.”

    The above made me laugh so hard! HAHA I can relate as I have a constant battle with scrapbooking paper and goodies. I do use them and I am a prolific creator of pages and books (I even make custom books sometimes) but I am always drawn to these items and it’s hard to keep the hoarding at bay!

    Reply

  14. Jennifer B. says

    This week I revamped a tray to corral our keys. I sprayed it gray with the same primer & then used mod podge to cover the inside with my favorite hymns from an old hymnal. I also made a trip to Ikea to get some Kasset boxes for storage in our cabinet that I re-did. My project this week will be to fill up the boxes & organize my craft supplies!

    Reply

  15. Lisa in Seattle says

    Ohhh, I hope you can keep the stomach bug at bay. I’m guessing that if it hits you hard, the film crew will desert your house so fast they’ll leave big person-shaped holes in the wall, like a cartoon.

    Only you could be creative and artistic enough to capture the yellow and orange artwork in the mirror, coordinating perfectly with the books and the globe!

    I’m juuuust going to reach over your shoulder and swap the position of “Slow Death” and “Domino” so the left-hand horse pops a bit more. There! Done.

    Reply

  18. Luisa says

    Great Color!
    Question for you … how do you deal with the spray paint fumes? I have a very sensitive nose and get headaches quite easily from chemical smells. I’d like to spray paint some things but I think I would have to put them into quarantine for 6 months or so …

    Also – any plans for the space above the stove in the kitchen? Just wondering … it looks like it is calling out for some lovin’ too.

    Cheers

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, we might hang something there when we’re further into the accessorizing phase (just trying to finish the room with things like trim and floors first). As for spray painting fumes, I do it all outside with a mask on. Not a paper mask, a heavy duty gas mask from Home Depot! It helps so much. Then I let them cure and off-gas outside for a while (maybe 48 hours) and once I bring them in they’re not bad! If they’re stinky they go right back out to the carport or sunroom until they’re odorless!

      xo,
      s

  20. Sheela says

    Great bookends! I’m sorry that you all are not feeling good – I hope you all recover very quickly. Remember to drink plenty of fluids (or eat popsicles, or whatever other method works for you right now).

    Reply

  21. Trista says

    Here’s our “Get on That Already” story…My husband and I are fans of ceiling fans in the bedroom (blame it on the Alabama heat/humidity). We bought a ceiling fan/light fixture in July, but when we tried to install it, we couldn’t get it to turn on. So after 4 tries, we took the whole thing down and have been living without an overhead light in the bedroom since then. On Friday we gave it another try, realized that the remote control box (When did ceiling fans get remotes?) was fried, and finally got the thing installed. It’s so great to be able to turn on the light whenever we go into the bedroom now.

    Reply

  22. Amber J says

    Love the horses! I admire your ability to see beyond the initial item (the orange and black would have turned me off from the get go, but they look amazing in yellow!).

    I spray painted a few frames this weekend and tried my VERY hardest to follow your advice. To the point of thinking out loud “Sherry would be here telling me ’12 inches away!’ and ‘Thin even coats!’.” But the next thing I knew, I was all, ‘I can do this in two coats if I hold it 6 inches away.’ Drips. UGH. Next time, I am committed.

    Reply

  23. Sarah says

    Get well soon Peter”sicks”! (Hey, you give out puns…you’re gonna get ’em back haha).

    I love that you have a pair of horse head bookends on hand. Your hoard > my hoard.

    Reply

  27. katie says

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! I found a cute rhino that I want to spray paint but I am scared to death of ruining it! Can I mail it to you so I know it will turn out pretty?? ;) ha!

    Reply

  28. Connie says

    Dear John and Sherry, Yucks!!!! That darn flu bug hitting you guys too? Dang, how I hate that, 2 of mine came down with it on the same day, were sent home from school,then the twins, the oldest two are still hanging in there tho, TG, and now hubby is a little green around the gills too. I am so glad that both grandmas are willing and able to help out with the sicker ones. How is little Clara making out? I find my youngest(the twins)have a terrible time keeping hydrated,plus the crying, booboo bellies, poor little things.
    Just wanted to say how I love your kitchen, John, that is superior work!
    My girls send big sorries & hugs to sweet Clara, and of course greetings to little tyke Burger, from the guys ;)

    Coraggio Sherry! This too will pass! Bonne chance on the coming trip to Portland!

    Connie

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Connie! Clara was just sick overnight and woke up like nothing happened! So sweet. John’s was from around 3:30 am on to this morning and mine is just gearing up now. Here’s hoping we’re all better by morning!

      xo,
      s

  29. Claudia says

    If you’re feeling barfy, try concord grape juice. Nothing tastes good the second time around but the grape juice is less disgusting than most other things. Unless you hate grape juice. That’s a tip I picked up from a friend in chemo treatments.

    Reply

    • Carolyn says

      When I was little my mom always gave us coke syrup on ice. But I don’t think they sell it in stores anymore (boo) unless maybe at a health-food store. But I’ve let a little bit of regular ol’ coke sit out for a while and go flat (like just a few tablespoons), then put it on ice and sip ever so carefully. Perfect for quenching your throat without actually drinking much. And coke syrup is supposed to settle the stomach. Rest up! I’m surprised you’re still commenting on the blog!

  30. kaylan says

    when i saw the first picture i thought, “oh, i hope they don’t end up white. they deserve a bright, bright color!” so loving the yellow! such a nice pop on the white cabinet.

    hope you’re all feeling better soon!

    Reply

  33. Bonnie Vasko says

    Me, my boyfriend and his 18 month old all had the bug a couple weeks ago. It was enough effort just going to the store for gatorade. I can not imagine having to actually get house things done too on top of that. Good luck, sorry to hear about the bug. The good news is it only lasted 24 hours for us, and the worst was over in 12.

    Reply

  35. Callie says

    Are y’all still writing your time capsule letters for Valentine’s? I remember a few years ago, you had mentioned something like that for Valentine’s day. Just curious as to if you still do it.

    Reply

  37. Brie says

    Painting Question… I am currently in the process of moving into a house where we are going to paint the kitchen cabinets. I wanted to know the “best” place to Mark/number label each cabinet so you know where it goes later. I thought about various sides and edges but do you not sand all the parts of the cabinet to prime/paint? Should I just label with a piece of painters tape and remove when sanding it and when applying paint? Let me know your thoughts! Thank you & Happy Valentines!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just laid them out in a way that made sense to paint them. Then once they were dry we carried them into the kitchen in order, and we knew where they went!

      xo,
      s

  39. Carrie Lou says

    Darling! They look happier!

    Can I ask a favor, though? Try switching the yellow book on the end with the blue Domino book… I think the horse on that end will appreciate it!

    Reply

  42. Krys72599 says

    Now that we finished that fireplace in the bedroom, the other side needs to be done. We picked out some more rustic-looking tile (similar to this but more rough looking – this sample is too straight edged… http://www.realstonesystems.com/natural-stone-products-thin-stone-veneer-ledgestone-terracotta-verde.php) and ordered it so this weekend (4 days off!) we’ll be tearing down sheetrock and putting up tile board and putting up our new fireplace!
    And my second project is a hallway photo gallery – I had one up with unmatching frames but it was too jarring – so I started collecting white frames and I’ll be painting old ones… And I’ll be hanging photos, hopefully starting next week, in our upstairs hallway, and in the staircase eventually.

    Reply

  43. Megan says

    My problem is buying something and then not being able to get on the DIY train fast enough… or the hanging up phase too. This weekend we finally hung my printer’s drawer that I’ve been hoarding (more or less) for over 10 years. While the drill was out, you’d think I’d get the hubs to hang other things that require a screw (we have plaster that’s iffy at best) instead of a normal nail. Like my giant mirror collection that I bought at a garage sale. Three, good, don’t need to be painted, mirrors and yet two are just sitting near where they need to go and one is in my daughter’s closet. That’s my problem. But it’s on my list for this summer!!!

    Reply

  44. Erin says

    I am almost done with my first “Dude get on that already” project. I took an old frame and spray painted in black. Next up is putting three rows of wire across the empty frame to hang 4×6 photos from. And then during the holiday season it is a card holder!

    Thanks for the motivation and I hope you all feel better.

    Reply

  45. Erin C. says

    Yikes…I wonder if this is the same highly contagious, 24 hour bug that had me bed-bound on Christmas and literally got just about all of our family and friends within a two week span–we have affectionally dubbed it the zombie virus, and it’s no joke!! I hope you can take it at least a little easy today, Sherry.

    The horsie-heads look great!

    Reply

  46. Amanda says

    Love those so much! I desperately need some bookends, but I hadn’t thought about checking thrift stores for some reason – I’ll have to do
    that soon!

    My version of your “dude, get on that already” challenge is that I recently started a self-imposed organizing challenge! Every week this month I’ll be organizing an area of my house. I have a bunch of my blog readers joining in, so it’s been fun to follow that and see everyone (including myself!) get organized!

    Reply

  47. Ginny @ Goofy Monkeys says

    I love the yellow bookends! So fun.

    I did have a spray-paint question – I’m going to be doing a lamp and have a color picked out, but it’s only available in gloss and I’d prefer satin. Would it work to do a coat or two of clear satin spray over the glossy colored spray paint? Have you ever tried it?

    Reply

  48. Ryan Elizabeth Voss says

    i love your obsession with ceramic animals. i too have become a little obsessed and have started my own collection. and you make them look sooo pretty. :)

    Reply

  50. Lynn says

    I guess that my “Dudette Get It Done Already” thing has been that I have officially realized that yes it is indeed time to start packing and that we will be closing on our new place in just a wee bit of time now. I put it off just in case ya know? I didn’t set up my sons nursery until I was 8 months along and felt like “Okay you seem to really like me kid and you’ve stuck around long enough for me to feel like you will need a place to rest your head when you get here.” So today after reading your daily posts I am breaking this house down like my last name’s Lee, first name Bruce.

    My best, Lynn

    Reply

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