Transforming Thrift Store Finds

A couple months ago I went back to Texas to visit family and did some digging around in an old house that is on their property. It was actually my great grandparents home but has become a kind of storage unit.

If you need me, I’ll be in here. #pickin #fridayfunday #HeartsAndSharts

A photo posted by Dena (Holley) Stormer (@heartsandsharts) on Jul 24, 2015 at 5:52am PDT

There are so many great things about this house. I mean, I know some of you are looking at it thinking it might look a little creepy, but those of you who are on the same wavelength as me are looking at those fabulous windows, all that wood, the stone steps… Sigh. It’s even better on the inside. Check out these Hop-A-Long Cassidy floors! These floor coverings are so rare and I’m dying to get my hands on it and frame a piece or two.

  Look at these floors!!! #pickin #hopalongcassidy #vintage   A photo posted by Dena (Holley) Stormer (@heartsandsharts) on Jul 24, 2015 at 6:10am PDT

Those you who were thinking “creepy” – you might have squealed at what was under the bed – I sure did.

Creepy baby head under the bed. Also, I think there’s something alive in here with me. #pickin #fridayfunday #HeartsAndSharts A photo posted by Dena (Holley) Stormer (@heartsandsharts) on Jul 24, 2015 at 6:21am PDT

Okay, so, I guess you’ve figured out by now that I didn’t pick up this little guy at the thrift store, but I think you get the point. Transforming and re-imagining thrift store (or road side) finds is super fun and so easy. I think not over thinking it is key.

Here’s what I started with:

Normally this kind of thing is not something I would have in my house – I mean, I’m not a bull rider. And, at a foot tall, it’s a bit too large for a paper weight.  Even though I drove it all the way home from Texas, I gotta admit that I was thinking of dropping it off at Goodwill but inspiration struck while I was waiting for paint to dry. Hold on, that’s a lie – I was watching Housewives of Orange County, anyway – this was quick and easy.

I used foil to create the inside of the balloon, to save Sculpey and to keep the balloon light weight.

I used the Sculpey tools to smooth out the balloon because I wanted it super high gloss. High gloss paint makes every.single.bump show on anything you are painting, so if you’re going the high gloss route, make sure you’ve got a smooth surface.

I used some scrap wire to create the balloon string and poked a hole in the balloon top and then made the little balloon tail, stuck it up in there and then re-poked the hole. I took a pic of the balloon hole but after looking it, it kinda looked obscene. The last thing I need on a blog called “Hearts & Sharts” is something that resembles a butt hole, amiright?

I used some of the other Sculpey tools to make the little pucker marks on the bottom of the balloon, then I baked it according to the directions on the Sculpey box.

I used E-6000 glue to attach the wire to the cowboy and to attach the balloon to the wire. Then I put a grocery bag over the balloon and sprayed the cowboy and the wire with Satin White Rustoleum. His hand is a little bit goopy but I broke his thumb off several times, as well as his whole hand. I’m sure that’s nothing compared to all his other bull riding injuries, though.

After the handsome dude was dry, I covered the cowboy and the wire with the grocery bag and sprayed the balloon with Lemongrass Rustoleum Spray and then followed that with a Rustoleum’s Clear High Gloss Spray.

Now this is something I would keep in my house – the only thing that would make it better is if the balloon was a light and this whole thing was a lamp. Housewives isn’t long enough for all that, though.

Less is more but I keep thinking I should paint one other thing on this Balloon Bronco – the bandana?

For some other Sculpey projects, check these out: