Even though Rust-Oleum Week is technically over, I still have loads of other cute projects to share. By the way, our big project for a reader-turned-friend is complete and we wrapped it all up the day after I was due! It was the best feeling to know that loose end was tied up with a sweet bow and now I can focus on other things…like packing a hospital bag!
So here’s the thing….today I have another little project for you….and I have a decision for you to make. After today I can go back to “regular” blogging…I did finish the boy’s room and I can totally start sharing that fun journey with you (ya know with intermixed tidbits of our life!) or I can share more of these little crafty projects. I am gonna let you decide! At the end of this post, you get to vote….boy’s room or crafty projects. Either way you will see both at some point…I just want to know what you want first 🙂 Ponder that. It’s the most important decision you will ever make.
Now for the most epic bronze animal hooks that I have ever made. First you need a 1×4 and a drill with a 2 1/2″ hole cutter. Cut a few of those.
Then comes the gruesome part. I do not support animal cruelty by the way….but I am going to tell you to chop saw some animals in half. Just wanted to warn you in case you are reading out of context.
So I found these little plastic animals at my local Kroger. There is a giant bin of them and they are a buck each…even the does are a buck (sorry had to). I have also seen some similar ones at Michaels (not a dollar) and at the Dollar Tree. Basically you want to hold the animal up and pretend like it is a hook on a wall (I found that they work best if you hold the animal head higher than it’s rump) and then mark your line where it is vertical on it’s torso and chop saw at that angle.
Using a 3/4″ drill bit, drill a hole in the center of each wood circle….sand all that really well. Then cut a length off of a dowel rod. I used a 5/8″ dowel and cut them each a little longer than I needed because I tweaked them later.
Now fit the dowel into the animal cavity. Jam it all the way down in there. Then push the other end in the wood hole. The animal should not meet the wood circle because you cut it long right?! Well, the amount that it is sticking out is the amount you need to trim off the dowel. Trim that with your miter saw and then label the end. Each dowel might be slightly different.
I attached the dowel to the wood circle first by using a little wood glue and letting those dry before I stained them Rust-Oleum’s Weathered Gray. Love that stain color.
The animal heads got spray painted with Rust-Oluem’s Oil Rubbed Bronze….then I squeezed a bunch of E6000 onto the end of the dowel before putting the animal on the dowel.
I attached them to the wall with 3M velcro but eventually when I redo the boy’s bathroom, I will attach these directly to the wall using screws.
Super cute right?! And they look like an expensive hook that you would find at West Elm!
Okay….are you ready for your life-changing question….here is the head-to-head choice….
Can I vote for both?
Adorable! I voted. So glad we get to see both as I don’t think I could choose if I had to pick just one.
Very cute project but what’s with the weird picture of the girl holding wood standing in a field?! Lol
I love the small craft projects, but I want to see the boys’ room!!!!!
My Dad swears by E6000. Love how you used it. 😉
Cute project! Just a tip…if you use wood conditioner before staining, the wood will take the stain more evenly. I’m sure since this was a small project, it wasn’t important to take the extra step, but just a head’s up. I just discovered it and can’t believe what a difference it makes, especially for pine.
Gotta ask….are we having the baby at some point or skipping that for the summer? 🙂
These are adorable! Am redoing a bathroom and my grandkids will love them! Can’t wait to see your new little boy!
Love them! And they do look super fancy and expensive!
The animal hooks are fab.
I vote for the boys’ room next, purely for a change of pace.
Wishing you and baby boy #4 a happy and healthy birthday!
Cute!!
I love the small crafty projects but can’t wait to see the boys room! 🙂
I like your small crafty posts, but you always have the cutest rooms for your boys….so I picked that first! But please still do the crafty posts too!
and a birth story! or at least new baby pics, if he every decides to make his appearance
I’ve been a reader for years and I never comment, but I just had to with these! So creative and well done!!!
Again…BRILLIANT!
Thinking of you as your baby #4 gets ready to arrive.
I became a NANA for the first time this week. So exciting!
Saw something like this, maybe at Ikea, but it was the other end of the animal sticking out from the wall.
SO Cute!!!
Love these! So cute!!
Seriously. The camera crew kept asking if I was ok this weekend and I said “oh this?! It’s just a hysterical pregnancy.”
xo kb
Rust-Oleum stains actually have a conditioner in it already. I did do a different approach on these (apply light with a paper towel) so that it showed more personality but if you want a more even coat, follow the directions on the can.
xo kb
Boys room is kicking butt! Can we see what these hooks look like in the boys’ bathroom? They are so cute!
I can’t believe the pace you are keeping! You are past your due date and just rolling on! You are amazing. Keep us posted on what is going on with the Bower Bean! I check your blog for baby updates fairly frequently. Sending lots of good vibes your way.
I’m stealing this idea!
Those hooks are so cool! Will try to make some too!
x
“Does are a buck”! Ha!
Hi katie, I look forward to your posts everyday. I didn’t know if you picked out baby boy’s name, but I thought Hunter would sound great with Bower. Hunter is the name of my 14 year old nephew, my first nephew. He is the sweetest, most loved student. I thought it would sound great with your other boys names. Praying for a speedy and safe delivery.God Bless.
I didn’t vote because I want both!
These are sweet. I’ve been a minwax brand fan but thinking I should try rust-oleum brand…that gray is very pretty.
Please do the boys room post so I can get some cool ideas for making over my son’s room.
Does Weston know that he’s about to have another future wrestling partner or is he too young to understand? Praying for safe delivery.
He understands better now but it definitely took him a while. He now points to my belly and says Baby…and when I ask him if he wants more babies, he says yes sometimes and no sometimes. I think he answers based on how nicely LJ was playing that day 🙂
xo – kb
Well…they aren’t installed yet…because their bathroom is still pink 🙂
xo – kb
haha! That’s the Anthro catalog…it’s funny, huh?!
xo – kb
o.m.g. i am amazed! these are so incredible. thanks for this post!