August 18, 2011

How To Make And Add Plaster Appliques Behind Knobs


When I saw a piece of antique furniture with a plaster applique behind the knob I set out to see if I could recreate it.


Here was my victim, a very unassuming but "Good bones" piece of furniture


I found this knob at Hobby Lobby and pressed it into clay.
You can find the complete tutorial on molding plaster appliques HERE

I shoved pieces of a drinking straw into the clay to make a hole for the knob to go through


Then poured in my plaster


And Wa La!  


I attached them to the cabinet front with E-6000 glue, then gave it all a coat of heirloom white paint and a brown glaze


Once more
 Before


I really like this piece, I think it is so perfectly imperfect and it looks so old!


Oh look, someone got Fancy Schmancy and actually staged her photo shoot!

I put the cabinet in my booth at Orange Tree and priced it at $55.  

Happy Creating!

54 comments:

Melissa said...

This truely is fantastic. I am impressed! You make it look so easy! :)

kimberly said...

Carol
Another great idea! I bet you won't have any trouble selling your drawered shelf at your booth. I have an old cabinet that is missing its
back drawer plates-so this is what I should try.
Take care-Kimberly

. said...

Oh my goodness Carol...you made that little table look like a million bucks!! So custom looking! :)

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I love how you make your own knobs!

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

If you can imagine it, there's a way to make it happen. That's my motto. You did a great job, and your price is more than reasonable. It should fly.

BECKY said...

Oh. My. Goodness. CAROL!! This is absolutely awesome! You amaze me gal. I am going to have to retry the plaster thingies again! I'll let you know if I make something good!

Fabulous! Thank you once again for sharing your wonderful techniques!

Hugs!
Becky

mizdarlin said...

That is very reasonable-if I were near you I'd probably buy it!
Great job..you always have wonderful tutorials..thanks for this one!♥

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

No one would guess what the original looked like. Amazing transformation.
- Joy

Karen said...

You did an amazing job on this. I love the appliques. Your staging is beautiful too.

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

Wow....what a difference!!! It's probably selling now as I write these comments!!!

Ido said...

I love that cabinet! and just $55, will fly out the door! Is beautiful, thank you for your great tutorials, I really love them!
XXX Ido

Nan said...

Wow, Carol! You keep doing the most amazing things! I love this idea - what a great way to jazz up a plain piece of furniture. You inspire me. I'm looking around my house trying to see what piece I can do this to! ;)

laxsupermom said...

Love this! I love how imaginative you are. What a terrific way to dress up a drawer front! Thanks for sharing.

Nancy said...

Oh I just Love that Chest!! Wonderful Price Carol!! When are you going to start charging us for crafting classes? I want to make sure my Pocket is full. Especially since I was able to get a boatload of really Vintage Books full of yellow/brown pages yesterday at my little Thrift Store. They were going to toss them. I told them call me when they decided to throw away all the crappy Sheet Music too!! Hence I'll be back for your Vintage Book tute later in the week. When I am through felting Wool Sweaters I got for .50 ea. (last seasons rack)~

Huggs, Nancy

stefanie said...

oh, I am clapping for you!!!! that is amazingly gorgeous!!!!

Gina said...

Beautiful! I would buy that cabinet in a heartbeat!

Anonymous said...

Hi Carol....You are one very creative woman to keep thinking up these great ideas! I love how you give old furniture new life.

Ruby Jean said...

Aunt Carol...I say this EVERY time...You are SIMPLY AMAZING... : ) You need to start packaging your Plaster Pieces and putting those in your shop as well.. But then again maybe you already have... : )I still have yet to get the materials to fix that frame of mine..I REALLY need to...

BeautifulDees said...

Lovely blog...I enjoyed looking at it. I really admire such talented people. I have been a bit slow to return to sewing and crafting after this last year...it has been a difficult year, but I neen to get busy again to keep my mind off the pain. Thank you for inspiring.
Love,Debbie:)

Anonymous said...

thats beautiful,, amazing!!!

Laurie Brown said...

COOL!!! Escutcheons are hard to find- what an inventive method of creating them!

Me said...

So beautiful Carol! This won't last long at all in your booth!

Sheilagh said...

WoW you do do some FaBulouS makeovers. I love your blog:)

debi said...

What a creative and beautiful make over!! Love it!

Debbie said...

I think I have found a solution to a hardware problem that I have with some furniture. I love the look. It's so "Frenchy" looking.

Lynn-Teacupstitches said...

Again you worked your magic Carol, and taught us another technique!!
I LOVE the finished results and your piece is definitely worth more than 55.00!! Bet it has already sold :-))
Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Smiles,
Lynn

K @ Aurora Blythe said...

Your before and after posts are simply amazing! so glad I found your blog today. Made me instantly happy in heart! =)

Createology said...

You are truly the Queen of transformation and this piece is fabulous. Your time and talent really bring the best out in your projects. Happy weekend...

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

Carol...you need to write a book! You're amazing! xo

Grammy Goodwill said...

Those knobs are gorgeous. They really transformed that table.

Debbiedoos said...

That is awesome Carol...great price too. I love the plaster knobs.

Ginger Lemon said...

Carol, you are so creative! Good job :)

Rona Gregory said...

Oh wow SOOOO neat! You are such a clever crafter Carol! Oh and guess what...super excited... my lovely boss has just done an order with one of our suppliers who just happens to sell those mannequins and he ordered me one!!!! So I can have a go at making it pretty for my room!

I was just given two chest of drawers to 'do up' and I don't like the hardware at all but can't find anything like what I had in mind so maybe I could experiment with something like this....Thanks for sharing Carol xx

Laurel@ChippingwithCharm said...

Ah-haaa...great idea...looks lovely! Thanks for the negotiating tip...think I'll try it next time. Wish me luck :) Laurel

Rona Gregory said...

haha1 thank you for stopping by mine! Yes I think I now have the work/play thing organized (touch wood) so will be back soon. Just sent off a hefty order to Close To My Heart, yummy stamps and inks! Of course I will show off my dress form! I also just stumbled over your candle stamping tutorial which has saved me money cos I was going to buy some stamped candles on Etsy but now I can have a go at my own... especially with these lovely new stamps! You are very bad for me Carol...all your ideas give me headspin and now I won't get to sleep LOL!

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

Incredible! I'm thinking it's underpriced!

MariaT said...

that looks wonderful!

Debbie said...

Carol it looks GREAT! What a neat idea & how you figured it out! I always get so inspired by your blog & really enjoy seeing what you have to share with us! :)

Jane said...

I would never have guessed that was the same piece of furniture!! The plaster appliques give it such age and character. Thanks for the how-tos!!
Jane

Shabby Jen said...

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo doing this Carol!!! Awesome♪♪♫♫!!!!

Taunnie said...

Wow, how creative. They turned out fantastic. They look like they are original and carved out of wood. GREAT JOB!

anniegaprons said...

I LOVE this one, Carol. Too bad we live 3,000 miles apart. I'd grab this one up in a skinny minute.
oox
Annie

Heart Vintage Design said...

I can't wait to try this! Thanks for sharing : )

niartist said...

WOW! What a transformation. Oh you give me hope that I can do this myself one day!!!! Really, WOW. I'm bookmarking so I can remember this!!

I love transformations! I just turned my secretary into a bar area in my dining room. I really hope you'll stop by and check it out: http://niagaranovice.blogspot.com/2011/08/picture-is-worth.html

See you soon, I hope!
Artie

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

Incredible!!! Thanks for showing us how and for the tutorial-link!!!
Kudos!
M.L.

Jil~Say It With Roses said...

WOW! This is just amazing and look what it did to that piece of furniture.....it turned it into a fabulous little shabby French piece.....I am dying to try this for a small antique dresser I have! I hope they will turn out as beautiful as yours!
Thank you for the inspiration!
Jil

Beverly@southernhomesweethome said...

That is wonderful. That was a great buy, I would have snatched it up for that price.

Vicki said...

Oh, "No you didn't." lol Love the stage job and the cabinet even better! The plaster behind the knobs makes the piece. You are so talented. It looks like a totally different piece of furniture.

Lina - Fancy Frugal Life said...

What a fantastic detail! love the result :)

Barbara Jean said...

awesome. great job!

blessings
barbara jean

can you tell i am catching up??

Kirsty Girl said...

Wow I love the clay moulds! Such a great idea!

Modern Country Lady said...

The plaster idea is genius.The new handles completely transform your chest of drawers!!I love what you did.
xoxo
Bea

Pamela said...

How cool is that! Thanx for sharing!

Amanda@studio1404.com said...

Spectacular! You are so creative!