I wanted to redo my abused brass auction bookends. I really would have loved to use them as is since I love brass but they were so scratched and used that I decided to give them a makeover. Just polishing them with Brasso didn’t work.
Take a guess on what I used. Alright, yes, it’s another Sharpie marker project. I couldn’t help myself. I told you last week how obsessed I was with the Pinterest sharpie projects (like this, this and this one) but I wanted to put my own spin on it this time. No mugs, plates or Sharpie walls.
After running around the house and using the gold magic marker on some flower pots, tea light holders and frames (click here), I had an idea! Since I couldn’t get the scratches out of the bookends, I ended up priming them with metal primer and then painting them white.
I have been wanting to incorporate a monogram in our house for a long time. My husband and I are fortunate to share the same initials, JK that is. So I decided to give it a try on the bookends. And why not use some Greek keys as well, right?
Gold Monogrammed Greek Key Bookend
I started with making a template in Adobe Illustrator, that I printed out and then copied onto the bookends with transfer paper. If you don’t have Adobe Illustrator, I’m sure you can just use a template that you drew by hand. All you need to do at the end is trace your lines with the Sharpie and you are done.
I think the outcome looks like a million bucks, don’t you?
And the project was so cheap:
- 2 bookends (only one of them got done) for $1 – you could easily make your own bookends from a square block of wood
- metal primer and white spray paint
- transfer paper and pencil
- one gold (oil based) paint sharpie marker
Tschüß
(Youleeya)
Hallo Julia,
obwohl ich eigentlich eher blog lurker bin, musste ich angesichts der Konsalik-Bücher doch schmunzeln und einen Kommentar für Dich da lassen: Bei meinen Eltern auf dem Boden stehen haufenweise Pampers-Kartons mit den Büchern aus der Jugendzeit meiner Mutter – vor allem Konsalik und Simmel…
Viele Grüße aus Schleswig-Holstein,
Katrin
Hi Katrin, meine Mutter sagt mir auch immer das ich die doch bitte mal lesen soll. Habe das aber noch nicht getan und deswegen hat sie mir die auch mit nach Amerika gebracht.
LG Julia
that is so creative and pretty! love it, julia!
Thank you Cassie!
Love it! Now I want to play with a Gold Sharpie! You’ve convinced me 🙂 xo Kristin
Can’t wait to see it 🙂
Such a cool idea Julia! I would use something different for the other side. Maybe a DIY little statue of some sort?
That’s a good idea too, thanks!
I love it! It looks like something expensive you would special order.
Oh thanks so much Lisa, that is so sweet!
Now THAT is a cute bookend! Very different, but I like it 🙂
Thanks Sara 🙂
Love it Julia! Came out great. I’d be inclined to do the other one the same, but I tend to be one for symmetry.
I’m sorry to hear about your cat. I’m a cat person too and know how much they become a member of your family and how hard it is to see them go. I like to think that they end up in kitty heaven chasing birds and sleeping in the sun all day! But its hard nonetheless. My prayers go out to you and your cute old cat.
I’m with you on that, I go for the symmetry most of the time myself.
And thanks so much for the sweet words for my kitty. He is snuggling with me right now and I certainly like the mental picture of him chasing birdies and sleeping in the sun in heaven one day.
Love these! I definitely need to get a gold sharpie!
YEs, you do and I can’t wait to see what you do with it.
Seriously Julia! I KNEW this was your project the minute i saw it! Its just so you! Love the greek key design!
🙂 Haha and thanks so much 🙂
Oh, I love this! I think I vote for matching bookends….but I don’t have strong feelings about it. And I’m sorry about your kitty 🙁
That’s 2 votes for matching bookends 😉 and thanks from my kitty cat
Hi Julia! So glad you liked my gold skull! I absolutely ADORE this bookend, and your blog! Newest follower xo
Hi Tiffany and thanks. I’m glad I found your blog today.
Is there really any better tool than a sharpie?! No!
No, there isn’t. If I’d be stranded on an island, I think I’d have to bring a sharpie 😉
Classic Greek key and in gold – perfection, Julia!! Love your unique idea!
Also, I’m so sorry about your cat, I saw his sweet picture on your sidebar.
Thank you so much from my kitty and me!
I do know what you’re are going through with your kitty and it is hard. So sorry and I’m sure you’re doing the best you can to make him happy.
On another note, I love the bookends – your lines are soooo straight!
Thanks Crystal and yes I’m spoiling him as much as I can.
What a great idea! I love Greek key anything. I’ll be featuring your project on the Worthing Court Facebook page tomorrow. BTW – I’m sorry about what you’re going through with your sweet kitty.
Thanks Suzy for the feature and the sweet for my kitty!
I cried when I read about your oldest baby boy.
Now my tiny, very tiny cottage house has NO room for any bookends…. but wish I did. I have so much that I really NEED to do to my house, but no money.
I love your creativity and all your instructions. I still am dreaming of making a kitty kat run for my 5 kitty kats, but then I bet my four pups would run with them…. they are so funny together.
Kisses and hugs to your ailing fur baby & all the other babies & to you too.
Thank you for the sweet words for my Harry. He bounced back again. This emotional roller coaster is stressful.
That would be awesome if your dogs would run with the kitties in an outdoor run. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about hawks and larger birds trying to snatch them.
I {really} LOVE this! I’m hosting a Sharpie crafts link party on my blog this week, and I’d love it if you wanted to link up! Favorites will be featured in a compilation post next week, & we’re giving away a $50 Target GC and Sharpie prize pack! http://bit.ly/1c0IEvS