Trusty Steed

This project was a LONG time coming and I had no original intentions of it taking so long. If I wasn’t just as stubborn as this horse I would have thrown in the towel. I bought this beauty from craigslist for $10 months ago. The lady was concerned I wouldn’t want it because it had a small dent in the seat! Psh! Little did she know that I love the worn and used look! It just makes my distressing job easier! I was like a kid in a candy store I was so happy to find it. But we all know I do not care for blond wood and wanted it to be a bit more antiqued looking.

So I took off the bridal, ears and screws and put them in a baggie in a “safe” place. And then taped off the hair and eyes and cleaned it really well. I painted the first coat of my favorite spray paint color “Catalina Mist” and let it dry over night.

I started applying the second coat the next day and the paint started crackling! This would have been fine except I didn’t prime it a darker color and “distressing” it would look stupid with blond underneath. (mistake number one – not priming!) So I used paint thinner and sanded down all the crackling parts and put the dang horse in the garage for a month or so! I was so irritated.

(No worries, I wear a mask EVERYTIME I paint something. It’s irratating, but I also can’t let other people do my spray painting for me)

When I finally felt like tackling the beast again I bought brown primer and painted over the turquoise. [I know I should have sanded the entire horse, but I was too angry. This $10 horse had turned into a nightmare] Thankfully the primer went on nicely!

 

Then two coats of the “Catalina Mist”. (I ended up spending more on spray paint then I did on the horse!) I took a light weight sandpaper and distressed the edges a bit. And lastly I put a coat of Deft Clear Wood Finish to seal it.

 

Once the horse was ready to be put back together I could not find that baggie with the screws and ears! That “safe” place was no where to be found which put my project on hold, AGAIN! Finally I got around to getting some small screws and making a new bridal and ears with some pleather I had laying around.

   Now my little princess has a trusty steed!

  

Funny story: I was working on this horse and the Mister asked me how old the babe would have to be to ride it. He then asked “3 months old?” I laughed so hard. My dear sweet husband does not have a clue. I told him she is more than welcome to ride it at 3 months with his assistance. ;)