Making a Wood Barrel Fabulous with Old World Paint and a Secret Bling Weapon

When my lovely neighbour Darlene gave this half-barrel to me, I'm pretty sure I didn't hear what she said about it because my mind was already whirring with the possibilities...

Shall I Hemp Oil it? Add some fabulous stencils? Do I keep it? It would be great to use for off-season boots by the back door? Or maybe by the front door with my shopping bags? I can store potatoes and onions in it. Or what about using it for recycling?

I know you all understand this feeling. New beginnings! All the possibilities! How do you decide?

Before: The endless possibilities of a new project

It works for me to let things brew for awhile. If I jump right in, I often change my mind halfway.

This barrel is such a utilitarian piece, I wanted to bring it to life. I wanted a WOW factor happening. 

I considered the options and then I did my trick for inspiration.

Does anyone else do this?

Enter a random word
like "colour" or  "gypsy"
​into Google Images...
and see what you get!
​

It's total eye candy. Endless scrummy photos of everything from landscapes, fabric, makeup, cars. You cannot help but be inspired!

I thought I wanted green. — until I saw the most beautiful bejeweled sari in turquoise.

So I changed my mind and got the party started with Old World Clay & Chalk Paint in Peacock Feather.

I got to work with my trusty Cling On F40.

If you need help deciding which Cling On Paint Brush would suit your project, read: The Complete Guide to Cling On Paint Brushes.

Old World Paint in Peacock Feather with a F40 Cling On Paint Brush

For the center section of the barrel I watered the paint down by about 50%. This makes painting raw, rough timber easier and allows the paint to get into all the tiny cracks and crevices. I also wanted it to work as a heavy stain rather to create variation. I like that once finished the natural knots and flaws are still visible.

Once the center panel was finished, I had a little fun and dumped Old World Paint's Turquoise Sea into the diluted paint — and changed to a Fusion Paint Brush.

Old World Paint Turquoise Sea and Peacock Feather looking lovely swirled together

No mixing! Just dump the second colour in and paint randomly to create depth and dimension with a wash effect or marbling.

The two colours meshing together in a wonderful way!

When you want a great deal of
variation and dimension,
change brushes while painting, you'll get an entirely different look going from
a Cling On to a natural fiber brush.

Once the base was painted, stained and "washed" the lid was next!

Reminder: I LOVE imperfection.

I did NOTHING to it. I didn't strip, sand, or even clean it. I wanted it to evolve organically I could see greasy bits and writing scratched into the top. How fun would it be to see what would happen?!

Whitewashing the timber lid with Old World Paint in Shutter White

I had to wait a couple days for my secret weapon to turn up.

​Nothing worse than waiting when you're excited about a project!!!

Do you see where this is going?

That beaded sari made me think about beads! I mean...why not?!

Here's a sneak peek:

This barrel-beauty is very likely going to be used in a wet area, so I went with our tough-as topcoat Old World Aqua Sealer.

Let's get to the good stuff . . . 

I had my fabulous niece Esther Orloff, artist and photog extraordinaire, snap these photos for me to make them extra spesh!

It's all here...for the love...
Sada

What We Used:

Cling On Paint Brushes — FLAT

A$25.00 - A$30.00

Hand-crafted in Holland, these brushes minimise brushstrokes and leave a velvety smooth finish. 

Extremely easy to clean while maintaining their shape. Tipped and flagged for exceptional cut-in capabilities and virtually no shedding.  

High quality, no-rust stainless steel ferrule and 100% synthetic (vegan-friendly) bristles for use with all water-based paints. Will last up to 9 times longer than ordinary brushes.

• F30 Brush: Traditional shape, ideal for cutting and painting small areas
• F40 Brush: The perfect all-purpose must-have brush in a traditional shape

A must-have in every upcycler and painters' collection.

TIP:
Do not remove the string-it helps give the bristles direction and tension. For new brushes, pull on bristles to remove loose hairs. Soak for 30 minutes before first use. If you notice brush strokes, there is too much paint on your brush.
​
You may also be interested in:
Cling on Round Brushes 
Cling on Oval Brushes
Wax Brushes

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You May Also Like These Instructional Posts:

Painting Leather with Old World Paint

Creating Weather Barn Wood