That’s right… I like skulls and I like to craft. And I especially like to hunt for bargains, so when I can combine all three into one fun project.. my day is made! For this project I made use of my bottle of Mod Podge to create a Metamorphic Skull Metal Wall Hanging….
I found this pineapple print metal wall hanging at Goodwill, and immediately loved the shape of it. And yeah – it doesn’t hurt a bit that it’s also a candle holder!! I see metal wall hangings in thrift stores all of the time… so if you’re out and about thrifting… any metal decor with a flat surface will work for this project. I’m obviously not one to hang prints of pineapples up in my house… but these are the kind of thrift store pieces that really allow you to think outside of the box and get creative. Almost anything can be transformed with a can of paint, but I wasn’t going to stop there!
I just had to find the perfect image. I’m a huge fan of Metamorphic Skull artwork, and I knew that would be a good fit for this piece, so I searched within Google images until I found one I liked. You can obviously choose any image that works for you & fits your piece.
Now let’s get started…. Supplies you’ll need:
- Metal Wall Hanging
- Paint
- Paint Brush
- Printed Image
- Mod Podge
- Foam Brush
- Stippling Brush (as needed – see step 8)
1. For the image.. you can either search online like I did (just crop the image to fit your metal decor, and print… It shouldn’t matter if you have an ink jet or laser printer). Or, if you have an image on hand, like a magazine tear or a postcard… those would work too! NOTE…. when selecting an image, keep in mind that a printed black may not match the black paint (unless you have a rockstar printer)…. For my image, I changed the Image Mode to Greyscale, and increased the Contrast until the black was deeper & darker. We’ll work on blending the image in with the paint in a later step.
2. Clean & sand your metal piece as needed
3. Paint… Make sure to use regular paint, brushed on with a paint brush. It’s fine to use a spray paint as a primer, but the final coat should be brushed on. I always feel like painting with a brush gives a heavier coat, which is important when you’re working with metal, because paint can easily scratch off. You’ll also need to stipple the paint onto the image in one of the last steps, and you’ll want the paint to match. I used a flat black spray paint as a primer, and a flat black interior/exterior paint as my top coat.
4. Using the foam brush, coat the back of your image with Mod Podge and allow to dry completely.
5. Coat the area that you will be adhering the image to with a layer of Mod Podge, and while sticky, carefully place the image on the metal. Do your best to smooth out any bubbles as you place the image down. Allow to dry completely.
6. Apply a layer of Mod Podge over the image. Allow to dry completely.
7. Apply a second layer of Mod Podge. Allow to dry completely.
8. Using the stippling brush, apply the paint around the edge of the printed image to blend in with the painted metal. Skip this step if you want a hard line.
Now you have your own work of art!!
I’ve mentioned before that I’m working on decorating my office… it’s more like a complete remodel… but part of my plan is to create a gallery wall. I love the idea of mixing pieces like this with frames when creating a gallery. I hate when everything is too matchy-matchy so combining different methods for displaying artwork makes for a more interesting gallery.
Stay tuned for the office remodel! I’m hoping to start that project in the near future! My husband is tired of me spreading out all over the dining room table….. and the kitchen… and the kitchen table.. and the living room… and the garage ….!!
If you like creating unique pieces for your walls, I made this DIY Black Upholstered Memo Board for my office. Or perhaps you just enjoy creating unique accessories for your home? You may enjoy this DIY Ouija Board Serving Tray Cricut Tutorial or this DIY Upholstered Stool.
Awesome thrift store find! I love the finished piece, too! I’m a big fan of metal art, and I have a similar story. I had been looking for a metal-framed mirror to hang in my bedroom. I didn’t want to spend big bucks on it and I didn’t want something mass produced. I found the perfect piece – also in Goodwill! It was less than $5. The metal frame has moon and star shapes bent into the metal. It’s OLD. I cleaned it up and hung it and am IN LOVE. From a fellow metal art enthusiast!
Hi Adrienne! Thanks for the comment! I love your story! I’m such a sucker for great thrift store finds! It’s amazing how much cool stuff you can find when you least expect it! Did you see the book stand I made over? It’s another fun metal project.
I took a small break from all of my trash to treasure projects while I focused on Halloween, but with the holiday almost behind us, I have an entire garage full of thrift store scores just waiting for a makeover! Be sure to check back for more projects!
I definitely will be following!
Thanks Adrienne!!!