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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Ollie the Owl

I love owls. Yes, I've admitted it. However, I've loved owls since before owls were plastered all over the pages of decorating magazines or pictured on the main page of etsy.  I loved owls before they infiltrated home decor. Now that they are here, though, I am not complaining.  I have been picky, though. I've been searching for the perfect owl to place on my bookshelf. I wanted a quirky owl that reminded me of the owl from Winnie the Pooh, the tootsie roll pop commercials; basically I wanted an owl that reminded me of my childhood. After years of searching, I finally found him.


I was Goodwill hunting (nice pun, huh??) for sheets a couple weekends ago when on the shelf he called my name.  For only a dollar, how could I pass him up, the perfect owl?

John informed me as soon as I brought him home that he was creepy and weird-looking. I paid no heed, for I knew he was perfect...well, would be perfect once he was introduced to some white spray paint.

Early Monday morning after wiping him down I took him outside and sprayed, sprayed, and sprayed some more. It took five light coats to begin to cover up his natural coloring.  Not to be deterred, I kept on spraying...until I discovered the bubbling. Oh the bubbling.



I blame the humidity. The back of the can states you should paint when the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees and when the humidity is under 80%.  After storming inside and checking weather.com I discovered the humidity was 90%. Yuck.


So, I let him dry to 24 hours, lightly sanded him and tried again.


I just finished up another couple coats of paint and am now moping on the couch.  Ollie the Owl looks worse than Monday.



At least he won't creep John out anymore. Perhaps in a week or so I'll try again.



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17 comments:

  1. Kathryn Ferguson GriffinAugust 31, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    Ah, he's not creepy, he's cute! Great find and great redo. Found you via Southern Lovely. Pop on over for a visit when you get a moment. Tootles, Kathryn
    http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2011/08/goodwill-artwork.html

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  2. KimberlyAugust 31, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    I think he's cute! :) I have always loved owls too, they definitely remind me of my childhood too. When something I paint doesn't turn out right, I just say it's supposed to be like that ;) lol

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  3. AshleyAugust 31, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    well he is adorable even though he bubbled up...same thing happened to me awhile back with a plate...i was painting 3 and only 1 did it...not sure why...it was over 100 that day so maybe that was the reason...saw you on someday crafts...

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  4. Handy Man, Crafty WomanAugust 31, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    I think he's cute. He's got a BUBBLY personality! Thank you for linking to Wicked Awesome Wednesday!

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  5. DawnAugust 31, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    I would just leave the bubbling paint and say its his bubbly personality causing it:)

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  6. ArtfullyJuneAugust 31, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Looks great. I sometimes get bubbling when I paint, sometimes I even try to get it as I like the imperfect, distressed look it causes.

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  7. Darby HawleyAugust 31, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    Love the character of the bubbles. It makes the little guy look old and wise :-)

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  8. Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine StateAugust 31, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    He's adorable, even with his wrinkles!

    Visiting from Someday Crafts!

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  9. Emily @ RemarkableHomeAugust 31, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    Were you using Krylon? That stuff ALWAYS bubbles for me! ANd I live in Vegas where the humidity is very low. I hate Krylon. I am loving Rustoleum. It covers sooooo much better than Krylon and you can spray at any angle, even upside down!

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  10. Emily @ RemarkableHomeAugust 31, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    Were you using Krylon? That stuff ALWAYS bubbles for me! ANd I live in Vegas where the humidity is very low. I hate Krylon. I am loving Rustoleum. It covers sooooo much better than Krylon and you can spray at any angle, even upside down!

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  11. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    Now mr owl is a hoot!...looks great!
    I'm new follower visiting from Dawn @ Creative Cain Cabin.
    ~Jo

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  12. LindsaySeptember 2, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    I think he is really cute! And I love Rust Oleum, like others have said! Thanks for sharing this @ Show & Share!

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  13. Emily WilsonSeptember 2, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    Did you spray a primer first? I love and always use Rustoluem 2x brand. I've got a few owls of my own, which I love! I know what you're saying though...totally frustrating with the bubbling.

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  14. UnknownSeptember 3, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Darn that humidity. I think Ollie is cute. Thanks for linking up with DIY under $5!

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  15. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    I had this same thing happen to me when I was spray painting parts of my car... yes I did said I spray painted parts of my car, HA! ok well they were interior parts, and I was in to that whole... if the car is bright blue on the outside, then anything I can remove and paint on the inside must be bright blue too... in the end it did come out amazing, except for the 3 pieces I painted on a high humid day... had the same thing thing happen, I ended up leaving two and called them "Crackled" and the 3rd I had to sand down and repaint... but your little owl looks great, and now I'm inspired to "white wash" some goodwill finds...

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  16. OnegirlrunsOctober 26, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    the bubbling! yes. i've been a victim of that many a time.

    but you know, it almost works with the owl. it looks like it SHOULD be part of the owl's 'feathers' if that makes any sense.

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  17. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2013 at 5:13 PM

    Regarding your very cute owl project, try mixing any color flat paint with unsanded grout to the consistency of a milkshake -- walla -- you have chalk paint and it will cover anything -- metal, wood, ceramic, steel, I mean anything!!

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