A spring mantel from up-cycle garage sale finds!

There is nothing like a refreshing night of up-cycling, especially when you are happy with the final product.  

I have really discovered my love for garage sale treasures last year, I am SO anticipating this years garage sale season!  But the crazy thing is that I am still working on some projects from last years garage sale finds....  I found an oar and picked it up, because I am so so so in love with anything that reminds me of the lake....I love the water and the fun you can have in it, the calm and peaceful feeling, really, let me just be honest I love everything having to do with my little Hamburg Lake (I am so so so sad about leaving in a few weeks).  Anyways, back to my projects:

These were a thrift store find, I painted them and was enjoying them {see pictures here} but I couldn't stop thinking they weren't distressed enough for my taste.

So I decided to try out some glaze....I have have never glazed before and I am definitely NOT a pro, in-fact I am not sure if I even did it correctly, but I was happy with the results.  I just tinted the clear glaze with black paint, made sure it got in the all of the little distressed details of and then rubbed it off with the an old cloth...

I started with white paint and then discovered my new best friend the sandpaper holder....wow is distressing easier with that!!!

Finally I added my most favorite summertime quote using the technique I used here.

I am linking up here.