Don’t throw away that cracked outdated backyard duck! This simple DIY exhibits clear, restore, repaint, and seal a ceramic backyard decoration for a cheerful cottage backyard refresh. Excellent for thrifted backyard décor, upcycled out of doors crafts, and budget-friendly backyard adorning concepts.
There’s something about an outdated ceramic duck backyard decoration that feels immediately nostalgic. Possibly it reminds you of your nan’s backyard, or possibly you discovered one on the thrift store wanting barely unhappy, sun-faded, and one rainfall away from retirement.
However earlier than you ship that little duck off to backyard decoration heaven, let me inform you — these items are sometimes very fixable.
This challenge is all about taking an outdated cracked ceramic duck decoration and giving it a contemporary new life with just a little cleansing, crack restore, paint, and out of doors sealant. It’s a type of satisfying backyard décor makeovers the place the earlier than seems to be a bit tragic, the center seems to be questionable, and the completed duck instantly seems to be prefer it belongs proudly beside the lavender.
When you love simple out of doors craft concepts, this can be a pretty weekend challenge, particularly if you have already got leftover acrylic paints from different crafts. It additionally pairs fantastically with different handmade backyard décor initiatives, like these DIY backyard decorations you can also make or these candy ladybug rock portray concepts for backyard décor.
Why Restore An Previous Backyard Decoration As an alternative Of Changing It?
Backyard ornaments take a beating. Solar, rain, mud, frost, sprinklers, curious canine, and the occasional overenthusiastic gardener with a hose can all go away their mark.
Older ceramic ornaments are particularly vulnerable to:
small cracks flaking paint light colors chipped beaks, wings, or toes water harm inside hole items outdated filth and backyard grime trapped in tiny crevices
However that can be what offers them appeal. A brand-new decoration is sweet, however a rescued duck with just a few repaired battle scars? Far more character.
That is additionally an awesome upcycling challenge in case you take pleasure in thrifted backyard décor, recycled craft concepts, or easy makeovers that use what you have already got. You possibly can even tuck your refreshed duck close to handmade markers like these vintage spoon backyard markers for a beautiful cottage backyard really feel.
What You Want
outdated ceramic duck backyard decoration heat soapy water outdated toothbrush or mushy scrubbing brush fine-grit sandpaper rubbing alcohol or methylated spirits two-part epoxy adhesive toothpick, skewer, or small craft stick painter’s tape or masking tape light-weight clamps, rubber bands, or mushy fabric ties if wanted out of doors filler or epoxy putty for wider cracks or lacking chips acrylic paint or out of doors craft paint paintbrushes in just a few sizes paint markers for particulars clear out of doors spray sealant or out of doors varnish gloves drop fabric or cardboard field for spraying
If you might want to refill, search for outdoor-safe sealants, two-part epoxy, fine-grit sandpaper, and paint marker units on Amazon. An honest pack of paint markers is a type of craft provides you purchase “for one factor” after which someway use on twenty different initiatives. Humorous how that occurs.
Step 1: Clear The Duck Correctly
Earlier than you restore or paint something, give your ceramic duck a correct clear.
Begin outdoors if the decoration may be very soiled. A delicate rinse with the hose can take away free soil, cobwebs, leaves, and no matter thriller backyard particles has been dwelling inside it. In case your duck is hole, tip it fastidiously and let any trapped filth or water drain out.
Then convey it to a piece space and wash it with heat soapy water. Use an outdated toothbrush to wash across the beak, wings, feathers, base, and any textured areas.
Let it dry utterly.
And I do imply utterly. Ceramic can maintain moisture, particularly inside cracks. When you rush this step, glue and paint could not bond correctly. Go away it in a single day in a heat, dry place if wanted.
Step 2: Test The Cracks And Harm
As soon as the duck is clear and dry, examine it fastidiously.
You might be on the lookout for three kinds of harm:
hairline cracks open cracks lacking chips or damaged sections
Hairline cracks are skinny and often nonetheless secure. Open cracks could transfer barely when pressed. Lacking chips or holes want filling earlier than portray.
If the duck is damaged into separate items, do a dry match first. Line every part up with out glue so you understand how the items sit collectively. This protects a number of panic as soon as the epoxy is combined.
Ask me how I do know.
Step 3: Sand Any Flaking Paint
Use fine-grit sandpaper to softly clean any tough paint edges, flaking areas, or sharp ceramic chips.
You do not want to sand the entire duck again to reveal ceramic. The objective is solely to create a clean, secure floor so the brand new paint has one thing to grip.
Wipe away mud with a humid fabric, then wipe the cracked areas with rubbing alcohol or methylated spirits to take away oils and residue.
Let it dry once more earlier than gluing.
Step 4: Restore Hairline Cracks With Epoxy
For small cracks, a two-part epoxy adhesive is often the only option.
Combine the epoxy in response to the packet directions. Use a toothpick or skewer to work a tiny quantity into the crack. Strive to not overload it — you need the adhesive contained in the crack, not sitting in an enormous lump on high.
Press the crack gently closed if wanted and wipe away any apparent extra earlier than it hardens. If the crack wants holding in place, use painter’s tape, rubber bands, or a mushy fabric tie.
Let the epoxy remedy totally. This may occasionally take a number of hours or in a single day relying on the product.
Don’t rush the remedy time. Backyard ornaments stay outside, so that you need that restore to be robust earlier than you begin portray over it.
Step 5: Fill Bigger Cracks Or Lacking Chips
In case your duck has wider cracks, lacking chips, or just a little hole the place the ceramic has crumbled, use epoxy putty or an outdoor-suitable filler.
Press a small quantity into the broken space and form it with a humid finger, toothpick, or craft stick. Attempt to observe the form of the duck’s physique so the restore blends in.
For lacking feather texture, you possibly can gently carve small strains into the filler earlier than it totally hardens. Don’t worry about perfection. As soon as it’s painted, tiny imperfections usually disappear — and truthfully, a backyard duck doesn’t have to appear like it has had beauty surgical procedure.
Let the filler remedy utterly, then frivolously sand it clean.
Step 6: Prime Or Base Coat The Duck
If the unique colors are very darkish, patchy, or shiny, give the duck a easy base coat first.
White, cream, pale gray, or mushy beige works properly beneath most colors. Use acrylic paint or out of doors craft paint and apply two skinny coats slightly than one thick coat.
Let every coat dry totally.
For a traditional classic backyard duck look, strive:
cream physique with mushy yellow beak white duck with orange beak and pale blue bow sunny yellow duck with white wing particulars mushy sage inexperienced and cream for a cottage backyard look duck-egg blue with floral particulars for a barely cheeky trendy twist
Duck-egg blue on an precise duck? Too apparent? Possibly. Nonetheless cute.
Step 7: Paint The Principal Colors
Now paint the primary areas of the duck.
Use a medium brush for the physique and smaller brushes for the beak, eyes, wings, and toes. Skinny coats are finest. Heavy paint can pool in particulars and make the decoration look clumpy.
Let the primary coat dry, then add a second coat for higher protection.
In order for you a mushy classic end, dry brush a barely darker shade across the feathers, base, and wing edges. This helps convey again the element after the bottom coats.
For a extra cheerful backyard look, add tiny painted flowers, dots, leaves, or a gingham-style bow across the duck’s neck. That is the place paint markers are very useful.
Step 8: Add Particulars And Character
The main points make the duck.
Add:
black or darkish brown eyes a small white dot in every eye for sparkle orange shading on the beak mushy gray feather strains little flowers on the physique a painted ribbon or bow tiny dots across the base blush-pink cheeks if you need full cottage-core duck drama
In case your duck has a repaired crack that’s nonetheless barely seen, flip it into a part of the design. Paint a vine, flower stem, feather line, or ornamental stripe over the restore. That is one among my favorite methods as a result of it stops the restore from wanting like one thing you’re hiding.
It turns into a part of the makeover as a substitute.
Step 9: Let The Paint Treatment
As soon as you’re proud of the design, let the duck dry in a single day.
Even when the paint feels touch-dry, it’s value giving it further time earlier than sealing. Sealing too quickly can entice moisture and make the end cheesy or cloudy.
Place the duck someplace dust-free and out of attain of pets, youngsters, and anybody who may say, “Is that this garbage?” and transfer it.
Step 10: Seal For Outside Use
This step issues most in case your duck goes again into the backyard.
Use a transparent out of doors spray sealant or out of doors varnish. Select one thing appropriate for exterior use and ideally non-yellowing.
Place the duck in a cardboard field or on a drop fabric outdoors. Spray a number of mild coats slightly than one heavy coat. Flip the duck fastidiously so that you seal the entrance, again, sides, base, repaired areas, and any uncovered ceramic.
Let every coat dry in response to the product directions.
I like three mild coats for backyard ornaments as a result of they want all the assistance they will get towards solar and rain.
The place To Show Your Repaired Duck
As soon as totally cured, your duck is able to waddle again into the backyard.
Strive putting it:
beside a herb pot close to a birdbath beneath a rose bush on a lined verandah beside a backyard path close to a fairy backyard subsequent to painted rocks or handmade backyard markers
For longer life, keep away from putting it instantly in a puddle-prone space. A small flat stone, paver, or tile beneath helps hold moisture away from the bottom.
When you stay someplace with freezing winters, convey repaired ceramic ornaments indoors through the coldest months. Water can creep into cracks, freeze, develop, and undo all of your pretty restore work.
Further Ideas For A Longer-Lasting Backyard Decoration Makeover
Use outdoor-rated sealant, even in case you used common acrylic paint. Restore cracks earlier than portray, not after. Let every layer dry correctly. Keep away from sealing over damp ceramic. Preserve the decoration barely raised off moist soil. Contact up the sealant every year if it sits in full solar. Use paint markers for small particulars as a substitute of making an attempt to wrangle a tiny brush whereas muttering beneath your breath.
Why This Is Such A Good Backyard Upcycling Venture
This cracked ceramic duck makeover is precisely the kind of challenge I like as a result of it saves one thing from being tossed, makes use of easy craft provides, and provides your backyard just a little handmade character.
Additionally it is very forgiving. In case your portray will not be good, it nonetheless works. If the restore is barely seen, add flowers. If the duck seems to be a bit quirky, even higher. Gardens ought to have character, and albeit, so ought to geese.
It is a pretty challenge for anybody who enjoys budget-friendly backyard décor, thrift retailer makeovers, painted out of doors crafts, or simple upcycled initiatives that don’t require fancy instruments.
And upon getting repaired one outdated backyard decoration, be warned — chances are you’ll begin eyeing each unhappy ceramic frog, chipped gnome, and light chicken on the op store as a possible makeover. That’s how these items begin.
