Umbrella Table to Clock

I'm still on my semi-August recess.  Here's another popular post from 2011.


I've had this very weathered umbrella table under the pergola in my yard for a while. 

We've actually had a few days of warm weather and I started thinking about working outdoors instead of inside.   While I was looking at that table, I decided that it very easily could become a clock.  The first thing I did was to divide it into quadrants and then divide those quadrants evenly for the clock numerals.  I put a piece of 1" painters tape in the 12 locations so the numerals would be equi-distance from the edge.

Pretty shabby table, huh.

Next, I used a purchased stencil to outline the numerals with pencil.  I wanted to be sure of the locations of the numerals before I actually added paint.

Once I had the numerals where I wanted them and checked that I hadn't reversed any I's,V's,or X's, I assembled my stenciling tools.  It's soooo important to use a dry brush. This prevents paint from oozing under the stencil.  I simply dip my brush in the paint then tamp it on a paper towel until it's dry enough to begin. 

Here's the table with the numerals.  I'm not a real think it through planner when it comes to projects.  I just start and then improvise.  My gut told me that I needed something else.

I cut a circle from cardboard, traced around it, then taped it off and used my stencil brush tamping method again to fill in the circle.  Tamping with a dry brush creates a very nice mottled look.

Hmm, still not quite right.  I went looking for my gold craft paint.  I actually found some and decided to add some gold trim around the center circle and the outer edge.

I think I'm done except for sealing my work.  What do you think?

ALL READY FOR DINNER UNDER THE PERGOLA