Well DUH!

I decided to use some lettering to up-cycle (my new fave word for turning old junk into super cool crap) some vintage school chairs and make them one of a kind.  I stenciled the word "sit" on them.  My husband's synopsis of this idea was "duh, what else are you supposed to do in them?"  As usual he thinks 95% of my ideas are stupid, but typically his disdain means I have a great idea on my hands.

I bought these chairs months ago (6 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days says the hubby).  I loved the vintage feeling, and the practicality of stacking chairs.  I found them on Craigslist and bought 11 chairs for about $20.  The seller tells me they were used in a classroom in Fort Knox, KY at the army base there.  I set up the deal about 10 miles north of Fort Knox at a gas station parking lot.  I don't make this crap up.

Based on the wear, I think they are from the 60's-70's.  Been pondering what to do with these gems.  Several have found a home in my daughter's craft area, but they could easily be used as dining chairs or a chair for a desk.  I'm excited about about all the possibilities - lots of fun paint treatments planned!  So, here is my first go.  I'm a big fan of using words on furniture or on walls.  So here's what I came up with:

BEFORE

   

AFTER

   

I used a stencil made from letters from a stencil letter pack I bought at Home Depot. I just taped the letters together to keep them straight:
   

   

Then I sprayed a very light coat on one of them which turned out like this:

   

I sprayed the other one more heavily and then sanded it out when still a smidge wet:

  

I can't decide which one I like better, but if I had to pick, I like the roughed up one, just because I can imagine it being worn down over time (from all the booty action) and getting naturally worn like that.
What do you think? 

If you just fell in love you can buy these at the Flea Off Market in NuLu (Louisville) in September!  Or make me an offer I can't refuse now!  I can't wait to unveil the rest of my chairs.  The possibilities are endless!

TAGS: vintage school chair, SIT, repurpose