Make it for less: checkerboard stag

OOoooooo do I love me some MacKenzie Childs. Girl, I can’t get enough of that Courtly Check in my life.

I’m dying over this holiday moose. Isn’t he gorgeous?

I’d hang that beauty out all year. My kind of hunting is finding a deal on that for my wall since I’m not spending $195 for him.

During my quest for a similar version, I did find his even larger harlequin cousin on Grand In Road. Even though he’s also quite dapper, he’s a whopping $249!

SMH, not happening.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I love that moose. Thankfully, I’m a craft hoarder and had purchased a cardboard, unfinished mini stags head from Hobby Lobby a year ago — I’ve been just mulling it over, trying to think of the perfect project for it. This was it. I know it’s not a moose, but I love it just as much.

Here’s how I made my version of this checkerboard lovie.

Start by spraying the whole thing with white paint. I used just regular primer spray. Then I penciled in my lines for the checkerboard.

Next I took some metallic colored sharpie pens (blue, green and a yellow paint pen) and randomly went over a few of the borders. If you look closely at MacKenzie Childs iconic Courtly Check, they have color streaked lightly through it. This isn’t nearly the same as the famous brand obviously, but it makes its a little unexpected and fun. I also painted the stag’s head with metallic gold paint.

Next I painted in the black checkerboard. I have to say, those antlers really got in the way. I don’t have a steady hand as it is, so contorting around the horns with a brush wasn’t the easiest. From far away, it looks great though! LOL!

Last, I painted the edge of it all with gold metallic paint and touched up some of the squiggly lines. Then I sprayed it with clear lacquer. The gold paint really shines with a layer of lacquer on it.

I couldn’t wait to hang it on my wall. I had the perfect spot for it!

Here it is one more time: