Backsplash Bugs! I’m sure you are noticing more and more bugs around.  Here at 1005 Design we are too!   Not just any old bug that you see every year; these are the back splash bugs!  What type of bug is this you ask?  Well, this is the recreation of one of my favorites, the Dragonfly!  I chose the dragonfly because of the symbolism that many cultures have incorporated with it.

A dragonfly is mature, powerful, and poise.  This is true due to it being able to fly at 45 miles per hour.  But in order to make this dragonfly fly, I needed wings!  I needed to make sure that these wings were able to withstand the outdoor elements and still show the grace and beauty of this whimsical creature.  The stainless brush backsplash was the perfect design for my weekend project!  This incredible creature looks amazing perched on just about anything!  Here is how I brought my project to life!

First, I used a staircase spindle for the body.  I used two different colors of craft paint to create the base color, green and purple.  I used a sanding block to expose areas on the body to create a deeper look.  After this I used a brown glaze and covered the wood completely then wiping it off.  I did not allow this to dry.  By doing this it blends the colors together evenly.  I repeated the sanding and gazing process three times and allowed to dry overnight.

The next morning I used a flat black spray paint to add highlights and shadowing of the body.  To create a more realistic iridescent look, I applied a bronze spray paint by just slightly dusting the body to give it a shimmer.  Allow to dry completely.

I removed the ends of the spindle with a miter saw and sprayed the ends with paint.  I used decorative glass rocks for the eyes and a few to accent the tail.

The wings are made of the stainless steel brush backsplash.  I created a stencil with cardboard and traced this onto the back splash before I cut the pieces.  Make sure you wear gloves and eye protection when cutting metal!

I used a jigsaw to cut the wings.  Be sure to clamp the piece of metal down first so that it doesn’t move when cutting.  I sandwiched the panel in between two pieces of cardboard and clamped it down.  This makes the cut more smoothly by keeping the panel from bouncing around.   After the wings were cut, I brushed the edges lightly with sand paper to smooth the cut.  Don’t forget to remove the protective film.

(Tip:  If a piece of your panel is bent or jagged, use a rubber mallet on a flat surface to level it out.)

I attached the wings to the under part of the body.  I used screws to attach the two together.  This was the best option and I recommend doing this slowly so that the wood doesn’t split or splinter.

Here is the Dragonfly!  Now where to put it!  I placed it by the flower pit!  I call it the flower pit because it was a fire pit at one time, now it’s full of flowers!  I like it better as a flower pit.  This allows you to visualize the scale of this creature!  I also placed it here by the fish pond.  I am not sure which one I like the best.  What do you recommend?

Finished Dragonfly by the pond.

References

http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html