We first showed you how to use gemstone mousse in our post on how to chalk paint vinyl. Once again, we’re using it on metal. But this time, we’re showing off a true rich gold accent on a treadle Singer sewing base.

By the way, before we get to the nitty gritty, don’t forget to subscribe :).

Curb Side Find

We found this old sewing base abandoned and most of the wood moldy. Remember how  we showed you how to get smell out of old furniture? Well, unfortunately most of the wood was beyond help on this piece. We were only able to salvage the drawers, the base and the sewing machine (which Hubs has become proficient at restoring!).

As we did with this tiered plant stand DIY, we would normally sand away all the surface rust on the metal. But instead, with this one, we’re going to embrace it and prevent further rust by using a clear rust inhibitor.

I kind of regretted painting over the Singer logo on this Singer Sewing Table Makeover, so now’s my chance to have a do-over using the Gemstone Mousse!

Speaking of do-overs, it’s time for another Do it Over Designers challenge.

Supplies

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• Dixie Belle Gemstone Mousse (Golden Gem)
• Varsol
• Cotton buds
• Lint free cotton rags
• Tremclad Clear or another suitable rust inhibitor

Gemstone Mousse Video

Watch this short video to see how easy it is to transform metal insignias with Dixie Belle Gemstone Mousse!

Do It Over Designers

Today we’re taking part in the Do It Over Designers blog Hop hosted by Ann at The Apple Street Cottage.

We’re a group of bloggers who take something old and/or unused and ‘do it over’ into something new. These items can be found in closets, barns, garages, yard sales, thrift stores, you name it! Check out the other projects at the bottom of this post. And be sure to drop back in throughout the week to visit them all!

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How to Use Gemstone Mousse

First, you must mix the contents of the Gemstone Mousse jar by stirring it. Think the exact opposite of how James Bond likes his drinks! Gemstone Mousse tends to settle and separate, like you see below. And because it has a thick consistency a mere shake won’t do it.

See the pretty gold accents on the sewing machine?

With time, the gold will wear off like you see below.

This machine was patented in the late 1800’s, so it’s no wonder the gold embellishment wore completely off the base! 

Gemstone mousse will brighten up the details on the metal base that have all but disappeared! You can’t even see the beautiful details on the emblem on the wrought iron sides.

Clean the Metal

Gemstone Mousse won’t stick to the metal unless it’s thoroughly clean. For this we use old socks saturated with Varsol to get into all the nooks and crannies. We use Varsol because we don’t want to introduce anything water based that might get trapped and encourage more rust.

Varsol is also our cleaner of choice for this task because it will degrease and remove difficult dirt. And it evaporates easily.

You might be wondering why we don’t use a TSP cleaning product like White Lightning for this. That’s because TSP can damage metal. While it’s great for wood, this metal base wouldn’t be a candidate for it.

A cotton bud can help get into unreachable crevices.

After cleaning, let the socks and cotton buds dry out thoroughly out of the sun before disposing (like all solvents, Varsol is flammable).

Apply the Gemstone Mousse

So how do you use gemstone mousse?

After thoroughly mixing the contents so it’s thick and creamy, you can apply Gemstone Mousse with a paint brush, sponge applicator or even a finger. I actually love to apply gemstone mousse by finger painting it on, like I did with this washboard decor and the metal pieces on this painted sewing box (where I showed you a great trick for painting small pieces).

However, for this sewing machine base, I find a sponge makeup applicator is the best way to go. You only need to put the tiniest bit on the applicator – a little goes a long way!

The foam applicator gives me just the right amount of control I need for hitting just the flat surface of the lettering.

Here’s how the Singer logo looks after just one coat. We’re stopping at one coat because I think it looks perfect as-is. We’re not trying to make this look brand new. We just want the some contrast that will allow the details to shine again.

Now do the same on the sides of the wrought iron base. Before, I couldn’t even read what this said.

Already an improvement; adding mousse brings it back to life again. But there’s one more thing before we can call this done that will really make the golden Gemstone Mousse pop.

The last step is to seal the metal and Gemstone Mousse with a clear coat.

Seal the Gemstone Mousse

You can brush on a clear sealer. But you must let the Mousse dry thoroughly or brushing  will reactivate the mousse because it’s a water based product. We don’t like to take the chance of smudging our hard work so spraying is definitely the best way to go.

When you’re using a spray can, use the same principles we taught you in how to paint using a spray gun.

Again, you could probably seal the metal with a clear coat from Dixie Belle. We love the satin and matte clear coats and 3 thin layers of gator hide will get you a tough waterproof finish. But, as we mentioned, we’re embracing the rust on this piece. So our clear coat of choice is Tremclad Clear to prevent further rust and seal it in.

When clear coating over Gemstone Mousse, I prefer the look of a slightly glossy finish vs. a matte or satin. Those would just dull the gold instead of compliment it. Compare this clear coat example to two pictures up and you’ll see the difference a clear coat makes!

Let the clear coat dry for the specified time on your product.

For the top, we’re using a vintage baker board we found while thrifting. We also found all the accessories you see below at the thrift store.

We have so many sewing table ideas on the blog right now now that we’re busting at the seams. So unfortunately we had to sell this base. It’s hard to let pieces go, but I’m always happy when others get to enjoy our work!

Pin for Later

Pinning is always welcome and appreciated.

Do It Over Designers

Our talented blogger friends have some amazing and inspiring DIYs for you! Don’t forget to visit these posts for more upcycled do-it-over transformations!

• Purple Hues & Me – Upcycled Coffee Can Wall Pocket
• Unique Creations by Anita – Leather Belt Wall Hanging
• Interior Frugalista – Easy Oak End Table Update
• Sum of Their Stories – Denim Jacket Makeover with Brocade
• Exquisitely Unremarkable – Thrift Store Clip Frame Makeover
• Little Vintage Cottage – Repurposed Wood Shim Carrots
• Modern on Monticello – Remaking Our Modern House Number Sign
• Pandora’s Box – Egg Carton Herb Garden