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" Last month, our friends at Wayfair sent their editors to the Brimfield Antique Show (the huge, famous antique and flea market held in Western Massachusetts a few weeks each summer) and gave them a DIY challenge: Find something cool for less than $30, and turn it into a piece of home decor with just a few materials. Inspired by the nautical history of New England and some beachy vintage oars, one of their crafty staffers created some truly striking wall art. Bonus: This project is completely customizable to your taste. Choose any colors and patterns you like.  SUPPLIES  Vintage oars  Fine grit sandpaper  Painter&amp;#039;s tape Acrylic paint Paint brushes in varying sizes Clear spray paint, in a gloss finish  Black rope (optional) Nails (for hanging) Drop cloth (for painting and spraying)  INSTRUCTIONS 1. Start with the colors and design. The Wayfair editors pulled a palette from the artwork they wanted to hang alongside the oars, and designs were inspired by painted oars spotted on Pinterest. 2. Lightly sand the blades of the oars with a fine grit sandpaper. This smooths out chips and helps the paint adhere to the wood. 3. Tape off the design for each paddle with painter&amp;#039;s tape.  4. Paint the oars according to your design. Give each color three or more coats of paint to ensure a rich color. Remove the painter&amp;#039;s tape before the paint completely dries to prevent the paint from chipping or pulling away with the tape. 5. Once you&amp;#039;re happy with the design and color, apply a coat of clear gloss spray paint to each oar blade to seal and protect the paint. 6. As a finishing touch, you can wrap black cord at different points along the shafts of the oars. HANGING THE OARS They painted 2-inch carpentry nails black and used three nails to hang each oar. Secure one nail at the throat of the paddle (where the shaft meets the blade) and two nails right below the grip of the oar (one on the top and one on the bottom). The painted oars pair perfectly with whimsical prints from printmakers Roo Kee Roo. The final look is a fun twist on classic coastal style.   For more easy projects and home decor eye-candy, check out Wayfair Ideas and Advice. NEXT: 11 Dramatic Mini Furniture Makeovers \u00BB "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/craft-ideas/how-to/a25126/diy-oars-brimfield/>