Decor |

DIY Sea Urchin

Ah, the sea urchin.  The perfect addition to your coffee table, bookshelf, bar cart, or really just about anywhere.  It’s such a versatile knick-knack and can add a bit of glamour to a space that is lacking.
That space for me is the new lucite coffee table.  I knew a brass sea urchin would be perfect.  However I was not going to spend $175 on one.
So I made my own:
You will need: 
  •  Package of styrofoam balls (make sure they are the sturdy kind)
  • Spray paint (I found these neat mini cans for around $3.00
  • Wooden sticks. (I used about 6-7 long wooden sticks and cut them with scissors)
    • I’d recommend you try to find the wooden skewers that have a pointy tip.
  • Wood glue (optional)
  • Modge Podge acrylic sealer (optional)

Total Cost: $8.93

I began by using a pointy knife to dig holes in the ball to make it easier to put the sticks in.  (This is why I recommend finding pointy sticks…one less step.) I then would put a dab of wood glue on the tip of the stick before I put it into the ball.  (This step is optional but I found that if I didn’t do it, the sticks would be much more loose and apt to fall out).
Your sticks can be all different shapes and sizes.  It only needs  a few to stand up on, so if the rest are smaller that’s okay.

Once you have all the sticks in, spray paint it gold, and for extra shine, add an acrylic sealer!


Now my coffee table isn’t so lonely.  And I didn’t have to break the bank to do it.

xoxo,

H


P.S. For those of you who despise DIY and would rather just buy one, A. you’re crazy and B. Furbish has some options for as low as $32.

Comments

  1. Michelle
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 3:28 pm

    I love this idea!

  2. Morgan @ xoxo, me
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 3:31 pm

    Wow, I'm really impressed! I've always thought these were awesome, but like you, I won't spend $175 on one. I'll have to give this DIY a try. Thanks for the tutorial!

  3. I am Megan
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 4:11 pm

    Oh so cute! Thanks for sharing this diy!

  4. Melanie Liliana
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 4:20 pm

    this is such a good DIY! thanks for sharing 🙂

    iambornlippy.blogspot.com

  5. Rachael {all things beautiful}
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 4:23 pm

    Oh my word.. I love it! SO adorable and looks pretty easy too. Thanks for sharing!!

  6. Erin @ His and Hers
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 5:36 pm

    haha I just spray painted a $2 hexagon tray glossy white and then found almost the exact same thing (also from Jonathan Adler) for $175. I was like, who the heck can spend $175 on a tray?! And now I'm like, who the heck can spend $175 on a gold sea urchin?! Really. What is happening to this world?

    Your $8 one is much better. 🙂

  7. Amber
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 5:55 pm

    8 bucks?! Thats awesome and it seems like something I could actually do myself.

    Stop by & enter my Skincare RX gift card giveaway!

  8. MissAshleyLynne
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 6:05 pm

    VERY CUTE LOVE THE IDEA!

  9. April
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 8:39 pm

    That turned out really well!!! Looks great on your table. 🙂

  11. Eat Live Love
    Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / 10:50 pm

    That looks amazing!

  12. Heather Krystal
    Thursday, July 19, 2012 / 1:40 am

    Love all your diy projects!!

  14. Fabrizia
    Thursday, July 19, 2012 / 10:12 am

    Great post: that's really an original idea!
    What about following each other? Cosa mi metto???

  15. Ashley Aspinwall
    Thursday, July 19, 2012 / 8:53 pm

    OMG love this DIY! need to try asap

  16. Melissa
    Friday, July 20, 2012 / 7:39 am

    That turned out so well! I wish I was crafty…