A while back I had seen an axe online with a painted handle and thought it would make a great piece of décor for the new place. Turns out that axe was $125! What!? I decided I would purchase an axe, turns out those are $40, wait a minute this is not very frugal. I seriously contemplated the store bought axe then left it and set the intention of finding one second hand. One day I popped into my local Salvation Army Thrift Store and found this great little hatchet for $5, ok that’s more my price, and I set to work. Here is the tutorial in case you’d like to create your own.
Step 1 – Materials
The axe in the photo above, and for the first part you will need spray paint, whatever colors you choose and painters tape. I have found the blue painters tape to work better with spray paint.
Step 2 – Tape off the axe
The last thing I wanted was to have spray paint splatter on the axe head or wood handle, so I taped it and then taped it some more! The exposed wood portion will be painted white as the base.
Step 3 – Spray paint parts 2 and 3
This DIY takes a bit of time as you have to wait for each layer of spray paint to dry. First step was the white base, then the red on the end, then the black stripe and lastly the silver. Please don’t mind my garbage bag set up, not all DIY’s are pretty, especially when you are trying to protect the patio!
Step 4 – Create the leather sheath
Once the spray paint is dry, then I was able to move onto the leather sheath. This is fairly simple. First start by tracing the axe head and create a pattern that you can trace onto the leather. PS This leather is completely upcycled! I bought a bag of leather from a recycling depot and this was saved from a couch!
Step 5 – Materials for the sheath
You will need leather, scissors, punch, rivets, and button.
Step 6 – Trace the pattern
Trace the sheath layout and the piece of leather you will need to secure the sheath onto the head. I cut this piece longer so I could easily cut it down to size.
Step 7 – Add the rivets
I have seen some axe head sheaths that are sewn together, I didn’t have those materials or skills so I decided to use rivets. First step in this process is to figure out where they will go, punch them out, then make a mark through that hole onto the other half.
Step 8 – Add the rivets
Rivets are easy, insert, add the backing and hammer to secure.
Step 9 – Add the button
Buttons are actually really easy to add to anything! When you purchase the pack of buttons they come with a fastener.
The reveal – this DIY was actually pretty easy, the spray paint took a bit of time and patience but I am really happy with how it turned out and can’t wait to find a place for it on the wall.
