Faux Taxidermy Part 1

By Mandi 02/10/2011

So we all are loving the antler/animal head trend right now right? I love it enough that I used antlers in my Christmas tree. This is taking it just a weeeeee bit further

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Since I am sort of famous for my Anthro knockoffs you guys know that I could not pass up all of this awesomeness:

Now here is my disclaimer.
I have NEVER done anything like this before. So please be kind. I FREAKING LOVE how this all turned out…..
Here is what I did.

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Really. That’s all you are going to get. I was learning as I went and so I don’t really feel qualified to write a tutorial on it. I started out with the front horn and snout and just sort of added to it. Maybe if I get lots of questions I can rebuild one….?

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Next I mixed up a batch of paper mache. The trick is to make the paste thick like pancake batter. Tear your strips of newspaper (don’t cut them they leave harsh lines) and then go to town. I put about 3 layers on and then let it dry for a couple of days.
Once my Rhino was dry I Podged the crap out of it. I used pages from an old Readers Digest.

Now for the Mirror Mosaic.
I bought a 2×2 piece of wood at Home Depot for around $6.00. I used mirror that I had on hand and after a little bit of trial and error this is the best way that I have found to break the mirror without ending up with just shards.

Use a towel folded in half. Stick your mirror on it.

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Fold your towel over and using something that has an edge (I used a candlestick) hit it hard enough to break it but not like its your neighbor whose cat keeps peeing on your back door. (that really has never happened to me, it would make me really mad though)

*The key is to use something that has an edge. A hammer will give you shards. Shards are bad. Shards are not your friend. Shards are your neighbors cat.

I am pointing to where I am going to attempt to hit the mirror. I don’t have a great aim, it’s a good thing that I am a girl…just sayin. (and yes my nails are nasty. get over it.)

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Ba-BAM!

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Then you piece it together. Like this:

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And then you grout. Which I totally sucked at. FYI. Basically read the instructions and when it says to use  a putty knife to float it. Just do it mmmmkay.

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So what do you think?

Tomorrow I am going to be posting about how to make your own Antlers with Paper Mache Clay.

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Did you notice my NEW Board and Batten?….

Don’t forget to watch Studio 5 tomorrow at 11 for you Utahns. And for you non-utahns I will post the clip as soon as I can!

P.S. When I opened my laptop I saw that my 7 year old Googled
“Math Second Grade 9-6-3=what”
Someone pray for me.

41 thoughts on “Faux Taxidermy Part 1”

  1. Love, Love, Love it! Thanks so much for sharing! And please….can you do a WHOLE HOUSE TOUR for us? I can’t wait to see your new living room makeover! Hugs!

  2. Oh, man! My parents hada deer head (real one) that totally freaked me out when I was little. It was above our fireplace in our basement right by my bedroom, and I’d always run by it to get to my room at night! lol

    Love the rhino, though. He looks so friendly. Does he have a name?

    And please do a tutorial! I may want to do a friendly fish or something. 😉

    Aloha,
    charlie

  3. AHAHA! Kids are hilarious. There WAS no google when I needed help with homework. LOVE that mirror! I think I am going to have to ask the hubs for a little extra project money.

  4. Hot Dog. We really do have design espn! I about died when I seen that broken mosaic mirror! I loves. Turned out awesome. Please please come link that bad boy up to my linky love Friday party. Have a gander at my broken mosaic mirror as well and you will see why yup…we have design esp! lol.
    take care hun.
    deb
    https://dejarenew.blogspot.com

  5. Okay, Mr. Rhino is pretty cool! Where’s my triceratops? You are awesome, and one day I will be as trendy and forward thinking as you. I’m gonna go lick my seafoam green and mauve wounds, alone.

    (good luck tomorrow! If you need a lunch date, or a shopping partner….you know where I live)

  6. Ok, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Please post a step by step tutorial as I’d LOVE to copy you haha!

  7. SOOO HOT! Love it! I dig the new walls too. I really need to get my booty into gear and get my walls looking a little more fabulous. ONE DAY!

    Loves!

  8. I have not been a fan of the taxidermy trend (especially with real animals), but you have converted me with your rhino…. that mirror if FANTASTIC! You did a fabulous job on the rhino itself, but the shattered mirror effect puts it over the top. I am going to have to check out your blog, you seriously talented girl! 🙂

  9. OMG. That is just totally awesome. I have seen some pretty cool projects on these blogs…but this is my FAV !!!!

  10. This is great! My husband is a Rhino nut & this would be perfect for him. I can’t imagine ever having a real rhino, but this is just what we need down here in our historic Texas home.
    What materials did you create the rhino out of? It looks like tape & maybe newspaper. What method did you use to construct it?
    Thanks for the great post! (Found you on a Tip Junkie fb post)…now to go browse your blog

  11. I don’t think I would ever do something like this in my house…but {hear me out!} I totally LOVE it!!! I think its just too real for me….grew up with bear, and deer, and elk and moose on our walls {my dad was/is a hunter} and so I just can’t go there. But it looks AWESOME! And I think I totally want to do the mirror technique….maybe I can think of something else to come out of it 😉

  12. Wow! I cannot believe how beautiful this came out. I really really love how you used the broken glass to cover the rhino. I found a faux moose on https://www.whitefauxtaxidermy.com that I am debating buying to cover with either glass or tiny little rhinestones.

    I’ve seen rhinestone animals before, but after seeing this post I am leaning towards glass.

    Thanks!

    -Cathy

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