Do you have seasonal decor that you've been putting out for decades without giving it a second thought? Every spring I put out a paper mache bunny that I made almost three decades ago. It's been a mainstay in our home every Easter since our kids were little. Used to hold mini chocolate egg treats that our kids and now grandkids have grown to expect each year.

Recently I pulled it out of the Spring decorating bin and finally looked at that poor bunny for what it is. TACKY! Not having the heart to toss the sentimental hare, instead, it was transformed into a  faux concrete paper mache Easter Bunny. If you have any sentimental seasonal decor in dire need of a refresh, I'll show you how easy it is to update the look.

Upcycled Paper Mache Easter Bunny

Remember last month when I turned a ceramic hand into a concrete succulent planter? Well, I kind of gave our little bunny the same look but instead of quick-set concrete, I used a sea spray texture additive.

Oh, and the wooden carrots are also handmade recycled chair spindle carrots. Let's take a look at the pathetic-looking paper mache Easter bunny before the makeover. Can you believe I had this on display for over thirty years!

I enjoyed working with the sea spray product much more than I did the quick-set concrete. It went on so much easier with just the right amount of texture. You choose how much or how little texture you want on your project.

In fact, I had so much fun with this little bunny that I gave a glossy black ceramic bust statute from Goodwill a makeover too with the leftover texture additive. The pretty pastel color books I've displayed the Easter bunny on are old handpainted hardcover books for Spring decorating.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to cover decor in faux concrete, almost all of the DIY projects shared here at Interior Frugalista have step-by-step tutorials so why not get your budget DIY on and subscribe. You can also follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Here's How I Made It

In hindsight, I wish I had tried to remove the top layer of newsprint strips. They've been on there a long time so my concern was that I might ruin the paper-mache bunny form underneath.

Instead, I covered the newsprint with one coat of paint before moving onto the texturing step. At this point, I also painted the inside of the egg with the color Upper Canada Fusion Mineral Based Paint that I had on hand.

I mixed 1/2 cup of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color French Linen that I had on hand to 1 scoop of Dixie Belle Sea Spray Texture Additive. Mixed well to a brownie batter-like consistency.

Use an inexpensive chip brush to pounce (stipple) it on. It gets tacky as it dries and this is a good time to knock down any texture that is too pronounced. Let it dry completely before applying a second coat. Here's a close-up photo so you can see the texture.

I was surprised how after just one coat the paper mache bunny was looking just like real concrete. I could have kept it just like this but I decided to add more dimension to the faux concrete with a light grey paint color.

Without adding more sea spray to the French Linen mixture (because I didn't want more texture), I added one scoop of Paris Grey and one scoop of Pure White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to lighten the color. I randomly dabbed the lighter grey with the same chip brush being sure not to completely cover the French Linen color underneath.

Last but not least, I brushed a clear coat sealer that I had on hand over the paint to protect the finish. Use a water-based clear coat in liquid or spray finish.

That's it, big difference, right?

I can't wait to see the expression on my grandson's face when he goes to grab some chocolate eggs from Grandma B's easter bunny. We'll see if my kids notice the change too. Now that I see how much better the little rabbit looks, I'm so embarrassed I had it looking so sad for so many years.

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by my upcycled paper mache bunny refresh. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

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