DIY sporran makeover

**brewerpaul** · 17th December 11, 11:39 AM

Greetings to all. Would like a bit of input, thumbs up-thumbs down or any other comments. I am doing a makeover of a dress sporran I bought from Heritage of Scotland this past October. All in all as dress sporrans go it is ok. When I looked at the photos on the web (EBay) the cantle it looked almost like an antique metal color. Such is the problem with lighting and photos of chrome. When I got the thing I wasnt satisfied with the bright chrome finish. I also have a thistle belt buckle in the same type bright chrome. I like silver but the chrome is a bit much and belongs on the front of a 57 Buick. Well my project is to remake the sporran, keeping it dress but making into something I can live with. Shy of buying a new pewter cantle I looked on the net for ways to antique or recolor the metal. I came across an item called "Liquid Leaf" This is a brush on leafing paint that comes in a variety of metals. I wanted to achieve either antique metal or pewter. The photos that follow are some of my progress.

The bright shiny cantle

apologies for the focus but you get the point of the shiny chrome

My first try was just using a Renaissance Gold thinking it would go on thin and then look almost like a tarnished metal. Total failure and the thing was gold, not my cup of tea. Next I got silver and mixed about 2/3 silver 1/3 gold hoping to add some darkness to the silver. What follows is what I think is acceptable.

the cantle and buckle now looking more like pewter

excuse the focus but the buckle alone with some hints of the gold giving it an aged character.

cantle back on the sporran. The tassel balls are still the bright chrome

Now I think, know, I can live with this pewter look. A few coats of acrylic to harden and protect and the leafing should stay put. My next thought, and here I would like some input, is to use a rabbit pelt and do the front. Ill keep the tassels and just adhere the skin to the front of the sporran. Would this still keep it proper for a dress sporran. Should I keep the leather alone? Opinions and critics please jump in. The next two photos show the sporran and now pewter cantle with the pelt I want to use. One photo shows the color of the pelt better than the others.

Sporran and rabbit pelt

Colors of pelt are more true here

Ok so this has been my DIY remake. Please dont worry about being kind, Im thick skinned. I just want some opinions and perhaps some other ideas for this sporran and future ones I might buy or make. Thanks in advanced.

Paul

**Tim Little** · 17th December 11, 11:50 AM

Looks like a vast improvement to me!

I actually have a very similar sporran, but the cantle and hardware is more of an antique/pewter finish.

**gary meakin** · 17th December 11, 02:20 PM

I love how you toned down the chrome.
I know it's done but I don't like the look of leather tassles on a fur sporran.
To me it would look like you were converting it and didn't finish.
I would either keep the leather (my preference)
or add the pelt and new tassles.

**brewerpaul** · 17th December 11, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by gpmeakin

I love how you toned down the chrome.
I know it's done but I don't like the look of leather tassles on a fur sporran.
To me it would look like you were converting it and didn't finish.
I would either keep the leather (my preference)
or add the pelt and new tassles.

I agree, I think Ill keep the leather front and make the tassel balls match the cantle. So as weird as it sounds Im off to paint my tassel balls. Thanks for the comment.