Cabinet knobs can be expensive. At places like Anthropologie the high end knobs can range anywhere from $6 — $16. If you have a dresser with six knobs you are shelling out some big bucks just for hardware. I wanted to show you a way you can create beautiful custom knobs at home for a fraction of the price. With this process they look like they are ceramic because of the bright glossy shine the Envirotex Lite gives it.
Supplies:
Wooden Knobs
Primer
Mod Podge
Paint
Envirotex Lite
Throw away brush
Stir Stick or Popsicle Stick
Throw away cup
Blue Painters Tape
Tissue Paper
Printer
I had a friend give me a huge bag of wooden knobs. However, you can find wood knobs very inexpensively at places like Hobby Lobby and Michaels.
The original inspiration for my knobs came from the Lucky Number Knob from Anthropologie. I thought it would be fun to make my own knobs with my house number on it.
Lucky Number Knob, Red from Anthropologie
1. I primered and painted my knobs a gloss white and let them dry.
2. Next I cut out a piece of tissue paper and taped it to a piece of printer paper using blue painters’ tape. Using the font Ecuyer Dax I typed out my “No. 821” in my word processing program. I ran it through my printer and my words typed out onto the tissue paper.
3. I then taped off my knobs to spray half of it another color. I used Krylon Ocean Breeze for the bottom half.
4. I cut out the numbered tissue paper and put a coat of Mod Podge over the top of my knob. I pressed the tissue paper in place trying to push the creases out. It is impossible to get all the creases out because of the domed surface, I just did my best.
5. Cut off the excess tissue paper with tiny sharp scissors. Layer to top of the tissue paper with Mod Podge pressing the edges down smooth. Make sure all edges and tissue paper are sealed with Mod Podge.
6. Mix up some Envirotex Lite according to directions. MAKE SURE TO READ THE ENTIRE DIRECTIONS if you have never used this stuff before. It is not a product you can just wing and get beautiful results.
7. With a throw away brush I “painted” the Envirotex Lite on over my sealed Mod Podged knob. The Envirotex Lite when cured gives it a hard, glass like durable finish. The reason I chose to use this product rather than a spray sealer is because how much use it will get. The Envirotex Lite will hold up all the abuse these knobs will get.
(Below is one without the two tones of paint…doesn’t it look like ceramic!)
I ended up putting them on my bifold doors in my front hallway.
ETI sent me this product to try out. Envirotex Lite was created by Environmental Technologies Inc. (ETI), which is the home for many resin and mold making products.
Today, artists are using ETI’s products in many crafty ways and they will be showcasing these works of art on their new blog "Resin Crafts".
Check them out on:
Resin Crafts Blog
ETI on Facebook
ETI on Twitter
Check out these other tutorials using Envirotex Lite:
LOVE the idea to make custom knobs!!
Thanks Mandy. I have all these ideas swimming in my head of words I want to try.
So many possibilities. Love the knobs!
Thanks Sandra!
seriously? best “how to” post on a blog in a long time!! THANK YOU!! i’m definitely trying this one!!
seriously? best “how to” post on a blog in a long time!! THANK YOU!! i’m definitely trying this one!!
Wow that is a pretty big compliment. Thank YOU!
Your cabinet knobs are excellent! I am enjoying all the posts and will do a link to this page too!
Beckie, isn’t it amazing how many different things you can use ETI for? I must have clicked over on the wrong section of their website the first time, b/c all I could find were old, outdated pics of projects (like yellowed diplomas pasted onto slabs of driftwood). Your project proves that you can use resin for fun, modern projects that will wow your readers.
So excited to click through the links this week. 
Yah they are in the process of updating their site. I hope our projects bring a new appeal to Envirotex Lite because it is really fun stuff.
Beckie,
These are great and we have plenty of wood/metal knobs laying around. I have seen Envirotex Lite at Michael’s off and on for a while but have never tried it because I had never met anyone who had used it. Thanks for the inspiration once again!
Oh it is fun stuff. You have to use it properly but when you do it yields gorgeous results. You need to pick some up and give it a whirl.
Love this idea Beckie!!
thanks Angie!
these knobs are great! when i bought my house 3 years ago, the kitchen cabinets had no hardware, and i shelled out a pretty penny buying a set. now i want to tear it all out and replace them with some homemade knobs lol.
{GIGGLE} I know the possibilities are endless. I am coming up with all these ideas of how I could use them.
I love how it makes them look like ceramic! I hand painted all the knobs for my sons dresser in his transportation themed room so this would be great to make them look more high end.
Absolutely fantastic! We are in serious need of some kitchen cabinet knob upgrading. Thank you so much for this tutorial!
C:)
I’m freakin’ out! This is awesome!
(My teenager girls tease me cuz I think that just about anything can be improved with
a little tissue paper & deco podge! And here’s another amazing example!)
{giggle}….I agree on that for sure. Thank you…I adore them and already have some more cooking up!
I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!!
I LOVE THIS! I would love also for you to share it at my link party on Wednesday evening. What a great idea!
love what you have done with them they look really cute
This is an amazing idea! I a definitely going to try this out. Thanks for sharing!
Bookmarking this! I neeeed to do this…thanks so much for the tutorial!!!!
LOVE IT!
Nice! I didn’t know you could print on tissue paper. With all the other things you can run through the printers now I should have guessed.
Nice! I didn’t know you could print on tissue paper. With all the other things you can run through the printers now I should have guessed.
these are beyond cute…thanks for sharing.
I love these! Thank you so much for sharing your idea.
I have GOT to try this. I’m in love with the way these look!
Warmly, Michelle
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful idea. They look fantastic!
That’s awesome. They really do look like ceramic. I am inspired!
Those are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
They are just beautiful and right in my budget! Thanks!
Wow I cannot believe how perfectly they turned out! What a fun project idea! Please stop by and join my link party this weekend =) http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/vip-party-18.html
These are great! I just have a little problem with the ink bleeding when I apply the mod podge…is there anything I can do to remedy that?
Thanks!
smiles
Maybe try using a laser jet and not an inkjet. Or try spraying it with a spray sealer. That is my best guess.
Love these Beckie! Put them on my FB page.
Smooches! Thanks friend! I think a shopping date is in order soon!
Can’t wait to try this out! My husband got excited about the resin product. We have some projects we’d love to try out for it.
He also LOVED your tutorial, one of his biggest gripes about some of the blogs I follow is that they don’t give all the how to information. This was perfect. Thanks so much!
Tell your hubs thank you. If you try it let me know. I would love to show my readers.
oooh – one of my favorites! I love Anthro so anything inspired by is fine by me
Great post! I assume you printed the tissue on a laser printer and not an inkjet? Just curious.
yes you are correct. I should probably mention that on my post. Thanks!
I love these! So creative. I think I need to do some for my son’s dresser.
I will have to check this product out. I have a hutch I want to paint and it has 16 knobs on it! I just need to find something that I would want repeated that many times. Or many I’ll mix and match. Thanks
I absolutely love this idea! I love the knobs at Hobby Lobby, but most have the bolt sticking out the back, which is way too long and gets in the way. This is much better, and no one will have exactly the same ones (well, unless I copy yours…)!
You totally can copy mine…please do! They are seriously fun to make and possibilities are endless. I am excited to try and mimic so more designs.
Hi Beckie-
I like yours sooooo much better than the Anthro ones. Can’t wait to try it.
My best- Diane
These are gorgeous!!!! What a great project! I definitely have to give these a try!!
omg i love this! thanks for sharing
i really want to do this!
Wow! I love this! Thanks for sharing this. I went over to the ETI blog and signed up for the giveaway- such cool crafts!!!
These are awesome! Love the shiny finish and there’s no limit to what you can put on the knob faces. Thanks so much for sharing!
I adore your “ceramic” knobs and want to do the same in my home! My problem is that I have several bifold doors with plain wood knobs, but the knobs are not removeable … can I still do this to them while on the door??
Oooh that might be tricky. But if you just did them on the knob part and not the base I think it’d be okay.
Very cool, thank you!
: )
Julie M.
What a neat idea…love it! I’m your newest follower
jamie @ sewrockin.com
Just wanted to share my results! Thanks for the great tut! http://pinterest.com/pin/82261130663818977/
I love this!!! I posted this link to my Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/MyJunkArta
And I love your blog!
I have added you to my “Blog Love” online magazine on Scoop It.
http://www.scoop.it/t/blog-love
I also listed your blog on my Pinterest Board “Blogs DIY, Craft”
http://pinterest.com/ShelleyNovonty/blogs-diy-craft/
Sincerely, xoxo
Shelley Novotny
http://xeeme.com/ShelleyNovotny
So glad a Google search brought me here instead. I was about ready to shell out for some Anthro knobs, but am sure these will be MUCH cheaper, plus I can customize them to say whatever!
Let me know if you take a crack at it. I would love to see it.