School of Decorating

Decorate with Confidence and Create a Home You Love

  • Free Class
  • Videos
  • Blog
    • How to Decorate
    • Simple DIY Projects
    • Life Tips
    • Success Stories
    • Our Home Tour
  • Classes
  • About
  • Contact

DIY Faux Malachite Knobs

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, on purchases made after following an affiliate link. See my full disclosure here.

September 21, 2012 By Jackie

DIY Faux Malachite Knobs

I hope we can all agree the knobs on my new Martha Stewart craft drawer units were a snooze-fest.  They screamed country and not in a good way (I do love me a splash of country here and there).  I knew they had to be replaced.  With the deep savings I got on the cabinets, I did not mind replacing the hardware.

While we were in Dallas last month, I hit up Anthropologie and Hobby Lobby looking for new knobs.  Everything at Anthropolgie was just too big for the skinny top drawers.  Hobby Lobby unfortunately was lacking in the color department…specifically pretty blues and greens.

As I scoured the Hobby Lobby bins for hidden gems, I kept getting drawn back to small round white porcelain knobs with brass bases.  I admit they were a snooze-fest too, but I loved the shape and the tarnished brass.  Bonus, there was matching larger oval knobs with brass base.  The larger knobs would look great on the bigger bottom drawers.  But, I did not want white!

Then, I saw the 50% off sign and decided to make it a project.  I bought 8 knobs at $1 each (regularly $1.99) and 4 larger oval knobs for $3 each (regularly 5.99).  The 12 knobs cost $20 total.  That is only $10 per cabinet for all new hardware.  I knew if I could figure out a way to color them, they were going to make a big impact.

My initial plan was to use the Porcelaine pen I had leftover from this hot chocolate on a stick gift project.  Unfortunately, I did not store it properly and it was dried up.  Since I am in the throws of a month long home spending hiatus and banned myself from craft stores, I needed a plan B.

Goodbye boring, hello gorgeous!  Plan B was a huge success and now my cabinet hardware looks like this:

DIY Faux Malachite Knobs

I heard you can use Sharpies similar to the Porcelaine pens.  You draw on your porcelain object, let it sit overnight, and then bake in the oven.  I happen to have a cute little paint bucket on my craft shelves full of colorful Sharpies.  I grabbed the teal one and went to work.

DIY Faux Malachite Knobs

Click here to continue reading how-to color and bake your way to pretty knobs!

Previous Post
Oh Dier! I Broke My Home Spending Hiatus
Next Post
Using a Gallery Wall to Disguise a TV

Comments

  1. janet @ ordinary mom says

    September 21, 2012 at 7:09 am

    That is brilliant! I love it and love the texture. I am looking for some knobs for my finished office cabinets and may have to consider this idea for a budget friendlly option. :)

  2. mandy @ this girl's life says

    September 21, 2012 at 7:40 am

    They are beautiful! I would have never thought you could do that with a Sharpie! Genius! :)

  3. Brittney F. says

    September 21, 2012 at 8:08 am

    Those look great!

  4. Danielle says

    September 21, 2012 at 8:40 am

    I never would have thought of doing something like this. Who knew a sharpie could do this. Brilliant!

  5. Casey says

    September 21, 2012 at 10:52 am

    Those turned out wonderfully! I’d never be able to guess how you made them. This makes me want to switch out some of my own furniture hardware! :)

  6. Heather says

    September 21, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    Love the knobs! They look awesome on your cabinet.

  7. laura says

    September 21, 2012 at 8:42 pm

    These are beautiful!! So unique!

  8. Leeann says

    September 22, 2012 at 6:14 am

    They are so cool!!! I’m going to have a go. Thanks for sharing a great idea.

  9. Lucy says

    September 22, 2012 at 8:13 am

    Oh my coolness…I had no idea this is how you had done this…I initially thought you had molded them out of polymer clay but wasn’t sure how you got the beautiful veins….the dresser looks like a million bucks with them on…..I’m pinning this to our HAPPY HOUR linky party and my personal great ideas board…thank you so much. Hope you have a great weekend…xo
    Lucy

  10. Amanda says

    September 22, 2012 at 9:12 am

    This is such an amazing idea! I can’t think of what project I need to do this for but I really want to try it! I have to hold myself back from buying sharpies in all the pretty colors too….just sooo tempting.

  11. Sharon says

    September 22, 2012 at 10:38 am

    Wow! Those are so awesome. I definitely want to try that out. Thanks for sharing!

  12. Valerie says

    September 22, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    So cute! Great idea!! I love your Martha craft desks, if I had not just diy’d my work area I would have totally scoured all the stores near me to get some too!

  13. maureen mcgraw says

    September 22, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    You are brilliant. The knobs are beautiful. I will definitely be trying this myself this winter after my kitchen redo is underway. Maureen

  14. Helen says

    September 23, 2012 at 11:37 am

    This is genius!! I am in awe of what sharpies can do!!! thanks so much for sharing. I can’t wait to go drawer knob shopping!! lol Well done ;-)

  15. Suzy B says

    September 24, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    So lovely & expensive looking…great tip. Thanks for sharing.

  16. Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says

    September 26, 2012 at 1:21 am

    Wow, these look beautiful and I would have had no idea they were colored with sharpies. Fabulous tutorial. I’ll have to pin this one for later.

  17. [email protected] says

    September 28, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    Wow! I love this…and I’m totally stealing this idea for my home some time! :)

  18. Crystal @ 29 Rue House says

    September 30, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    These are awesome and they look fantastic on those drawers!

  19. [email protected] Feathers&Sunshine says

    October 2, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    You are brilliant! I can’t wait to try these with the knobs I have. Looks so awesome! And with no extra moolah to color them, unbelievable. nice work!
    Stacia

  20. Julia says

    October 4, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    Those knobs are absolutely awesome!!! I’m going to do this for sure.

  21. Cara says

    October 4, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    LOVE how your knobs turned out. So glad I found the pin on Pinterest. The closet in my bathroom needs replacing and now I know for sure I can have what I want!

    • Jackie says

      October 4, 2012 at 8:58 pm

      Cara, glad you found me. What a great idea to use some fun knobs on your closet door!

  22. Rosalie says

    October 6, 2012 at 2:06 am

    Great idea and great finished product!

  23. Jan says

    October 6, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    Did you have any problems with the color changing during baking? It doesn’t look like it in your photos. I tried this with a Bic permanent marker and mine went from a beautiful turquoise to a lovely jade. Sadly, the lovely jade doesn’t match the room… Perhaps I’ll have to mail order the Sharpie (we live in a very small town, very far away from any real stores)

    • Jackie says

      October 6, 2012 at 5:02 pm

      Jan, I would definitely try the sharpie. Mine did not change color at all during baking. Good luck with the next try.

  24. eb says

    October 7, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    Can u do this on a door knob

    • Jackie says

      October 8, 2012 at 8:12 am

      If the doorknob is porcelain it should work.

  25. Deedie says

    October 10, 2012 at 11:08 am

    love this idea….I’m just starting a major kitchen renovation and now I know what I’m going to do with the old porcelain knobs. Now they’e definitely a keeper!

  26. Kathleen says

    October 10, 2012 at 9:24 pm

    Impressive! I love it.

  27. Vicki - Glitter Frog says

    October 11, 2012 at 10:52 am

    This is insanely genius! Love it! And today is payday…methinks I’ll be buying a LOT of sharpies, haha!

  28. Sarah says

    October 12, 2012 at 11:25 am

    What a cool idea! I wonder who discovered this…how do you stumble upon baking Sharpie ink?! Genius. Lovely. Well done.

  29. Maureen says

    October 14, 2012 at 1:50 pm

    Such a terrific idea and great tutorial. I’m repinning!

  30. melissa*320 sycamore says

    October 17, 2012 at 10:06 am

    WOW! These are so cool…thanks for a great tutorial. Love this idea :)

  31. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says

    October 17, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    These knobs are gorgeous- wow! I would have never guessed sharpies. Definitely got to give this a try!

  32. [email protected] says

    October 18, 2012 at 7:31 am

    I have never heard of this! I love the way these turned out. Pinning for later!

  33. Lucy Designs says

    October 18, 2012 at 8:12 am

    this is the greatest thing EVER! I love it

  34. Sandy says

    October 20, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    I agree with everyone else. You rock! Not only beautiful but this is something I can use! Thanks.

  35. Peace says

    October 21, 2012 at 11:58 am

    awesome! i wonder if you were to spray them with a clear coat-if that would help avoid any of the baked on marker from wearing off from lots of use?

  36. Kerry @ Made For Real says

    October 21, 2012 at 9:41 pm

    AMAZING!!! Linking to this project tomorrow!

    • Jackie says

      October 21, 2012 at 10:04 pm

      Thanks Kerry!

  37. Trisha says

    October 25, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    I absolutely love it!! And it gives me some fantastic ideas for other craft projects with porcelain. I will definitely be trying this knob idea, though. I have several pieces that need a pinch of color, personality and pizazz.

  38. Brandy says

    October 27, 2012 at 7:11 pm

    I was thinking the same. so many ideas for anything porcelain and so many colors to try! red, purple, blck, green, so excited!

  39. Courtney says

    October 28, 2012 at 11:53 am

    I didn’t read over the other comments, but if you’re worried about long term wear and tear on the knobs because of frequent use, you should coat them with a clear spray or Mod Podge!

  40. Rachel C says

    October 29, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    I LOVE LOVE THE IDEAL FOR THE KNOBS!! IVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND SOME OLD GLASS DOOR KNOBS FOR MY HOME.. WE ARE RE-MODELING OUR HOME BUT I AM DEFINATELY GOING TO USE YOUR KNOB IDEAL ON A FEW PROJECTS , I LOVE THE WAY THEY LOOK!!! GREAT JOB & IDEAL ;))

  41. Shyan says

    October 29, 2012 at 10:10 pm

    Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me the color of the Sharpie? I know you said it was teal but I didn’t know if that was the actual printed name on it. Thanks :)

    • Jackie says

      October 30, 2012 at 4:01 pm

      Shyan, There is actually no name printed on the Sharpie. It came in a pack of 8 colors. Hope that helps.

  42. Natasha says

    October 31, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    Tips and pointers: I bought a 25 pack of porcelain knobs on ebay from designerknobsandpulls.com for SUPER cheap. I first tried the Bic permanent marker and baked it for 30 minutes and as another commentor said, it turned jade (and cracked). I tried it again but only baked it for 10 minutes and it kept its color and did not crack. However, I’m hoping someone can tell me the purpose of baking it because I don’t know if 10 minutes is long enough. Either way, thanks for the GREAT idea.

  43. Holly says

    November 3, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    I tried this with a like green sharpie and had a it turn to a dark jade on me as well. The jade doesn’t match the room or the dresser the knobs are to go on, so I think I may give it a go again with maybe a lower backing temp and shorter baking time. I LOVE how yours turned out, just out of curiosity, what color did you use to get that shade of torquoise?

    • Holly says

      November 3, 2012 at 4:26 pm

      *Lime green, not like.

    • Jackie says

      November 3, 2012 at 9:44 pm

      Hi Holly. Too bad yours changed color. Was it a Sharpie brand marker? Other readers have reported other permanent marker brands changing color. I used a Sharpie brand teal marker and the color stayed the same after baking. Good luck with your next attempt!

  44. Maureen says

    November 7, 2012 at 11:38 pm

    Thanks for the great tutorial! I pinned it and just tried it out now. A dark blue Sharpie came out a perfect cobalt blue. I blogged about it and linked back to your site.

  45. Barbara @ DIY Home Staging Tips says

    November 8, 2012 at 1:26 am

    I read about your Sharpie project on Maureen’s blog, All Things Connected, and had to come over and take a look. Very impressive! I have GOT to try this.

  46. dkgdesign1 says

    November 12, 2012 at 10:02 am

    Brilliant! I amy take this a tiny bit commercial through my website…most importantly, they look exquisite in my home. Thank you, dear Jackie!

  47. Kelli Fawn says

    November 12, 2012 at 10:22 am

    I love these! Hmmm, now I want to see some colored in circles! Guess I have to those, huh?

  48. C[email protected] Sew Can Do says

    November 13, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    These look terrific and thanks for the great tip about Sharpies. I had no idea you could do that! Would love for you to link this to my Craftastic party:)

  49. Shelli says

    November 13, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Those came out so pretty, thanks for sharing the great idea

  50. Erin says

    November 15, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    Gorgeous! Never would have guessed Sharpie! Perhaps it would be helpful to add a coat of clear nail polish to help preserve them? It would be too big of a pain to attempt a clear finish paint, maybe, but I don’t know if clear nail polish yellows over time or not. Just thinking of a way that could help protect them & that’s what I came up with.

    • Chelsea says

      March 27, 2013 at 11:17 am

      I baked mine twice first for 10 minutes and then again for 30 minutes, but when I went to install them onto the dresser the sharpie was wearing off on the edges. So I took your advice with the nail polish… and it looks amazing! They have a beautiful gloss finish now and do not wear off :)

  51. Christi says

    November 16, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    I have a tall thin set of draws I just used sharpies on the knobs that came with it, to snap it up, but totally going to get the porcelin knobs and do it again. I had no clue. Thanks.

  52. Nancy Jane York says

    November 19, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    Oh my gosh did you ever discover a fantastic trick to liven up plain knobs. I adore this color, now I want some knobs to try this on!!

  53. Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick says

    November 19, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    Such a clever idea! I’d like to invite you to join me at the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week! http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/clever-chicks-blog-hop-8-turkey.html
    I hope to see you there.

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick

  54. vicki says

    November 20, 2012 at 2:15 am

    that was a good idea, thank you!. i’m from South Africa and don’t know what is a sharpie! please can you explain to me. thank you.

    • Jackie says

      November 20, 2012 at 6:45 am

      Hi Vicki, Sharpie is the brand name for a permanent marker.

  55. Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl says

    November 20, 2012 at 7:52 am

    No way!!! Those are gorgeous! And I can’t believe you restrained yourself from buying something else to use. So, glad you didn’t because this is a show stopper. Pinning for sure!

    • Jackie says

      November 20, 2012 at 9:05 am

      Thanks Brittany. That means a lot coming from THE Pretty Handy Girl…love your blog!

  56. Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says

    November 20, 2012 at 11:28 am

    found this post through Pretty Handy Girl…lovely job – I have one question though…after backing them, did you varnish them or use a clear coat of any kind? I am looking for knob ideas, and might just try this!

    • Jackie says

      November 20, 2012 at 5:22 pm

      Cheryl, I did not do anything after baking them. So far they are holding up just fine. If they were in a more heavily used space like a kitchen, I might consider that, but then you could skip the baking part, too.

  57. Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says

    November 20, 2012 at 11:29 am

    sorry – that should have read “baking” and not “backing”

  58. Haley says

    November 24, 2012 at 9:44 pm

    These are beautiful! I am worried about fading though.. Do you think a clear coat of fingernail polish would help that?

  59. Barb Miller says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:42 pm

    I would love to do this but was wondering what temperature you baked them at and for how long?

    • Brooke says

      December 17, 2012 at 9:32 pm

      350 for 30mins

  60. Bridgitte says

    November 26, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    Oh thank you for sharing this!! I have a bin full of “yard sell knobs” almost similar to these and NOW I can finally finish my cabinet!!! I’m also wondering if I can do this for a Tea Set. I’ve been planning a Tea Party for my granddaughters to welcome in spring (I know winter isn’t over…..) but my daughter found me this “paint your own tea set” since I couldn’t find anything I liked for the girls. I was going to do the porcelain pens too but they are so expensive. What do you think? Is this permanent? You’ve got me sooo excited and I have months to plan this!!!

    • Jackie says

      November 26, 2012 at 11:07 pm

      Bridgitte, That is how I got the idea. I saw other people on Pinterest using Sharpies on mugs and dinner plates. It inspired me to try the knobs.

      • Amy says

        February 8, 2013 at 11:10 am

        I, too, have seen all the websites for using Sharpies on dishes, but most of them have comments that say it doesn’t work. It seems it is not recommended for anything that is going to be washed a lot. It comes off in the dishwasher and only has a limited time with hand washing. Sharpie makes oil-based markers that can be used on dishes and, while more expensive than regular Sharpies, don’t seem to be totally outrageous in price. I have only bought them from their website so I have no idea how much they cost in a store. I _would_ be interested to know how your knobs hold up to constant use. I will be checking back! Love them!

      • Marissa says

        July 7, 2013 at 10:29 pm

        I love it…..can you do that on any door knobs or is there just one in general?

  61. Melissa Marro says

    November 30, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    These are fabulous! We are in the throws of refinishing a bunch of furniture pieces for a home staging job, so we’ll be trying this technique if we can get our hands on some porcelain knobs!

  62. Allison says

    December 2, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    Just checking in to see how they were holding up? I LOVE the look and tried it, but after a week I started seeing white spots. I don’t see it on my hands, but just wondering how yours held up….

    • Jackie says

      December 2, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      Hi Allison,
      Mine are holding up well, but they do not get daily use yet. They are on my new craft cabinets for my studio, which is still being finished. Maybe try clear nail polish or a clear top coat as other commenters have suggested.

  63. Terri T. says

    December 10, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    I LOVE this idea. Do you think it would be possible to do this on already colored knobs? I have round yellow porcelain ones on all my kitchen cabinets. Maybe I will try doing just one. Also, maybe the Poly-something-or=other – I think it’s polyurethane – clear coat would be best for a kitchen/bathroom applications as those knobs not only get a lot of wear, but must be cleaned often, too (grease and dirt).

    • led says

      July 10, 2013 at 1:35 pm

      polyurethane will yellow. need a spray varnish that specifically says won’t yellow.

  64. Brooke says

    December 17, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    I read on another pin to bake @350 for 30 min., I used the bic perm marker and mine didnt turn to jade or crack just thought I’d let everyone know :-)

  65. kiks says

    January 1, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    have you tried spray-varnishing them? the varnish should protect the sharpie from rubbing off.

    i made a mug using this technique and it eventually started rubbing off and needed touching up, but varnish wasn’t an option then obviously.

  66. Jodie says

    January 2, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Those are awesome looking knobs. Thanks so much for sharing. I would like to do this for my daughters dresser.

  67. Cathy Wingo says

    January 2, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    Just what I need for a shelf I’m making for my grandson! been struggling with ideas for the knobs for awhile! thanks for a great idea!

  68. Hannah Leigh says

    January 4, 2013 at 1:18 pm

    These look fantastic! They really pop on that white cabinet. I must admit I shouldn’t even be reading this post, I already have too many knobs hoarded in my studio area waiting for a home!

  69. Nadine says

    January 4, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    I think I’m in love! These are awesome

  70. Vicki says

    January 5, 2013 at 2:22 am

    Great use of the sharpie. I love and use them myself for furniture touch-up on a regular basis. I always have extras around of all colors. I have also used them to cover up scuffs on various leather products. I have found endless uses for the sharpie and today you can find them in so many colors.

  71. amy says

    January 7, 2013 at 9:08 am

    You can use a clear gloss on the knob . In my case I would cover up the brass. They look amazing.

  72. Pam says

    January 10, 2013 at 11:33 am

    Gorgeous!

  73. Dawn says

    January 12, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    With glass knobs I wonder if you could do like cracking marbles. bake the put in cool water for a different affect?

  74. Jeff says

    January 15, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Very nice idea. Will have to try it out. Don’t touch them with chemicals – isopropyl alcohol and acetone (rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover) will dissolve sharpie ink, even after baking. Over time, finger oil will also degrade them. Might want to coat them all with a clear gloss-coat spray-paint to protect the color.

  75. MarieRoxanne says

    January 18, 2013 at 5:09 pm

    “these look like marbling” or “a piece of jewelry” is what my husband-to-be said when I showed him the pictures! He is amazed at how easy it was to created the look with a simple sharpie! Thanks for the detailed tutorial on how it was done!

  76. Iona McCubbin says

    January 20, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    Hi I love these but being British I don`t know what `sharpiss` pens are? Help please

    • Jackie says

      January 20, 2013 at 5:19 pm

      Hi Iona. Sharpie is a brand of permanent marker in the US. They come in “fine tip” which I used for this project. They are also available in a huge variety of colors.

  77. Krista says

    January 20, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    Just Awesome!
    I redo furniture and I am always looking for fun pops of color…cannot wait to try it.

  78. Nadia says

    January 23, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    LOVE the way they turned out! This inspires me to do something similar for the desk in my craft room!

    simphomemade.blogspot.com

  79. Jenn says

    January 28, 2013 at 11:31 am

    Super cute. I saw some knobs that would work perfect for this project on eBay the other day.

    http://stores.ebay.com/Flatlanders-Fine-Cabinet-Hardware?_rdc=1

    Can’t wait to try it for myself!! Thanks so much for the inspiration. :)

  80. Jim says

    January 29, 2013 at 5:46 am

    Could you do the Sharpie trick on pewter?

  81. Pam Zirbel says

    January 29, 2013 at 12:40 pm

    You have a bazillion comments on this!! As well you should!!! This had my heart racing reading step by step how you did this! I tell you..I ‘like’ teal…but now…I LOVE TEAL!!! LOL…well done. I found you thru a Pinterest pic!! Love it and will be checking on you now!!

  82. Suzy @ Worthing Court says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:18 am

    Just ran across your awesome project from someone’s pin on Pinterest. These are gorgeous! Definitely pinning this project to one of my boards too.

  83. Kathy says

    February 1, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    Beautiful

  84. Daree says

    February 3, 2013 at 8:14 am

    Those are amazing! (I don’t usually comment on blogs, etc., but these warrant it!) Thumbs up to you!

    • Jackie says

      February 3, 2013 at 9:41 pm

      Thanks Daree!

  85. Julie says

    February 5, 2013 at 3:39 pm

    You just blew me away with this. I just have to try it!! Going to feature this on my FB page in a couple minutes :) Thank you for the inspiration Jackie! ~ Julie

  86. Susan says

    February 13, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    I followed the directions to a T…they did turn out beautiful, however, the color rubbed off after a few uses. Kinda discouraged. So, my suggestion is to do this with knobs that are strictly decorative – which I don’t have. Bummer.

  87. Tammy says

    February 15, 2013 at 11:07 am

    I had a problem with the color rubbing off on my hands. But I didn’t let them dry very long before baking. I think I am going to try again but wait 24 hrs until baking and then see what happens. But they have turned out great and I’ve bought more colored Sharpies and more knobs.

  88. Anna says

    February 25, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    Have you done this on ceramic knobs? I was just wondering if they would work.

  89. Paula says

    February 26, 2013 at 2:29 am

    What a great improvement of the dresser! You know how to help yourself.

  90. robin says

    February 27, 2013 at 7:48 am

    Just came across your site and i just love this idea. I have 2 dressers that could use a face lift and what a great way to do it. thanks for posting.

  91. melissa says

    March 2, 2013 at 8:39 am

    So does this have to be ceramic knobs. I have metal ones in my kitchen was wondering if it would work on those?

    • Jackie says

      March 2, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      Melissa, I honestly don’t know if this would work on metal. I have only tried Sharpies on this one project. If you have an extra knob I would say give it a test run.

  92. Sara says

    March 2, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    Would this work on metel?

  93. Sarah Fisher says

    March 4, 2013 at 6:37 am

    Absolutely brilliant – thanks so much for sharing! I just know that this is going to come in useful. Gorgeous and thrify, my favourite combination :)

  94. JudyL says

    March 10, 2013 at 12:53 am

    I just saw this on pinterest,it’s amazing! The knobs look like beautiful pieces of turquoise stone & If I did this I think I would paint the base with copper spray paint to match it! Makes you want to go out & buy a bunch of porcelain to try different colors on!

  95. Debbie says

    March 11, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    Beautiful! The teal color is perfect for the white furniture. Thanks for sharing!

  96. Janice says

    March 12, 2013 at 11:22 am

    Does this only work with porcelain handles? Is there any other material that it would work with? (Metal or wood, etc)

  97. Constance says

    March 18, 2013 at 10:02 pm

    I was so excited that I wanted to share.
    I’ve been looking for Sharpie pens in pretty colors and at a reasonable price for awhile, so I could try this project. My wait finally paid off today. Office Depot has them on sale this week for $.50 each (regularly $1.69 each)! Even the 12 pack set was $19.99, so you can’t beat the individual price. Plus you get to pick your colors. I don’t know if this is everywhere, but you may look at the front page of the sale’s flyer. http://officedepot.shoplocal.com/OfficeDepot/Entry/LandingContent?storeid=2502053&sneakpeek=N&listingid=0

    My store had at least 25 colors in fine pt, extra fine, and some in paint brush style. I believe the color you used is Turquoise. I even bought a bunch to make up a gift ‘group’ for one of my sisters.

    • Jackie says

      March 18, 2013 at 10:08 pm

      Constance,

      Thank you for the info. I am going to have to make a trip to Office Depot. Some new color Sharpies are in my future :)

  98. Constance says

    March 18, 2013 at 10:11 pm

    I’m sorry Jackie, I meant to first say how beautiful the knobs are. I can’t wait to try it myself. Good for you for being frugal and thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent and creativity.

  99. daisy says

    March 19, 2013 at 7:01 pm

    That is so awesome, I can never think of cool stuff like that I always have to steal someones idea. I have to go check all the sharpie colors.

  100. Jennifer says

    March 30, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    This might be a silly question but how safe is it to put these in the oven? I have never attempted a project like this.

  101. Nancy says

    April 4, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    Wow, they look smashing! But it’ been a few months now. How are they holding up?

    • Jackie says

      April 5, 2013 at 7:13 am

      Hi Nancy, Mine have held up pretty well. They are rubbing off slightly on the back of the knob where my fingers touch. I plan to touch them up and give them a clear coat like other commenters have suggested.

  102. clara says

    April 18, 2013 at 10:14 pm

    does anyone think this would work on gold knobs? or what else would possibly come up with this result for gold?

  103. DignA WILSON says

    April 21, 2013 at 7:01 pm

    wow..they look stunning im going to try that idea..you did a great job.thank you for shharing this idea….

  104. Olivia Kuebler says

    May 4, 2013 at 8:44 am

    You are a very brave and talented woman. I love them.

  105. Rachael Dixon says

    May 8, 2013 at 11:37 am

    Those are absolutely beautiful. They look exactly like a precious stone. I cannot wait to start replacing knobs in my house.

  106. Donna says

    May 11, 2013 at 10:35 am

    Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing and using the great pictures.

  107. Mel says

    May 26, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    Love this! I will try it for sure. So many uses! I want to do doorknobs:)

  108. sandy says

    June 3, 2013 at 9:16 am

    lovely idea and the turquoise is great!

  109. Kathy says

    June 3, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Hi Jackie – I did exactly as you said and they looked gorgeous before I baked them…. when I took them out of the oven after 30 minutes at 350 degrees, they BOTH were cracked right down the center. Any ideas what went wrong???
    I loved them before the bake, but I’m sure if I didn’t bake the finish on – it wouldn’t hold for long. BUMMED!!

    • Jackie says

      June 3, 2013 at 11:20 am

      Kathy, So sorry to hear that. It must be the type of knobs could not handle the heat. You could try coloring a new set, skip the baking, and use a clear spray finish to make them permanent. Even mine that were baked are rubbing off. I plan to redo and spray them with a clear coat. Hope that helps.

      • Kathy says

        June 3, 2013 at 4:44 pm

        What type of spray are you speaking of?

  110. Joyce Shaffer says

    June 6, 2013 at 12:31 am

    Have y’all seen the Sharpie Paint pens? I love those for my craft projects. They are different from the regular Sharpie pens. And I just love your drawer knobs!

  111. Jill says

    June 10, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    I love this technique and tried it out with a dark azure blue sharpie. I put the knob in the oven at 450 after I had cooked something, and after about 20 minutes, it had melted. Oops! I will try it again with a lower temperature.

  112. Georgie says

    June 11, 2013 at 8:44 am

    Brilliant…I LOVE them

  113. Elaine says

    June 12, 2013 at 11:23 pm

    You really should contact the Sharpie company and show them what you did with this project.

  114. Tim says

    June 13, 2013 at 2:06 pm

    Using this on a set piece. It’s going to be awesome.

  115. Denise says

    June 18, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    These are awesome but when I tried doing, the sharpie ink seemed to separate during the heating process and the white underneath showed through. I tried doing twice just as the instructions directed and came out with the same results. Any thoughts or suggestions on what might be going wrong? Thanks!

    • Jackie says

      June 19, 2013 at 8:48 am

      Sorry Denise. It is really hard for me to troubleshoot for you. I am guessing all Sharpies are created equal, so it must have something to do with the knobs, like a coating they have on them or something. Sorry I can’t help more.

  116. Krysti says

    June 22, 2013 at 10:50 pm

    I was just wondering – after a few months of use, how did the finish hold up? This is such a creative way to add a pop of colour and with an all (well,mostly) white color scheme i need all the “pop” ideas I can get ! thanx….

    • Jackie says

      June 23, 2013 at 9:25 pm

      Krysti, My knobs are holding up well. I have seen some small areas of wear, where the color has rubbed off to reveal the white knob color. It hasn’t been enough to bother me yet. When it is, I plan to recolor them the same way and then use a clear finish spray (like polycrylic) or clear nail polish to seal them.

  117. Dee says

    June 23, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    I usually don’t reply to posts like this, but you went into such detail and this is such a SUPER easy project! What a unique thing to do. You could literally do this for any room in any color! This is going on my pinterest board! Thanks for posting!!!!!

  118. Angel says

    June 25, 2013 at 4:19 pm

    Those came out gorgeous! You’re absolutely spot on by describing them as having “movement”.
    p.s. You weren’t in the “throws” of a month-long home spending hiatus. You were in the throes.

  119. Jennifer says

    July 5, 2013 at 4:04 am

    What a great find! I recently redid a small side table and I have been going crazy to find some knobs I had planned to use for this project. All I could find was a pair of very plain Jane porcelain knobs, but it wasn’t the look I wanted, tho the style would have worked. I am so glad I gave into the impulse purchase of a set of colored Sharpies! I didn’t get the marker marks you got, but I was able to get a color I needed to go with the cabinet. Can’t wait to put them on!

  120. millieoja says

    July 10, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    The is awesome,love them

  121. Kathy S says

    July 14, 2013 at 11:16 pm

    They make me wanta get to work, on my cabinets!love them.

  122. Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life says

    July 30, 2013 at 7:41 am

    Jackie, I did it! Had pretty good results and used the knobs to add a punch of color to a dresser I repainted. Here’s a link if you’d like to see…

    Dresser Makeover

    Thanks so much for your tutorial!
    Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life

    • Jackie says

      July 30, 2013 at 4:13 pm

      Christy, Thanks for sharing. The blue knobs look great on the white dresser!

  123. margot grummon says

    August 25, 2013 at 7:57 am

    Today’s the day! Have an old martha washington sewing table which needs a new more colorful, modern life. The sharpy knobs will be the finishing touch :)

  124. Jen McCarthy says

    August 25, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    I was wondering how many Sharpies you used fir your project. The first knob I did looks great, but every subsequent knob after that had less and less marker adhere to it. By the 5th knob it had more white than color. I am using a metallic Sharpie. Do you think that might be why?

    • Jackie says

      August 25, 2013 at 3:33 pm

      Jen, I only needed one Sharpie for all my knobs and the color was perfect all the way through. I have tried Metallic sharpies for another project and found they run out super fast. In fact, I bought several of them, but still was unable to finish the wall project I was working on. I decided it wasn’t meant to be. I know the metallic ones need to be stored tip down, so give them a break and let them rest point down…hopefully there is more ink in there.

  125. Debbie Mayfield says

    August 22, 2014 at 12:49 pm

    Wow!!! Can we say fabulous!!! They are gorgeous!!!

  126. Angelica Perez says

    October 4, 2014 at 8:52 pm

    WOW! I’m so hitting the flea market tomorrow! I’m gonna look for knobs like these!. It’s going to look great on my old desk drawer’s… Thanks for the idea!!!

  127. Lisa says

    November 1, 2014 at 9:00 pm

    Wow!!! I am so trying this! Thanks for sharing such a great idea (and your tutorial instructions are excellent). By the way, I am totally green with envy re: your craft room/studio pic. It’s gorgeous! You’re so lucky! Due to space restrictions most of my crafting/DIY-ing is done either at the dining room table or in the garage. Not exactly conducive to ‘creative inspiration’ :(

  128. Lauren says

    November 5, 2014 at 8:33 pm

    Awesome idea! But how long did you bake them and on what temperature?? I was wondering so I could try it out too!

  129. Judy says

    May 30, 2015 at 11:28 am

    Hi!

    Just found you on Pinterest and LOVE this idea, as I have the same, boring, yucky knobs on those great Martha Stewart pieces, (in green). I am now TOTALLY inspired to do something really artsy with the knobs – thank you!!
    I am wondering – how did you find/get a “deep discount” on your MS piece(s)? I am going to buy two or three more pieces and REALLY need the discount as I was laid-off in February. :/
    Thanks for any insight you can give me!

Trackbacks

  1. HOUSE*TWEAKING says:
    May 14, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    […] of my favorite tweaks of Jackie’s is her faux malachite knobs. A teal Sharpie never looked so […]

  2. Furniture jewelry | sketchy styles says:
    May 15, 2013 at 10:49 am

    […] results. As a lover of Sharpie pens (well pens in general really) I was stoked when I came across this on another great DIY blog.  You can colour on porcelain with a Sharpie and then bake it on […]

Hi, I'm Jackie. I believe you are the best person to decorate your home and I'm here to help.

I teach online decorating classes to help you create your dream home. Click on the images below to learn more about each class.

Take an Online Decorating Class

Best for beginners!

12 Class Bundle!

Get a free copy of my book
Free Decorating


Start reading now...

Follow Me Here

Categories

  • How to Decorate
  • Simple DIY Projects
  • Life Tips
  • Success Stories
  • Our Home Tour
I believe you are the best person to decorate your home. You just need a dash of courage and a dose of decorating know-how. That's why I created School of Decorating.

I know how frustrating it is to feel like failure at home. I also know how amazing it feels when decorating finally makes sense and your home reflects you. I want to share what I've learned so you can create a home you love without years of trial and error.

Get a free copy of my best-selling book Free Decorating

  • How to Decorate
  • Simple DIY Projects
  • Life Tips
  • Success Stories
  • Our Home Tour

© 2018 School of Decorating
 · Terms of Use 
· Privacy Policy
 · Disclaimer




This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.