"Pottery Barn" Cast Iron Curtain Rods - Tutorial

Here's the conversation I had with myself last week:  "Now that I am free to go crazy with home decor, the very first thing I'd like to make for my new house are curtains.  Sure, that seems easy enough...but wait...what am I going to hang those curtains on?  Crap, I don't want to pay tons of money on curtain rods!"  ...Pause... "Duh, Heather, you can make your OWN curtain rods!"

So, off to Michaels I went to pick up these very simple (and cheap) supplies:

8 Wooden Dowels, 3/4 Inch Diameter & 36 Inches Across ($0.99 ea)
8 Packages of Black Polymer Oven-Bake Clay ($1.25 ea)
1 Bag of Wooden Washers to fit my dowels ($0.75 bag of 20)

To make the curtain rods, I first cut one package of polymer clay in half.  I rolled out two "snakes" with one end thick and the other end to a point.  I used the Wooden Washer as a guide as to how thick to make the end that would later be attached to the dowel.  I tried to make the "snakes" approximately the same length.

Then, I placed them on a cookie sheet and shaped them into a scroll just like the Pottery Barn rods.

I baked and cooled them according to the clay's directions. (Man, does that clay stink in the oven!)

Meanwhile, I painted all of the dowels and washers black with craft paint.  When they were dry, I added a coat of Modge Podge to seal them and to give them a bit of a sheen.

Time for assembly!  Using a glue gun, I attached the clay scrolls to the dowels and then added the wooden washer  to cover the seam.

Finally, I gave the whole rod another coat of Modge Podge.

Compare these to the Cast Iron Curtain Rods that Pottery Barn would like to sell you for $59.00:

Cast-Iron Drape Rod from Pottery Barn

Vs.

My Version

When we get to the new house, I'll hang them above the windows using inexpensive cup hooks painted black - super simple!

*A word of caution - these rods are not adjustable, so make sure you have the exact measurement of your windows before proceeding.  Also, these are for curtains that have a wide opening at the top!

The Fake-It Yourself Breakdown:

8 Fake Cast Iron Curtain Rods (Dowels $0.99, Clay $1.25, Washers $0.75, Paint, Glue & Modge Podge on hand)

Total Fake-It Cost:  $20.47, 8 Rods - Only $2.56 each!

Compare to Pottery Barn's Cast Iron Scroll Curtain Rods ($59.00 each)

Total Fake-It Savings:  $451.53 - Now that's just amazing!

Linking Up at Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, The Frugal Girls, Funky Junk Interiors and these other Great Parties!