Want to decorate with a White Christmas theme this year? Look at your existing decorations and see what you can make over yourself to fit your new theme!
Many items can easily be transformed with paint, like this Holiday Tin Luminary!
This tin luminary was an awesome gift we received several years ago, but the pretty blue shade didn’t match with our decor.
Each year, I would try and force it to fit in with our color scheme without success.
That’s no longer the case, thanks to a quick paint transformation!
What do you wish your unloved or unused decoration looked like?
This is the best question to ask yourself, because then you’ll know what you want to do. Search the internet or Pinterest to find inspiration and tutorials to help you transform your decorations.
If this blue holiday tin luminary was actually a chalk painted luminary, with some rusted edges, I’d probably purchase it in a store in a heartbeat.
So, let’s make that happen with paint…and a Sharpie.
A Sharpie? Yes, indeed!
Step One: Paint the tin luminary with chalky finish paint. I used DecoArt’s Americana Chalky Finish paint in the color Everlasting – a pretty, warm white color.
When painting the front of the luminary, I put a piece of cardboard behind the open design to avoid getting paint glopped into the crevices.
And look what happened: I ended up with a snowman stenciled onto the cardboard!
A totally unexpected surprise! And yes, you can bet I’m going to turn that into another decoration!
How many coats of paint?
I ended up painting a total of 4 coats of chalky finish paint, letting each coat dry before applying the next one.
How many coats of paint will depend upon what color is underneath, what type of paint you’re using, and what color you’re painting the item.
In a nutshell? Do what looks good to you!
Step Two: Make some faux rust on the edges of the tin. With a Sharpie.
I shared this technique here before, when I made my Leprechaun Rustic Plaque last Spring.
Take the edge of a brown Sharpie – the original size – and slowly pull it towards you along the edges of the tin. Repeat a second time if you want a bolder line.
For the top of the luminary, I did the same thing, and then very slowly brushed the side of the tip along the outer lip of the tin to emphasize the border.
The main trick to this technique is not to rush. Do it slowly, and this step will actually go fast.
Does that make sense? (Practice on the edge of some cardboard to get the feel of it.)
Don’t forget to go over the handle lightly, and any other edges where rusting might naturally occur.
Let dry, and that’s it!
A makeover in two steps with paint and a Sharpie!
Happy holiday crafting!
~Laura
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