A few months ago I ordered an inexpensive urn for a wedding design.
It came looking like something I got for a dance trophy when I was ten years old. So shiny, so tacky.
No good for this classy white & gold affair. What to do?
I gravitated toward the mercury effect seen in many DIY tutorials, but since this container was plastic, not glass, something else had to be done.
I couldn't have been happier with the way it turned out with Design Master spray paint and this water-resist effect, (check out
THIS VIDEO) so I snapped pictures for.. drumroll.. my very first tutorial. Feedback is VERY welcome!
Materials you will need:
1. Desired containers. The urn shown is from
here. Relatively inexpensive, silver and gold finishes available, and two different sizes. Also, it is LIGHTWEIGHT, which is so nice once it's filled with water, foam, florals, etc. This process also works on glass, metal -- you name it.
2. Spray paint. Shown is Design Master ColorTool Spray in Brilliant Gold, which is $10
here, but probably less expensive at a craft store. This particular item is useful because it can be used for multiple materials, even fresh flowers.
3. Small spray bottle with water. Self-explanatory.
4. Paper towels. Check.
This really is so easy. Here we go.
ugly duckling plastic urn about to receive a makeover ^
After gathering your materials, make sure your container is clean and paint-prepared. Find an area with good ventilation and protect the surroundings with newspaper, cardboard, etc. I used a cardboard box.
Taking your spray bottle, spray one side of the container until the water starts to bead together in droplets -- but does not run in streaks. The larger the water droplets, the more "textured" your paint will appear.
Lightly spray the water-treated area with paint. Start with less, then add more as needed. Allow the paint to bead up with the water droplets to start creating your mottle-y pattern. After a few minutes:
Take a paper towel and gently dab off the water droplets and paint that have collected together.
Allow the paint to dry for a few to several hours, depending on the amount of product used. Turn the container around to repeat on the other side (water spray--paint--dab off). For a layered effect, this process can be repeated multiple times on the entire container.
Just look at that sheen! So much improved from the previous eye-offending First Place trophy, I can't gush enough. This would look absolutely lovely at an outdoor gold-themed wedding with the sun hitting it just like in these pictures. Or on a shelf near a window as home decor.
Here's how this guy actually showed up, full of blooms at the wedding at The Woods on Ninth. Please excuse the lower quality of the phone picture.
You would never guess that underneath that golden glow was the tacky trophy, right? (shudder).
Now go Goldify many things.
