Pages

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Simple Silver Spray-Painted Santa

**Be sure to enter my giveaway HERE!! :) Ends 11/15/10**



OK, now that Halloween is behind us, I suppose Christmas is free game??!! And yeah, for now, I am just going to skip right over Thanksgiving. Because I can! LOL

On a trip to search for some last minute Halloween items a few weeks ago, I spotted these little guys at the Dollar Tree. And while they have some nice shape and detail to them, they're...well... kind of... cheap and plastic. {Hence, I suppose, why they are at the Dollar Tree! LOL} And even though they do have some nice detail, it's kind of hard to see. (I'm not sure... maybe they are supposed to look like ice?). But I grabbed a couple anyway and thought... hmmm... maybe some spraypaint would help - yeah!!

Dollar Tree Santa and Snowman


Now, mind you, at this point in time, I have had very little experience with spraypaint. In fact, I've only used it twice. So when I say "very little experience", I really mean it!! LOL. The first time was when we used some Rustoleum Hammered Brown for our Patio Table Revival (see post HERE). The second time was when I used a can of white primer on a project that I have yet to finish (so I can't even say it was a successful application yet!). Two times - that is it! But I figured using some spraypaint on a Dollar Tree item would be minimal loss if I messed it all up, right??

Coincidentally, the very same day that I had purchased my figurines, I found a can of Krylon Fusion for Plastic in Metallic Shimmer on the clearance rack at Michaels. I had grabbed it thinking it would be good for something and sure enough... I knew it would be perfect for this project. So I pulled out my leftover Hammered Brown and my Silver Shimmer and got to work.

Leftover Brown and Clearance Shimmer

I set up Mr. Santa in a box outside (didn't want the Heela to give me the ole evil eye again like he did after I got primer all over the driveway during the above-mentioned un-finished project - d'oh!).

Do you believe I was carved from a piece of ice yet??

Then I gave him a coat of Silver and immediately followed that by a very light dusting of the brown.

Better?

I guess I was trying to go for a mercury glass kind of effect but it didn't really turn out quite how I expected it would. However, I like him! And I am surprised by what a difference the paint makes - it really brings out the details of this cute little guy.
  
See all my nice detail! It was hidden in ice before! ;)

Here you can see the brown "dusting"

A simply-stated, silver santa. Not too shabby! What do you think? Here is the before and after...


BEFORE

AFTER

I think he'll look great standing amidst all my Christmas decor! (Whenever I get it up, of course! *sigh* I am ashamed to admit that I still haven't even put the Halloween decorations away! LOL) Not bad for $1.00!!

I'm not sure if I'll do the same treatment on the snowman or not. We'll see!

This project was featured! Thank you!!




cg-holiday-button1.jpg


cross my hooks blog link


And Thanks for the shoutout!


Linking up to these parties:
Between Naps on the Porch
Polly Want a Crafter
These Creative Juices
Todays Creative Blog
Someday Crafts
Its so Very Cheri
The Thrifty Home
Passionaely Artistic
House of Hepworths
The Shabby Chic Cottage
Somewhat Simple
What Allie's Making Now
Cross My Hooks
Between U and Me
Saturday Mornings
Fingerprints on the Fridge
A Little Knick Knack
Be Different Act Normal



25 comments:

  1. What a cute guy and you are sooo right, his detail pops out with the silver paint. It makes him look a lot more expensive too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The paint did wonders for your Santa. Really looks cute.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love it! All of the detail was completely wasted on a clear plastic version. He is adorable, but you never would have known it! Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very pretty and much more modern! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a great idea to spray paint them. I love redoing stuff from the dollar tree. Its cheap enough for it, and just right to give a personal touch.

    I'd love it if you linked this up to my first ever link party Hooray for the Holidays! @ Cross My Hooks.

    I am popping by from Hookin' up with HOH :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kyra,
    guess what I'm doing tomorrow? this tutorial :)
    Thank you for participating at the linking party :)
    Maggie
    http://passionatelyartistic.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Whoa, what a transformation! I like it. I've been wanting to buy the shimmery paint or the hammered look paint.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great!!! Turned out cuuute!! I think you should do ol' frosty!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree...it really does bring out his cute little face a lot better. Great job. I wouldn't have thought to do this but now I want to run out to the dollar store. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  10. This turned out so great! I LOVE it! Thanks for linking up to Crazy Cute!

    www.betweenuandme.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Saw your santa at Mural Makers linky party. Super cute! I've just started with spray paint too! Wonder why it used to intimidate me? I think it's my new love!

    I'm going to keep my eye open for things like this to paint. It's great.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Using spray paint on these really brings out the details. Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ok. That is a fabulous remake! Love it!
    Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie! I can't wait to see what you have for next week!
    AllieMakes.Blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Santa looks so much better in silver! It's amazing what a coat of paint will do. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would have totally passed by the "before" santa if I saw him a the store. But not the "after" santa! You did a great job transforming him!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Kyra, I am stopping by from Moes place, Cross my Hooks, where she featured you, yayyy, and I had to come say hello. This is AWESOME, and I totally love it. Absolutely went from dull, and drab, to FABULOUS. I LOVE rustoleum, especially that hammer finish. Def do the snowman, he too will look a million times better. :)

    Oh and since you are on a roll with the link parties, and I am on a hunt for cool projects, you HAVE to come link this at my special party **6 weeks 2 JINGLE** its too perfect, and I need all the inspirations I can get.

    I am also your very happy newest follower. You got me with your awesome project, and your profile is so me, minus the working in the corporate world part, he he.

    Thanks again, Bella :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Came over from Centsational Girl's Holiday party! This turned out GREAT!! Love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great makeover! I think it looks like pewter. Very cool.

    ReplyDelete
  19. LOVE the santa! So simple. Don't you just LOVE spray paint?!?

    ReplyDelete
  20. I cannot believe the difference the spray paint made. I love it! I never would have thought Santa started as a dollar store find. Finished product really looks nice! Spray paint saves the world!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Kyra, I just had to FEATURE you girl, I loved this simple and adorable project. COme grab yourself a button, and display it proudly girl.

    Thanks again, for linking it to **Amaze me August** I love having you!!

    Bella :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment! I read every single one and enjoy visiting your blogs in return!