Take A Can Of Gold Spray Paint.......

by Colleen Moulding
http://www.allthatwomenwant.com

Add some glitz to your decorations with just a can of spray paint. Choose 
silver for a cool ice palace look or gold for a traditional gleam scheme.

Below is a list of ordinary items that become beautiful Christmas decorations 
with a few thin coats of spray paint. Hunt around the house, not forgetting 
the craft and sewing cupboards and you will probably find lots more items 
to transform.

1). Pine cones. Attach a florist's wire and push into foam while painting. 
Pile into baskets or clear vases or attach a ribbon and real or fake greenery 
and use to decorate drawer and door knobs all around the house.

2). Dried flowers that are past their best come alive again with a quick spray. 
Split up inexpensive silk flowers, like a bunch of poinsettias and use with the 
gold dried flowers.and a few cones for a pretty Christmas display.

3). Ivy, whole strands to weave through decorations, wrap napkins or trail from 
displays, or single leaves to decorate wrapped presents or hand made cards.

4). Terracotta pots. Rub gently with sandpaper before spraying, add sand to 
the bottom and use as candle holders.

5). Spray small branches or large twigs before winding tiny white lights 
through them to light up a dull corner or even instead of a tree if space 
is a problem.

6). Make small bundles of twigs 3-4" long. Spray, leave to dry, then tie 
on to trees or swags with a pretty ribbon.

7). Spray pasta shapes for children to string, use as garland anywhere in 
the house.


8). Hot glue walnuts to each other to make little clusters that look fabulous 
when spray painted and can be added to wreaths, swags, anything!

9). Dig out those shells you've been wondering what to do with. Gleaming 
with gold they will look great on your holiday table or make an unexpected 
seasonal accent in the bathroom.

10). Large seed pods look superb sprayed gold or silver. Use them in floral 
displays to add drama.

11). Baubles and tree decorations that no longer match your scheme become 
useful again with a couple of light coats of gold or silver paint.

12). Apples and pears look gorgeous if you don't completely cover them. 
Add to mantle displays, swags and wreaths, indoors or out, but make sure that 
children know they must not eat them.

13). Baskets of any type look wonderful for Christmas fruit and floral displays 
when dressed up in their Christmas gold and decorated with a ribbon. To 
avoid the basket weave getting clogged up remember that two or three thin 
coats works much better than one thick one.

14). Wrap little wads of paper with delicate white tissue paper, then swoosh 
gold or silver paint over them, not covering all of the white, before leaving
to 
dry. Then tie on a gold or silver ribbon and use them to decorate the tree, 
swags, etc.

15). Spray large flat pebbles or chunky stones to catch the light sitting 
among your candles.

16). Spraying the outside of baby food or other small jars, makes an ideal 
home or votive candles to light your path or porch when visitors arrive.

17). Napkin rings that no longer match your table decor are easily transformed 
with a swish or two of your spray can. Add a coat of clear varnish for a longer 
lasting finish.

18). A set of mismatched photograph frames make a lovely display once 
sprayed, or an extra gift for Grandma if filled with family photographs.

19). Old artificial wreaths or tabletop trees can become beautiful again in 
minutes. Keep the spray very light for these, building up several coats to 
get the look you want or just swooshing over the tips.

20). Dough shapes. Use your cookie cutters to make star, tree, heart or 
moon shapes from salt dough. Make sure you make a hole to thread cord 
or ribbon through before drying in a very low oven or just leaving in a warm 
place for a few days before spraying. These look surprisingly opulent when 
added to swags or hung from the Christmas tree.



Note:
Paint spraying is best done outside in the open air as it can be very toxic. 
Even outside you will need to protect the area with plastic sheeting or even 
old sheets you no longer need. Small items can be sprayed inside a 
cardboard box with the opening facing towards you as the sides stop the paint 
going everywhere. If you do have to work indoors, make sure you open all the 
windows and wear a mask. Be especially careful to keep items that you have 
spray painted away from fires and other heat sources such as radiators.


Merry Christmas!

Colleen Moulding

http://www.allthatwomenwant.com
Copyright 2002


Colleen is owner/editor of http://www.allthatwomenwant.com 
a magazine and web guide for women everywhere covering home 
and decorating, parenting, saving money, organizing, gardening, women's biz.
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