Face Lift

Super quick and easy project today!

We’re taking an old, “ugly is a strong term” vase:

And turning it into something beautiful, with a touch of character:

I found this vase at the Goodwill and liked the theory of it, but not so much the colors, etc. I decided to throw it in the cart, just in case I could find a use for it someday. It may have cost a dollar or so, but after a little creative thinking and a simple “face lift”, I think it ended up being well worth the money!

Fortunately, the “how to” of the project is probably the easiest to date. In fact, I think there’s only one step to getting the look…

Step 1 and only: Spray Paint it. I wish there was some big secret, but really, that’s all it is! In terms of the paint, just give it a few coats (I did not sand it first and it seemed to be fine. Depending on your item, you may want to give it a quick once over with some sand paper to help the paint stick.) With spray paint, “less weight, more reps” is the way to go- thin coats to avoid dripping and at least two or three of them to make sure it’s all covered in whatever color you are using. Also, you are not going to want to do this in colder weather (read the can for recommended temperatures)- the cold air will cause the paint to bubble and not dry smoothly.

Note: I did not spend too much time worrying about the inside, as it will never be seen while on display. The top is a bit drippy because I was getting impatient, but really, who cares? Not I.

Another Note: This vase happened to have a raised pattern already on it. If your project of choice does not have a texture like this and you want one, you can try a DIY raised pattern on your own! Try this:

• Grab a hot glue gun
• Glue on whichever designs/patterns you want to your piece
• Let dry
• Spray paint!

You may even be able to do this with Elmer’s Glue, but I’m thinking that a hot glue gun will be less runny. However, Elmer’s Glue may be easier to control, while designing. If you try it, leave a comment on the post so others can see what worked and what didn’t!

Lesson Learned: Just because something doesn’t look desirable at first, doesn’t mean that it has no potential. When shopping around, keep an open mind because you just might find a similar “trash to treasure” situation like we have here!

Ever transformed something with spray paint? Do tell (leave a comment) the story!

Happy Shopping Scavenging!

-Leslie

Update: Looking for more spray painting adventures? Check out a similar post here.