8 Amazing DIY Plastic Animal Transformations

As I’ve mentioned here and here, I love transforming items with the help of spray paint. It’s so inexpensive, it’s so easy, there are so many color options, and it gives new life to something that would otherwise be discarded. And, these adorable animal transformations are no exception. I love all of them so much and want to try all of them.. right now!

The pig as a place card for a rustic wedding, the elephant bookends, the gilded magnets… they are all so amazing and inspiring. Now I just need to decide which one I’m going to try first. I think it’s going to have to be the magnets! They are just too fabulous.

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DIY Painted Tin Cans

Ever since I did those spray painted pumpkins for Thanksgiving last year, I’ve been looking for any excuse to transform things with spray paint. And this is one of the easiest and most inexpensive transformations that I’ve done. Think twice before tossing that empty tin can in the recycling bin because that can be a custom vase, pencil holder, make-up brush holder, utensil holder or planter (i.e., pretty much anything you want it to be) within just a few minutes with a few easy steps.

With either painter’s tape or simple masking tape, tape off the portion of the can that you don’t want to paint. Any size you want. You could even do stripes if you wanted to, but I just did a solid area because I wanted the can to have a dip-dyed effect. Also, make sure the tape along the edge that you’re painting is pressed smoothly against the can or the spray paint will bleed under the tape.

Don’t over spray to get a full coating on the first time. Spray paint works best with several thin layers built up on top of each other. This is especially true when working with the tin cans because if you over spray, the excess paint might drip into the ridges of the can.

The can in three various levels of being painted. First coat for the white, second coat for the purple and final coat on the mint green.

Removing the tape after the spray paint has dried. Last step, deciding how you’re going to put these cans to use!

DIY Lacquered Pumpkin Place Cards

It’s just about a week until Thanksgiving! Are you ready for the big feast? I’m in full prep mode since I’m hosting my family this year. Luckily everyone is bringing a side so I only really need to focus on the turkey and stuffing. Phew. But before we get to the eating part of the holiday we need to make things look pretty, right?

Place cards are always a nice way to add something a little extra to the tablescape. I’ve seeing this technique of creating a lacquered look with clear gloss spray paint and I decided to give it a try this year on mini pumpkins. I love how they turned out and now I may be “lacquering” everything.

1. Clear gloss spray paint  2. Spray paint – Any color, any finish. The clear gloss is what creates the shiny lacquered look  3. Mini pumpkin – Any color would work but make sure they have stems  4. Bakers twine  5. Metallic pens. 6. Mini key labels

The steps are pretty simple but being patient is key. You need to do several light coats of spray paint rather than trying to get it all done in one shot. If you spray too much at a time the paint will drip and you don’t want a drippy pumpkin. Luckily the paint dries pretty quickly so you only need to wait 10 – 20 minutes between each coat.

To start, set up somewhere outside or well ventilated and then lay something down on the ground to catch any of the excess paint from the spray paint. I set the pumpkins up on old grocery bags but newspaper or magazines would work as well.

Like I said above, do several thin coats to get the desired coverage. This is after coat three and it’s just about perfect. I did one more just to be sure.

Finally, spray one to two coats of the clear gloss. The plum paint I used was gloss and you may think about skipping the clear gloss coat but please don’t. Think of it like a top coat over your nail polish. It adds more depth and a more finished look.

I let the pumpkin dry for 24 hours before I brought them inside and they still had a bit of the spray paint smell so it may be good to let them air out for 24-48 hours before you plan to use them at the table. After they are ready to go, just write your guests’ names on the key labels and string them to the pumpkin stems with twine. Voila, homemade lacquered pumpkins.