I’ve seen a few Etsy sellers use similar techniques for traditional plant markers, and decided to do a quick version for Halloween decorations!
Materials:
Old silverware
Newsprint of other lightweight paper
Black fine point pen
Colored pencils
Outdoor glossy varnish
Glitter paint (optional)
Paintbrush
Instructions:
1. Trace your silverware onto the newsprint. This way you know how big to make your designs.
2. Draw and color Halloween themed images within your traced outlines. Simple images work best—ghosts, pumpkins, bats, etc. If you don’t want to draw your own images, try using clip art or stickers.
3. Rip your images out, crumple them up and flatten them back out again. The torn edges and wrinkles will give an old, weathered look.
4. Use your paintbrush to apply varnish directly to the silverware where your image will go. Press your paper image down on the wet varnish and apply one coat of varnish on top. You might have to hold the image with one finger while you apply the first coat so it doesn’t move around. Let this first coat dry until tacky.
5. Apply glitter paint to selected areas of your images, if desired. Let dry.
6. Apply second and third coats of varnish. Let the second coat dry to tacky before applying the third.
Once the third coat is completely dry, you are ready to decorate your garden, potted plants and anywhere else you can find to stick these things!
Feeling ambitious? Create a silverware graveyard! Make all your images headstones, coffins, zombies & ghosts then arrange them together in one area.
As always, I’d love to see photos if anyone tries this project for themselves! Just post links to the photos below…
