Once upon earlier this morning, I had a metal star that looked like this:
I bought this 28 inch metal star at a garage sale about 5 years ago for $1. Loved the price, but I wasn’t crazy about the finish. Still, I slapped it up on my wall and forgot all about it. It was up high enough that the unfortunate color and scraped-off paint didn’t really look too bad against the beige wall it was hanging on. As you may or may not know, I’m going gray in my house. The metal star came down so the gray paint could go up.
I will give you a preview of what this star looks like now:
Kind of looks like something that you would see in the aisles of Hobby Lobby, doesn’t it? Do you wanna know how I got this look? So easy! First I spray painted the whole thing black and once that dried, I sprayed on 2 coats of a nice shade of aqua:
I tell you, spray paint these days dries so fast. Of course, the reason that I painted the star black in the first place is because I wanted to be able to distress it and have black showing through the aqua. You already knew that, right?
To distress projects that I paint with water-based paints, I usually rub the areas that I want exposed with a damp rag or scrubbing sponge, but water really didn’t have the same effect with spray paint. I ended up going with pure acetate nail polish remover. I messed around using the scrubbing sponge…
…but ended up liking the look achieved by using Q-tips and cotton balls the best. As the acetone hits the paint, it tends to smear the black beneath into the top coat so I messed around with that a bit :
Here’s some practical advice: be smart and wear gloves. Trust me on this one.
After re-spraying the portions that I over-distressed (which was way easier than I thought it would be) I favored using the Q-tips. Be prepared to use a lot of Q-tips to avoid a smeary look. Really, it is so super easy.
Perched on the same screw that it originally hung from, my updated star really shines. Never to be ignored or forgotten again. I must say that I L*O*V*E the finished project.
What do you think?
********* Linking up to these awesome parties!*********
Love the star, but what I really want to know is the shade of gray you are using on your walls! What paint store, and what is the name of the color of gray? I brought home gray paint swatches from Lowes, and they are all too blue! I do want a slight hint of blue, but not a grayish bluish color!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! So far I have painted the family room, dining room and halls Sherwin Williams “Repose Gray” in a satin finish. Stop by my house the next time you are on town. You can also Google “images” with the paint color name. I’ll add pics to my blog soon.
LikeLike
Love the star! I’ve been wanting some for awhile and never come across them. And for only $1!!?!? Lucky you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have always loved these metal stars. Pure luck! Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Like the finished product the color and the shady looks so contemporary. Good tip about wearing gloves to to do this clever project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Inez! I always end up with messy hands. I should know better by now!
LikeLike
This is so pretty. I love that teal, that would work great in a vintage kitchen with that aqua color. Thanks for posting. Hello from Frugal Family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why, thank you! And, thanks for hosting the link party!
LikeLike
I’m a sucker for any and every shade of turquoise. LOVE the new hue you picked!
My hands look similar, too, after a painting project. I always tell myself that I’ll be careful…ah, the best of intentions, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I love the color as well, and the fact that it comes in a spray paint…even better!
LikeLike
Love that blue! I have been on a spray paint DIY kick lately too! Love it!! Found you at the This is How We Roll Link Party!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spray paint is just so fast and simple to use. Thanks so much for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This turned out great! Reminds me of one time I distressed a whole cabinet with fingernail polish and some cotton rounds. I just grabbed what I had at the time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingernail polish… That is awesome! They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
I have one of these stars too, but it is a nice galvanized silver! it goes just about anywhere I put it! I will save your tip though, for when I find something else that needs a paint job!
LikeLike
Galvanized silver… nice. I wouldn’t touch it either. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
I love how you brightened up this star. Super cute. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we’re looking forward to what you have to share next week. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lorelai! I love visiting your party each week. Thanks for hosting!
LikeLike
That was a great find and I love the color you used to transform it. Love it. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thanks so much! I appreciate you stopping by!
LikeLike
It looks way better now! Thanks for sharing this to the Bloggers brags pinterest party! Pinned!
LikeLike
I don’t know what I would do without spray paint. Thanks!
LikeLike
Great transformation! Thanks for linking up #HomeMatters Linky Party. Hope you will be back this week! Rhonda
LikeLike
Thanks! You can bet that I will!
LikeLike
That looks so cool, I love the colour you chose and the distressing has worked a treat. I need to find a large metal star… 🙂 x
LikeLike
I love your phrase, “…has worked a treat”. How sweet! Thanks so much!
LikeLike
I found a store that I am definately taking you to the next time you visit. It’s called “Not too Shabby” It should be called “Sharilee’s Dream Palace”
Love the star! We forgot our star that we had on the front/outside of our Palo Cedro home.
Maybe some of my friends could dress up in black cat burglar outfits and sneak over there during the dark of night while humming the Pink Panther theme and nab it. That would be a fun adventure to tell about at dinner parties…It would hang on our home in Granite Bay, as a testimonial of the nuts I miss in Palo Cedro. ……Hmmm. Just puttin it out there….
Let me know when you go to Sac. Temple next. I will meet you there.
Patrice
LikeLiked by 1 person
Patrice, you crack me up! Not sure I could pull off the whole thievery thing, sorry! Yes, we need to get to Sac. soon. Ican’t wait to go to Sharilee’s Dream Palace! Girls Camp next week. Miss you!
LikeLike
This looks great! You’ve probably moved on with your star decor by now, as I see this post is from 2015. Anyway, I have three red metal stars that I’ve had forever. I still like how they fill up a wall, but I want to change them up. What do you think about doing this technique with off-white paint for a sort of rustic French cottage look? Thanks for your post, which came up while I was googling around for an easy way to do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting my blog, Cami! As you can tell, it’s been a while since I have posted…life got in the way of blogging.
I would absolutely paint them white and I believe there is power in numbers. One star is great, but 3 distressed white stars? Oh, yeah, now we’re talking! I would love to see pics when you are done!
LikeLike