How to Make Rusty Christmas Bells...without Rust.

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When Christmas time comes around, it is always a pleasant surprise when I head up to the attic and find the grape vine wreaths that were twisted into form from the orchard

(the years that I actually take the time to do them, of course).

I worked 4 of them up and was happy when they all sold over the weekend at the craft sale.

Here is one I decorated with some shiny red bells I purchased at an after-Christmas sale.

The assortment of bells I had were a variety of red, gold, and silver,

just the generic type of metal color.

I wanted some rustic bells for some of my crafts,

so I decided to paint the ones I had to make them look rustic.

Here is the process:

I mixed about 1 Tbs. of Plaster of Paris with about 1  1/2 Tbs. brown paint and splashed in about 2 teaspoons of water. 

The texture of the paint should be very thick.

 I added a bit of red because my brown looked a bit too dull for a rust color.

(I also did a second batch of bells with a little more red, to give variety to the coloring).

 

 (If the paint seems too liquid, adding a little Plaster of Paris will thicken it.

When experimenting with this, trial and error will give the look one wants).

 I used a larger paintbrush that has been squished so much with use that the bristles are spread out;

this makes it great for pouncing around on the bell.

 It is very helpful to have hooks or wire attached to the bells and a place to hang them so the painting can dry.

The bells should be dry in a half hour or so.

 The paint is very durable with the Plaster of Paris in it, but it has a dull finish,

so I put a coat of water-based polyerthane on them.

Mod Podge or any sealer would work.

 Here are some of the bells.

The bell in the front left is actually a rusty bell I had purchased, just to give some comparison.

This trick is useful in viewing those cheap after Christmas sale bells in a new way.

Perhaps it will even give a jingle to your step.

Thanks for stopping by.

I'll be back again in a day or two to build a cinnamon ornament snowman with you.

Let it SNOW!

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