Don't worry, I haven't started the holiday decorating just yet. Spray painting weather is quickly fleeting and I wanted to make sure I squeezed this project in before it got too cold.
Remember this craftastic reindeer I acquired a few months ago? My grandma coerced me into taking it and although goofy, I knew I could transform it into something more in line with my tastes.
First, I ripped off the flimsy neck ribbon, googly eyes and puff ball nose. The eyes left a bit of glue, so I gave them a quick sand. The ears were a little loose, so I pried them off too. I intended to reattach them, but then I realized the reindeer looked less cartoonish without them. Who knew under all that junk was a slightly sophisticated silohuette?
I wanted to leave the antlers unpainted, so I masked them with painter's tape and some newspaper.
Then I gave it about three coats of Valspar spray paint in a shade called Churchill Hotel Vanilla (satin finish). Strange name aside, it's a nice creamy white without a hint of yellow.
After the paint was dry, I noticed Rudolph was looking a little plain. So I picked up this gold and silver jingle bell garland at Dollar Tree to make a necklace/collar.
The garland was pretty short, but it was the perfect length to go around the neck three times. The ends of the garland had loops on them, so I hooked the loop on one end over the first bell on the other to secure it. So easy and no glue or adhesive involved. The best part is that I can take it off at any point. I love things that are easily reversed.
I think that little bit of glitz was just what it needed.
I haven't decided what I should put in the shoebox-sized body yet. Probably small wrapped gifts as we get closer to Christmas. I have to put it away between now and then because a certain toddler thinks this is a ride-on toy.
This is such a dramatic makeover that it warrants side-by-side before and after photos!
P.S. As I was taking these photos in a very small, clear corner of our living room, I turned around and just had to laugh at the mess I was excluding from the photos.
See the reindeer in the lower left corner. More about what's in those giant boxes in a later post!