I’ve had my share of craft fails, so I love it when an idea I’m not sure will work turns out better than I expected.
I’ve been working on finally finishing and furnishing our patio, and one of the last steps has been to add accessories and plants.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by DecoArt and includes affiliate links. I only recommend companies and products I love. Read my full disclosure policy here.
My latest project is this galvanized bucket I transformed into a pretty planter with patina using DecoArt Americana Decor Color Stain, which is available in 21 gorgeous colors beyond basic brown.
Now, I know stain is designed to be used on wood, and I have an upcoming project where I used it as intended. But as I looked at all the pretty stain colors available from DecoArt, I wondered if this product might stand up to a little off-label experimentation.
I decided to test my hypothesis on a rusty galvanized bucket I picked up from a yard sale.
Since DecoArt Americana Decor Color Stain includes a sealer, it has a viscosity that is somewhere between stain and paint. It’s semi transparent, unlike paint, so I thought it would create a unique finish that would highlight the variegation in the galvanized bucket.
I used two different shades of Color Stain — Chambray and Turquoise on the galvanized bucket.
First, I used a soft cloth to apply a thin coat of Chambray over the entire bucket. Once that was dry, I dabbed on Turquoise in a mottled pattern all over the bucket.
Again, I allowed the stain to dry completely before adding a bit more Chambray stain, randomly, as highlights. Because it is stain, it does take longer to dry than paint.
The finished effect is subtle, but quite pretty.
It gives the galvanized bucket a patina of age. It reminds me of a vintage blue sap bucket — but at a much cheaper price!
Be sure to check out these other outdoor projects using DecoArt products:
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