I'm so excited to bring you a very special Home for Christmas blog hop today, hosted by Hometalk.com and 
Hometalk and Country Living are two of my favorite places to go when I'm looking for a little inspiration, so when I got the chance to join them in this blog hop, I jumped off my couch and started looking for the perfect project. Turns out the one I was looking for was right under my nose, in the giant pile of Christmas decor sitting in my living room, which was the reason I was hiding on my couch in the first place!
When we brought out our Christmas decorations this year, I knew I had a tough decision to make. Years ago, for our first Christmas as a family, my mother-in-law gave us this beautiful Santa and reindeer candle holder set. It was in the traditional Fitz and Floyd style, and we loved it. Over the years, it became one of the first things we would put up as a family, giving it free rein down the middle of our table. But then, as our tastes and styles changed, it started getting harder and harder to find the right place for it. We love it, and it's a part of our family, but we just didn't know what to do with it anymore. We haven't used it the last couple of years, and when we dragged all the boxes out of storage this year, I started thinking of getting rid of the decorations we don't use anymore.
Call me sentimental (you wouldn't be the first), but I just couldn't let go of this one. Something had to be done.
And what do I do when I don't know what else to do? I paint!
I decided to cover this piece in white chalk paint to make it look like unglazed ceramic. And for good measure, let's add a little bit of gold.
Now our family keepsake fits our current style, and has its rightful place back as our table centerpiece.
You can find ceramics all throughout thrift stores and flea markets, if you'd like to try this yourself. I recommend checking first to make sure your piece doesn't have high resale value, before you paint over a masterpiece. An actual Fitz and Floyd antique set could be worth a lot of money. (I did a little research and found a single reindeer listed on Ebay for $225!)
Once you've found a piece you're happy to transform, all you need is white chalk paint (I like DecoArt's Chalky Finish), small and medium size soft brushes (such as watercolor brushes), and Liquid Leaf.
Then it's a simple matter of painting, and then painting some more. No artistic skills necessary!
Here's how to makeover your own ceramic decor:
- Cover your work space and clean your figurine well. Be sure to get any dust out of the nooks and crannies so the paint will adhere well.
- With your medium sized brush, apply a light coat of chalk paint. If you put too much paint on, it might crack while it dries, which also gives a cool crackle effect, but not really the one I was going for here.
- Check to make sure you've covered all the surfaces and allow the paint to dry well. Your piece will look pretty sloppy at this stage, but another coat of paint will soon fix that.
- Apply a second coat of chalk paint. At this point I was thinking that spray paint would have been a lot easier, but chalk paint is what gives it that ultra-matte finish that looks like ceramic. Does anyone know if spray chalk paint is a thing yet? Because it needs to be!
(This guy was a little indignant at his paint bath.)
- Once the paint is completely dry, use your small brush to add touches of gold wherever it makes sense to you on your figurine. The Liquid Leaf is so much fun to use and really looks like liquid gold when it's dry! I thought my reindeer could use gold antlers and bells. (I debated giving one a red nose, but I think that's a different project.) You can add as much or as little gold as you like. That's what makes this project so fun.
- Let the gold dry, and give your brand new figurine a place at the table. Or mantle. Or wherever you need an elegant piece of ceramic decor!
Now I think my Santa and reindeer look a little less commercial and more like they belong in a nativity scene as wise men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. For me, it feels more like the real meaning of Christmas, which just makes me happy.
Now that you've mastered this project, check out #homeforchristmas wherever you happen to be hanging out on social media!
Carole West @ Garden Up Green says
Great idea - I love the white - so clean and crisp. The gold detail was just enough to add a little sparkle.
Meredith says
Thank you Carole! I little gold goes a long way! 🙂
Mary-The Boondocks Blog says
Meredith those are beautiful. What a transformation that is. The chalk paint is perfect for this sort of project, it adds just enough bulk to make it look like ceramic. And the gold is the crowning touch. A very elegant look. Btw, I believe there is such a think as chalk paint in spray. I live in the boondocks so I can't get a hold of it, but you can, so go and search for both of us. Happy Holidays to you and your family !
Meredith says
Thank you Mary, and happy holidays to you and yours as well! I'm glad to know about the spray paint, I'll have to check it out...
hollybertone says
Hi Meredith - Visiting as a fellow contributor to the #HomeForChristmas blog tour. I love how you kept your cherished memories while still making the "old" decor new again and to your design style. LOVE!!! Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season! Hugs, Holly
Meredith says
Thanks so much for stopping by Holly! Merry Christmas to you too!
Marie from The Interior Frugalista says
What a difference a can of paint makes! I was looking at some dated holiday figurines at Goodwill today and passed them up. Dang, regretting that now. Pinned to share!
Meredith says
I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me - passing up something in the thrift store because I didn't have a vision for it, then going home and being struck by inspiration! Oh well, next time. Thanks for visiting and sharing!
jacquiegum says
Oh I just love the white! So beautiful and I used to have almost everything Fitz and Floyd in my house at Christmas, including the full set of Christmas china!
Meredith says
Thanks Jacquie! Wow, you had quite a collection! I do love Fitz and Floyd, they make great collectibles and are so colorful and festive.
Susan cooper says
Country living is one of my favorites too! You can get great ideas and inspirations there. And isn't it fun to repurpose and update old items? Yours turned out great!!
Meredith says
Thank you Susan! I do love "rescuing" old things. And who doesn't love a good makeover every now and then?
Doreen Pendgracs says
Thanks for the lovely post, Meredith. I am not handy with respect to crafts, but I love and cherish any handcrafted decorations I have ever received. They are SO special! Happy holidays to you.
Meredith says
Thank you Doreen, and to you as well.
Sabrina Quairoli says
You did a beautiful job! I really want to try the chalky finish paint. I love that you added the gold accents. This gives me ideas on what I can paint instead of get rid of for my holiday decor. Thanks for sharing how you did this.
Meredith says
You should try it Sabrina. It's really easy to work with, on just about any kind of surface, which is what I need, since I hate doing surface prep for painting!
Ken Dowell says
I'm impressed you were able to hold onto that piece for so long without breaking off a bell or a reindeer antler. My boxes of Christmas decoration get whittled down by loosing one or two to breakage. The white looks really nice.
Meredith says
Thanks Ken! Yes, I felt like it had earned it's place as an heirloom, simply by surviving over the years!
Jeri Walker (@JeriWB) says
What a great idea. My one Christmas decor quirk is my collection of nutcrackers, but your chalk paint idea is one I could see myself using on a couple of other everyday knick knacks as a way to refresh them a bit.
Meredith says
Oh how fun, my daughter is starting to collect nutcrackers too! yes, this is a specific Christmas set, but it got me think what other ceramics I could cover. Now when I go by the thrift store, I keep my eyes open...
Kim says
What a great way to keep a family treasure...update it and make it your own! Fabulous!
Meredith says
Thank you Kim! Yes, it seemed much better than just giving them away.
Catarina Alexon says
Wonderful Christmas decorations, Meredith. Love them! You must have had fun making them.
Meredith says
Thanks Catarina! Yes, this was a really fun project!
William Rusho says
These bring back memories for me. My parents made ceramics in out basement, and my mother sold them in her beauty salon. There favorite this time of year was making ceramic Christmas trees, which had a light in the center, the light would come out of small glass filaments, similar to what we used as kids in the Light-Brite toy.
My father had become blind, but he used to pour the molds and bake the ceramics in the kiln. My mother would then paint the ceramics.
Years later, after both of my parents had passed, my sister was visiting a high end antique shop. She saw one of these Christmas trees, and sure enough my parents markings were on the base. When she asked about it, the owner told her the story of a BLIND Artist would made the ceramic trees, and painted them only from memory, of course the owner was charging a lot of money for the ceramics. My parents would get a kick out of that story.
Meredith says
I love that story William! It's funny how things get translated over time. What a great memory. 🙂
Jeannette Paladino says
Meredith -- you remind me of one of my best friends. She is so creative in repurposing old pieces and taking paper, shells, sparkles, etc. and turning them into decorations, cards and so forth. I would never have thought of painting the figurines white with gold trim. I like what you did very much.
Meredith says
Aw, thank you Jeannette! I don't know why I'm always drawn to old things, I just hate to see things that still have potential just go to waste.
patweber says
Talk about a makeover. Meredith, how beautiful in giving that old F&F new life. Your creativity and talent can keep those memories right in front of you during the holidays. Merry Christmas.
Meredith says
Thank you so much Pat! And Merry Christmas to you too!
heraldmarty says
What a wonderful project and WOW what a big group in this Blog Hop! I look forward to exploring some of the other sites but before I go want to let you know that I love all of the things you're doing with your site. I know it's been a lot of work but it's obviously well worth the effort. 🙂
Meredith says
Thank you so much Marty! That means a lot to me!
Sonja @ SustainMyCraftHabit says
What a transformation! Amazing what a little bit of paint (and just a bit of time) can do!
Meredith says
Thank you Sonja! I am always amazed at the power of paint! Happy New Year!
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
Oh how I love that you updated one of your favorite Christmas pieces! The gold makes it look awesome!
Meredith says
Thanks Ashley! Nothing like a little touch of gold to glam things up. Happy New Year!
Malisha Mishel says
How sweet! I have fallen in love with it!!! I'm an avid DIYer and always try to be busy with some new projects. Was searching for a unique idea to start. The Ceramic Decor made me stop and crazy to make it asap! In a hurry to start. Wish me good luck, Meredith! 🙂
Meredith says
Thanks Malisha! You will love the effect, and good luck with the project!