Sparkling Candle Holders
If you can let your imagination stray a little, you can see that terracotta pots make excellent outdoor candleholders, protecting the flame from the slightest breeze.
You will need:
- Terracotta pot
- Paintbrushes
- Plaster
- Acrylic paint - 3 metallic colours
- Angle fitch brush [see design tip]
- Acrylic glaze
- Damp cloth
- Cling film
- Matt polyurethane varnish
- 2 varnish brushes
- White spirit
Here's how:
1. Use a paintbrush to apply a coat of plaster pink exterior paint to the outside of the pot. If necessary, applu a second coat when the first coat is dry.
2. Use angled fitch brush to paint copper metallic water-based paint around the rim of the pot and about 5cm down inside it. Leave to dry thoroughly.
3. Mix a small amount of strongly coloured glaze: add just a squeeze of burnt sienna artists' acrylic colour to about 10ml of acrylic glaze and mix together well with a brush.
4. Use a paintbrush to roughly paint on the glaze. Clean off any glaze from the dry copper rim with a damp cloth.
5. Holding the pot from the inside, take a pad of scrunched-up cling film and gently pat and roll it over the wet glaze, creating a crazed effect over the whole surface. Allow to dry thoroughly overnight.
6. To make a glittery top coat, mix a little sparkle dust into some satin arcylic varnish and use a varnish brush to paint it over the crazed surface, avoiding the metallic rim. The varnish will dry clear. For added protection, seal the pot with a coat of satin polyurethane varnish.
source: outdoor paint effects