IN THIS PICTURE: I ANTIQUED SIMPLE, PLAIN INEXPENSIVE SILVER CHRISTMAS BALLS (I bought after Christmas last year after the holidays and got for 75% and more off)

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In this picture you can see the antiquing on the plan silver glass balls I bought and a few silver ones I had from LoweÂs sale the year before (and some from supermarkets). You can even pick out the tarnishing I did on the cone silver trees ($3 sale after Xmas from Walmart). I took the bottom off and sprayed water with a little bleach in it and then rinsed them to stop the corrosion. They have tarnished even more after being stored and look like the more expensive ones they sell now at MichaelÂs for $16 each!

Here is a link that might be useful: My Home Projects Blog

ANTIQUING TINSEL GARLAND
A cone tree made from tinsel (that I painted to antique the chrome color) I repurposed a cone tree (wire frame with some other decor on it)by pulling off the old stuff that might get in the way of this look, and then just wrapped tinsel around it (around 14" tall and took two regular sized garlands).
Then, I used the same method as the bead garland above. I used the paint and applied it to the finished tree, just dabbing where the most sheen was until I had toned it down enough for a little sparkle and less chrome look. I got both garlands for less than $1 in after Christmas sales last year. Even if the color of the existing decoration is green, red, any color, you can change it to match your new set of decorations.

Here is a picture of how they can look together when redone to work together in a NEW updated look!
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Here is a link that might be useful: My Home Projects Blog

You are such a doll for posting this for all of us. I looked at the Hobby Lobby store and they had some instock. Not the exact silver color you mentioned tho. The orni's you did .. did you paint the inside or outside of the balls?? Again I just love the look you have created!! Thanks for sharing your talent with us.

bright199,

Thanks, you are sweet for writing such a nice comment!
I bought silver balls and then sprayed water with bleach(a very small amount) inside the ball and then rinsed them out right away so that it would not over-tarnish the silver, then let them dry. Some of the clear balls I got, I put the spray nozzle inside the hole at the top and just did quick squirts. I also swirled glue on the outside of balls and then sprinkled glass glitter.

Krylon makes a paint that is like a mirror finish, and I can't find it around here, so I will have to order it and that will be my NEW toy for after Christmas! Martha Stewart used it to make 'antique' mirror like finishes.
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Here is a link that might be useful: My Home Projects Blog

Mary Ruth, thank you so much for sharing how you painted these! I'm inspired to try this now. I haven't been able to find the exact color garland that I wanted, to I'm going to try painting it.

Thank you so much, Mary Ruth. I will be retrieving my silver Walmart trees from the basement and will be trying your bleaching tip! Your decorations look lovely, and your kindness shines, too.
Carol

thank you so much.. this was so informative. I just purchased silver bead garland today from Home Depot and thought they were a little too bright..and with this technique..it will be perfect. Your decorations are beautiful.
TFS
jane

This is an awesome thread!!! Thank you so much! I have a thing for silver/mercury glass this year after seeing one of Cattnap's photos.

Did you paint each of those silver beads to the left in the first pic??

MaryRuth I LOVE how your ornaments turned out. I MAY give it a try! Thanks for sharing. :)

dreamgoddess,
I am so glad you were inspired! It does take a while, but it is faster than running around town to gather all that matches and it is a more custom look!

livestrong,
Oh I am so happy that you could use the information to make your decor more to your liking!

sheesharee,
You are welcome! I really have a 'thing' for mercury glass! Yes, I held the beads with plastic gloves on and just kept going... Well it was not long before they were done!
There are a few places the paint didn't cover, but that is OK, I don't mind a little sparkle here and there.

catiecupcake,
Thanks! You must post a picture when you try it! :)

I am so happy that we can find ways to SAVE MONEY and have what we want! A little creativity (and sharing) goes a long way!

Here is a link that might be useful: My Home Projects Blog

Here is another picture of a change I made for this year. I have added Leland Cypress real greenery (from my yard, I will add fresh at Christmas time, this was just for taking pictures now) and exchanged my larger deer that I keep on my dining table. I added a few berries where the green was concentrated for that Christmas feel, and it took the metalic mantel down to a warmer vignette.
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Very creative Mary Ruth, and I could see your technique being used even on other colors to tone them down a bit. I've antiqued lots of wood projects over the years, but it had never crossed my mind that I could antique ornaments and tinsel garland. I always love your vignettes, you have a real knack for creating them. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas with all of us. Luvs

Thanks Luvs!
With a limited budget and a million dollar eye, I have to get creative to have the things I love to look at!

Many thanks for taking the time to walk us through these projects! Just yesterday, I was in town and stopped into a very upscale gift boutique looking for the Thyme oil for my trees (no luck, though). The entire shop was decorated in (new) mercury glass ornaments and decorations. It was stunningly beautiful, but the prices were staggering! You've given me a much more reasonable option to get that look in my own home. Thanks!
Lynn

Lynn,
Thanks for sharing that, makes me feel better. It is a lot of work to 'make your own' stuff, BUT in this economy, makes sense! I am a farm girl from Nova Scotia, so thrift was inbred into me! Money goes so much further with bargains and repurposing!

mary ruth ~~ you are so kind & generous (not to even mention your talent & creativity!) to share all this information with us! ~~ my head is spinning, thanks to you (grin)

phyl

Mary ruth, thanks for all the techniques and tips. I love all your silver vignettes - very nice. Lover your tinsel tree too. You are right, making it yourself takes time but its so much more fun that way!

Mo

phy,
Thanks! I didn't mean to make you dizzy!

Mo,
I really get into it, I HAVE TO be creative and make something or I SPEND! ha ha

Gosh, and I just bought a tree at Home Goods that looks a lot like yours. LOL. Now I'm wondering if I can make one.
I would like a pair and didn't want to spend the money for 2 of them. ($16 each).

hugs, Karen

Mary Ruth, hope you will show us how you use that mirror spray paint. Kathleen had told us about it awhile back, but I'm not sure if she has tried her's yet. Isn't it great that they keep coming up with so many great new paints? Luvs

mary ruth - love what you have done - I am doing some vintage ornaments and vignettes this year and this will fit in perfectly. Thank so much for the instructions.........adding to my list of things to do....

Lynne

Karen,
You mean the mercury glass one? Last year they were selling those without tarnishing at Walmart. This year I have not found any not tarnished. So, I guess you are paying for that faux finish! You could get your Michael's coupon and then go buy one from there for 40% off! They are sold out at the Michael's near me. The stores have not stocked up this year, lots less for sale because of the economy!

Luvs,
OH I sure will! I have not gotten mine yet! Had to order it online. I can't wait to play with that! I want to eventually make a folding screen with antiqued type mirror and I am hoping that will help me to accomplish that!

Lynne,
Oh thank you! I can't wait to see pictures!

The link is to a picture of a mercury glass 8" plate on eBay and the bids are over $50 now without the large shipping costs! The stuff is getting so expensive

Here is a link that might be useful:

Beautiful, Mary Ruth..

Luvs, I tried at Michael's, and they told me they are no longer carrying Krylon. I had a feeling since I have a raincheck for months for it, and they never got it in. I could only afford it with the 40 off coupon. It is a very small can too!

Mary Ruth, your things are beautiful, thanks for all the tips.
I saw your trees at Home Goods Thurs. I never would have noticed them if I hadn't seen yours!
I use fresh greens from my yard on my mantle too...I put them in floral oasis so they last through the season.

Mary Ruth, I meant the tinsel tree is like what I bought at Home Goods.

My Michaels is still carrying Krylon, wonder if they are going to discontinue after their case sells out? Darn.
Tho Walmart has some of the specialty ones too I think.

I bought the gold webbing to play with and LOVE it. Makes a piece look like its been marbled.

hugs, Karen

Kathleen,
Thanks! I am so glad I got the trees when I did! (those mercury glass-look ones). Thanks so much for the oasis tip! I put mine on the mantel quick for a picture. And when I do it up for the holidays, I will use the oasis! I appreciate your tip!!!

Karen,
The tinsel tree, I am glad you got one! The tree was 1/2 off at Michael's when a lady came up to me and said are you getting anything not on sale (in the line at the register cause she wasn't going to use it) and I wasn't, but said 'I can if I have that coupon'! She smiled and gave it to me. So, I left the line and went and got the tree. So, I paid $4 and some change for it.

I am going to spray and glitter some star anise spice (looks like a star, pic attached. I got it for $3.49 some time ago for this purpose, smells like licorice) and then put them in that tree for ornaments and a bit of bead garland too I think.

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Well aren't you sooo smart!! How creative to use anis as star decorations!!!! Please post another picture when you get it all decked out!!! I may have to get some.

I was in Crate and Barrel yesterday. Antique ornaments were everywhere!

It was 91 degrees here yesterday. Tied the old record. We had dinner outdoors. Supposed to reach 92 today. Ooooh, the weather outside is frightful, but my dear . . . la, la, la.

Mary Ruth, I realize that you must be so busy right now, but I'd love it if you could start a new thread with more how-to's on creating mercury glass-like ornaments and decs. I was wondering if other, non-silver or aluminum items could be made to look like mercury glass. I'm seeing many arrangements in magazines now with the real thing, but they're so expensive! I'd love to create some of my own. I was wondering if I could use another color of glass or whatever. If you first sprayed it with the looking glass paint and then antiqued with the silver leafing? I'm stumped at how to achieve that worn through look, though.
Do you have a link to Martha's site where she uses the Krylon, by any chance??
BTW, I saw that Krylon looking glass paint in Lowes on the spray paint aisle yesterday.
Lynn

Lynne, you beat me to the Lowe's for the Krylon suggestion. I was really pleased to see they are carrying that brand since I couldn't live without the 1311 matte clear spray for my painted projects. Walmart has some Krylon products, but not sure about the specialty items.

Mary Ruth and Karen, could we make a tree similar to your tinsel one by using a tomato cage and silver garland? Or something similar? They are very pretty.

I'm still loving the idea of toning down the shine on some of these things. I can't even remember how many times I've looked at extra shiny garland and things and wondered if it was pretty or "tacky" because it was so "bright". Now I know a way to tone it down a bit yet still have the added glitz of it.

Luvs

I was at Lowe's today and there was NO Krylon, the paint dept guy told me that Walmart carries it, not Lowe's. I told him I saw online that they carry it at Lowe's! He said 'they lied', so I won't be asking him any questions anytime soon! They didn't have it at Walmart either.

YES the tomato cage is a GREAT idea as a frame, since a lot of the cone trees have a cage interior anyway!
I used two 9' garlands to cover an 18" tall cone tree.

I had some shiny silver paint and tried it on a piece of glass today, it comes out gray (shiny on the wrong side of the glass, not up against it. Waiting for my mirror paint to arrive and try that on glass.

About the directions for projects using the Krylon Looking Glass paint
links:

directions for ornaments on the Krylon site:
http://www.krylon.com/projects/holiday-seasonal/mirror-swirl/index.jsp

http://www.krylon.com/projects/holiday-seasonal/tree-trimmings/index.jsp

webbing sprays:
http://www.krylon.com/products/webbing_spray

More about looking glass paint:
http://www.krylon.com/products/looking_glass_mirror_like_paint/

A video on the Martha Stewart show:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article...ss&rsc=image_1

Bumping this one up.