Creative Ways to Update Your Evolving Christmas Decor Style

While sorting through my Christmas decorations, I realized how my taste has changed over the years. I have used many styles: some traditional, some whimsical, and some elaborate. This year, I've decided to keep it simple and use what I already have. To find inspiration, I looked at magazines and YouTube and was immediately drawn to the antique brass bells everyone was using in their decorating. Even though I wasn't buying, I was curious about the price. I found similar ones at Pottery Barn, and just as I thought, they were pricey.

Lucky for me, I have a collection of bells that I can refurbish to look like the Pottery Barn bells.

Here's what I did:

These are the bells from Pottery Barn, just gorgeous. The string bells were priced at $49:50, and the larger ones were $149 for the set.

In my collection, I found two string hanging bells and six larger bells.

After removing the cording from the string bells, I was ready to start. With a small sponge, I applied gold acrylic paint in a stippling technique to each of the twelve bells including inside of the larger ones (all products will be listed at the end of the post). It would be perfectly fine to leave the bells this beautiful gold color, but I wanted them to look like antique brass.

Using the same sponge I used to apply the gold paint; I began applying antiquing wax evenly to the entire bell. Next, I dipped the corner of the same sponge in the black paint and dabbed it around the bell, then started stippling until blended. Keep looking at the bell and adjust: if it is too dark, add a little gold paint; if too light, add the dark wax or black paint. There is no wrong way to do this, just keep going until you are satisfied.

I did not like the white and gold cording, so I twisted jute cording to replace it.

I love the way the bells came out. It was easier than I thought and very satisfying.

Before and After

Products Used:

DecoArt Metallic Paint Glorious Gold

Waverly Chalk Paint Ink

Waverly Antiquing Wax

Ashland Twine Gold and Natural

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