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Creating a GLITTERY Nutcracker From a Thrift Store Find!

December 9, 2014 by Patti 8 Comments

Have you ever been out shopping when you’ve seen something that makes you proclaim, “I can make that!”?  I do that all of the time, as a few of my friends can attest.  Sometimes the things I think I can make turn out to be beyond my overly confident capabilities.  Other times I give a project a try and I’m rewarded with the taste of success!  This is one of those times.

Glittery Nutcracker After 027

I began thinking about creating my own glittery nutcracker after we attended last year’s performance of The Nutcracker Ballet in Seattle.  The nutcrackers in the gift store were so magnificent that I couldn’t resist buying one of my own.  Looking back, I’m so glad that I did because at the time we had no idea that that would be our last Christmas living in the Seattle area.  After bringing my nutcracker home I began thinking about all of the sad, old nutcrackers sitting in our local Goodwill Christmas Store. That’s when I decided I’d try my hand at creating my own Glittery Nutcracker.  After wading through an awful lot of nutcrackers I came across this little guy, whose face intrigued me . . .

Glitter Nutcracker Before 003

Today I’ll show you the transformation of a thrift store nutcracker into a colorful and glittery nutcracker!

Glitter Nutcracker Before 001

This is the way our nutcracker looked when we found him, in all of his traditional nutcracker colors.

Glitter Nutcracker 001This is the kit full of magic that I used to transform him into what he is today!

 Though there are a lot of  less expensive glitter sets than Martha Stewart’s, this set has the most beautiful colors of them all!  Plus, the glitter really goes a long way as you simply pour what shakes off back into the containers for future use.

Glittery Nutcracker After 040My daughter Bethany actually came up with the design and color choices for this nutcracker while she was home  on vacation last Christmas.

Glittery Nutcracker After 027She started the project by painting over the traditional red and black nutcracker uniform with pearlized and metallic paints (Martha Stewart Pearl Aquarium, Martha Stewart Metallic Sterling and Yellow Gold, and Decor Art Metallic Crystal Green)

Glittery Nutcracker After 012She left the chippy face and hands alone as they have so much character just as they are.

Glittery Nutcracker After 005Bethany used a paint brush to apply a thin layer of Martha Stewart glue creating a design of stripes on the jacket and hat . . .

Glittery Nutcracker After 006. . . and a triangular “skirt” on the lower portion of the jacket.

Glittery Nutcracker After 009After the glue was applied she simply shook the glitter onto the nutcracker, gently knocked off the excess and allowed the nutcracker to dry before going on to the next color.

Glittery Nutcracker After 032

Glittery Nutcracker After 014As you can see, portions of the nutcracker were left glitter free.

Glittery Nutcracker After 030

Glittery Nutcracker After 035

Glittery Nutcracker After 026I love her choice of jewel tones don’t you?

Glittery Nutcracker After 008Since Bethany didn’t have quite enough time to finish the project while she was home I added the final details, white glitter on the mustache and eyebrows, and the painting of the staff and base.  Hmmm . . . I guess you could say that this wasn’t really my success at all since she did most of the work!  I did  come up with the bright idea though!

Glittery Nutcracker After 034

You can see from the picture above how the glitter has” traveled” from the mostasche onto the face. That is a quick fix by gently brushing away the excess with a dry paint brush once the glue is completely dry.

Glittery Nutcracker After 004To set the glitter in place so it won’t rub off with handling, I used extra strength hairspray and lightly misted over the entire piece.  Krylon also creates a non-yellowing protective sealer called Make It Last!, but since the colors are dark I think the hairspray will be just fine.

Glittery Nutcracker 008

Here are a few more pictures of our glittery nutcracker with the rest of his soldier friends.

Glittery Nutcracker 011

Glittery Nutcracker 012

Glittery Nutcracker 010

Yes, that is the nutcracker from the ballet.  I still think he’s gorgeous!

Glittery Nutcracker 009

Glittery Nutcracker 005

I haven’t put  away my glitters just yet as I’m working on a special project for the fireplace mantle in our new home.  I’m SO excited to finish so I can share it with you!  I do hope you’ll come back to see the surprise!

What have you come across in your shopping that you’ve determined you would make yourself rather than buy?  How did it turn out?  Do the things you make ever include thrift store finds?  I find great joy in making Old Things New and I hope you do too!

Blessings,

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Filed Under: Craft Ideas, DIY, Gifts, Home decorating, Junking, shopping, Thrifting, Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, Crafts, DIY, Gifts, Home Decorating, Junking, Nutcrackers, Shopping, thrifting

« How to Decorate a Chandy for the Holidays
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Comments

  1. Pat says

    December 12, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Patti,
    I love what you’ve added to this Thrift Store Nutcracker, dear friend!!!
    When stationed in Germany, I adored the Nutcrackers!!!
    My sons were “spooked” by them,
    so the only one I purchased was a Nutcracker ornament of a US Army Soldier.
    Amazing the transformation a little glitter can make!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    Reply
  2. Patti says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    Very clever. I love your glittery nutcracker makeover. Quite a transformation.

    Reply
  3. Diane | An Extraordinary Day says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    Oh Patti….this is wonderful! And all the more special because both of you had a hand in his transformation. He is a wonderful complement to your ballet nutcracker. I love his froggy hat. What a treasure he is with all the wonderful memories.
    Thanks for sharing a bit of your Christmas with us at Project Inspire{d}!!
    Big Hugs!!

    Reply
  4. Candy S says

    December 16, 2014 at 8:52 am

    I love the nutcracker do-over. His glittery presence goes wonderfully with your ballet nutcracker and the rest of your collection too. I collect nutcrackers from the Goodwill store. Needless to say most look as if they came from the land of misfit toys. They need a bit of paint here and a bit of glue there, swords are broken and drum sticks are missing but I love them all just the same. I keep telling myself to get busy and take care of the needed repairs but time passes ad year after year goes by, but still, the fellas will gather in all of their ragtag glory to decorate the house once again. Maybe next year I will paint and glitter them up to restore some of their dignity.

    Reply
  5. Sherry says

    December 18, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    It looks great! Thank you for linking with HSH! Have a very Merry Christmas!
    Sherry

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Creating a Glittery Christmas Village says:
    December 16, 2014 at 10:09 am

    […] is the Martha Stewart glitter set I got last Christmas.  As I said in my Glittery Nutcracker post, there are less expensive glitters but Martha’s colors are the […]

    Reply
  2. A Christmas Tour of Our New Home says:
    December 18, 2014 at 7:47 am

    […] My nutcrackers are in the Entry Hall. I wrote about Creating a Glittery Nutcracker From a Thrift Store Find right HERE […]

    Reply
  3. Old Things New – When Your Stager Nixes Christmas says:
    December 8, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    […] This is my glittery nutcracker collection.  The two on the right were purchased.  The one on the left received a Thrift Store Makeover – complete tutorial HERE. […]

    Reply

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Welcome! I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti and I’d like to invite you to come in and take a seat in this creative space of mine.

I love the process of hunting for orphaned and cast off furniture (particularly my Chosen Chairs) and then taking the time to transform each piece into something new and beautiful. This process allows me to reflect upon my own story of transformation and blesses me over and over with each piece I redesign.

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