When we spotted these odd little metal cups for $1.50 a pop at Goodwill (which you may have noticed in our recent Halloween post) we decided to take them home for a speedy little spray paint makeover. We fell in love with the little cut-out shape and since we already had yellow and white spray paint around (thanks to this project and this project) we got right to work.
Our concept was to make the inside of each cup yellow and the outside of each one white, just for a little two-tone fun. So we thought up a few ways that might work when it came to accomplishing that effect. First we debated spraying the whole thing white and then covering the outside with painter’s tape and then spraying in the inside yellow. But we reasoned that it would be harder to spray the inside of the cups (and the painter’s tape might peel off the new-ish paint) so we decided to start by spraying the inside of each cup with yellow paint, which of course got on the outside a bit as well:
Then instead of messing with painter’s tape we decided to try rolling up a piece of white paper and slipping it into each cup (to hopefully shield the yellow spray painted interior from the coat of white spray paint that we then applied to the outside).
Here’s what it looked like after that coat of white was added:
We had no idea if it would actually work, so when we removed the rolled up piece of paper from each cup after the paint dried, we were pleasantly surprised to see that we were left with a nearly perfect result:
And it honestly only took about three minutes to complete the entire project (not counting the five hour drying period that we allowed for after spraying the yellow and before slipping in the white sheets of paper in and spraying the outside white).
We love the idea of using them for flameless candles so the yellow interiors are illuminated without the risk of setting our whole house on fire. You know, because that would be bad.
What about you guys? Are you spray painting anything in a two tone finish? Are you morally opposed to faux candles because you think they’re tacky (you know those small battery operated fake-os)? I must admit I resisted them for a while but for things like this they’re tres handy.
Ellen says
So smart! These turned out great
Sarah says
Those look great, but did you check first to see if they were solid silver? Cups like that are usually solid silver, and they typically have a glass that slips inside of them. Not sure if the spraypaint would permanently ruin a precious metal but it certainly made them look more crisp & contemporary!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
We actually believe they were solid silver (they were very bendy and fragile, nothing thick and weighty) but they were so scratched and tarnished we liked giving them some new life with paint!
xo,
s
Tracey says
They’re so pretty! I love them.
Melissa @ HOUSEography says
I resisted until those flameless guys got so realistic it was hard to tell when you stood two feet away. Then it was a no brainer especially with kids and a waggy dog. Here is my flameless candle and candy corn concoction! Perfect for this use when little hands can’t resist a piece of candy.
http://houseography.blogspot.com/2010/10/candy-corn-decor.html
Lisa says
Okay, what am I doing wrong when it comes to spray paint!? I see your fabulous results but I just can’t seem to achieve them over here-the coverage I’m getting (even with multiple coats) stinks. Think a spray paint video tutorial might be in the future?
PS-Maybe it’s the cheap-o paint I’m using. Which spray paint brand do you guys prefer?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, it’s the cheap paint that’s the problem! We spring for $6 or $7 Rustoleum paint that goes on really well. Many thin and even coats is the key (and keeping the nozzle 8-12″ away also helps). The goal is to “mist” them with paint as opposed to really spray them.
xo,
s
Pam @ diy Design Fanatic says
Fabulous job!Every year I give almost everyone on my Christmas list a decorative candle/candleholder. My mother in law can’t burn candles anymore due to health problems, so I send her the flameless candles instead. I think they are great in places where kids or pets could knock them over.
Taylor says
These look great, but I must admit I am getting a little tired of all the recent spray paint posts! Can’t wait to see what’s next :)
YoungHouseLove says
Next up: we’ll spray paint our entire new house! Just kidding. Maybe.
xo,
s
Carolyn says
I love the finished product. I want to make some of my own now…
melarse says
They are so adorable – really cool!
Which flameless candles are you using these days? I just saw some at Target and was thinking I bet these are what the Youngsters are using. Please share :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ours were actually a gift from my mom. She’s a big Target shopper so that could totally be where they’re from!
xo,
s
Andie says
These are amazing!!! Great work as usual. Your creativity and visions for projects are so inspiring.
Tracy Lee says
I can’t wait until someone comes out with a Safe-For-Pregnant-Women spray paint. I have a huge list of projects I can’t even start on because I’m oh so fat and jolly with a baby! Curse you, paint fumes!
(on the plus side, I will have a great holiday season because I’m already squishy and won’t be worrying about gaining “Christmas weight”, since I’m basically doomed anyway!)
Allison says
I am so inspired! I’m heading to Goodwill this weekend to drop off some items, so I’ll just pop inside as well. Hopefully I’ll find something that necessitates the purchase of some spray paint, too.
I’ve used that Rustoleum spray paint that purports to stick to any surface. It’s high quality, but I’m frustrated by the lack of shades available. Do you guys use that stuff or just regular Rustoleum spray paint? There seem to be more shades available in the regular line.
YoungHouseLove says
We use that special sticks-to-anything stuff if we find it in a color we like and if not we use the regular Rustoleum stuff (it’s a good quality brand so we usually go for it when we can). Ultimately we just try to avoid cheap-o $2 stuff and we have good results.
xo,
s
renee says
Wow! I love that 2 tone paint job! Have never tried that technique, but will definitely use it in the future.
Letty says
I would’ve never, ever, ever thought of doing something like that, and I instantly love it! You… you’re good, you!
Jen says
You guys have done several Goodwill-makeover projects lately. Do you stop by there regularly, or did you happen to find several great items on one trip? I don’t feel like we’ve heard you talk this much about thrifting in the past, at least not for little stuff like this.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
We actually grabbed the candlestick and the cups during the same trip along with the frog. Then we took our sweet time tackling each project. We do often go thrifting (we got our pedestal table in the sunroom along with the white armchair in the den and the coffee table in the living room from local thrift shops on the cheap). So you can find some stories about those trips back in our archives!
xo,
s
Becky@OrganizingMadeFun says
This is genius! I still cannot believe how much I have done around her with spray paint! Just another reminder that we need to be creative and not spend a fortune on stuff at the store!
Pat says
Hey, I don’t know how picky you guys are about your images being used other places on the internet without credit. I ran into this and I think it may be one of your images. http://www.homemakeoverdiva.com/matching-wood-flooring/ Anyway, I feel like a tattle tale, but I just figure that I would want to know. If you don’t care just ignore this :) Thanks for all you guys do. I stop by every day!
YoungHouseLove says
That is our picture! Good eye!
xo,
s
Hege says
fantastic idea! Love it !
Hege says
LOVE IT !!!!!
Chicago Cuisine Critique says
I love this look! Great job (as usual)!
Tashia says
Ooh! I just remembered I snapped up a whole host of battery operated candles at Target after the Christmas holiday- for 75% off! I’m hosting a party on Saturday and that way I can light up the space without fear that 40+ people will knock a candle over and the house will go ablaze!
Liz says
What do you think these “cups” were in their previous life?
YoungHouseLove says
Someone emailed us to say that they used to have glass sleeves and they’re collectibles (sometimes going for $200+). Crazy huh?! We love them just as much with some paint and without the glass though!
xo,
s
Jen Z. says
Oh so lovely Youngsters! Love the colors together and I love the flameless candles. We have some in our home. I love them. We bought them at Target. I love that place, as I know you two do as well. We have some small votive flameless candles and we even have the flameless teacup candles as well. We use the teacup ones for the Christmas stuff. Great to centerpiece decoration on table or mantles. And we love how the flicker. They have come a long way and cheaper too. ;)
erica p. says
Great find, and I love what you did with them! Way to be resourceful with the rolled up paper trick – I doubt I would have thought of that – for some reason, with these types of projects, I tend to make things more difficult/complicated than they really need to be!
sophia says
silver…and you *painted* them rather than polishing? wow. Personally, I’d have gone for the polish. But then, I’m not into the all white stuff and very much into old silver.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yeah- it’s totally a personal preference thing. We don’t really own anything that has to be polished (even our wedding “china” is just some basic white plates from Bed Bath & Beyond). We thought at a dollar fifty a pop for those cups it wasn’t such a crime to paint them anyway…
xo,
s
Molly says
I am IN LOVE with these.. I would buy them instantly if they were in a store!
Tammie says
You guys are amazing. You have an eye for finding the diamond in the rough. Once again great job!
Jennifer says
I resisted the fake candles until I had kids. I still burn a few real candles after they are in bed but the faux candlelight is nice when they are awake. The thing that jumped out at me when I saw this project was that this would make an awesome Christmas present for my daughter’s teacher :-) Now I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for the necessary cups…
Liz says
Darn- your glass sleeves could have been worth $200+, but now they are spray painted… could have sold ’em in exchange for the Coco Mirror :) They look awesome though.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’s true. It’s a cruel world.
xo,
s
Kristen says
We use flameless candles for night lights in our kids rooms when the electricity is out. Much safer, and happier sleepers.
Sara says
I think flameless candles definitely have their place, I used them under electric insulators (couldn’t have used real candles anyway, there isn’t enough oxygen under there for a flame) – http://housebella.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/electric-insulator-decor/
I also picked up that sweet deal that someone previously mentioned, $20 for a 30 pack of tea and votive flameless candles at Costco.
You two are so good with the spray-painting! You have inspired me, I’ve done a few spray paint pieces in the past few weeks. I use the expensive spray paint, but they still don’t come out quite as well as yours. Maybe practice makes perfect?
Judy says
I am pea-green with envy (name that movie) over your Goodwill store. Our Goodwill store has NOTHING that cool. Nothing.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I can’t name that movie. Stumped. Anyone?
xo,
s
Mike @HA says
That looks so good! Great idea for painting the inside and outside a different color. Now I need a cup.
Amber says
I would have never thought of painting them two toned. Great job! They look great.
Lindsey Portugal says
Those are absolutely beautiful. I am a candle nut! I have so many real candles that are on tables or hung on the wall… I also have plenty of fake candles as well(which I love). They even have fake candles that also produce a scent… which amazes me! I have never seen something like this project… I now want to try it myself..
Danielle says
Awesome! I am definitely putting this on my to-make list!
Alina says
Love it, love it, love it
Eve G. says
LOVE this idea, especially the 2-toned effect. Thanks for all the great ideas – your inspirations are spread throughout my house.
Kelly says
Such a great find! I find myself being jealous at all the cool stuff y’all find, I can never find anything. Instead of buying a new house, you can come to mine, re-do everything and blog about it. Deal?! :) Great job! Always look forward to your posts.
anna says
Amazing! I finally took the plunge this week after reading about it on your blog, and I’m officialy a spray paint fan! I spray painted two old picture frames, an old candle holder, a terra cotta vase and a few other things.
All old things from my garage all new and sparkly white!
Thanks for the inspiration guys :-)
leah says
i resisted the plastic candles for awhile too, but you are right in the right situation they are super handy. We do alot of outdoor dinner parties and hang paper lanterns. Real candles would be quite a fire hazard so we use the battery opperated ones. Plus, when you have kids, sometimes flames are just not gonna work. :)
Melissa McGrath says
I love this! I must use it.. However, the Goodwill stores in my area do not boast this many cool things.
Sima says
I like the two toned effect, the yellow and white is a nice color choice. On the subject of battery operated candles. We have cats so we really don’t want to risk using candles in the house. I did find candles that look real with a wick instead of the light bulb at Walmart years ago but can’t find them now. Not sure why they stopped selling them, because noone would know they were fake. At least with the fake ones they don’t make a mess either which I like. Still on the hunt for real fake looking ones,wish I had bought more than just the two I have when they were in stock. Oh well:-(.
Charisa says
This is so cool! Would have never thought of the two tone effect, great job!
kelly says
you just have such a great eye to see what something is capable of being! the colors are so cheery yet so chic!
Jen@LifeByAnInch says
love the two toned look! wish we had used battery operated candles for our outdoor wedding reception this past July… it was a huge struggle to keep the candles lit with the wind and unfortunately candles were a BIG part of our centerpieces.
GreenInOC says
@Judy – GONE WITH THE WIND!
(what? I totally knew that and totally didn’t cheat by doing a quick google search!)
Rachel May says
Such a great combination of thrift store finds and sheer ingenuity! Very nice. And yellow is my favorite color:)
Rachel May
Allison @ House of Hepworths says
Brilliant. You guys are so creative!
~Allison @ House of Hepworths
julie says
great idea!
reminds me of these babies i’ve had my eye on at C&B:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/candleholders/raj-candleholder/s654585
you could probably do the same thing with a reflective paint.