We’re back with another Monthly DIY Challenge. This month, our theme is “metallics”, and we’re showing you how to easily create a faux galvanized metal finish with paint.
I picked up this pair of metal watering cans at a yard sale last summer. I love old watering cans, but the finish on these didn’t match my style at all.
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I recently saw this faux galvanized metal tutorial on Curb To Refurb and decided to try something similar.
I started by spray painting the watering can with this gray spray paint to create a plain gray base.
I put a few different colors of paint on a paper plate. A metallic silver paint, a creamy white paint, and a black paint. I had Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White and Graphite, so I used that for the white and black paints, but you can easily use inexpensive bottles of white and black acrylic paint instead. (I also put a light gray paint on my plate, which you can see in the pic below, but I didn’t end up using it).
We used an old chip brush, and starting with the metallic silver paint, we just barely dipped our brush into the paint then dabbed it onto the paper plate to remove the excess. You can see in the picture above that there was very little paint on the brush.
I pounced the metallic paint all over the can. Sometimes just pouncing, sometimes smearing it around a bit with my brush, and sometimes using a paper towel to remove a little. It’ll start to look something like this.
Once you have a full coat of metallic, use the same method to add some of the white and black paints. Add the black and white paints a little more sparingly than the metallic silver though. I was really just dabbing and smearing the paint wherever I felt like it needed it. The black and white paint give the finish highlights and lowlights and it’ll start to look more galvanized. At this point it should start looking like this.
I added another light layer of metallic silver on top, just kind of feathering it over the other layers of paint. At this point I liked the way it looked, but I thought it would look more authentic if I made it look a bit rusted and aged.
I used this gel stain to lightly brush over the piece, concentrating on the areas where I felt the can would naturally rust over time. It’s easy to go overboard with this, so go slowly. I just barely dabbed my brush in the gel stain then immediately dabbed almost all of it off on the plate before painting it onto the watering can. After the gel stain was dry, I sprayed the whole watering can with a light coat of Krylon Matte Finishing Spray to protect the paint.
I also decided to paint that little center square with chalkboard paint that I had in my stash. I used this chalkboard paint.
What do you think? It really does look like metal in person. I was honestly surprised at how easy it was. Especially since this was the first time I’ve ever tried to get this kind of finish.
Ready to see the rest of the metallic challenge posts? Check out the pictures below, and if you see one you like, just click it to see the full tutorial.
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Related Posts:
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: 11 Tips For Beginners
Is Chalk Paint Really No Prep? What You Should Know
THat looks like the real thing! Great job!
Thanks so much, Lindsay!
Amy – love, love, love this project! What a beautiful transformation. We love the power of paint!
Thanks ladies! And I totally agree with the power of paint :).
This looks amazing! It looks like metal, no doubt about it!
Thank you, Jenny 🙂
This is such a great idea! I love how they turned out!
Thanks Katie! <3
I seriously thought these were real metal! What a great save 🙂
Thanks Emily!
Amy – you are a master of paint – I totally thought that was actually galvanized metal. You are a true artist and that chalkboard feature area is just the cutest!
Thank you so much, Erica! Such a sweet comment :).
Would have never known they were naturally that metal color. Great job.
Thanks, Alicia!
This is the BEST faux galvanized finish I have ever seen! You did an amazing job, Amy! I totally love this makeover. I need to try that matte finishing spray sometime, too. Thanks for the product tip!
Thanks so much, Bre! I actually surprised myself with this one. I was afraid it was going to end up looking like the feather/sponge painting technique that was on my bedroom walls in the 80’s :).
Saw this on Hometalk! I love the new (old) look! Nice tutorial.
pinning!
gail
Thanks so much, Gail!
Oh my gosh, you are so talented. This looks completely real!!!
Thank you so much, Jamie!
WOW… that is gorgeous!!! I love how you bring new life to outdated decor! 🙂
Thanks so much, Michelle!
Wow those are beautiful Amy! You did a great job and they do look galvanized! I’ll have to give this a try!
Cat
Thanks, Cat! 🙂
Wow! Your finish is amazing. It looks just like galvanized metal. And the chalkboard label is just beautiful. Pinned!
Thanks so much, Kati!
Amy, love, love this. It looks so much like metal. You did a great job!!! Can’t believe it’s the first time you tried this. Beautiful!
Thanks so much, Donna!! 🙂
I love how it turned out. You made it look really easy, and it does look like a galvanized pitcher.Thanks for sharing your technique, pinning!
Great job Amy! It’s hard to believe it’s the same watering can. I love the addition of the chalk paint and the tulips. I am so ready for Spring. I hope you are having a great week. Take care, Tara
Thanks, Tara! Hope you’re having a great week too :).
Wow, Amy! You really did an awesome job on this project. I thought it was galvanized. Best thing — you’ve got two of them! 😀 Take care, Cynthia
Thank you so much, Cynthia!
This is so pretty and what a wonderful job. Looks so realistic.
What a beautiful looking watering can! Your faux finish looks AWESOME! I need to give this technique a whirl – thanks for the great tips! And thanks also for linking up to The Pretty Project Party…I hope you’ll come back by next month, too!
I love it!!! Great job. Thank you for sharing the tutorial.
LOVE this! Can’t wait to try it!! Thanks for posting!!
This is awesome! I want to do this to black hanging planters…will I still need to paint it gray? Can I use the black as my base color?
I think it would work with a black base and just layering the other colors on top :).
I think these are great, but I need to let you know that intentionally or unintentionally, the linkn to the original post by Carrie does not go to her site but goes to a third party trying to download software (at a cost).
Emma, thank you so much for letting me know! I just fixed the link. I really appreciate the heads up!
I think that is an awesome job that you did! I am wanting to do my cabinet doors in the laundryroom to look like the old tin from a barn roof, without the rust, just the galvenized and rippled look. I am going to try this. Thank you for the how to 🙂
I love that idea! I hope it works well on your cabinets!