Cassie Bustamante

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How to Make Gold Animal Plant Picks

April 16, 2014 by Cassie 42 Comments

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This week on Primitive and Proper is brought to you by plant accessories that are painted gold.  Or at least it should be, because that’s what you are getting again here today!  Monday I shared with you some gold leaf hand lettered flower pots and today, I have an easy and whimsical project, gold animal plant picks!  Actually, my friend Katja told me it doesn’t get any better than a giraffe on a stick.  I replied that I suppose this project is basically the corn dog of home decor– pure indulgent joy on a stick.
I am going to share with you exactly how I made these guys!
You will need:
Plastic animals (I found mine at a flea market, but you can also purchase at any hobby, craft, or toy store)
Cardboard Box
Gold spray paint (I prefer Rust-Oleum’s Metallic Gold)
Drill and two bits- one super skinny and one barely wider in diameter than your skewer
Wooden skewers
Scissors or plant snippers
Hot Glue
1. Clean off your plastic animals (if you thrifted them like me) with warm soapy water and let them dry.
2. Lay your animals on their sides on the bottom of a cardboard box.  Spray paint them on this side and allow them to dry.
3. Flip the animals onto their other side and spray that side, allowing them to dry.  Once they are painted check on both sides for any missed spots and make sure you get those.
Here are mine, all dry in their box and waiting for the next step!
4. Using a teeny (not sure what size I used!) drill bit, drill a hole about 1/8-1/4″ into the bottom of your animal.
5. Using the bigger bit, widen the hole with the drill.  (It’s easier to do it with the lead hole because it’s very hard to drill with a larger bit into a teeny plastic animal; trust me on this).

And just for kicks, I thought I’d show you the owl… I had to drill sort of an inappropriate hole!!!  Watch out for gold owl pellets!

Anyhow, where was I before I was distracted by golden poop?
6. Using heavy duty scissors or plant trimmers, cut your wooden skewers to your desired lengths.
7. Using your hot glue gun, place a dot of hot glue in the hole you made in your animal.

8. Place your skewer’s cut end into the hole with the hot glue, leaving the sharp pointed end out as that will poke into the soil.  Hold it straight in place while it dries and hardens.

9. Stick them in plants and admire their quirkiness.  The two below are my favorites!

10. Show them to your daughter who says “Wow, Mommy!  You made those with brass animals!”  Think to yourself, “Way to go, Rust-Oleum, with the best quality metallic spray paint ever.  You make plastic look like real metal.”

I just love this giraffe!

And behold…. the owl with the precious golden pellets.  Me wants the precious!

I have a bunch more animals that I painted gold that were slightly too small for this project, so I am thinking of making photo holders, much like the horse place card holders I made.  Remember these guys?

What do you think?  Can you picture them on a mantle or shelf holding old photos?
Oh, and I think I should rename the blog something like “Paint All the Things Gold”.  I can’t get enough.  Midas has nothing on me.

I also would love to find some bigger animals to create some awesome planters like my friend Caitlin….
Isn’t this the coolest?

Have a great day!  I am off to decimate some more plastic animals all in the name of style!
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Sharing here: Craftberry Bush Outdoor Extravaganza
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Filed Under: Craft, misfits (other craftiness), Porch, Spring, Summer

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Comments

  1. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    April 16, 2014 at 10:32 am

    You definitely have the Midas touch girl!!!! I love it – this is SUCH a fun and whimsical idea. I’m particularly impressed that your little pumpkin knew what “brass” was…..you have taught her well!

    Reply
  2. Julia Konya says

    April 16, 2014 at 11:20 am

    Love love love them so much and might have to make some myself.

    Reply
  3. [email protected] says

    April 16, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    I’m afraid you are going to paint me gold in july!

    Very cute!

    Reply
  4. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    April 16, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    Those little gold critters are adorable!

    Reply
  5. Hetty says

    April 16, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Super Cute Cassie! Will make those for sure this summer.

    Reply
  6. reFresh reStyle says

    April 16, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    These are so cute, I am raiding my grandsons toy boxes 😉
    xo,
    Debbie

    Reply
  7. Kelly says

    April 16, 2014 at 1:52 pm

    Now that’s cool, now I need plastic animals… My husband always says if its not nailed down… It’s not safe from spray painting… Lol

    Reply
  8. Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says

    April 16, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    That is SUCH a cute idea! Love the quirk factor! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jane Craske says

    April 16, 2014 at 2:16 pm

    Lovely! I want these all over the garden. I can just guess what small one will do when she spies them.

    Reply
  10. Bliss says

    April 16, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    You’re Cassie Doolittle just in a different way than talking to the animals.

    Reply
  11. Angela Santaniello says

    April 16, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    These are awesome & I’m cracking up over the owl. Darn me and my immaturity. 😉

    Angela @ Number Fifty-Three

    Reply
  12. Keya @ Vintage Prairie Style says

    April 16, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    oh my, these are about the cutest thing ever. my hand is starting to twitch as i resist the urge to swipe some of the kids’ plastic animals and go crazy with some gold spray paint. would they miss those toys, really, would they???

    Reply
  13. Gretchen says

    April 16, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    Katja is very wise. I tried and tried to think of something better than a gold giraffe on a stick, and I couldn’t do it 🙂

    Reply
  14. Katja @ Shift Ctrl ART says

    April 16, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    Well, I am in love. You already know that. What a great great project Cassie. Love it 🙂 I wonder what one could make out of golden owl pellets now. My mind is racing with ideas 😉

    Reply
  15. Ali Richardson says

    April 16, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    SO fun! I love all things gold and all things Cassie 😉 XO

    Reply
  16. Carmel - Our Fifth House says

    April 16, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Um…..I see gold horses in my very near future. 😉
    Pinned!

    Reply
  17. 17 Perth says

    April 16, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    Genius! And absolutely love gold paint! Haha.

    Reply
  18. Laurie from Laurie Jones Home says

    April 16, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    These are adorable! I may have to make a few of these!!!

    Reply
  19. Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says

    April 16, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    These are so much fun! I love the giraffe and Katja’s corn dog comment is still making me laugh haha

    Reply
  20. Gabbi @ Retro Ranch Reno says

    April 16, 2014 at 5:16 pm

    Ahhhhh, SO cute!! I love the giraffe…it’s my favorite!! 🙂

    Reply
  21. Dear Emmeline says

    April 16, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    you’re a gilding machine girl! The little owl is so cute!

    Reply
  22. [email protected] Chronicles of Home says

    April 16, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Love the owl the most 🙂 What a fun idea – jewelry for your plants!

    Reply
  23. Allison says

    April 16, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Those are so fun and everything is better with a touch of touch! As you know I am drawn to the sweet giraffe.

    Reply
  24. [email protected] says

    April 16, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    Very cute!! You know I love them. Every potted plant needs a buddy 🙂 xo Kristin

    Reply
  25. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    April 16, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    You definitely have the Midas touch, Cassie! I LOVE this project — so quirky and fun, but the gold makes it glam, too. Can I please have that owl?? 😉
    xo Heidi
    PS — you need to do a goose that could lay golden eggs ha ha!

    Reply
  26. Twice Nice says

    April 16, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Very, very clever! Your brain must rarely rest! 🙂

    Reply
  27. Kahli says

    April 16, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    I love anything gold! And I love animal figurines. Put them together and I really love it.

    For anyone that is looking. Sometimes Michaels has rubber/plastic zoo animals. I bought a good amount over the summer.

    Reply
  28. Dana Frieling says

    April 17, 2014 at 12:31 am

    You have the golden touch, my friend!

    Reply
  29. Tiffany says

    April 17, 2014 at 3:10 am

    You never cease to amaze me Cassie. Now I need a giraffe on a stick in my life.

    Reply
  30. House Envy says

    April 17, 2014 at 11:15 am

    these are so clever and adorable!

    Reply
  31. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    April 17, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    Lol! Gold spray paint and plastic animals are like peanut butter and chocolate – meant to be together 😀

    Reply
  32. [email protected] says

    April 17, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    LOVE these! They look absolutely amazing!

    Reply
  33. Milla says

    April 17, 2014 at 7:55 pm

    We did the same thing for a circus birthday party. Wonderful!

    Reply
  34. Kim @ NewlyWoodwards says

    April 18, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    Oh the possibilities! I just want to paint everything gold and put a stake in it.

    Reply
  35. For My Love Of says

    April 18, 2014 at 11:48 pm

    You are a dang hoot! I just made a gold rhino with a giant paperclip growing out of his back for holding notes on my desk. Now surely the next step is a few gold animals hanging out in my houseplants. It just must happen! Who would pass up the opportunity for gold owl pellets?

    Reply
  36. Erlene A says

    April 19, 2014 at 10:31 am

    Love the owls and the animals are so whimsical. I have a fake succulent plant on our mantle that I change up with decorative picks and this would be a fun option. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  37. Megan Vaughn says

    April 22, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    These are adorable!

    Reply
  38. Mekenzie @ interiorsbykenz.com says

    April 22, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    These are so fun!

    Reply
  39. Miss Charming says

    April 23, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    So cute, Cassie! (And I’m loving the pink alligator planter, too.)

    Reply
  40. Amber Wills says

    April 25, 2014 at 3:12 am

    Love these little guys! They would be super cute in the kids’ rooms.

    Reply
  41. Tiffany @ {Living Savvy} says

    May 14, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    Are you kidding me! You are too fabulous! I just gave away my boys animals, but took out some fun ones to paint in the future!

    Reply
  42. marie says

    May 15, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Love the little gold plant pokes….especially the giraffe and the owl. So cute!!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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