Garden Decor How-To: Patina Bluebirds

by Modern Masters

1 Material

$20

3 Hours

Easy

Debbie Dion Hayes of My Patch of Blue Sky shares a wonderful way to add a touch of patina to your garden. These sweet, happy little birds were a gift from a friend of hers and are perfect to use around the home. You can use display them in your garden, on a mantel and even as Christmas decorations on a tree! With our Metal Effects, you can easily create this look on any paintable decor accent you may want to spruce up in your home. Let's see how she did it!

Supplies Needed:

2 oz Metal Effects Blue Patina Kit - Also available in 8oz sizes
Paintable items, like the little birds
Paint Brushes
Paper Towels
Newspaper or plastic to protect your project area
Plastic cups to hold your item while painting, if required
Moss, feathers, and/or found objects from your yard for decorating

Before painting, protect your area from spills and overspray with a dropcloth, newspaper, plastic or contractor paper and then arrange your materials. The Blue Patina Metal Effects Kit has all that you need for this project. Paint two coats of Metal Effects Primer and let dry. The primer helps to protect your painted item by preventing the patina activators from reaching the substrate. Allow half an hour between coats and two hours after the last coat to dry completely.

Paint the primed surface with the first coat of the Bronze Reactive Metallic Paint. Let dry for half an hour.

Apply a second full coat of the Bronze Reactive Metallic Paint and while it is still wet, spray on a light coating of the Blue Patina Aging Solution over the entire surface. As the activated surface dries, in about 30 – 40 minutes, a real blue patina finish will appear. No sealer or protection is required to use indoors or outdoors.

Debbie took her completed bird flock outdoors and found the perfect spot to display them: in an old water fountain. She added objects from a tour around the yard and woods. Voila!

We hope we've inspired you to try our Metal Effects Kits to bring a touch of patina to your garden or home. Feel free to click the link below to visit the original post on this project as well.