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Giving Leftover Christmas Bows a Mixed Media Makeover

Upcycling leftover holiday bows mixed media style with spray paint tutorial by Carolyn Dube

Apparently, there was a sale on metallic Christmas bows at some point in my life.  I rarely use them, and had a huge box of them so I decided to make them a bit more mixed media to use them year round for any kind of gift giving.  One of the bows in the photo above was horribly ugly after the first layer! Can you guess which one?

Watch Upcycling christmas bows with a mixed media makeover on YouTube.

These shiny metallic bows that scream Christmas to me are about to get a mixed media makeover!

Upcycling leftover holiday bows mixed media style with spray paint tutorial by Carolyn Dube

The first layer called for spray painting.  Why Liquitex spray paint and not regular paint?  Spray paint is faster and it sticks better to the metallic finish.

Upcycling leftover holiday bows mixed media style with spray paint tutorial by Carolyn Dube

Now these bows are more in my rainbow!

Upcycling leftover holiday bows mixed media style with spray paint tutorial by Carolyn Dube

Once they were dry, it was time for more layers.  Polka dots, scribble writing, whatever I felt like doing and was in arm’s reach.  There was one bow that was exceptionally ugly to me. But guess what happened to it…

Upcycling leftover holiday bows mixed media style with spray paint tutorial by Carolyn Dube

Since I didn’t like it at all, I dumped all sorts of color on it. Glitter glue, acrylic inks, more glitter glue, paint, and whatever else I felt like.  Then it shifted from the one I liked the least to the one I liked the most!

Upcycling leftover holiday bows mixed media style with spray paint tutorial by Carolyn Dube

Now I am excited to use that big box of metallic bows, or I should say, formerly metallic bows! Now they’re mixed media bows!

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  • Cathy January 23, 2017, 5:26 pm

    You crack me up Carolyn Dube! Painting your trash cans. Gelli printing on your bathroom wall and now painting over metallic bows. WOWZERS! Inquiring minds, me, want to know where you are headed next with paint and brush in hand. hehe All I know is I can’t wait for your next adventure!!! Keep em’ coming! :0)

  • Leti January 23, 2017, 7:36 pm

    Great project and beautiful bows!

  • NYYgirl from Hoosier-land January 24, 2017, 9:09 am

    LOVE these! LOVE seeing this color all over the place on such a dreary day here.
    PS That one is my favorite too 🙂

  • Becky in Florida January 24, 2017, 11:29 am

    Beautiful! Now I want to go get some spray paint! Hubby will kill me…..hahaha….just kidding…he’ll never know.

  • Corrine January 24, 2017, 5:41 pm

    Fun. Now you will have lots of uses for them. I don’t think we’ve a single bow in the house. xox

  • Janis Graham January 25, 2017, 1:16 pm

    You’ve turned those hoopty bows (that’s what my niece calls them) into art! I can’t wait to show my niece! TFS!

  • KariLynn L January 25, 2017, 3:29 pm

    I really wish I had some spray paint and bows, that looks like a ton of fun. Those bows are absolutely incredible!

  • Lisa Whitley January 26, 2017, 9:37 pm

    I love watching you play 🙂

  • Dottie Lou Crisp January 27, 2017, 5:25 pm

    What a great idea!!! I love this. Thanks for sharing! xoxo

  • Klara January 27, 2017, 5:25 pm

    So THAT’S how you made the bows! Spray paint on pre-made ones. I thought you made each bow by hand!

  • Marcella January 27, 2017, 6:53 pm

    Fun ideas… time to head to the art room…Thank you Carolyn

  • Meredith January 27, 2017, 7:16 pm

    Carolyn, would love to see how use match or mix these up along with your wrapping paper.

  • Laura M January 27, 2017, 7:36 pm

    This is an awesome way to upcycle.

  • Sharon Field January 27, 2017, 7:59 pm

    Who, but Carolyn would even think about doing this?????? But I am so glad you did. I think they turned out great!