Thrift Store Style - Candle Holders

I found two of these votive holders at a local thrift store for $1.00 while I was looking for something that would match the motif of my daughter's bedroom which is teal with a leaf pattern.

I liked the leaf design and the distressed metal look; however, my daughter prefers her accents to be colored. Since it's much harder to find the pattern than it is to find objects in the right color, I decided to paint them to match her other decor.

The first step when repainting any kind of metal surface is to prime the object. Then you can apply a patio paint of your chosen color to the exterior. You could also paint the interior the same color or you could choose a bolder, brighter color for some contrast. 

If you choose not to paint the interior or to paint it a contrasting color, it helps if you tape off the area just below interior edges to leave a smooth, straight line. I chose not to paint the interior because when the votive's are lit, it casts a soft golden glow.

What a difference a little bit of paint can make!