Remember these candlesticks I got at a yard sale? I paid 25¢ and 50¢ for them – can’t beat 75¢ for a set of candlesticks.
So here they are – before.
They were pretty nasty. Covered in wax and dirt.
So I cleaned them up. Then sprayed them with a quick coat of white primer just to make sure the paint would adhere well. You know I wrestle with color and LOVE white! So I have to admit, I did think for a second about leaving them white but I was determined to do a fun, bright color and add that to my home.
I decided to use acrylic paint instead of spray paint. Mainly because I didn’t want to spend $4+ on a can of spray paint and also because I thought I would try something different. Michael’s had a sale a few weeks back and I got some acrylic paint for 3/$1.00.
I painted them with a cheap craft foam brush – 2 coats of paint.
The paint ended up being much brighter than I thought it would be. But that was ok, because I planned on antiquing them.
I just used another bottle of acrylic paint, a dark brown, and dipped my foam brush in paint that was watered down a little. And then brushed it all over the candlesticks making sure to get it in all the crevices‘
Let the brown paint sit for a few seconds, then wiped most of it off. You can also do this same technique with stain over paint. And even paint a piece of furniture white, sand/distress the edges a bit, then brush some stain or glaze over it.
I like the antiqued, muted, distressed finish that it gives it.
I did a coat of matte mod podge over the top as a sealer and to give it some shine
Here they are displayed in my living room on the coffee table!
On a yard sale tray, with a yard sale milk glass vase filled with azaleas from my yard, and a clearance mercury glass candlestick.
Loving the color! And loving my 75¢ painted candlesticks. 
Any fun yard sale or thrift store finds you have painted or redone recently? Would love to see pictures or links to anything you have done.
You won’t want to miss Friday’s Frugal Finds post – I have been out of town the last few days and did some MAJOR thrift store shopping with some friends. I can’t wait to show you all my finds!!
They turned out so pretty! I can’t wait to get to the States and do some thrift and yard sale shopping!
Wow! I knew you would turn them into something cute but these exceeded my expectations! Great work 🙂
Ooooh, so very pretty Christina, I love them!!
Oooohhhhh – love them!!! Gorgeous work!
Hey Christina……LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the candlesticks!! Thanks for sharing the paint techniques you used. I have a few things I want to paint when the rain stops…..after seeing your post, I am really anxious!! :O) I do have one question……what are the candlesticks made out of? Are they wooden? Metal?
Can’t wait to see your “thrifty finds” post on Friday!
Blessings,
Lanita
I love how your candlesticks turned out. The antique finish looks great! You did a really good job and what a bargain too!
Jennifer @ Decorated Chaos
Love these!
Your candlesticks turned out great. Love the spot of blue in your room – looks really neat with the drapes in the background.
They turned out really well! I have a thrifty find of a dozen brass napkin rings that I would love any hints on how to upcycle them.
Awesome find and you did an amazing job re-doing them! Love the color!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Wow! Thanks for sharing this process. So pretty. They add the perfect touch of color!
Stephanie @ thestyledsoul.com
Fabulous job!! very creative!
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Everything published was actually very reasonable. However, what about this?
what if you added a little content? I mean, I don’t wish to tell you how to run your blog, however suppose you added a post title to possibly grab folk’s attention?
I mean 75¢ Yard sale candlesticks get a paint makeover | The Frugal Homemaker is a little vanilla.
You might look at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they create article titles to grab people to click. You might add a video or a pic or two to grab readers interested about everything’ve written.
Just my opinion, it might make your posts a little livelier.
These look nice Christina, I have one candlestick similar to that and I have wanted to do just what you’ve done here. So thanks for the tutorial. Now, I can skip my own trial and error ;)! I’ll be sure to source you up! Love it.
These are absolutely beautiful! I can’t look at something and see it’s potential. I wish I could. I’ll be following you, hopefully I’ll get better at thrift and yard sale shopping. Thanks for sharing your beautiful make over.
NICE!! I love the color.
hi, like your work… i have bought an old candleholder and it is cream with gold highlights…old paint, probably from the Thirties…looks very tired now…i would prefer to brighten it up… should i strip old paint off? some slight flaking underneath…i think if i paint over..(its already thick painted) i would mess it up…i don’t know what kind of paint to use, i would think it needs be non flammable…any advice gratefully received… thanks…PAUL.
I tried your technique and oh my goodness it came out perfect. Thank you so much for the step-by-step directions.