Free Painting Projects

The things of tin to be painted are not quite so numerous as those of paper and wood. However, a most attractive row of flower-pots for an indoor window-garden may be painted out of small tin pails after the handles are removed. And a watering-pot, the kind with a very long spout for reaching the farthest plants, may be painted and decorated to go with them. Then there are the pails for outdoor gardening - there is no reason why they should not add to the gaiety of the garden their own sparkle of color instead of going about as plain and practical galvanized iron or tin.

Paint will preserve the latter from rust as well as make them more pleasant to look at. The old-time tin candlestick with reflectors that direct the light and protect the flame from gusts of wind, make a candlestick more practical, and gay paint in pleasing pattern makes it more cheerful. Paint a case for safety-match boxes to go with it. And the old-time tin tray is returning to favor, or perhaps it is that we are beginning to appreciate its decorative possibilities in a room. No doubt many a household has one of these castaways in the attic or barn. If enough of the original design remains to follow, by all means restore it. But if not, decorate it anew after the old-time pattern. One of these on an oblong tray with wide, rolling rim and rounded corners had a center panel of buff. The background of the rim was black, with polychrome flower and fruit decoration laid on it in primitive simplicity. An old Colonial tray had a serpentine rim, black, and banded with gold. On the center panel was a large basket of fruit, flowers, and birds arranged from it in the stiffest, primmest fashion and the gayest colors.

A decorated tin muffin-cover might accompany this tray to the breakfast-table. Make it of a deep tin pan inverted, and repeat the pattern of the breakfast china for its decoration. A wooden knob, gilded or painted, is the finishing touch on the center of the top.

This is what can be done with an ordinary cardboard hat box.

Small book ends of lacquered tin are a convenience on the study table or desk. They come, undecorated, just large enough to hold a few reference books, the French-English dictionary, a book of synonyms, city-street directory, and any other small volumes that one needs for quick and ready reference.

And then, of course, the tin box for candy. Nothing is quite so nice in which to send homemade confections as one of these lacquered boxes. But inside leave the shining tin unpainted, or the contents may become flavored with turpentine and shellac.

The automobile paint mentioned above does for tin also. It must have plenty of turpentine in it and very little oil, else it will creep together when applied, In case the right consistency cannot be got without adding so much oil that the paint will not spread on tin, start with a metal prime coat. It may be got of any dealer, but is put up in a limited line of colors. A medium-light, neutral tone would be the best ground coat for a majority of over-colors. The tempera paints will spread on tin after a primer, so that eliminates the stock of oil-colors one would otherwise have to get for laying on the patterns.

Painted trays may be finished with several coats of shellac if they are to be carefully used in service. But on a tray that is to carry hot things, and one that may get wet, spar varnish is a better finish. It is a very hard-drying kind of varnish, made for outside use, principally ship work. It is, however, just a trifle amber and that changes the colors over which it is applied. For garden utensils only a spar finish is practical.

Continue: How to Paint Lamp Shades.