Keep the blades and turn them into fabulous hand-painted Christmas decorations.
You can add trees, snowmen, Santas or angels. So many choices.
Come see how easy it is!
While I really am a one holiday at a time kind of gal, I must confess that I have been doing a bit of Christmas crafting lately.
And I am so excited about this DIY that I just had to share it with you before the turkey is served.
Remember those old ceiling fan blades I found in the trash and decorated for Halloween and to welcome fall?
Pssst- check out what I've done with ceiling fan light shades.
Pssst- check out what I've done with ceiling fan light shades.
Well, look what I've done with them now.
I have taken those same fan blades, added a Christmas tree and a snowman to the back of them and transformed them into two perfectly charming pieces of holiday decor.
Ho Ho Ho.
If you remember, I started with an old ceiling fan blade.
I removed the bracket, roughed up the surface with a nail file (yes, a nail file, it works! 😉) and started painting.
This process was essentially the same, except that I was using my Halloween blades. So I just flipped them over and roughed them up.
My blades are a faux wood tone, which was perfect for the rustic, country style I was going for, so I left them unpainted.
I sketched out a tree on paper for scale and composition. I did not transfer my tree to the blade, but you could if you wanted to.
I kept the drawing next to the blade and used it as a guide.
I started with a long thin line of mixed green paint to create a trunk and then carefully added branches.
To do this, I basically made a few upside-down V's that crossed the stem at the center, in a graduated pattern, smaller to larger, from top to bottom.
Like painting pumpkins, trees are very forgiving...and not perfect in nature, so they don't need to be perfect in your artwork.
When I had a pretty good framework of V's, I used my brush to fill in the body of tree, using dabbing motions in the same variety of green tones.
Again, there's really no need for perfection here. Just have fun with it. It's art.
Of course Christmas trees are naked without snow, so when the green paint was dry, I went back and added white paint to the branches where I thought snow might sit.
I used dabbing motions with a straight stiff, bristled brush to get the desired effect.
Consider the snow a highlight.
When I was happy with my tree, I set it aside and moved on to my snowman.
He was super simple to make, as well. Three circles and a hat...nothing fancy.
To dress up the boards and add to the design, I decided to put snow on the bottom and border of each fan blade.
I used a round bristle brush and just pounded it around the board, with a small amount of paint, to get that fluffy snow look.
It's hard to see in the photos, but I also added some large, white glitter to the hat and the snow under the tree.
It's the same glitter I used on my dollar store candle holder.
The snowman's face was made with a pencil eraser dipped in paint.
It is by far the easiest way I have found to make perfect circles.
It's a super simple cheat.
The extra snowflakes were made with a very thin, straight edge bristle brush.
I dabbed the paint on in an X shape and then added one or two lines to the center of the X.
The holes from the bracket are still visible.
Like I said, I am really not in Christmas mode yet, I am feeding a crowd on Thursday, so I haven't decided what I am doing with these pieces. (Come see where they ended up!)
I may add string and hang them or I may pop a few lights into the holes and have them twinkle on my mantle.
Or frankly, I may do nothing and leave them as is. I like the rough and rustic look.
It suits my home and makes them feel a bit older...like they might have a really good where'd they come from story.
You know, other than I picked these out of my neighbor's garbage and painted them up last night in between carpooling.
Not a very Christmasy tale, now is it?
That's my Christmas reality, though.
Well, that and the fact that there's a ghost hiding on the back of the tree.
Boo.
Merry Christmas.
Oh...I mean gobble, gobble.
Kim, I like these even better than the Halloween ones! On the look out for fan blades now ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cecilia! I am having fun with them. :)
DeleteKim they are gorgeous! Using the fan blades is pretty genius! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan...I think Pinterest for the inspiration! ;)
DeleteThese are really cute! And I'm sorry but you are a bit more artistic than the average person, there is no way mine would look half as good as yours! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteI say give it a whirl, Jen! You won't know what you're capable of until you try! ;) Gobble, gobble!
DeleteYou've got such a good eye for painting! Those are what my two ceiling fans' blades look like and I hate them.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Paint them, Brenda! You may get dizzy watching them spin though! ;)
Deleteyou're the original christmas elf!
ReplyDeleteyou are just too cool for school dearest bean!!! XOXO♥ LOVE THESE!
Tammy you are just too sweet!! xoxo
DeleteI would love to live in your head for just one day to see how on earth you come up with these super creative projects!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHaha, Debbie!! I don't know about that...not sure if you would find genius or madness lurking up there!! ;)
DeleteThat is a really cute project,Kim! What a fun thing to do with old fan blades. The possibilities are endless with trees, etc. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteTotally endless, Diana...fun for all seasons!! :)
DeletePretty clever Kim. You really taping into your crafty self. These are beautiful. Wishing you a great Thanksgiving and Happy Decorating for Christmas. This time of year goes so quickly.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kris
Thank you, Kris. It's my meditative outlet and I am trying to make time to paint and create when I can...om! ;)
DeleteHi Kim, these are adorable. You did an awesome job designing these great fan blades. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving xo
Thanks CM! Who knew garbage could be so fun to play with? ;)
DeleteSo sweet! I am kicking myself for not picking up the white fan blades I saw in the man section of a flea market! I love yours just the way they are. Belated Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI have walked by many myself, AnnMarie! ;) Thankfully, there always seems to be more!
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving Kim,
ReplyDeleteI love them. I am pinning your idea.
Thank you for sharing.
Carla
Thanks Carla!! I love getting pinned!! :)
DeleteSo cute and a clever way to reuse old fan blades. Wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I have been enjoying painting again and these provide a cheap palette!
DeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteStill haven't found a fan blade yet, but I'm so impressed with the art work on yours. Love the simple tips you gave for drawing the tree b/c I'm no artist. Hope I find one before Christmas is over. I have a project I'm toying with what to do on. This is a good idea. By the time I think about what I want to do, it will be a little late, but oh well.
Painting is a lot less complicated than most people think...most things can be broken down into a few simple shapes and step...even people painting. Gotta love those stick figures! ;)
DeleteTalent drips from your hands, that's all Kim! Your tutorial is awesome, and how awesome it is to recycle old fan blades! They are so cute! Have a blessed and very special Thanksgiving this year :)
ReplyDeleteWell, aren't you kind...thank you so much! I do enjoy paining and if I can inspire someone else to give it a try and have some fun, then why not! :)
DeleteA cute and clever idea. And you can use to other side of the blades for another occasion.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks Amalia! Yup, Halloween is lurking on the other side and Easter poised to make an appearance before you know it! ;)
DeleteKim, you are going to make start taking blades off my fans. LOL I just love this craft. Sooo pretty! I love, love both of the designs. Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. xxx Maria
ReplyDeleteHaha, Maria!! I know...I was ready to buy a new fan when I couldn't find any blades. :)
DeleteOh shoot!! We just sent an old fan and blades to the recyle last week!! Grrrr.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t it always the way, Pepper? I did the same…but found a few in the trash. Happy hunting! ;)
DeleteThose are so adorable, Kim! Great job!
ReplyDeleteHave a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Warm hugs,
Carol
Thanks Carol. I hope your turkey day was fabulous! xo
DeleteLove those and what a great idea!! Absolutely adorable!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Love and hugs!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Benita!! I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful as well!! xo
DeleteI love your humor, boo, merry christmas, gobble gobble. haha Great job on the upcycle, very creative!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Audra! I am going to take that as a high compliment coming from you…the queen of artsy recycling!! :)
DeleteThese are super cute, Kim. I think my favorite is the snowman. Love how you thought to use a pencil eraser for the face. You clever girl! I see old fans at thrift stores all the time and never thought to use the blades in such a way. So many possibilities! Hugs, Nancy
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy. I have a think for snowmen...super cute! I am now officially addicted to decorating with old fan blades. Good thing we don't have any left hanging in the house! ;)
DeleteGorgeous! Your painting skills are really good Kim! I don't think I can pull off a good tree painting like you did!
ReplyDeleteI bet you could, Vel! :) And thanks.
DeleteI have a stash of old fan blades that I will need to try this on. Super cute idea.
ReplyDeleteI say go for it, Debra. There is so much room for creativity! :)
DeleteI just adore this! I really want to give it a try :) Thank you so much for joining the party at Dishing It & Digging It!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much...so easy and really cute. I say try it! :)
DeleteKim as luck would have it, I found a set of fan blades last week. Now I can try out your great idea. Thanks for the inspiration. The snowman is super adorable.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky, Mary, you are all set to go!! :)
DeleteSo adorable...Okay, I have time to dig out my fan blades that didn 't sell as a set, new for $1.00..I can paint and have everything right here in house. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY YOU CONTINUE CRAFTING!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, what a lovely comment. I'm so glad you came to visit today. Thank you so much for the the very kind words...and happy painting!! :)
DeleteYou are awesome! These are so pretty! It's amazing what we can come up with sometimes recycling stuff!YOU are really talented! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteEl, thank you so much!! I had fun with this project and I really do like to recycle whenever I can. Thanks so much for the visit and for taking time to comment. It's always great to get feedback! :)
DeleteWhat an awesome upcycling idea!!! Love that snowman ;-).
ReplyDeleteThanks Brittany!! Now I wish I had all those fans I threw away years ago! ;)
DeleteBob Ross would be proud of you.
ReplyDeleteHa!! Thank you!! Loved that guy and his happy little trees...You just made me smile. Big!! :)
DeleteThese are really cute! I painted a snowman and a tree on a fence picket last year, I may just have to drag out a couple fan blades and paint them as well. They made some super cute Christmas decor!
ReplyDeletePicket fence posts area great background and now I am on the hunt for some of those!! And thanks for the visit and the comment. :)
DeleteHi Kim can I just say I know this is an old post, but what a fabulous one. I hope you are keeping well. I'm sure I've got an old fan in the loft hope it's still there. Thank you x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!! It's always so nice when I see that someone has visited an older post. You just made my day! I hope you enjoy painting your own fan blade and if you do, I hope you'll let me know!!
Delete