HO, HO, HO.....HOT MESS?

Okay, I just completed a holiday project, but not so sure about the results!

I found 3 plates at Goodwill for $.50 a piece.  I liked the detail on the edges and thought with a little white spray paint, I might be able to come up with a cute holiday piece for cheap.  I had stencils already, as well as the acrylic paint for the letters, so the only other thing I bought was a can of Rustoleum Semi-Gloss Pure White Paint (hint - I buy the 2x cover spray paint, because the trigger is fat and you don't get spray paint all over your fingers!)

I started by sanding lightly and then applying 3 coats of spray paint.  All was going well until I checked the final coat this morning and here's what I found....

I don't know if it was the cold temperature (they were drying in the garage) but I ended up with this weird crackle effect.  Never a quitter, I just "went with it".  I experimented with some black & brown acrylic paint (mixed together, cuz that's what I had in the paint box).

I liked the way the dark really gathers in all the crackle and makes them look a little "grungey".

I had originally planned to stencil "wish", "peace" and "joy" but it wouldn't fit on the plate.  So then I thought, "I have 3 plates.  HO HO HO".  Decision made.  I used the same black/brown paint mixture to paint the stenciled letters and then went back over with a dry brush to smudge it a little, since I seemed to be going for a "rustic, french, cottagey" look (yeah, I make up design styles as I go along!)

This is the finished product...

 

Okay, I know the plate on the left is a little lopsided, but I was in such a hurry to get some pictures up, since I've been such a blog slacker lately.

It's either really cute or it's butt ugly.  I have a different opinion of it everytime I look at it.  Right now I've got them leaning up against the backsplash in the kitchen, but I'll probably hang them and run a wide satin ribbon behind them tied with a floppy bow at the top, just to dress it up a bit.

What do you think?  TELL THE TRUTH!  I've got company coming next week and I don't want to be laughed at!  Okay, really my company wouldn't laugh at me.  They would just smile and say "Oh, that's nice!" 

I've got exactly $5.00 invested in this project ($1.50 in plates, $3.50 in spray paint) so if it's meant to go to the decorating graveyard, it won't be the end of the world!

Let me hear from you!

Coming soon....

I'm working on a furniture trash to treasure project right now, so I'm sanding & priming my little fingers off!  Will post that one soon.  Hope I don't have any more disasters!