When my grandmother passed away Matt and I inherited a lot of her Christmas decorations. Including two large nutcrackers. They stand about 2′ tall, and are very pretty.
While searching the net I came across these beautiful white Nutcrackers by West Elm.
I’m pretty sure my eyes lit up, “I want to do that to my grandmothers nutcrackers!” Matt – “No way, don’t even think about it”.
In true fashion it took him about 2.5 seconds to say, No. Love him.
Fast forward a few weeks and a quick visit to Target and I see these beauties!
Obviously still thinking about this idea… hehe
I asked again and once again got vetoed.
That was until I was at the Dollar Tree and came across the plethora of nutcrackers.
Granted they are about 8″ tall, they are only $ 1.00 each, they are not my grandmothers, and there was no way Matt would veto me painting these lil guys!
So I bought three.
(I’m incapable of buying just one of anything I like pairs and groupings)
Aren’t they cute?
Apparently I did not look at this guy closely when I was picking him out because he is indeed missing a hand …
Whomp Whomp Whomp!
Moving on!
Before painting your nutcrackers remove their hair and beards. I chose a spray paint with a primer in it thinking that would give me a better coverage. In theory this was a great idea, what I did was underestimate the ability of the red on the $1.00 nutcracker to bleed. I never thought I was going to get that red covered! 3 coats later I forged on to the Gloss top coat. (found HERE)
Are you ready?
The blue nutcracker makeover consisted of Bahama Sea spray paint by Krylon. (found HERE)
This nutcracker was a little more difficult to cover. He got SIX coats of White w/ Primer by Krylon. (found HERE)
And last but most certainly not least our special friend; he got a bright coat of Colonial Red! (found HERE)
I was trying to distract people from his missing hand … poor guy!
I think these Nutcrackers are a great addition to anyone’s Christmas Decor. Total cost for this project was a whopping $ 3.28. I used spray paints I already had at home, talk about thrifty!
But wait!
We have more Dollar Store craft ideas for you from the Dollar Store Design Squad! You don’t want to miss these creative ideas!
Dollar Store New Year Eve’s Decorations Mad In Crafts
Dollar Store Bathroom Tray The DIY Bungalow
Hot Chocolate In a Jar Gift Idea The Country Chic Cottage
Dollar Store Nutcracker Makeover The DIY Village
Dollar Store Garland Christmas Tree My Repurposed Life
Dollar Store Christmas Tree Base Idea Create and Babble
Pie Plate and Pizza Pan Snowman The Kim Six Fix
Gingerbread House Snow Globe Refresh Restyle
This is such a great idea. I’ll be doing this one for sure.
I have a smile from ear to ear on this one girl. FABULOUS. Now I can see why you had to wait for drying and just the right photo ops. Thank you so much for joining in on the fun party!
These are so super cute! I pinny-pin pinned them. Darling :)))
I love this!!! And $1 a piece is right up my alley!!!
Love these little guys! Your photo studio is awesome 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Wow! I saw these at the Dollar Tree and the ones at Target. This is super creative! They turned out beautifully! 🙂 Gotta love the Dollar Tree! Yay!
So cute! I’d love for you to share this or any of your great ideas at the link party going on now (and every Tuesday – Saturday) at ‘Or so she says …’ Hope to see you there! http://www.oneshetwoshe.com
I remember seeing these at West Elm last year…and yours are perfect! Love the dollar store – and more importantly: I love your creativity! 🙂
I was totally there today and didn’t see any! you lucked out! I loove how they turned out
Jacque,
You are the BEST! I love this idea! I am totally copying your brilliance and making these for upstairs. Poor Bob….sorry about the missing hand!
blessings,
karianne
Wow! You have totally made me want to spray paint all of my nutcrackers! I have a growing collection of them but they would look so cool all in one color. They look great and way to crop those pics!
Love your painted nutcrackers…super cute!!! Your photo of garage photo shoot made me laugh out loud…ahhhh the things we do for a “good shot”
These are just fab, Jacque! I actually just bought my first ever nutcracker from Target. A huge white one, on clearance for $17. I thought I was getting a smokin deal until I see these darling ones you DIYed! So lovely!
I’ve never been a nutcracker fan; however, I think I am with the newly revamped modern spin on them!!! Need to go buy some stat!
Poor Bob!!! He looks good now though!!!Great idea, love them. Thanks for swinging by our Christmas party 🙂
Those look wonderful! And I totally understand about buying more than one thing, I always have to do that too! Three of a thing always look great stacked or placed at odds with each other. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!
Stopping by again to let you know I featured this today on my blog! You can check it out and grab a Featured button here: The Fun In Functional link party
So cute! I love them. Featuring them in the Spotlight this weekend over at Domestically Speaking. Thanks for linking up to the PoPP.
great idea! bravo.
hope you’ll find a moment to stop by (if you haven’t already!) and enter a giveaway i am hosting: http://www.hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2012/12/personalized-lovely-giveaway.html
smiles and happy weekend to you.
michele
Very smart to go the Dollar Store. I love them.
These are gorgeous! So glad you shared them with the knock off decor party. Sure to inspire many:)
CONGRATS!!
You have been featured at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! Come on over and grab your featured button.. you deserve it 🙂
http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-46/
What a fabulous idea-I’m featuring this on my Saturday Holiday Faves-Have a great weekend-Claire
Yep Yep Yep– featuring these bad boys tomorrow! Thanks again for linking up! Merry Christmas!
Jen
Greetings. New follower across the board here. I love your DIY tutorials. Your studio is flippin’ awesome. However this particular tutorial…idk about it. It feels like you have destroyed the traditional nutcracker. Blasphemy lol. I will pin it nevertheless for my followers. Idk if I would have the guts to do this to my nutcrackers because they are not just a dime a dozen to me. They are each all unique and special and each have particular meaning to me and each have a memory attached to them. It is a particular interesting DIY though, nevertheless. Very creative. Yours turned out very lovely and unique. I guess if mine did not have a sentimental value or love attached to them I would do it. Your other DIY’s are awesome and I think it is just smashing that you are able to pick things right out of Dollar Tree and make them into unique and beautiful crafts. Goes to show that you have a good eye and a creative mind to take a chintzy piece and turn it into a beautiful thing. You see the beauty in something that someone else would not otherwise see. I pray that you and yours have a prosperous and safe new year. I will continue to follow your posts with interests! Have a lovely one, dear! xo
Hi, Love your sites ideas and tuts! I am a DIYaholic and have enjoyed your nutcracker story. I have over 250 large nutcrackers that I fill my tea room with in Dec. for our annual nutcracker tea. I just came across a site that sells unpainted nutcrackers. I was thinking of painting and glittering them to go with my living room silver, gold and white theme. Again I enjoyed your post! I am off to the dollar store. he he!
I just found your post on Pinterest. These little guys are so cute! I’ll definitely have to look for some nutcrackers next time I go to the dollar tree and try it out myself. Thanks for the idea!
This is such an amazing idea! Thanks for sharing it. I’m Anita visiting from Creativity Unleashed Link Party.
For Bob, try going to Michael’s and buying a small round knob for his hand. Looks good
How fun are these painted nutcrackers. I love them! Aren’t you glad you didn’t paint the family heirlooms? 😉
Thanks for being part of the very first Dollar Store Design Squad Challenge!
pinning these guys!
gail
Such a good idea! I think I’m gonna borrow this idea next year! Pinning!
Those are so cute! My daughter loves nutcrackers and each year we get one or two new ones – we’ll have to try this!
Oh my gosh, what a clever idea! It takes them up so many notches. So chic! Isn’t it amazing what a little paint can do for a makeover?!
How cute
Thanks Norma!
Fabulous idea with fabulous results