Thrift store lantern makeover!

104 Shares

I’ve been looking for another lantern decoration for awhile now. Usually if I can find one I like it costs more than I want to spend, so when I found this one at a thrift store the other day I took it home with me!

*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.*

I don’t have a problem with green. But this lantern was faded, and the lime green just doesn’t match any of my current decor.

So while the $4 price tag was just right, the lantern needed some work! That’s ok. That’s the fun part anyway!

The first step when refinishing any thrift store buy is to clean it. This lantern was pretty dirty and gross. Nothing a soak in a bubble filled sink couldn’t fix though.

Once it was nice and clean I could start the refinishing. I decided I would change the color of the lantern to a hammered copper. The spray paint goes on smooth, and leaves a slight texture to the finish, and it changed the whole look of the faded green lantern! It needed more though, so I decided I would etch the glass panes too.

Etching glass is so easy! Really! Having a cutting machine like a Silhouette helps, but you don’t need one to etch glass. You can buy templates, or cut your own by hand. I liked this design from the studio shop. I cut out four on vinyl, one for each pane of glass.

Transfer your stencil to the glass. Isn’t it so pretty and delicate?

Once it’s on the glass, you just need some etching cream. There are several different brands, and even paints made to look like frosted glass if you are not comfortable using the etching solution. I prefer Armor Etch. Take care not to get it on your skin, it does NOT feel good (speaking from unfortunate personal experience)!

Glob (technical term) it on nice and thick, and then let it sit for at least 20 minutes! The longer you leave it, the darker your frosted effect will get. Some glass doesn’t etch as well, I am not sure why. These lantern panes etched fine thankfully.

After at least 20 minutes, rinse the cream off the glass. Make sure you get it all off well, to avoid those pesky chemical skin burns! (ouch!) After all the etching cream is gone, you can peel your vinyl template off.