I was inspired by the patterns on my vintage thermos collection to create some chic fall decor with new 2020 Americana Acrylic colors from DecoArt and some wood slices as my canvas. Get all the project details here.
It’s no secret that I’m kinda obsessed with vintage thermoses. I started collecting them back during my pop up market days. They were perfect for adding little accents to our vintage finds in our booth.
Then, we decided to keep them for ourselves and fell in love with the hunt… you know, the search for different and exclusive patterns that we didn’t have. It’s a treasure hunt we still enjoy today! The old metal ones are so collectible.
And since it’s another #ThermosThursday I thought it would be fun to create some custom art inspired by some of my favorite retro thermos pattern using DecoArt’s Americana Acrylics in the new 2020 colors, now available at Hobby Lobby.
Painting them on wood slices make them the perfect rustic and retro decoration for fall.
Supplies Needed:
- Wood Slices (find them in all different sizes at Hobby Lobby or any craft store)
- Americana Acrylics the following colors: Cactus Flower, Warm Sunset, Eucalyptus Leaf, Jadeite Glass, Summer Squash, and Light Mocha
- Paint Brush
- Pencil and Eraser
- Vintage Thermoses for Pattern Inspiration
How to Paint Vintage Thermos Art
First, gather your vintage thermoses and start sketching your pattern inspiration on the wood slices with a pencil. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – this will just be a guide for painting.
Love thermoses? Download my free vintage thermos paint by number printable.
Next, select the color palette you plan to use for each thermos. Since I was creating a trio of art, I wanted the three thermoses to have coordinated colors.
These new Americana Acrylic colors are the perfect way to modernize some of the retro thermos patterns I chose. They are fresh and bright with a durable matte finish that I adore!
Now it’s time to paint your lid, base and label (if including) as separate and disconnected pieces. Just pretend you are painting a stencil. When painted an object freehand, I think this method helps it look more put together. Don’t worry about any visible pencil marks, we can erase them when the paint is dry.
Once your base and lid are painted and dry, you can add your patterns. This star pattern is one of my favorites!
And, now once everything is dry, go ahead and erase any leftover pencil marks and your wood slices are ready to hang! They are so lightweight, that I just used a velcro-like wall adhesive to hang these in our entryway.
This is a simple project that would also make a great gift! You could also paint thermoses in reds and greens for the holiday season. There are so many vintage thermos patterns that you’ll have endless inspiration!
Do you have any vintage thermoses at home? Which patterns are your favorite? Oh, and I’d love to know… do you still use them for road trips and picnics, or just to decorate your home?
I mostly decorate with my vintage thermoses. See more of them in my holiday kitchen here. Although I have purchased a few of these to use for road trips.
I hope you enjoyed this easy fall DIY vintage thermos art. Wood slices are such a great canvas for your painted projects because the are already framed. 😉
Thanks for stopping by!
