Fly swatters come with square, flower and even butterfly-shaped ends.
Fly swatters serve a practical purpose, but even those marketed as decorative are awfully plain. Embellish a plain fly swatter with ribbon, flowers or lace and hang it in your kitchen for a touch of country charm. Create a batch of decorated fly swatters to donate to a craft fair or to give as inexpensive, sensible gifts.
Instructions
1. Lay newspaper over a work surface in a well-ventilated area.
2. Wrap painter's tape around the base of the plastic fly swatter where it meets the wire handle. Place the fly swatter on the newspaper-covered work surface.
3. Shake the can of light brown spray paint. Point the spray can toward the wire handle of the fly swatter. Press the spray button and use fast, short side-to-side strokes to completely cover the front side of the wire handle with light brown paint. Allow the paint to dry.
4. Flip the fly swatter over and repeat the painting process to completely cover the back side of the wire handle with light brown paint. Allow the paint to dry.
5. Remove the painter's tape from the base of the fly swatter. Discard the tape.
6. Pick up the yard of dark brown ribbon and quickly pass the short ends of the ribbon through the cigarette lighter flame to heat-seal the ends.
7. Lay the dark brown ribbon flat on a work surface. Place the section of the fly swatter where the wire handle meets the plastic base centered on top of the length of ribbon. Tie the ribbon in a bow around the fly swatter. Set the fly swatter aside.
8. Pick up the spray of light pink flowers and pull three flowers off their stems. Set the three flowers aside.
9. Pick up the fly swatter and squeeze a dot of hot glue directly beneath the center of the bow tied onto the fly swatter. Pick up one of the pink flowers and press the back of the flower into the dab of hot glue.
10. Squeeze a dot of hot glue beneath and slightly to the right of the first pink flower. Press the back of one of the remaining light pink flowers into the dot of hot glue.
11. Squeeze a dot of hot glue beneath and slightly to the left of the first pink flower. Press the back of the final light pink flower into the dot of hot glue. Allow glue to cool.
Tags: wire handle, into glue, light brown, light pink, pink flower, pink flowers, work surface