How to age a lantern

So the other day I decided to drive to a different Hobby Lobby than the one that is near my home.  I wanted to see if they had any different lamps.  I need to get some for my living room.  Of course I was disappointed as I could not find any but there happens to be a Stein Mart next door.  We don't have one near my home so I popped in to see what I could find.  And of course they didn't have any lamps that I liked but this lantern caught my eye.

It is pretty good sized.  It measures 27 inches to the top of the finial and it is 11 inches square.  Well of course I was guessing that it would be expensive and boy was I shocked when I saw the price tag.  It was only $39.99.  I have seen much smaller lanterns for that price.  So it came home with me.

I don't like it bright white and I would liked for it to have a metal top.  Well, here is what I decided to do.  I took the glass out first.  Makes it much more easier to work with.  Then I took some sandpaper to distress it .  I didn't take a picture since it wouldn't show.  Next I took one of my brown craft paints to stain it.  You could use stain but I like to use craft paint.  I just wet a paper towel or rag and dip it in the paint.  Then you just rub it on as much as you want and wipe off.

I want the top to be metal but since it is wood I will settle with it being painted.  I need to cover it so I won't get paint on the bottom.

It kind of looks like a ghost at this point.  Next we go outside and spray paint.  I had some left over bronze metallic paint from last year when I repainted the patio furniture.

Here is how it turned out.  Not to bad looking even if the top isn't metal.

Now it's time to decorate it.  I can't wait to use this all year long in different areas of the house.

 Here is what it looks like with the door closed.

Now I need to find a place to put it. It is awful big.  I might have to use it by the living room fireplace.  I am going to redecorate it anyway.  Be sure to check back and see how it looks.

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