I love hydrangeas! I enjoy preserving them so I can enjoy them inside during the winter. Dried hydrangeas are great to use for various crafts. A few years ago I discovered how easy it is to spray paint hydrangeas in various different colors.
There are so many fun colors to spray paint these flowers. I share many ideas with examples below. You can also just leave them in their natural dried colors! I love drying flowers and drying peony flowers has been my recent obsession.
Why I love spray painting dried flowers
It is such an inexpensive way to add a splash of color. The hydrangeas are free (use your own or ask a neighbor who has lots!). It's an inexpensive, fun craft to do. With a little care, these can last for years (I've had some for 5 years).
Table of contents
- Why I love spray painting dried flowers
- Spray Paint Hydrangeas for Christmas
- Red and green Christmas theme
- When to cut for drying
- How to preserve hydrangeas
- Tip for making wreaths
- What hydrangea shrubs look like
- Blue painted hydrangeas
- Red, white and blue patriotic flowers
- FAQs
- Ideas for using dried hydrangeas & other flowers
Spray Paint Hydrangeas for Christmas
Spray painting silver for Christmas
These flowers look so pretty painted silver for Christmas! All you need to use is metallic silver spray paint.
Below is a closeup of what the silver-painted hydrangeas look like. Aren't they beautiful?
They actually spray paint very well. And look all silvery and sparkly. Make sure to pick up the flower by the stem and spray the underside of the flower. The silver-painted flowers look beautiful when you get paint coverage on both sides of the flower petals.
I haven't spray painted these flowers gold, but I'm sure they would be beautiful!!
Spray painting silver for Christmas
These flowers look so pretty painted silver for Christmas! All you need to use is a metallic silver spray paint.
Red and green Christmas theme
I couldn't help myself, and one year I did Christmas colors. Some pretty red (more burgundy) and a lime green worked perfectly. It was a little more vivid than the natural hydrangea colors, but that was what I was going for.
I didn't spray the red and green ones as thoroughly. I think some of the natural color looking through keeps them looking a little more real.
Here is the spray paint I used for the red and the green.
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Honestly, these turned out way better than I expected. I totally LOVE them!
Here is the bunch of silver ones.
Below is a closeup of what the silver-painted hydrangeas look like. Aren't they beautiful?
They actually spray paint very well. And look all silvery and sparkly. Make sure to pick up the flower by the stem and spray the underside of the flower. The silver-painted flowers look beautiful when you get paint coverage on both sides of the flower petals.
When to cut for drying
Mother Nature takes care of most of the drying. In the late summer or sometimes early fall, hydrangea flowers start looking and feeling dry. This is the time to cut some pretty stems to finish drying.
How to preserve hydrangeas
Cut the stems once the flowers start looking and feeling dry (early fall), strip off the leaves, place them in a vase, and leave them alone for a few days. Notice that I did NOT say you should place water in the vase. Some people do, but I find there is no benefit to putting water in the vase when you are trying to dry hydrangea flowers. Sometimes I leave a couple of leaves near the top (like in the vase above)
These flowers dry beautifully in their natural state, and I use them as such sometimes. The wreath below is being made with hydrangeas that are starting to dry.
Tip for making wreaths
When making a wreath, use hydrangeas that are not completely dry. That way, the stems are more pliable, and the flowers don't crumble as much when handled.
Here is a post where I wrote about my hydrangea adventures when I moved into my house and things I've used hydrangeas for - including this wreath.
What hydrangea shrubs look like
If you don't have any growing in your yard, don't be shy about asking friends or neighbors if they are able to share. Many traditional hydrangeas, like Annabelle hydrangeas, get cut down in many parts of the country.
This is what the hydrangea shrubs look like. (I know some of you aren't gardeners!). These are earlier in the summer. As we get closer to fall, they start getting a little green as the flowers get drier.
Below is how the flowers look when they start turning light green.They get a little crunchy too. That's the best time to cut them!
I love dried hydrangea and have some naturally dried ones too. But here is how I sprayed mine (really, it's super simple!). First, I cut down a whole bunch. Take more than you need!
Blue painted hydrangeas
Last year, I painted some of my hydrangeas blue! They look gorgeous as an accent in my living room. I have tons of hydrangeas but no blue ones. So I made myself some!
I also wrote a post showing how I painted hydrangeas blue, keeping them more natural.
Red, white and blue patriotic flowers
This is my red, white, and blue-themed pitcher that gets placed on my blue entry cabinet during patriotic holidays. I still have a collection of white pitchers to display florals in. Here is how I made my own faux ironstone pitchers.
FAQs
Yes, you can. I use leftover cans of spray paint from other projects all the time.
I used to. The theory behind the hairspray is it will stop the hydrangea flower petals from falling. I don't really find it helpful, and to me, it's just another step.
TIP - If you do want to use hairspray on the flowers before spray painting, buy unscented hair spray! Cheap-scented hairspray has a really strong smell.
I've had some that I've kept and used for 3 years (the silver ones!). After a while, they get dusty, and it's just time for a new batch.
Many people do spray paint their dead mums in the fall. I haven't yet, but I'm sure it works, and I probably will this fall!
Ideas for using dried hydrangeas & other flowers
Pin this idea to your Pinterest board!
**Originally published Aug. 19, 2014.
Nancy De Souza
Hi,
Love your spray painted hydrangea. We have plenty in our garden and I would like to use them for Christmas. Can you please share the shade of red and green you have used as I always seem to be getting mine wrong.
Thank you
Betty
I have hydrangeas that I cut eight years and they still look wonderful. They have been in a vase on top of my China cabinet where they do not get touched. They are limelights.
Bonnie J.
years ago, I spray painted my left over bloom on my bushes and put lights on them for the Christmas holiday ! I got rave reviews and I will have to say they were beautiful! I live in West Virginia so needless to say when the snow came it was even more beautiful
Kristel
Hello I was wondering if they can be spray painted will still on the bush ? I have some dead and dried flowers still on the bush and decorated the bush with blue lights. I would love to paint the flowers silver but don’t want to cause any damage to the bush itself.
Lori
I love this idea and I'm going to do this soon. I have a ton of them dried but they got really dark brown bc I waited too long, but I think a pretty burgundy, or gold might really work nicely.
Ty for showing your steps and idea! Yours are lovely!
Debbie
What kind of spray paint do you recommend
momcrieff
I usually buy Rustoleum spray paint - because it's available where I shop and it's never failed me yet!
Deb Pape
Can these be used in a bridal bouquet or will they fall apart? What is the best way to preserve them?
Julie A Bohanick
Hi, I absolutely love your idea for spraying my hydrangeas. Only problem is I actually love the color of my green and blue ones when alive and when dried. I'd like to keep the color they are but want to spray something on them to preserve them a bit more, not shirt spray more of a matte. Also to make them less fragile . What do you suggest?
Ps. I'm so stealing this idea for around Christmas when I'm ok with spraying them!!! Spring is cominf though and I love the natural colors . I'll look forward to hearing backing from you!
momcrieff
Hi Julie,
Thanks for visiting my site and asking a comment! I have actually sprayed my natural dried hydrangeas with some hairspray (unscented). It really does help the flowers not drop and doesn't change the appearance of the dried flowers if you use a thin coat of the hairspray.
Anonymous
I just put some up to dry and I think I am going to try spray painting some to decorate a Christmas tree with. I think various colors as huge balls sticking out of a big Christmas tree would be beautiful.
Sarah Gasser
I am looking to do this for my wedding for bridesmaid bouquets.. could you give me any advice on this?? How long will they las? When to do it? Etc? Please !! You can email me?? Not sure if I get a notification if you respond??
Melanie
Absolutely love this idea!
susan strohl
Lovely, I am going to do bright white with silver glitter.
Doug Coates
Love your post. We harvested about 500 blooms last year, but didn't paint them until after they'd dried for 4 months. It worked, but it wasn't easy, seeing as how they were all incredible delicate by that point. I was searching for information on painting them fresh or dried, and you provided that information. Thanks for your help
momcrieff
Glad you liked my post! They are a little fragile once they dry, but with a little careful handling, they last for years. You sure harvested a lot of blooms!!
Gina Wamsley
Good morning, Susan! I love this idea so much! I never even thought of doing this, but they look FANTASTIC!! I'm featuring your post today at "Our Favorite Things Pinterest Party"!! I'd love for you to come link up again. 🙂
Blessings,
Gina @ Gina's Craft Corner
Pam@over50feeling40
I did not know this would work! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
pestep81
Cute idea. I'm getting ready to publish an article about how easy they are to dry. I like using them for Christmas. Never spray painted them better.
Beth
How long do these last? Does the spray paint keep the fresh flowers from decaying?
momcrieff
Hi Beth
The Hydrangeas dry easily. You probably want to strip the leaves and the flower dries fast. I have had some of these for over a year and they still look great!
Val Frania
This is great! I had no idea this would work. I spray painted leaves this fall and will use them in my Thanksgiving and Christmas deco. Here's the post: http://lovemydiyhome.com/diy-metalic-leaves/
Di
Love this idea! Would never have thought of spraying painting them and as we have some in our garden, I will have a go, thanks!
sonjaessen
Awesome idea! Love this!