DIY Garden Dragonfly Wall Art - Made from Up-Cycled Fans - by Karen Governale

Check out how I made these HUGE dragonflies using fan blades and table legs.
Step 1. Spray the blades any color you wish with spray paint and allowed to dry.
Step 2. Spray Dawn foaming dish soap on approximately 50% of the blade.
Step 3. immediately spray your top color over the foam and immediately rinse with water.
This type of art can be purchased in my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/ArtbyKarenGovernale
Be sure to check out my other KZbin videos and subscribe to my channel. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and Etsy. www.karengovernale.com @artbykarengovernale
www.etsy.com/shop/artbykarengovernale

[@bezdek3505]

Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing the process.

[@connieszantyr1866]

Love this!! I think you should add in your comments all the items you used to make this. Thanks

[@georgiawilson9219]

I love this tutorial I have watched it 20/30 times. Love love love it. Thank you they are beautiful.

[@jameswest6377]

I made one for my back yard I was afraid if I used fan blades they wouldn't hold up to the rain so I made them out of pine. I also used a Christmas bulb for the head and used epoxy with pink, purple, orange and blue. The body is deep red with metallic like you did. Thank you for that.

[@bari2883]

I’ve seen others do these dragonfly’s from fans but these are really beautiful. So talented.

[@billymcmeans7154]

She used Dawn Platinum. It foams. Use it then grab the spray paint and spray the blade. Careful, the bubbles fade a little fast so be quick with the paint.

[@rebeccaminger6217]

Beautiful! I never thought about using the Dawn and metallic paint. Nice job!

[@teresastanley5244]

Fantastic video!!

[@mhfarmgirl1969]

If KZbin had a love button I would push it for this video! BEAUtiful!! 💕

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Thank you!

[@nicolemageske3]

@@ArtbyKarenGovernalelove love love!! Thank you for sharing! Would you be willing to please share what you use to seal these beauties to prevent from rain/weather damage?!

[@jewelsquinlan333]

Thankful I came across this. I'm making my first one, for our yearly music festival fundraiser. Mine will be metallic purple, teal, lime green and black background. I haven't decided what metallic color I'll be using. Maybe silver. I'm excited to auction it off this Saturday. Wish I could share a picture!

[@carolkokx9638]

Wow those are gorgeous

[@michellewyatt9136]

What an excellent idea. Absolutely beautiful! Thank you

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Thank you!

[@HalaluYAHEVER]

This is Awesome!!😁👍👍💯

[@Melainaz]

I absolutely love these, but I need step by instructions

[@00001965st]

Gorgeous

[@deelorenzetti7766]

Gorgeous! ✌️💜😊

[@Birdgirl720]

Beautiful

[@user-ux6vq9eq4u]

Excellent job

[@rosamnaranjo1]

You are very talented love it 🌹

[@mhenry4471637]

I believe she’s using Dawn Power Wash just before the metallic paint layer

[@user-ws9eq9bb8m]

Ingenious.

[@PNWTone]

So cool!!!

[@mhenry4471637]

Karen, can you share what you used to spray on before the metallic paint that kept it from adhering and made it easy to rinse off?

[@connieroedig9959]

Dawn power wash

[@elainstill1671]

​@@connieroedig9959Thank you 😊

[@maryoswald8176]

Ydo excellent work girl! You rock

[@maryoswald8176]

I'm in the process of making my first one.

[@ShoryoTombo]

Brilliant! So creative! The foaming soap dish is what really got me. It's my coming weekend project and hoping to find alternative dragonfly head part. Hope I can find a crystal glass, if not, I'm okay with the wooden.

[@brendaallen7735]

Love these! Thank you so much for sharing! I have just one question. Do you allow the Dawn and Metallic paint to dry before you rinse them? I have to find some fan blades and try this. Thank you so much.

[@katiesfashioncorner7618]

These are so beautiful. Do you paint the backside of the blades?

[@farscape3100]

they are sweet

[@gaylenepeter8184]

How did you hang them? And how would you display them up right. I need and idea on how to make brackets

[@lyndim100]

It would be helpful to have list of things used.

[@billymcmeans7154]

What did you use to hang them?

[@kathybradley3637]

Do you wash off the dawn right away? Or let it dry before washing it off.

[@staceybowe3449]

so pretty.. How long do you wait before you spray the dawn dis foam and the Metalic paint?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Only a few seconds

[@Darcy-mf2tg]

What did u use to draw the black lines on the blade?

[@lindasmith1270]

When you spray the fan blades do you wait to spray the dawn for the paint to dry? And then when you do the metallic do you rinse it off right away or do you let it dry?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

The instructions are listed in the description

[@tammymccall4093]

You did an amazing job! I have always been reminded of a dragonfly when looking at a ceiling fan! What brand of spray paint did u use?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Thank you! Krylon or Rustoleum

[@donnamalinski5780]

New at this and already have the fan blades but what did you spray on the fan blades before you sprayed the metallic? They are awesome!

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Just regular spray paint. Then dawn foaming soap

[@jeandunn1594]

@@ArtbyKarenGovernale thank you.....😘

[@narutoouzumaki6143]

Oh thats the comment i was looking for also :)

[@capricornmoonbytinajoyner8427]

Do u wait for the paint to dry before rinsing off the soap

[@pattymoore9461]

What did you use to hang it?

[@sandradowkes481]

How did you attach them to the wall?

[@christinenovack6048]

They are beautiful! A tutorial with would have been better than just music.

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

The instructions are listed in the description

[@lindaholmes2188]

How did you add the fans to the wood

[@jodygrindstaff825]

What are you using as a "paint block" when you spray paint the metalic paint over the first coat ????

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Dawn dish foam

[@ashleypoirier8648]

These are beautiful! How long do you wait before you rinsed them?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Only a few seconds

[@bari2883]

Omg so beautiful. Great job. Is that oil and water in the spray bottle or alcohol?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

The instructions are listed in the description

[@vickimurphy-hughes5225]

What is it you spray on it before the metallic paint? Thanks!

[@bari2883]

Dawn dish foam

[@danayates9458]

These are great! I imagine they are heavy. What do you use to hang them?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

I screwed a D hook on the back.

[@jeandunn1594]

@@ArtbyKarenGovernale 😘

[@nathaliemay6937]

What did u spray on the wings to make the paint not stick?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

The instructions are listed in the description

[@christinemangum8556]

Did your fN blades have a tilt to them? And if so did you do anything to them other than paint?

[@christinemangum8556]

fan.... sorry

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

Yes they did. First I spray painted them the color I wanted. Then I sprayed Dawn foaming dish soap on them and then sprayed a topcoat and then rinsed off the dish soap. That is how I got this texture

[@susanjones3311]

How long do you wait before you rinse off the foam?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

The instructions are listed in the description

[@janetmcgeein7507]

How do u hang them on a tree or fence 0:52

[@jamiecrane1964]

How long do you let the metallic dry before washing it off?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

The instructions are listed in the description

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

The instructions are listed in the description

[@sherrybays1318]

so do you let the paint dry before putting on the Dawn spray foam??? Then let that dry? or rinse immediately?

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

I rinse immediately

[@sherrybays1318]

thank you for replying, I have plastic blades, I used gesso to use as a base, then spray on top of that. Do you let the paint dry before adding the foam? I absolutely love your ideas, and want to make this for my lanai. Having a little problem finding the right spindles to use as the body, but I'll keep trying. Thank you for being so creative.

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

@@sherrybays1318 Yes let the colored spray paint dry. Then add the foam then add your top spray paint and immediately rinse off

[@sherrybays1318]

@@ArtbyKarenGovernale so I have to add a top spray? is that like a clear a varnish? I'm sorry, I'm so new at this.

[@CamoKoopa182]

How did you attach them to the wall

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

I screwed a D hook on the back. Then hung on a screw

[@sandymoon1875]

Can you list materials. Love what you've done.

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

It’s old fan blades, table leg I got at Lowe’s and a fence post knob top from Lowe’s

[@judyarmstrong8600]

What do you seal the paint with? If it is outside won't the rain penetrate the fan blade edges?

[@ladyfairfolkart2795]

I'm wondering this, too. I just did a similar project and despite using an exterior primer and gloss enamel varnish, the paint on my spindle swelled and flaked off after two days of rain. I'm going to use an oil based primer next time as they tend to be more water resistant, but I suppose if it's not pressure treated wood, you have to expect it to go to crap eventually when exposed to the elements.

[@ddhorn6002]

Movement from camera hurts my head. But I love your technique

[@donnahampson3424]

Karen I am making a dragon fly and I don't know how to attach it to the outside of my barn.

[@ArtbyKarenGovernale]

I put a D ring on the back of mine then hung it on a screw.

[@donnahampson3424]

Having trouble finding the right size spindle

[@howiemook7701]

C👀l

[@KimArellano-ve5hx]

Really should have told or showed what products used . Thumbs up for a nice job , thumbs down for no instructions.

[@janicebarry5220]

Right

[@cerisewilson4088]

It’s all in the video description.

[@chippewasistersoap7373]

Hello

[@terrihall6310]

Just a suggestion. Don't move the camera so much and fast. Was getting a little motion sick. Great job though, Very pretty.

[@maryfrancois5201]

I will never do this idc