How to Spray Paint A Silver Plate Trophy Cup

There is just something about silver plate trophy cups that call my name. I don’t know if it is the shape, the curlicue handles, or just what, but I love these pieces. I would have a whole collection if the prices on the nice ones were reasonable.

I’m always on the hunt for nice silver-plated items, and I won the bid on a “box lot” (a box containing all kinds of things) from an online auction, which included this silver-plated trophy cup. 

When I got the trophy cup home, I noticed it was rather heavy and did not have the usual glow silver plate gives off. So I decided to paint it.

Today is the Thrift Store Decor Tour, and we have some great makeovers for you. I’ll walk you through the trophy cup tutorial, and then you can hop on the tour. 

Since I am redecorating our family room after buying new furniture, I painted the cup blue to go with the new color scheme. Actually, I’m not sure about my color scheme yet but I have to start somewhere.

The first blue color was too bright. I found a can of Midnight Blue Rust-Oleum on my paint shelf and gave the trophy another coat of paint.

What to do next? I considered distressing the paint, but I know some of you do not care for distressed paint. My next plan was to highlight all those beautiful details with gilding wax!

I just happened to have a small tin of Dixie Belle Gilding Wax in gold, so I started dry-brushing the raised details with the wax. 

Ya’ll, the gilding process took about 2 minutes.

I couldn’t stop brushing on the wax. It is so pretty. 

I made sure I highlighted every little detail.

And I’m guessing with that small tin of gilding wax I could make every accessory in my house shine. I may need someone to hide the gold wax.

The trophy cup looks much better now. The photo above shows the second color, Rust-Oleum Midnight Blue, which I used on the cup, as well as the gilding wax from Dixie Belle. 

Now the only thing left to do is add flowers or greenery. I found some used foam in my stash of junk craft supplies and wedged it into the trophy cup. 

I first added flowers to the cup, but that was a little much. The greenery from Hobby Lobby was 50% off, and because of the sale price, I bought two stems for a really full look.

I fluffed out the greenery and stuck the two bushes into the foam. Since you can’t see down into the trophy cup, I didn’t add any rocks, peat moss, etc. You guys know I take every shortcut possible.

The silver plate trophy cup isn’t silver anymore, and I love the new deep, rich color and the touches of gold.

What I really love is that framed landscape in the background. It came from Hobby Lobby. The colors are mellow but also have a touch of richness. You guys will get a tour when I finally finish redecorating the family room.

Please leave me a note if you have time before heading out on the Thrift Store Decor Tour. You can take the tour by clicking the links below the “before” makeovers photo collage.

Thrift Store Decor Tour….
Miniature Grandfather Clock Makeover – Shop At Blu
Wicker Basket Makeover – My Repurposed Life
Vintage Doily Table Runner – My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Silver Plate Trophy Cup Upcycle – Petticoat Junktion (you are here)

My Favorite Dixie Belle Products:
Dixie Belle Website
Dixie Belle Boss
Scrubby Soap
The Belle Paint Brush
Badlands Mineral Paint
Glacier Mineral Paint
Drop Cloth Chalk Mineral Paint
Gold Gilding Wax

As always, thanks for being here, Kathy