Spring DIY: How to Turn Frog Figurines into Whimsical Decor
Remember this adorable frog couple from my live craft session a few years ago? Even though it’s an older tutorial, the techniques are timeless—perfect for spring crafting! Today, I’ll walk you through how to transform plain frog figurines into charming, hand-painted decor with florals, checks, and a little controversial flair (yes, the infamous thong made an appearance—don’t ask 😆).
Materials You’ll Need:
✔️ Frog figurines (mine were from HomeGoods & Tuesday Morning)
✔️ Acrylic paints (Americana DecoArt in greens, black, white, gold)
✔️ Paintbrushes (Zen brushes work best for checks!)
✔️ Hot glue gun & floral supplies (lambs ear, small faux flowers)
✔️ Embellishments (ribbon, tiny crowns, rhinestones)
✔️ Sealer (DuraClear + Triple Thick mix for shine)
Step 1: Prep & Base Coat
Clean your frogs—wipe off any dust.
Paint the base colors:
Frog #1: Light green body (mix avocado + festive green).
Frog #2: Darker green with horizontal stripes.
Let dry completely!
Step 2: Add Patterns (Checks & Stripes)
For the dress: Use a small ruler to pencil in checks, then paint alternating black and white squares.
For the pants: Freehand horizontal stripes with a thin brush.
Pro Tip: If you mess up, just paint over it—acrylic is forgiving!
Step 3: Embellish Like Crazy!
Tutu Time: Fold tulle ribbon, gather with a running stitch, and hot-glue around her waist (cough over the thong cough).
Crown & Bow Tie: Glue a tiny crown on her head and a mini bow tie on him.
Floral Base: Hot-glue lambs ear and small purple flowers around their feet to create a "lily pad" effect.
Step 4: Seal & Protect
Brush on a glossy sealer (my DuraClear + Triple Thick mix) to make them look like expensive figurines!
Why This Project Still Rocks in 2025:
Great for upcycling thrifted or dollar-store finds.
Teaches core techniques (checks, stripes, sealing) you’ll use forever.
Perfect for spring—display on mantels, porches, or gift to frog-loving friends!
