How do I achieve a glittery red effect on metal using paints and other paper crafting techniques and materials?

[MiliZee]

Okay, so I have this cardboard train case with metal corners, which I am decorating: http://tiny.cc/mnnpa

I'm stencililing stars on the cardboard parts, but I would really love it if I could paint over the metal corners so they are a glittery red (like Dorothy's ruby red slippers kind of red, except a little deeper in tone). Now, I tried the Ranger Adirondack paint dabber I was using for the stars on the metal, and it seems to cover it (I wiped it off while it was still wet). But it sounds like they don't do anything approaching a glittery finish on that range. Do you have any ideas on what techniques or products to use to achieve that effect? Maybe I have to do something like paint the corners over first with a regular red paint, then apply some glitter over that? Any and all ideas appreciated :-)

Please note: if you're afraid of sharing techniques out of concern that people will copy or whatever, just PM me. You're safe from me doing that, because I have absolutely no plans to sell for the foreseeable future - really, I don't have the time to devote to launching a business as I have to prioritize other areas of my life :-)

[Former_Member]

With red glitter perhaps?

Just kidding, I couldn't resist!

Have you seen the range of mica powders by Pearlex? You can mix it in with whatever paint you normally use. They come in heaps of colours so I'm sure that it wouldn't be too hard to find something suitable.

[DragoninKnots]

I'm thinking you could mix a bunch of glitter (or mica) with a clear paint/glaze. If you mix it with opaque paint, most of the glitter would be hidden under the paint, unless you painted first and then added glitter.

[Former_Member]

if it's for you, what about just fingernail polish?

[Former_Member]

Why not use a regular metallic paint? PPG makes a wide variety of great paints that would work.