Spray paints and artist's fixative formulations or spray mount glue are the easiest way to coat the delicate veined surfaces of skeletonized Physalis husks. You can create effective spray paints by using fine mica powder like the Jacquard Pearl Ex Mica Pigments mixed into thin acrylic gloss or matte medium and sprayed from a refillable misting bottle. You can also mix thin formulations of pva glues or acrylic glazes and spray them from misting bottles as a glue base for micro glitter.
Bronze glitters and paints resemble the natural weathering seen on plant stems, so use these if you want to keep a very natural look - the paint or glue/glitter finish will help to strengthen the husk as well as color it. You can color the husks with any color of paint, provided you mist it gently, rather than blast a stream of paint against it.
Adding Glitter Effects - You can use a pin or a toothpick to apply a thin line of glue to the opening of the husks and gently apply glitter or mica powder. For the icy crystal effect on my winter scene ornament, I sprayed the husk with an artist's fixative, then carefully put it into a jar with some crystal micro glitter and shook the jar gently to get the glitter over the entire husk. If you need more glitter, spray the husk again, and shake more glitter over it into the jar (or a plastic bag). If possible, spray the glittered husk with a coat of fixative (hairspray will work, as long as the ornament won't be in an area near hot light bulbs!) to set the glitter coating.
