an easy painting project is to color code your vintage metal scissor handles for specific use: fabric, paper, yarn, etc. since i am not much of a sewer and i have no personal attachment to these thrift store scissors i assign them to paper cutting and other such blasphemous craft tasks.
before i set about painting i usually take them in to be sharpened and tighten the center screw as they may have been sitting idle in someone's sewing basket for several years.
i prep them by washing them and drying them thorougly, then i tape off the entire lower blade portion. i use a spray paint suitable for stainless steel. allow to dry according to manufacturer's directions. then repeat on the other side.
i prefer the feel of metal handles over molded plastic, there is something so much more tactile about them, don't you think? and often you will find that the vintage metal scissors have been made by noted manufacturers in England, Germany and Switzerland---this is usually noted near the center screw, squinting may be helpful.
i have always meant to have this as my blog banner. september always feels like my official fresh start. so there it is. 4+ years later...