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Tips for Painting a Picture Frame Faux Gold?

12 years ago

My Goodwill donations had been in the back of my car for a month and I finally drove over to drop them off today...and my reward was a terrific score: a large faux-bamboo framed picture (and two lamps!).

I am going to ditch the picture and use the frame to frame some vintage wallpaper, but first I'd like to paint the frame gold to coordinate with the other frames in my bedroom.

Does anyone have any tips (or know of any online tutorials) for using paint to look like gold leaf, or "old" gold frames?

Featured Answer

rexroat

12 years ago

A product to consider is Rub-N-Buff.

I learned about it on this blog...
http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/search/label/Rub%20%27n%20Buff

...and I just used it cover a light fixture.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rub-N-Buff

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Comments (8)

User
12 years ago
I have had great luck with Sophisticated Finishes. You can buy it online or at Michael's. It is real metal in solution. Very easy to use, goes a long way and dries quickly. Use a small brush and feather it on till you have the look you want. Way better than spray paint as this goes on lighter and you have more control. Hope this helps and look forward to seeing pics. c
patty_cakes
12 years ago
I use an acrylic antique gold paint and when dry, brush on a mushroom color and wipe off to the desired color I want. You could also use a darker brown if you want the finished frame to be darker.
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hi I can say a few things and it just depends on what you want in the end , just another color? old/new? antique etc. while no pro like some i,ve seen here I have repainted quite a few of these for some reason. the best uniform finish is spray and anything you can brush can now be had in a spray can. one of the real usefull ones here would be that "kilz" primer comes in spray and if done in layers will cover anything then a good spray of whatever color is easy . buy the best you can get , I love the newer waterbased sprays . Rick
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I've used the same technique SisterSunnie has. It works well, mutes the gold. If you're interested more in having it a solid black and less translucence, with almost "chippy" areas of gold, I'd say rub candle wax fairly heavily on edged areas of the frame, use your craft paint over the whole thing, and then rub away the waxed areas. That works pretty well too. --Jenn
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highknitter
12 years ago
Michaels sells something that is cream in a small pot. You rub it on. I love it. Sorry I don't have the details. The container is about the size of a cream eyeshadow or cream blush. You'll have control, won't have to mask, etc. I highly recommend. I don't recall exactly where it is located but I'm sure one of the clerks can help out.
leafy02
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the tips. I didn't make it to Michael's this weekend, hopefully I will get there this week--it's only four blocks from my house!
sombreuil_mongrel
12 years ago
I learned a long time ago to apply clear shellac over metallic gold paint (bronze powder) so that it stays bright, otherwise it will fade to a darker or greener color in a few years as the bronze tarnishes.
Casey
leafy02
Original Author
12 years ago
I finished painting the frame last night and it looks great!

After a fruitless hunt for Sophisticated Finishes at my local Michael's and being scared of all the caution info on the liquid gilding product, what I purchased were three colors of Martha Stewart craft paint: a medium brown in satin finish, metallic gold and metallic yellow-gold.

Using a natural sea sponge, I applied the brown first and let it dry. Then I went over the frame with both of the golds, pretty much blending them together.

It looks just as I'd hoped--like it's always been gold, and like it's old. It's propped up on my buffet with three or four pictures in vintage frames that I haven't hung up yet (we've only been here 2.5 years) and it looks right at home among them.

I love it when a project actually turns out to be easier than I feared :)
User
12 years ago
please post pics :) c

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