Faux Antique Picture Frame

Identify a frame you want to paint.

Maybe you have a great frame, but not in the finish you want. Or perhaps you found a framed picture you love, but the frame isn't your style.

Gather materials to start painting.

I laid out a piece of newsprint under my frame. Cardboard, plastic tablecloth, or any other material to protect your surface is great. I pour out paints on a paper plate to use as a sort of palette. I forgot to include my small brush in the above photo. I use a wider brush to paint on the brown, and a smaller brush to apply the gold. The brown paint is by Americana Decor Creme Wax in Deep Brown. The wax finish works with the Rub 'n Buff Wax Metallic Finish (color is Antique Gold). I don't know how/if other paints work with the wax finish of the Rub 'n Buff. A very kind Michael's employee suggested this particular paint type, and it worked for another project, so I'm sticking with it!

Paint one coat of brown paint.

The brown paint gives the look of darker wood. No need to apply it perfectly smooth, since the goal is to give an aged look.

Apply Rub 'n Buff lightly along the frame.

A little bit of Rub 'n Buff goes a long way! I just learned about this product earlier this year from my friend Adam, and now I can't put it down! I used Antique Gold color, but there are three other metallic options.

Apply a coat of watered down brown if needed.

My first layer of the gold was too bright for my liking. To knock down the brassiness, I dipped my brush in some water and then mixed into the brown. The brush wasn't dripping wet; I tapped some of the excess moisture before going into the brown. I didn't take a photo of me doing the dips, sorry! This step is optional, depending on how your Rub 'n Buff layer turned out. Since I wanted an aged, gilded look I used the watered down brown to dull the extra bright gold spots. The number of coats you choose will affect your time to complete the project. I waited about twenty four hours between coats, so my total time was three days.

Hang or lean your frame!

I was really excited to display my picture! The painting's colors are really warm and the frame now makes them more rich. I have been wanting to add some art to my kitchen, so I decided to try it in there. It stands out against the white tile and brings some much needed warmth!

Thanks for reading!

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