Make Your Own Vintage Art ... With Nail Polish Remover!



I know I left you all hanging on Wednesday when I said that I was working on transforming the framed art below with my {not so secret} secret ingredient - nail polish remover! Acetone, to be exact. I'd like to show you how I did it, but be forewarned - it may take some practice and several attempts for results that are truly pleasing to you. Still curious as to what in the world you would need acetone for? Well, let's get started!

For this particular art project, I started with a Goodwill find that was ripe for a transformation. It had a nice frame and the art itself looked like a canvas piece though it was just a print. Good bones as we like to say! I liked the fact that it was perfectly square, too.


I began by painting the entire piece. I used some wall paint I had, Valspar's "Malted Milk".


If our walls weren't already this color, I would have kept the frame just as it was! I just love that creamy off white. My intention was to provide a basecoat just in case I decided to distress the frame after the top coat was applied, but in the end, I decided not to distress.


I chose Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint for the topcoat. I love it! I first covered the center part of the art with paper, taping the papers at the seams so that overspray wouldn't make it's way under.


It's already looking like a completely different piece at this point.


Now it's time to pull out the acetone/nail polish remover! {Instead of acetone, you may also try Citra-solv Natural Cleaner & Degreaser as used here or a Chartpak Blender Pen like what is used here. I had heard that acetone also works so I wanted to give it a try.}


You will also need an image printed out in reverse from a printer that uses toner. You will be transferring the image from the paper to another surface, and laser printed images will not transfer. {I tried!} Toner is basically powdered ink, so it transfers more easily. You may have to shop around for a place that prints with toner. Staples didn't work for me but hub's office printer did. You might check your grocery store or library. Another tip: Make several copies of the same image to have on hand for practice or "extras" just in case certain areas don't transfer well the first time.

By the way, I got my favorite bird image from The Graphics Fairy and you can find it here.


Take your printed image and if you like, trim away the excess. I didn't. You may also tape down your image but my paint was fairly fresh and I didn't want to risk peeling it, so I opted not to tape.


Next, take a couple of cotton balls and saturate them with the acetone. {I apologize for dirty fingers...I accidentally spray painted them brown when I was painting the frame and couldn't get all the paint off!}


Starting at the center of the image, swipe your saturated cotton ball across the paper from the center outward. You may need to saturate some more cotton balls and go over the paper a couple of times. The acetone will reactivate the ink on the paper, causing it to transfer.


Try rubbing the edge of a spatula across the image, burnishing it to ensure that it has transferring completely. Gently peel the edges of the paper back to check your results.


When I peeled the paper off, my image was covered in paper residue and I thought I had really messed up. But I found that by gently rubbing the paper with my finger, it peeled up fine as long as the paper was a little moist. If the paper dries completely, you can very lightly dampen it with a moist cloth and continue rubbing the paper off with your finger. You can see the remaining bits of paper below before I removed it all.


I wasn't quite happy with this area on the bird's tail where the ink just wouldn't transfer. I later just lightly filled it in a bit with a Sharpie and it looked fine.



It's hard to see in this photo, but it looked like the acetone slightly discolored the area around the bird. I'm really not sure if it was the acetone or a little ink residue from my rubbing the image, but I was able to touch it up with some more of the cream colored paint.


My vintage bird art needed something more to fill the space in the frame, so I decided to paint the year "1893" on the bottom. I chose that particular year because it was exactly 100 years before hubs and I were married - 100 years before I set up housekeeping!

You can use any font you like {on any kind of printer}. I chose the font called Georgia sized at 500. I printed it in blue because I'm out of black ink, but really, you should print yours in another color besides black, too. I'll tell you why in a moment. Print it out normally, not backwards. If it prints in multiple sheets, just tape then together making sure you don't tape over the letters or numbers.


Turn the paper over and with a lead pencil, scribble firmly over the back of the numbers. You are in essence making your own carbon paper layer here.


Turn the paper back over and tape into place. Now, carefully and with pressure, outline the numbers with a pen or pencil. This is why it is better to print your text in a color other than black - it's much easier to see where you are outlining!


Remove the paper and you will see the outline of your text on the surface. It's hard to see in this photo but it was much more visible in reality.


Here's another tip for you: If you are painting your text a darker color, outline your pencil marks with a Sharpie first. This makes it soooo much easier to paint and really defines the edges well and makes them look nice and crisp.


Now, with a small stiff angled brush, you can fill in the white area with paint. I used a dark brown that I had on hand.


A couple of coats should do it!


After the numbers dried, my next step was to antique the piece by using glaze. I didn't have any brown glaze on hand so I made my own. I just used a small glob of the brown paint about the size of a nickel and added water to make it really fluid. It should look like muddy rain water and be just as thin. {This photo was taken after I had used the glaze...I had a little more to begin with, but not much more!}


You'll also need a couple of old brushes: One to lightly apply the glaze and a dry brush to blend it in.


Glazing/antiquing always gives me a headache because it never seems quite "perfect" for me...one area looks too contrived, another area looks too dark, another too light...and I end up driving myself crazy wiping off what I just did and starting all over. So it was with this project. But the basic technique is to dip your brush gently into the glaze, brush most of it off onto a dry towel, and apply the rest to your art piece {practically dry brushing} in a criss-cross pattern. Then blend it all in with your dry brush. After about an hour of working on the glazing, I finally achieved a finish that I loved.





I'm not sure where my "new" vintage bird art will reside, but for now, she's proudly perched on our mantel. I'm really pleased with how this project turned out and I'm eager to do something similar really soon!





I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and if you have any questions, please let me know! Oh, and do you remember this post that contained the lettered dishes? Many of you asked me how I did that...


Yep, you guess it! Nail polish remover! {Dishes are for decorative use only...the print *will* come off if you scrub it hard enough and you wouldn't want to use them for food.}

This weekend, hubs and I will be working on more beadboard installation! Can't wait!

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!



This week, I'm linking up to:
Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special
Metamorphosis Monday
Make Your Monday
Make it for Monday
Brag Monday
DIY Day

Be sure to check out the other creative projects posted there!




65 comments:

Turley Times said...

WOW! I immediate bookmarked your post so I can try this sometime! It looks so great!

Hannah

March 12, 2010 at 8:33 PM
Chele said...

AMAZINGGGG! :)

March 12, 2010 at 8:34 PM
Vanessa Greenway said...

Awesome job!! It looks amazing!

March 12, 2010 at 8:37 PM
Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Nail polish remover! Who knew? Love it!

March 12, 2010 at 8:50 PM
-G- said...

That turned out so beautifully! I don't get it? How did the ink (toner) stick to the dishes? Did you have to seal it somehow? That is remarkable; I love both pieces so much!!

Thanks for sharing. :)

March 12, 2010 at 9:11 PM
Amy Kinser said...

What a great job! Looks great.

March 12, 2010 at 9:24 PM
chris said...

Are you kidding me? That is A M A Z I N G
I want to try it tonight... but I can't.
Maybe this weekend. I can not wait. Thanks Mrs. Amazing. Thank you so much.

March 12, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Rebecca said...

Hello
Great tutorial... I am going to try this, thank you!
Blessings
Rebecca

March 12, 2010 at 9:31 PM
My Blessed Serendipity Life said...

How clever! I must try this technique! Have fun with your projects this weekend.

March 12, 2010 at 9:33 PM
Kim @ Twice Remembered said...

Thanks, ladies!

Gayla, that is a good question - I need to go back and edit to say that the dishes are for decorative use only...they can't be used or run through a dishwasher. If you really scrape at the lettering, it will come off shiny surfaces unless it's sealed in some way. {I didn't seal them.)

March 12, 2010 at 9:33 PM
Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

What an awesome technique! I'm dying to try this. Thanks so much for sharing. And now I'm off to surf some of those photo places you mentioned in your last post. Such great ideas you have!

March 12, 2010 at 9:44 PM
Vicki/Jake said...

Catching up on blogs....
Love this idea and thanks for sharing it. My head is swimming with ideas now (o:
Love your posts!

March 12, 2010 at 9:44 PM
Nielson Shmielson said...

Wow that is amazing! I'm going to have to try that!

March 12, 2010 at 10:37 PM
Leanne said...

That turned out so beautiful, but that's a lot of work. I don't know if I dare try it. Maybe I'll just have you make me one. HaHa!

March 12, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Heather said...

I love how your piece turned out, and what a great tutorial you gave too! Thanks for sharing.

March 12, 2010 at 10:45 PM
Peridots Garden Blog said...

Brilliant! I have 2 old oval frames with some not so pretty prints...now with your tutorial I have a plan of action and high hopes for these beloved frames!

Thank you and yours is gorgeous!

Sandy

March 12, 2010 at 10:58 PM
Anonymous said...

Kim,

This is a great project and one I will be doing next week. I will send you photos of my results. Thank you for sharing -- even if you are making my 'to do' list longer!

I'll be painting beadboard while you install yours!

Deborah

March 12, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Crafty Sisters said...

That's really neat, I will have to try this. Thanks for taking the time to teach us!

March 12, 2010 at 11:20 PM
Thelittlebrownhouse.us said...

Ok - as others have said - I am so bookmarking this!! It looks amazing, and you did such a good tutorial that I believe I could actually do it!
Thanks so much for sharing this - it is definitely a keeper!

March 12, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Laryssa Herbert said...

What a wonderful idea! It turned out beautifully.

March 12, 2010 at 11:33 PM
Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

That project along with the plate at the end both turned out really nice.

I like the tutorial you created as you went along- looks so easy with your instructions.

One day maybe I'll get to try it out.

thanks for showing it.

March 12, 2010 at 11:36 PM
Marianne said...

Great project and wonderfully detailed tutorial. I love the birdie you choose!

March 13, 2010 at 2:47 AM
Adam and Natalie said...

This is SO awesome! I seroiusly can't believe you made that seem! I love that I would have everything on hand to do such a beautiful craft!
Side note-I just discovered graphics fairy and feel so behind already! My whole house is going to be smothered in those beautiful images!

March 13, 2010 at 6:22 AM
TidyMom said...

I LOVE this!!!

March 13, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Tricia said...

Genius! I am going to add this post to my Inspire My Saturday post today.

XO*Tricia

March 13, 2010 at 8:16 AM
Oklahoma Granny said...

I may have to try your technique sometime. Such a wonderful piece!

March 13, 2010 at 8:47 AM
Anonymous said...

That is so cool! Love it!!

March 13, 2010 at 9:20 AM
Unknown said...

Thanks for posting this! I love the initial dish. I've been looking for a plate and haven't found one I like yet, so now I can just make my own!

March 13, 2010 at 9:54 AM
jninecostumes said...

This is a great tutorial, very easy to follow. maybe I'll find a few small frames at garage sales and try this. I have acetone and paint!

March 13, 2010 at 10:13 AM
Heather said...

I love this one! Thanks! I can't wait to try it!

March 13, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Funky Junk Interiors said...

How beautiful! It has an old world linen feel to it when close up. Wonderful tutorial!

Thanks for sharing this on SNS!
FJ Donna

March 13, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

That is amazing! I am so fascinated by how that worked! I love it. This turned out really good, Kim. On a side note, I just painted several things with the Oil Rubbed Bronze myself and I love it. I had never used it before, but I'm such a fan of it now!

March 13, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Karen The Graphics Fairy said...

I love it!! What a wonderful project and an awesome tutorial!! Thanks so much for giving me credit for the image, and for the super nice mention below! Your blog is fabulous, I've added myself to your followers list so that I can come back and visit again.
Karen

March 13, 2010 at 11:25 AM
Miss Mustard Seed said...

What a cool project. I'll have to try that technique on something at some point.

March 13, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Ashley Schott said...

I am soooooooooooo excited to try this!!! Thank you so so much for sharing this amazing idea! I'm seriously giddy about it:)!

March 13, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Sabrina said...

I love everything about this post and I'm adding to my "things to try" file. GREAT ideas!

March 13, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Sarah said...

Clever. Thanks for sharing these step by step photos. Awesome!

March 13, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Sarah Robbins said...

Great minds think alike!

Look at my project from last Monday:
http://ourcozyrobbinsnest.blogspot.com/2010/03/so-cute.html

Too funny! I used iron on transfer, but I am definitely going to try the acetone strategy!

March 13, 2010 at 10:00 PM
Unknown said...

This technique is amazing. I can't wait to try it. I know that regular nail polish remover is not a 100% acetone do you think that will make a difference? I seriously would do this right now if there was a copy store open. I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow. Hi to Ruby.
Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.

March 14, 2010 at 1:15 AM
gail@My Repurposed Life said...

tricia sent me... great post! I love the bird you chose and the fact the year is 100 years before your wedding date! fabulous project. Love the tutorial.
thanks for sharing!
gail

March 14, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Anonymous said...

Yes yes yes, your blog is just soooo wonderful and gives me a lot of energy!

A footprint from Sweden by Agneta

March 14, 2010 at 11:49 AM
Laurie said...

Wow. Just, wow. I'm saving this! soon I'm going to need a whole new bookmark folder entitled, Twice Remembered!

March 14, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Megan Gunyan said...

Very ingenious. Love the look it turned out. How did you even hear about using this method?? Great job!

March 14, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Unknown said...

It looks so pretty, and pricey too. You had me wondering what you were doing with the nail polish remover :)

March 14, 2010 at 9:36 PM
DesignTies said...

This is a really pretty and creative piece of art. It's great that you were able to re-use both the frame and the canvas for the project :-)

Kelly @ DesignTies

March 14, 2010 at 10:53 PM
Cottage Dreamers said...

Oh wow! My wheels are really turning now! If I can find the perfect image and the right printer, I already have a plate I'd love to do this to.
Your ideas are the best!
☺ Celeste

March 15, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Cottage Dreamers said...

Oh wow! My wheels are really turning now! If I can find the perfect image and the right printer, I already have a plate I'd love to do this to.
Your ideas are the best!
☺ Celeste

March 15, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Angie Holden said...

I love this!!! Thanks so much for the tips!!! :)

March 15, 2010 at 4:07 PM
cindy said...

Loverly :) I do the same with glazing...never feel like I get it just right. I was always told to put it on thick with a brush, then wipe away with cheesecloth, and that has actually worked best for me.

I just did this treatment with a ton of frames, and I hope to link that project up next week!

Glad you could Mi4M...

March 15, 2010 at 4:58 PM
Jan Hennings said...

Great framed piece and thanks for sharing this transfer technique..a must try :)

March 15, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Unknown said...

Oh My Goodness!

I'm so glad I stopped by! I LOVE this project...it's amazing! Your tutorial and instructions are so detailed and thorough! I can't wait to give your method a try!

You've got a new follower in me!

Happy Monday!

Cori
Starview Sonnet

March 15, 2010 at 6:46 PM
Karen The Graphics Fairy said...

I'm so glad you linked this up today for "Brag Monday". It's such an amazing project!!

March 15, 2010 at 7:24 PM
Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

I think you might have created a monster! My mind is racing a mile a minute! There are so many ideas I can think of for this amazing technique. You did a wonderful job making it easy to understand.
I am going to look at all those ugly pictures t GW very differently now. Thanks for the inspiration and directions!
Yvonne

March 15, 2010 at 8:05 PM
Frugal Home Designs said...

Very Cool. I am going to have to try this for sure. Thanks for the tutorial.

March 15, 2010 at 8:08 PM
Alicia@Thrifty And Chic said...

What a great project! I can't wait to try it...I love it!

March 15, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Room to Inspire said...

Thank you for the great tutorial, I am trying this one for sure!

Chelsea

March 16, 2010 at 12:24 AM
Suzi B said...

Wow! what a great idea ... I want to do it!! :-)
Sue B

March 16, 2010 at 3:02 AM
amy said...

great idea and great directions! can't wait to try this. love the plate idea, too!

March 16, 2010 at 9:51 AM
Kim @ Twice Remembered said...

I'm looking forward to you all trying this! Just make sure you use nail polish remover with acetone {some don't have acetone} and use images printed from printers that use toner. :)

March 16, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Karla@TheClassyWoman said...

This is a great little piece of art. I love goodwill finds for a steal that become transformed into something wonderful1

March 18, 2010 at 12:08 PM
One Cheap B*tch said...

That piece is beautiful! And I am totally trying this technique. Thanks for sharing! New follower!

March 21, 2010 at 8:20 PM
Lisa said...

I'm going to the thrift shop today - I am going to look for a frame - I love this idea!

March 22, 2010 at 7:53 AM
Unknown said...

I found your blog on graphicfairy's site. Oh. My. Absolutely stunning work. Thank you so much for sharing what you did-that was probably as much work as the art piece!!
Lynn
alittlebluesky.blogspot.com

March 25, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Tiffany said...

two sweet cheap tricks in one post. thanks so much for sharing.

April 15, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Unknown said...

Hi, great post!
I want to try this on a mug. Do you think that if I bake it in the oven after I trasfer the drawing, it won´t come out later? Hope you can answer my question

February 18, 2016 at 11:33 PM

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