7/8

How to Create a Weathered Paint Effect

Crafts, D.I.Y. Project, Home Decor
By Mandi Johnson

Creating a weathered paint effect is simpler than you might think! Click through for details.Hi! It’s Mandi here to share a simple crafty tip with you. Creating a weathered paint effect is a great way to add character to any DIY project. You can use this technique for furniture, picture frames, and yes—wooden letters! Check out how easy it is in the steps below.

Creating a weathered paint effect is simpler than you might think! Click through for details.Supplies:
-wooden object
-primer
-base layer paint color (I used a gold metallic)
-top layer paint color (I used white)*
-rubber cement
-fine and coarse sandpaper

*DO NOT use a paint + primer spray paint for your top coat.

Creating a weathered paint effect is simpler than you might think! Click through for details.Step One: Prime your wooden object to prepare for your base color. Then lightly sand with fine sandpaper to achieve a smooth finish.

Step Two: Paint the object with a generous amount of your base color. I did three coats of metallic paint.

Creating a weathered paint effect is simpler than you might think! Click through for details.Step Three: Brush the areas around the edge with rubber cement. Also brush any other areas you would like to distress, like a few vertical brushes across the surface of your object.

Creating a weathered paint effect is simpler than you might think! Click through for details.Step Four: After the rubber cement dries (this will happen quickly), spray with one coat of your top color.

Step Five: After the top layer of paint dries, take coarse sandpaper to the surface and rub it across the surface—do not rub it against the point of the corners, or you will risk taking off the bottom layer of paint. You only need to gently rub to get a little bit of the top layer of paint to brush away. Then, use your fingers or thumb to rub the top layer of paint, causing the areas atop the rubber cement to just peel away.

After I had peeled away a sufficient amount of the top paint layer, I brushed the coarse sandpaper across the surface in a few places to scratch off some more of the white to reveal the metallic paint below.

Creating a weathered paint effect is simpler than you might think! Click through for details.You may decide to seal the finish with a clear coat of sealer so the paint won’t continue to peel.

Creating a weathered paint effect is simpler than you might think! Click through for details.I love the mix of glamorous metallic paint with the weathered finish of the white paint. What a cute little home accessory this little letter E has become! Thanks to this special paint treatment, it’s going to make a great addition to my wedding gift for a dear friend this summer. –Mandi

Credits // Author and Photography: Mandi Johnson. Photos edited with Spring and Valentine of the Signature Collection.

28 Comments

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.