Friday, August 13, 2010

No Function Friday – Dollar Tree Frames

I may have mentioned it before, at some point along the line, briefly…I have a slight obsession with the Dollar Tree.

So, once again, this week’s ‘No Function Friday’ craft comes from, where else, the Dollar Tree.

You’ve probably seen these ugly frames. Or if not these, something just as awful I’m sure.


My first step was to spray paint my frames with Valspar Sky Blue.



And then I used good old plain craft paint in white and white washed my frames. I just kept going over it until I got a look I liked.



Now, the frames are perfectly fine like this…quite beautiful actually. So you could easily stop at this step. But, once again, I prefer an aged, weathered look. So, I kept going.

I rubbed my best friend, Ralph, all over the frames. Like this:





For those of you not familiar with Ralph…that would be Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze which I purchased at Home Depot. It’s a little pricey, but I haven’t even made a dint in the can! It may seriously last me a lifetime and I’m not even kidding!



I put it on pretty thick, then wipe it off with a scrap towel. This will leave quite bit in the crevices. So, I take a super cheap-o small paint brush and kind of stipple the glaze around so it isn’t quite as thick in the crevices. That’s my technique…you may like the look with more in there.

This step you just keep repeating until you get aged look you want. I wasn’t getting quite enough, so I repeated probably three times.

Then once again I used my Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and put it on my fingers and ran it around the raised portions.




Since this isn’t really meant for a frame, it’s really meant for paper and something with fiber, it takes awhile to dry. I let it dry at least one day. Then seal it with polyurethane.

And this is what you get!!




And




$1 EACH!!

If you had to buy the paint, that’s another $3 or so, but I had that on hand too.

So, here it one more time:



And




In case you were wondering…the first one is my favorite!! ;)

Until next time…

Oh, and I will be linking up this project to the following parties:









Creations by Kara






Wallet-Friendly Wednesday



















 

















Simpsonized Crafts



The Girl Creative

The DIY Show Off






21 comments:

  1. Great job, I think they turned out wonderfully.

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  2. Those are fabulously gorgeous!!!

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  3. Beautiful - I would have never guessed it came from the dollar store! Come plant your creative seeds at my blog party on Fridays: Plant a Punkin Seed at Punkin Seed Productions! Fun to find your blog!

    Kristi
    Punkin Seed Productions

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  4. They are so nice! I want to do something that that to my frames.


    Lovely! Thanks for the Ralph "smoke" info!

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  5. Love it! And I have a scrapbook paper with a scripty writing and a blue background which would probably look really good with your frames. I may have to buy those next trip to Dollar Tree!

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  6. I love, love, love your frames! I have never thought of white washing! I can't wait to try it! Thanks for all of the wonderful tips, I will be sure to try them all! I am in love with Ralph, too. Obsessed, actually :) Saw you over at Debbie Doos.

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  7. Aweosme!!~ Great minds think alike I see.....digging the color...I have to dig out the color I used so I can share...I am not good at sharing tutorials...because I am always so excited to share the end result! Thanks for joining,this was great!

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  8. Pretty cheap looking before, but man you made those look like $30 frames!! Terrific!!

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  9. Just lovely - they look so expensive!!
    Stop over to enter my giveaway!

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  10. Thanks for visiting my blog today (leopard pumpkins). I am enjoying your blog. I am gonna keep looking, but love your frames and wanted to tell you so.

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  11. Great job! They turned out beautifully!

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  12. Whoa!!! Those are incredible! I have got to get my distressing/aging technique down. You are obviously well practiced!!

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  13. They are gorgeous! I am going to have to hit up my Dollar Tree and see if they have anything like that!

    Thanks for linking up to Show and Tell Saturday!!

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  14. Really nice...I am definitely going to try this. Thank you so much for sharing.
    I love being a part of this show and tell!
    Thanks
    Denise
    www.dancinglydenise.typepad.com

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  15. Missy - I'm actually fairly new to distressing! But thanks for the compliment! :)

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  16. Great Erin ... would fit with any decor!

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  17. So glad I found your blog! I love those frames!

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