A THRIFT FRAME WITH A RENOIR PRINT GETS A GOLD LEAF AND ANTIQUE MAKEOVER | YOUTUBE VIDEO
Hello creative friends, and welcome back! Last week I thrifted this Pierre Auguste Renoir Children On The Seashore Guernsey print in this beautiful vintage frame. I loved the print. I loved the frame details. But the frame finish wasn’t what I wanted for my decor. Today I’m sharing how I applied gold leaf and then antiqued it for an old-world look. I can’t wait to hear what you think of this frames before and after!
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Here is the thrifted frame and print I started with. It’s a good size measuring 24×27″. I love the print (even though its old and fades) and the frame. I think it’s super sweet that someone painted part of the frame to compliment the print (and probably their decor) but for my space, I wanted a gilded antique look.
Here’s a close-up of the frame and painted area.
And here’s a look at the back. This put a huge smile on my face. I wish there was a date on it. I’ll bet this newspaper is from the 60’s or 70’s. What decade do you think?
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WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Thrifted Frame – SALVAGED
Misting Spray Bottle
Sanding Sponge
Gold Digger Moonshine Metallics
Oval Small Paint Brush
Stick With Me Glue
Gold Leaf
Brown Best Dang Wax
Coffee Bean Paint
Gold Gilding Wax
Burnishing Pad
HOW TO APPLY GOLD LEAF & ANTIQUE
Here’s how I transformed this frame with gold leaf…
STEP #1 CLEAN & PREP
I started by removing the old Toronto newspaper. It’s so old it’s as thin as tissue paper and just crumbled off. I removed the nails holding the 16×20″ Renoir print and pulled it out of the frame.
I mixed vinegar and water, gently misted the frame and cleaned it thoroughly.
STEP # 2 PAINTING
Once dry, I scuff-sanded with a flexible 220-grit sanding sponge to create some tooth for adhesion. Then using this Gold Digger Moonshine Metallics, two coats were applied with about 2 hours of dry time in between coats. My 1.5″ Oval Small was a perfect size for this frame makeover.
STEP #3 GILDING
Now for the fun part – applying the gold leaf. I used Stick With Me Glue and a foam brush to apply a coat of glue all over the top and sides of this frame. This glue goes on milky so you can see exactly where it’s being applied. After 15-20 minutes, it ‘dries’ to a tacky/sticky surface that is perfect for applying gold leaf or foil.
After 20 minutes, I started laying down sheets of gold leaf onto the frame and patting them down with a soft brush. I use FAUX GOLD LEAF that I buy on Amazon – super inexpensive. I pay under $10 a pack and it lasts for numerous projects. Once the gold leaf is stuck onto the glue, I used a soft paintbrush to pat it on and then brush off the excess overhang. This is a really fun process!
Once the entire frame was gold-leafed, I used a soft cloth to burnish the entire frame. It was glitzy and beautiful. You can stop here if you want a shiny gold frame!
STEP #4 ANTIQUING GOLD LEAF
I wanted an old-world frame that looked like it had seen some history! I brought out some brown wax along with my large designated waxing brush and started antiquing with this dark wax. Super easy to do. Brush on. Brush off. There were areas I went back and added a little more to create the look of more years of buildup and use.
It was starting to look ooooold!
To highlight some of the corner details even further, I added a wash of Coffee Bean and wiped it back. This left even more antiquing in all the crevices.
To give it even more layers of dimension and age, using my finger, I applied a Gold Gilding Wax onto a few areas as well.
STEP #5 BURNISHING
This ‘gilded’ frame looked very antique. For the final distressing, I cut a burnishing pad to size and smoothed the layers down to a silky smooth finish. This further highlighted all the bumps and crevices the original frame had, and really made it look cracked, flawed, layered and extra old.
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Excellent job on a frame. However the frame is too gold now and completely overwhelming the print. Either print needs to be changed or a gold on a frame needs to be more subdued. Original lighter gold fits better.
Thanks Natalya! Yes, the print is faded for sure. It’s from the 70’s… but that’s part of the appeal for me. For now, until I find another painting/print I want to swap it out for – I’m super happy with it.😊
Thanks for the tutorial. Pinned!
Thanks for the PIN Lizzy!🤗
Gold leafing & age-ifying really made this frame a stand-out. If ever you come across a great frame with some of the plaster molding missing, you can use drywall compound mixed into paint to create a thick paste & touch up the molding. Great work on this one, D!
I have another smaller frame with some plaster molding missing and cracked. I’ll try using the drywall compound+paint on that one!! Thanks Tracy!!😃
Lovely job on the frame! Please rethink the print, as it is so badly sun-faded that the true colors have been lost. If the painting has stolen your heart, just order a new print online. You’ll be glad you did!
Thank you!!💙 It is faded yet I found that part of the charm because of it’s age… I know, I’m weird…lol. I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for original works of art/paintings in the antique shops/thrift stores and get a few so I can swap them out. I also appreciate your input on the new print Gloria!🤗
The frame looks like something you’d find in an antique shop. Beautiful work and now I want to buy some gold leaf for all of my frames!
Gold leafing is awesome in my books… you’d have a lot of fun! 😊 Thanks so much Nicki! xoxo
Impressive results! Looks like a much more expensive frame.
Thanks Ruth!💙 I think the gold really warms it up and gives it a richer look too. I left my house for groceries tonight and saw it lit up through the window. I’m so happy with this DIY thrift frame and light.😄
Lovely job on the frame. I want to see a brighter print with the frame, now that it’s so dazzling.
Thanks Nette! Yes, I love this print yet I think it will be fun to keep my eyes peeled for other 16×20″ish works of art that I like and then I can swap them out seasonally or when I want a change.😃
The year of your newspaper is 1975, the year Sir Andrew Davis joined the TSO. He just passed away this year.
Oh nooo waaay! Thanks for this Stacey! And sad he passed away this year.😢
Wow, that is super well-done! Gorgeous and authentic looking.
Aw, thank you Sharon! I had fun working on it and I’m really happy with the look as well.☺️
That frame looks so rich now. Beautifully done !
Also…. Andrew Davis was “welcomed to the Toronto Womens Symphony Orchestra in 1975” – untill 1988.
so… 50 years ago. My trivia for the day 🙂
Thank you and you’re amazing P!!! Great info, I can’t believe it’s 50 years old!
Gorgeous print and it looks beautiful against the painted brick. I really love how you added the gold to the frame in layers. Very classy piece. I always love seeing your makeovers. Have a wonderful week, my friend. 🙂
Thank you Do! It was fun/nice working on a little something for home decor. Wishing you a fabulous week as well my friend! Hugs XOXO