Just Paint It Blog

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • My Stuff
      • My House
      • My Hubs
      • My Paintings
        • Illustrations
        • Murals
  • Projects
    • How To/PIY
      • PIY – Paint It Yourself
      • Quick Stuff
      • Tutorials
      • Videos
    • Techniques
      • Antiquing & Distressing
      • Blending Colors
      • Color Wash
      • Decoupage
      • Drawing
      • Dry Brushing
      • Faux Finishes
      • Glazing
      • Highlighting
      • Shading
      • Stenciling
      • Transfers
    • Home Decor
      • Accessories
      • Furniture
      • Holiday Decorating
      • Seasonal Decorating
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store Crafts
      • Holiday Crafts
        • Christmas Crafts
        • Halloween Crafts
      • Kids Crafts
      • Seasonal Crafts
    • Paint Types
      • Chalk Paint
      • Chalkboard Paint
      • Glitter Paint
      • Metallic Paint
      • Pearl Paint
      • Specialty Paints
      • Spray Paint
      • Watercolor Paint
    • Paint Surfaces
      • Paint Canvas
      • Paint Fabric
      • Paint Glass
      • Paint Metal
      • Paint Paper
      • Paint Plastic
      • Paint Walls
      • Paint Wood
    • Submit Yours
  • Shop
    • A.R.T. – Art Related Things
    • Original Art
    • Pet Portraits
    • ClipArt & Printables
  • Portfolio
    • Pet Portraits
  • Contact

How To Paint Faux Rust

November 3, 2013 By Colleen Jorgenson 13 Comments

Faux-Rust-with-Craft-Paints

This is a simple little way to paint faux rust using only craft paints.

On almost anything.

Like little stars, cut out of cereal boxes. That would make ideal ornaments for Christmas trees for a front porch.

Like my porch, for instance.

Yes, I realize we just had Halloween. Yes, I realize it’s only the first week of November.

But here’s the thing . . .

I have 27 different paint projects planned for Christmas. I try to post three times a week.

Emphasis on “try”.

If I post 3 projects a week I’ll need 9 weeks to fit all of the planned projects in.

There are 7 weeks til Christmas.

That doesn’t include decorating any trees or wreaths or boughs or garlands or . . .

I’m starting my Christmas posts now.

sigh.

You can use this faux rust technique for Fall. Or, hey, you can use it for any day of the year.

Before doing any faux finish it’s really helpful to look at actual finishes.

Faux-Rusted-Antique-A

Our landlord obligingly left this cool rust . . . thing . . . in our side yard.

Faux-Rusted-Antique-B

Look at all of those wonderful layers of color on the . . . thing.

Faux-Rusted-Antique-C

Sometimes rust has very little orange in it.

Faux-Rusted-Antique-D

Other times range of hues and tones are amazing.

Faux-Rusted-Antique-E

There are lots of different products to replicate a rust finish, along with different techniques.

This is just a really simple way using regular ol’ craft paints and a sea sponge. Truth be told, you could probably just use a paper towel instead of a sponge and get a good result.

Faux-Rust-Supplies

Materials List

  • Rust-Oleum Rusty Metal Primer
  • Burnt Sienna by Ceramcoat
  • Terra Cotta by FolkArt
  • Spicy Mustard FolkArt
  • Wrought Iron FolkArt
  • Wicker White FolkArt
  • Sea Sponge
  • spray matte sealer (not pictured)

Besides the cut-out star from the cereal box . . .

Faux-Rust-A

I also painted a thrift store sleigh,

Faux-Rust-B

And a neon green plastic dollar store bucket.

Besides painting faux rust on metal, you can paint cardboard, wood, or plastic.

You could probably even paint faux rust on glass, but it didn’t make my Christmas Project List this year. Winking smile

Ok, I wound up trying two slightly different versions – one with dark gray and one without. First up is the method without gray.

Faux-Rust-C

Step 1 – Spray your project with Rusty Metal Primer.

This alone will give most anything a nice rusted look.

Faux-Rust-D

Step 2 – Apply Terra Cotta paint with sea sponge.

Faux-Rust-D1

 

Faux-Rust-E

Step 3 – Apply a few highlights of Spicy Mustard here and there.

Faux-Rust-E1

Faux-Rust-F

Step 4 – Apply even fewer highlights of Wicker White.

These highlights of white and yellow add dimension to the finish so it doesn’t have a “flat” appearance.

Faux-Rust-F1

A note about using a sea sponge:

Applying paint with a damp sea sponge will leave distinct markings unless you push and smoosh the paint around a bit.

Otherwise it’ll look like a kitty got her paws in the paint and ran over your project.

No kitty tracks, ok?

Faux-Rust-G

Step 5 – Apply Burnt Sienna over the highlights to tone them down a bit.

Burnt Sienna is close in hue to the spray primer. Since it’s a craft paint some of the highlights will still be visible, just not as harsh.

Step 6 – Seal with a matte sealer.

Matte sealers aren’t only to protect the finish, they also increase the look of dimension, which is critical when painting a faux finish. My projects always look quite flat, even with lots of paint layers, until I seal with a matte.

Plus, there is no sheen with a matte, or only a very slight satin. So you’re not taking anything away from a true rust appearance.

Faux-Rust-H

For the plastic tub I started with Wrought Iron mixed with a little Wicker White. I dabbed the sponge in each and let them mix on the tub, rather than mixing on the palette to get a medium-toned gray.

Faux-Rust-I

Don’t forget to do the inside of an open container too!

Faux-Rust-J

Next, add the Terra Cotta close to the gray mixture.

Faux-Rust-K

I’ll do a video on Faux Rust pretty soon but I wanted to show you how I use a sea sponge.

First, dampen the sponge and absorb most of the water in a paper towel. Then dip in a little paint and apply to the surface.

Faux-Rust-L

Turn the sea sponge to the clean side where there is no paint.

Faux-Rust-M

Use the ‘clean’ side of the sponge to smoosh the paint around and get rid of any kitty tracks.

Faux-Rust-N

As you apply, smoosh around, reapply, smoosh some more, you’ll wind up with different textures – just what you want for most faux finishes.

Faux-Rust-O

For the plastic tub I didn’t apply any white or yellow highlights or Burnt Sienna, simply because I liked the look with only gray and Terra Cotta.

But I did seal it with a spray matte.

Faux-Rust-P

I put the pumpkins and gourds in the tub just so you wouldn’t panic and think that this is a Christmas project.

Faux-Rust-Q

Just don’t be surprised when you see a bunch of faux rust ornaments on some alpine Christmas trees.

If you start now, you’ll be all ready for when it’s really time to decorate.

I won’t tell a soul.

Have you tried any faux finishes? Which one did you paint? What did you paint it on?

Colleen

about Colleen

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Subscribe to Just Paint It by email

Filed Under: Faux Finishes, How To & PIY, Paint Plastic, Paint Surfaces, Paint Wood, Techniques, Tutorials

Comments

  1. Becky says

    November 4, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    Love the look of that plastic bucket. It reminds me of an old washtub my parents had too many years ago to count. I was surprised that you could paint plastics with acrylics — I thought you needed specialized paints to paint plastic.

    Reply
  2. Margot Potter says

    November 7, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    This is brilliant, thank you!

    Reply
  3. Bev says

    March 11, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    I searched on how to paint a plastic tub and I found this post on PInterest and it’s exactly what I want to do with about 6 Coffee Creamer plastic tubs we have saved and are just lying around the house. I love your “rust” look, thanks so much! I can’t wait to paint them! Bev

    Reply
  4. Tina says

    April 14, 2014 at 11:09 pm

    That looks great, many thanks, I want to try to rust up some pieces to put on my shabby chic furniture…… I loved your comments about the ‘thing’ the landlord left, that really made me chuckle

    Reply
  5. Eve says

    April 29, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Oh yes, this is what I need to know to paint some bamboo I have to make it look like iron. Yes I know, I like bamboo too but I have tons and want to change some up a little.

    Reply
  6. prabhu patil says

    May 9, 2014 at 12:56 am

    pl guide us how to paint ms steel structures clients asking to put the paint your copmany and how to take in gurgaon any delears. pl guide us

    Reply
    • Colleen says

      May 9, 2014 at 6:23 am

      For painting steel you might consider a reactive paint such as this one: http://modernmasters.com/products.asp?mode=group&gid=68. Good luck!

      Reply
  7. Darren says

    August 30, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    Just used your technique to paint two 10×10 garage doors. Instead of acrylic paint I used latex paint from Home Depot and just thinned it down with a little water. It took me about 15 different coats, but ended up with two genuine-looking rusty doors!

    Reply
    • Colleen says

      August 31, 2014 at 8:37 am

      They’re fabulous, Darren! Kudos to you! Yes, I should’ve said that latex works well too – I use them interchangeably for most projects. But 15 coats?!? Now, that’s persistence. Although I remember my first ‘faux finish’ on a wall. I probably had about 15 coats because I couldn’t really “see” it, you know? The sealer helps though. Thank you so much for sharing with me.

      Would you mind if I shared your photo on my Facebook page?

      Reply
      • Darren says

        August 31, 2014 at 11:15 am

        Sure, of course you can post that photo.

        Here are the steps I took to get there… hit the right arrow on the photo to go through each.

        https://picasaweb.google.com/darrendriven/Home1535Exterior?authkey=Gv1sRgCMrBs5nZ2-_njQE#6053616721608971842

        Reply
  8. Steve Burke says

    January 2, 2015 at 10:59 am

    …thanks!…I’ve decided to create a “rusty” front door with an antique ships porthole installed in it.

    Reply
    • Colleen says

      January 2, 2015 at 6:52 pm

      Sounds awesome Steve! I’d love to see photos when you’re done, maybe even a ‘before’ pic too?

      Have fun!
      ~Colleen

      Reply
  9. Craig White says

    January 29, 2015 at 8:39 am

    Awesome! Thanks for demonstrating this. You did a great job!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    About Me

    Hi there! I'm Colleen, a self-taught artist, writer and blogger, among other things. You don't get to be old enough to order off the Denny's senior menu without accomplishing a few things in life. Read More…

    Recent Posts…
    • Patriotic Fourth of July Printables June 25, 2019
    • Camping Coloring Pages June 15, 2019
    • How to Paint Purple Iris January 28, 2019
    • How to Paint a Teddy Bear January 24, 2019
    • How to Paint Tulips January 21, 2019
    Comments…
    • D. S. Jackson on African – American Santas
    • Theresa Morrissey on African – American Santas
    • Kena on African – American Santas
    • Colleen on How To Paint a Simple Bow and Ribbon Streamers
    • Vicki on How To Paint a Simple Bow and Ribbon Streamers

    Subscribe via Email

    Get updated delivered directly to your inbox!

    Art Digital Downloads

    Archives

    Pretty Handy Girl Fun DIY Gifts!

    PHG_zazzle-banner

    Videos

    Error type: "Forbidden". Error message: "The request is missing a valid API key." Domain: "global". Reason: "forbidden".

    Did you added your own Google API key? Look at the help.

    Check in YouTube if the id muralmaker1 belongs to a . Check the FAQ of the plugin or send error messages to support.

    Instagram

    Google+

    Facebook

    Pinterest

    Etsy

    Copyright © 2021 Just Paint It!/Colleen Jorgensen · website by Houndstooth Media Group