How To Make Antiqued Metallic Waxed Hologram Images
Transform your images into magical, luxurious, and aged works of art with this simple yet stunning craft project. Whether you're using digital prints, scrapbook paper, book pages, Christmas cards, or wrapping paper, this technique will help you create beautiful, antiqued effects perfect for holiday crafting. Use this method to make tags, ornaments, or apply it to boxes for an enchanting holographic-like effect, all with easy-to-find supplies.
Materials You'll Need:
- Images of your choice (high contrast and clear details work best)
- Packaging (cardboard, paperboard, etc.)
- Wax paper
- Glue stick or clear glue
- Metallic or extreme glitter acrylic paints (dragonfly or color shift acrylic paints work too)
- Stamp ink (for an aged effect, optional)
- Sizzix die-cutting/embossing machine (optional)
- Roller or brayer
- Oil-based metallic pen (optional)
- Palette and brushes (optional)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Apply the Image: Start by gluing your image onto your packaging using a glue stick or clear glue. Let it dry completely.
- Prepare the Wax Paper: Cut a piece of wax paper large enough to cover your image. Crinkle it as much or as little as you like for texture, then smooth it out.
- Paint the Wax Paper: Choose a metallic or glitter acrylic paint (gold works beautifully) and gently skim it across the crinkled areas of the wax paper. Be careful not to cover the entire piece—you want the paint to highlight the textured areas without obscuring the image underneath. Keep your brush perpendicular to the paper to ensure a light, translucent layer.
- Adhere the Wax Paper: Apply glue to your image, then place the wax paper on top, paint-side up. Use a brayer or roller to smooth the paper over the image.
- Optional Die Cutting: Once the project is almost dry, you can use a die-cutting machine to cut out shapes for added dimension and style.
- Finishing Touches: To enhance the antiqued effect, smudge or scrape remaining paint around the edges, or use an oil-based metallic marker to create a decorative border.
Alternative Method:
For a brushed metallic effect without crinkles, lightly brush paint over a flat sheet of wax paper. Keep the paint layer thin and translucent—almost like watercolor. Once dry, glue the wax paper to your image and smooth it with a brayer.
Aged Metallic Effect:
For an even more aged look, combine ink and metallic paint. Swipe your ink pad lightly across the crinkled wax paper and let it dry. Then, follow the first method by adding metallic paint. The ink will create an aged, crazed look, while the metallic paint adds a shimmering finish.
Additional Tips:
- Choose High-Contrast Images: Images with strong contrast will give you the best results. If your project looks too milky, let it dry fully—sometimes overnight—before deciding. If it’s still not right, try an image with sharper contrast.
- Buff the Wax Paper: If white crinkles are too prominent, you can gently buff them with a smooth, flat tool (avoid sharp objects).
- Perfect for Holiday Crafts: Use this technique to create unique tags, Christmas ornaments, or preserve your favorite Christmas cards and wrapping paper for years to come. You can also apply it to ethereal designs like fairies, dragonflies, or angels for a whimsical, gossamer-like effect.
Happy paper crafting!