IKEA hack: TOLSBY Frame Customized with Nail Polish
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When it comes to inexpensive IKEA hacks, the TOLSBY frame is one of my favorites. This little plastic 4x6 frame is useful for photos, of course, but we also love to use it during parties for displaying menus or signage. Sometimes the default white is perfectly subtle for my use, but sometimes I'd rather have colors that really pop.
I decided to apply a geometric mosaic pattern to a TOLSBY frame, and I chose nail polish as my paint. Nail polish is perfect for this because not only does it come in a variety of colors, but it sticks incredibly well to plastic, and dries quickly to a tough and durable finish that will hold up well over time.
The first thing I did was to remove the plastic insert from the frame, so I wouldn't get any polish on it.
Then I used our trick for creating ultra-thin masking tape lines and reached for some 1/8" whiteboard gridding tape to create my design. This tape is super thin and flexible, and great for projects like this. I applied random lines across the surface of the frame, varying the direction as I went.
I continued adding tape until the frame’s surface was divided into various triangle shapes in a pattern I liked.
Then it was time to paint! I started with a blue nail polish, and applied it randomly to a few of the triangles.
I continued with more nail polish colors, painting a few triangles with each.
When all the triangles were painted, I went back and added more coats of polish as needed to get good coverage on all the colors. Fortunately, nail polish dries really quickly, so by the time I finished a coat, it was pretty much ready to start back at the beginning with the next coat right away.
When the polish was dry, I peeled back the tape to reveal the white borders on my mosaic shapes.
I just love this fun design with bright colors and crisp shapes. Who knew a TOLSBY could be so fun and colorful?
Chica and Jo Craft With Nail Polish
Want more nail polish crafting ideas? Check out our NEW BOOK available on Amazon for 20+ step-by-step projects that use nail polish to create customized items with unique flair.
Our instructions and photos will walk you through easy DIY projects for using nail polish to add colorful flair to glasses, mugs, jewelry, decor, planters, and more. Learn techniques like marbling, paint pouring, masking and stenciling. Order your copy today!
2 comments so far:
I have WAITED for others to write about nail polish for art . . . thank you both! I buy polish for under $2. only. I blend 2 shades, using metal ball bearings to the bottle to mix the shade. Are you on Pinterest? Etsy? People would love to hear about your nail polish art. Yesterday was my last day on Amazon (Canada) I will get your book another way.
Cheers, for New Years, Coline in Toronto
Coline, we're so glad you like our book and our nail polish craft ideas! You can find us on all the social media outlets, including Pinterest and Etsy, as well as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. If you can't get our book on Amazon, you can get it directly from the publisher's website (they do ship to Canada).