DIY Vintage-Inspired Wall Art From Laminate Scrap

DIY Vintage-Inspired Wall Art From Laminate Scrap

Turn a "found" piece of laminate into vintage-inspired DIY wall art with rub-on transfers, clay trim, and a touch of whimsy—perfectly imperfect approved!

Most people open their kitchen drawers and think, “I really need to organize this mess.” They might install those fancy dividers or invest in some drawer bins to tidy things up. Me? Well, I recently went in the opposite direction—I removed the dividers I had added long ago. They were taking up too much room and making it difficult to even close the drawer properly. Out they went!

In the process of tearing out my own past attempts at organization, I uncovered something unexpected. Underneath it all—under all of those utensils, under the dividers—I discovered a piece of old laminate countertop. I had no memory of it even being there. It stopped me in my tracks and gave me a good laugh. Who knows how long it has been hiding? Probably years!

Of course, my husband saw me holding it and said what he always says when I come across a "found" item: “Just throw it away.” And, of course, I did what I always do—I said, “I have a plan!” He groaned. I laughed. It’s a routine we've perfected over the years. 

Poor guy. 

I’m lucky he puts up with my shenanigans.

Now, let’s pause for a moment. What would you do with a scrap of old laminate you just happened upon? Most people probably would’ve listened to their spouse and tossed it. But if you’ve been around here long enough, you already know—I’m not most people. I don’t see trash. I see potential. I saw a creative opportunity, I saw… art.

So today, I’m sharing how that random scrap of old laminate became DIY wall art—with charm, texture, and a whole lot of character. No trips to the craft store so this is a free craft. No overthinking. Just creativity and a little bit of magic from my stash.

Want to save this for later? Pin it now and come back when inspiration strikes.

How to Make DIY Wall Art From Laminate (or Anything Else!)

Materials I Used:

• 1 piece of laminate, any color or dimensions

• Scissors

• A frame (mine was from the basement)

• Waverly Chalk Paint in Ivory

• Gold Rub ‘n Buff (antique gold)

• Chip brush & small detail brush

• Crayola air-dry clay

• A background stamp + black ink pad

• Titebond wood glue

• Trim mold for decorative castings

• Vintage-inspired seed packet rub-on transfer from IOD (I buy these with so many ideas in store, and then once they arrive, I forget what I want to do with them. So... I will be working on more ideas soon if you are like myself in this area.)

How I Made DIY Laminate Wall Art

1. Cut the laminate to size
   I trimmed the laminate to fit perfectly into the frame I’d found in the basement. If your laminate piece isn’t flat, place something heavy on top for a day or two to smooth it out.

2. Paint the laminate
   Using a chip brush, I stippled on two coats of Waverly Chalk Paint in Ivory. This technique gives a bit of texture and better coverage, especially over something like laminate that isn’t made to be painted.

3. Add age with a background stamp
   To give the painted surface a weathered, aged-over-time look, I randomly stamped on black ink using a distressed background stamp. It’s subtle but gives the surface that layered, vintage charm.

4. Rub-on transfer time
   I carefully applied a rub-on transfer of a vintage seed packet from IOD to the center of the laminate. Or at least I thought it was centered.

5. Clay castings with trim mold
   Once the transfer was in place, I rolled out some air-dry clay and made castings using a silicone trim mold. These decorative bits were added around the seed packet to frame it out and add dimension.

6. Glue and gild
   I attached the clay castings using Titebond wood glue. Once dry, I brushed on a little gold Rub ‘n Buff with a small detail brush. I even added some gold to the frame with a small detail brush to tie it all together.

Doesn't this look centered? It does to me... guess not.

Now, let me share a little secret with you.

When I stood back to admire my creation, I realized… the seed packet wasn’t exactly centered. Not even close. And I thought, of course it isn’t. This happens to me all the time. I just can’t seem to center things properly. I also struggle with hanging artwork straight. (It’s a gift really, or not.)

But that “oops” moment led to something better. Since the transfer looked slightly off, I added the clay trim to help balance the design and draw the eye around the vintage seed packet, so you do not see my oops-y moment. 

And honestly? I think it’s more interesting this way. The project grew and changed as I worked, and those are always my favorite kind of DIYs—the ones where I start with a vague idea and just let creativity lead me down a path.

Do you ever have those moments? 

Where something you’ve made isn’t perfect, but you love it anyway? 

That’s exactly how I feel about this piece. I didn’t want to toss it out just because I misjudged the placement. And I definitely wasn’t about to let that fabulous scrap of laminate end up in a landfill, no matter what hubby said, I mean who would I even be then? This gal upcycles, she doesn't throw away perfectly good trash to end up in a landfill for eternity. No, she gets in there and she creates, and it doesn't even matter if it's perfect or not.

This is where the heart of DIY really shines—not in the perfect Pinterest-worthy outcome, but in the unexpected, the quirky, and the slightly off-kilter. If you’re someone who celebrates the imperfect in life, who enjoys the process as much as the finished product, then welcome. You’re my kind of people.

No Laminate? No Problem, Let's Use...

Don’t have an old piece of laminate lying around? That’s perfectly fine—most people don’t. This project is all about getting creative with what you do have. Here are a few ideas you can use as your base instead:

• Cardboard – Sturdy, easy to cut, and just waiting to be covered in paint and transfers.

• Old frame backing – You know the kind... those panels hiding behind thrifted art, the backing to a frame. Give them a new life!

• A wood board – Even a scrap of plywood or an old cabinet door can be the perfect canvas.

• Glass from a picture frame – Yep, paint right over it and layer your art on top. It gives a completely different look, get creative with your home DIY projects.

• Canvas board – If you’re feeling a bit fancy, a flat canvas works beautifully with rub-ons and clay embellishments.

The point is: use what you have. The quirkier, the better.

If you are interested in finding out more about this second DIY frame, click Barn Sale Finds

The best part? There are no rules here. That’s the beauty of using something unexpected—like a piece of laminate countertop I found under my kitchen utensil drawer. I wasn't starting with something precious, so I got to play (my favorite kind of crafting). You can make a little mess. And you get to enjoy the process just as much as the final reveal, I know I did.

Thoughts from the Not-So-Perfect DIYer, yep, that's Me!

If I had waited for the perfect idea or the perfect materials—or worse, aimed for the perfect outcome—this little project probably would have never happened (besides, I am not exactly patient). And that would’ve been a shame because even though it’s a bit off-center and maybe a tad extra (because yes, I added gold rub ‘n buff and clay moldings once again), it makes me smile.

Isn't that what home should do?

Cheers to laminate scraps, misaligned transfers, imperfect moments, and me giving my husband one more reason to roll his eyes (lovingly, of course). If you give this project a try—or do something totally different with something totally unexpected—I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment, send a message, or just keep creating and letting the “oops” moments guide you because you are in the right place my friend, I believe it's where the magic lives anyway.

Until next time—keep making your space yours, imperfections and all, I know I will.

P.S. This gal is singing and dancing while looking at her imperfect art hanging in our foyer… sharing the less-than-perfect parts of life with you and not being one bit ashamed about it. 💃 Sometimes that’s all you can do—and if you do, you might as well do it with a smile on your face.

Ciao,

Cara