How To Seal Acrylic Paint on Plastic Phone Cases

Acrylic paint is tough to use on plastic and glass because it is prone to peeling away. In this instance, using a sealer or adhesive for your acrylics will prevent peeling and flaking. 

There are a few ways to seal acrylic paint, and most of them are inexpensive and straightforward. You can use various materials, such as Elmer’s glue or any other thick sealer. However, some materials you will only find in a craft store. 

Here’s how to seal acrylic paint on plastic phone cases:

1. Add a base coat and outer layer of Mod Podge.
2. Make a sealer with Elmer’s glue. 
3. Seal on the acrylic paint with puzzle glue. 

I’ll explain the process of sealing your phone case in depth below. 

How To Seal Your Phone Case With Different Materials

Sealing your phone case shouldn’t be expensive as all the materials available for sealing are relatively cheap, around $5 to $20. You can find all materials mentioned in this article in a craft store, and you can even make a sealer out of Elmer’s Glue you have lying around. 

There are far more sealants available than those mentioned in this article, but it is best to stick to crafting sealants for a phone case. They are less messy, inexpensive, and easy to handle. Using a furniture sealant or wall sealant would be similar to hitting a nail with a baseball bat. It still works, but it’s not as easy, and it might be overkill. 

These methods of sealing aren’t waterproof, just water-resistant. They can handle some water, like sweat and splashes from the sink, but do not let any of these sealants become soaked for an extended period. 

Since these sealants are for a phone case, water-resistant adhesives work just as well as waterproof ones. After all, you probably aren’t going to dunk your phone in a pool of water. 

Keep reading to learn how to seal your phone case with the three best sealants. 

Add a Base Coat and Outer Layer of Mod Podge

Mod Podge is the most common sealant in any craft store. It comes in a white tub and has a white, slightly opaque color, and it is relatively thick and looks and smells like glue. There are even sprayable options, but I find they are messier than applying with a sponge or brush. 

There are a few different types of mod podge. For your plastic phone case, use a mod podge with a hard coat specifically for plastic. The Mod Podge Waterbased Sealer tub is one of the best for phone cases, and it has a purple label.

Last update on 2024-10-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

To keep your paint job stuck on, you will be using Mod Podge as a base coat and sealer. The reasoning for a base coat is that acrylic by itself is prone to peeling away from non-porous materials like plastic. 

Since mod podge can glue non-porous materials to porous materials, using it as a base coat gives your acrylic paint a stronger bond. So, let’s go through the steps and paint your plastic phone case with acrylic paint and mod podge: 

1. Apply two layers of mod podge to your plain plastic phone case for your base coat. At this stage, don’t be too picky about brush lines and bumps. Try to apply an even coat, but don’t smooth it out. That way, your base coat will have some texture for the acrylic paint to stick to. 

2. Then, you can apply acrylic paint. Add as many layers as you want, and you can even stick on sequins and other relatively flat items. 

3. You still need to seal it once you’ve painted on top of the mod podge layers. To seal your phone case with mod podge, simply dip a sponge in the white substance and spread it evenly across your entire phone case. You’ll need to do at least four to five coats to minimize the texture of your acrylic brush strokes. 

Once your final coat is dry, you can use your phone case without concern for flaking acrylic paint.

Make a Sealer With Elmer’s Glue

Elmer’s glue (PVA glue in countries outside the USA) is trickier since it dries filmy and is slightly opaque.

To use Elmer’s glue as a sealant, you must mix it with water and finish with a lacquer spray like the Testors Clear Glosscote Spray on Amazon to prevent the natural yellowing of age. It’s a thick substance, so there will be obvious brush strokes on the slippery surface once applied and dried. 

Last update on 2024-10-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

To combat the thickness, mixing two parts of glue with one part of water will thin it enough to go on evenly while keeping the bond strong enough for a good seal. There’s no need to use the glue as a base coat since all bonding will be from the top. 

After mixing your glue, apply it to your phone case with the softest, broadest brush you have. Using a big and soft brush will minimize the number of brush strokes seen in the finish.

Wait for at least half an hour for the glue to completely dry before spraying with a clear lacquer. The lacquer will prevent the glue from yellowing and breaking down with age. Once the spray is dry, you’re all set to use your phone case. 

Seal on the Acrylic Paint With Puzzle Glue

Puzzle glue is not only an adhesive – it contains a lacquer much like Mod Podge. The difference between Mod Podge and puzzle glue is that puzzle glue has a more robust, glossier finish. Mod Podge doesn’t always dry completely clear, whereas puzzle glue will always have a clear finish. 

You would use puzzle glue just like you would mod podge. Apply two layers as a base coat and four to five layers as a sealant. Make sure each layer is dry before adding the next – this will prevent longer drying times for the finished product and avoid streaking in the gloss. 

The glue will feel dry to the touch after about an hour, but allow it to dry for at least four hours to prevent cracks in your finish. After it’s dry, you’re free to use your phone case.

If you are having issues with the texture of your acrylic and would not want it to happen in the next project, you should consider how did you prep your canvas, what brushes you are using, and test the surface before commiting to it as the first port of call.

Final Words

Sealing acrylic paint on a plastic phone case is an excellent way to customize it. You can use sealants such as Mod Podge, Elmer’s glue, and puzzle glue, and they are easy to find and affordable. However, none of these sealants are waterproof, so don’t use them on your phone if you plan to put it in water.  

Using a sponge or soft brush will minimize texture, and allowing these sealants to dry before adding more layers will strengthen the bond. Your phone case is good to go once your glue is dry! 

Sources

• CLIVE5ART – Make Your Own PVA Sealer’ Acrylic painting
• Mod Podge Rocks!: Learn How to Mod Podge for Beginners