Artistically Speaking...

ob?jet d'art...french. noun.
an object of artistic worth or curiosity, a small object. see more
words we live by

Turning A Used Item in to an Elegant Treasure By Victoria Larsen "Being a person who has always loved using my skills and ideas to give something old a fresh new look, no one ever had to encourage me to go "green". "   I love the fact that the rest of the world now sees the value in re-using and re-furbishing thanks to this tough economy. Not only does it prevent the waste associated with previous attitudes, it opens new doors to the faux finish artist to include furnishings, cabinetry and smaller projects in their services line-up. I've also been someone who loves creating my Christmas gifts by hand, often utilizing thrift store items as my project base. There is a multitude of items at thrift stores that can serve as the project for ultimately elegant gift ware. Consider wooden trays, boxes, racks and even large ceramic vases.

In this case, I found a sturdy wooden box at a thrift store and decided to turn it in to an elegant, ornamental gift that is not only unique and can't be found in any store, but also looks "high end" when complete.

The outdated tole painting on the raw wood lid easily vanished with a light sanding and two coats of premium primer.

Raised plaster stenciling was then added to the lid and box base using common joint compound. This provides the first level of dimension.

Choosing small plaster mold designs, pieces were then cast using plaster of paris. Since all plaster must be thoroughly dry before applying to walls, ceilings or smaller projects, the drying process can be sped up by placing the pieces in your home oven for 1 hour on 300 degrees.

Once the pieces are dry, they are attached by spreading an even layer of joint compound mixed with a small amount of white glue over the back of the piece then pressing firmly to the intended area.

Any space between the plaster piece and the surface should be filled with the remaining compound/glue mixture to assure complete and sturdy adhesion and a more professional appearance. Excess can simply be wiped away with a damp sponge.

Once all plaster work has been complete and dry, I re-prime the entire piece to prepare the plaster to accept a decorative paint finish. Since raw plaster is very porous, this step is necessary to ensure even and smooth coverage.

3 coats of "Metalglow" Fontana Gold Paint by Faux Effects gives the box its elegant gold base. Then a color wash of dark brown acrylic paint mixed with translucent wall glaze is scrubbed over the textured surface and wiped off with a terry towel to bring out the rich detail of the plaster stenciling and ornamental pieces.

   

Make sure to paint the inside of the box as well. Or line it with black velvet once all of the painting is complete.

Two coats of non-yellowing polyurethane seals and protects the surface.

Victoria Larsen is a professional Wall Stencil/Ornamental Plaster Mold designer and manufacturer located in the evergreen state of Washington.  read more