How To Create A Gorgeous Antique-Looking Book Using Wood Icing™

Posted on March 25, 2014 on MyPatchOfBlueSky.com
 

 

Although this post is sponsored by Wood Icing™, the idea and comments are my own.

Yes, I am clearly like a kid in a candy store with Wood Icing™ products! Since many of my projects from the faux finishing biz were crusty and textured, the water-based Textura Paste is right up my alley. For my last post I used a cool hand-turned teak vase. Since then, everything I look at has possibilities since this product seems to stick to everything and it is so easy to use with my favorite paint and products.
For this post, I went back to basics – my unabashed love of painting hardcover books. Books are in everyone’s attic, in the Goodwill bin ready to donate and if you have to actually purchase one, the dollar store has them too.
The wonderful thing about a project like this is you can use bits of leftover materials.

 

SUPPLIES FROM WOOD ICING:
• Wood Icing™ and an off-set knife • Wood Icing™ Furniture Glazes Colors – Tree Bark & Licorice • Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Old White, Annie Sloan Dark Wax
SUPPLIES FROM ROYAL DESIGN STUDIO • Royal Design Studio Antique Gold Stencil Creme & Moorish Fleur de Lis stencil • Imitation gold metal leaf and leaf size
SUPPLIES FROM AROUND THE HOUSE • low-tack tape, paint brushes, wax paper, rags, 220-grit sandpaper


Choose a book, old or new, and if it is a bit bedraggled, even better. Tape off the area you want to gold leaf and position the stencil. For this one, it is centered which means I had to fill in a bit of the design in another step. Use the knife and spread some Textura Paste over the stencil openings, just like frosting a cake. Repeat to complete the front and back covers, then when dry, sand lightly to remove any raised areas. Dust off.


Paint two coats of Old White Chalk Paint® and let dry. Then re-tape the areas where you want to add imitation gold leaf and paint on the leaf size in one very thin layer. Let come to tack for about 15 minutes. Lay a piece of leaf over the tacky area and smooth with your finger. When the area is covered, burnish with a piece of wadded wax paper. Remove tape.


If you’d like to add some age and extra pizzazz to the edges of the pages, use a large stencil brush and paint on some Royal Design Studio Antique Gold stencil creme. To make the book look like leather, brush on layers of Wood Icing Furniture Glazes (I used alternating Tree Bark and Licorice), then wipe on some Annie Sloan Dark Soft Wax, removing any extra wax with a clean spot on your rag. Wait ten minutes and buff to a soft sheen. The glazes and the dark wax grab the debossed lettering for the title and author, a nice touch.

Now you have a lovely gift for a book lover that looks extra gorgeous on their shelf. I think these are gorgeous in groups as decoration as well. What can you use Wood Icing™ for? We’d love to know your project ideas and see your photos!

Disclosure: This is a paid featured post in conjunction with Wood Icing™. All opinions, projects, and ideas are based on my own experience.