Easy Christmas Cards Using Wood Icing® And A Royal Design Studio Stencil

We are sharing this post by Debbie Dion Hayes of the blog, MyPatchOfBlueSky.com



Do you have little ones who love to get involved in holiday activities, not to mention birthdays, special events, and baby showers? As a little girl growing up in winter-frozen Massachusetts, Mom and I often found ourselves snowed in, Dad at work, anxious for fun stuff to create. She was always able to conjure a cigar box of art supplies, and away we would go, making and doing.

One especially fond memory, when I was in grammar school, was making greeting cards for all occasions when neighbors observed my passion for drawing. They paid me as much as it would have cost for a store-bought version, and I even designed a logo to add to the back, like Hallmark.

So, here we are, back to where I started, a long time ago, making quick,  thoughtful and artsy Christmas cards! I love it. You will quickly notice that the technique is easily transferable to any occasion, even wrapping paper and book covers.

 

How do you do it? I bet you can ask a kiddo to look at the photo, and they will explain right away. We’re making a raised tree pattern with a stencil and simply rubbing over it with crayons. Yikes, so simple. Add a verse you make up, or Google one, to add to the back, a tree on the envelope, and done.

SUPPLIES
• Wood Icing® Textura Paste
• Bonnie Christine for Royal Design Studio Small Timberland Furniture Stencil
• Stiff cardboard, thin masonite, or anything that won’t bend, to use for the pattern
• Card stock or printer paper of your choice
• Crayons and colored pens to write a verse on the back
• Rigid small trowel, putty knife or old credit card, painters tape, scissors, stir stick

 

Tape off the board to keep the Textura Paste from getting onto the table. Plan which size envelope you want to use, and make sure the paper you use can be cut or folded to fit inside.



Position the stencil on top of the board and tape. Apply some paste to the trowel with a stir stick, and starting at the top, pull the material across the stencil pattern, level with the depth of the stencil.
 

Don’t worry too much about perfection. A few ridges in the paste are fine, and add a bit of texture. But too much, too thick, will obscure the design when you rub the crayon over it.

 

Let the design dry. Wash the stencil and the trowel in warm water while you’re waiting. Textura Paste is water-soluble and dries fairly quickly.

 

Select a few crayon colors to layer over the trees – I used several greens – and rub over the trees. I peeled the paper off, like we loved to do as kids. Then, to make a colorful statement, I added red stars to shine over the forest of trees.

 

Cut out the final card. I planned ahead to use a single sheet to fit inside a #10 envelope, then I could get two cards per sheet of paper.



Add a single tree motif on the side of the envelope, and write a message, a poem, or a quote on the back, sign, address, and you’re done. I’m confident you, or your little helper elves, can turn dozens of cards out in an afternoon.

Store the pattern you made, and use it again. Consider making some more different designs to mix and match, too.

Is there anything Wood Icing Textura Paste can’t do? Hmmmm. Every time I think about writing a new post I seem to think of something new to try.

Ready to get those cards checked off your to-do list?

Find a Wood Icing retailer near you.

Painting Grandkitty Chuck Norris Using Wood Icing® Glazes And Stencil

We are sharing this post on MyPatchOfBlueSky.com by Debbie Dion Hayes

 

Lately, I have been enjoying getting out of my comfort zone creatively. Though I studied painting in college, back then we learned to paint with oils. I hated using oils then, and still do. After graduation, as an illustrator, I graduated to acrylics. But I was scared to death of watercolors and ignored them, and the possibilities, until a few weeks ago.

I began painting simple little kitty and doggie caricatures. What a fun, simple pleasure.

For quite some time I have been creating textured finishes and project for Wood Icing®, mostly with Textura Paste. Today, as I was looking through my supplies, I realized that the Wood Icing® Glazes would make the perfect medium to paint my Grandkitty Chuck Norris – or anything really.


I am not into perfectly-painted pet portraits. I love semi-caricatures that capture the essence of personality with lots of squiggles made with black pens and a Sharpie. While I hone my watercolor skills, it’s fun and easy to do.

I know, I know, I can hear some readers saying, “I’m not an artist and I could NEVER do that.” I promise, you can! Here are my steps. If you look closely, nothing is perfect.

WOOD ICING SUPPLIES  Licorice, Rusty Nails, Dijon, Really White Furniture Glazes, Grid stencil
ART SUPPLIES  Watercolor paper, watercolor brushes, pencil, black pins, black Sharpie, paint palette, water, paper towels

ENLARGE A PET PHOTO AND SKETCH WITH PENCIL

 

I prefer close-up pictures for these little drawings, so I enlarged a cropped photo on my printer, at 8 1/2″ by 11″. It’s perfect for an 8″ by 10″ frame. I used a sheet of 9″ by 12″ watercolor paper, so before beginning, I measured an 8″ by 10″ crop area to cut later.

Draw in a few basic areas to lay out your picture. Pay close attention to proportion, and getting the eyes and mouth pretty close. To me, they are the most important.

MAKE A WASH OF LICORICE AND START!

 

Without worrying about perfection, just wash in a few general strokes. I start lighter and gradually go darker. Let dry.

ADD A FEW SQUIGGLES WITH BLACK PENS

 

You can see how simple my loose squiggles are. I added a touch of Rusty Nails for the nose, and Dijon for the eyes.

 

I start with a few squiggles, then go back and forth between using the Licorice and the ink, drying in between.

 

I never sit down and do a drawing at once. I paint a little, draw a little, then walk away for 10 minutes or even an hour. Slowly, Nore’s adorable personality started evolving. Usually, I save using white until last, for accents like whiskers. The best part is when my hubby walks in and says, “That’s Nore!”

 

To make a simple background for Nore, I used the Wood Icing® Grid stencil to create a little pattern. Normally, I would lay it down and trowel the Texture Paste across it, then peel it up to make a heavy textured pattern. But here I loosely penciled in the pattern.

 

Then, I just added a wash of Rusty Nails, starting darker in the front, and graduating to lighter at the back. Let dry, and your masterpiece is finished!

 

You can frame it, or, I decided to add it to my funky collection of rusty boxes with an old, crusty Jeep right on top of the ancient post office organizer on my desk.

 

What do you think? This technique would work nicely to make gift and holiday cards, too!
Find a Wood Icing® retailer near you to get started!

{This post is sponsored by my wonderful client, Wood Icing®. They allow me to experiment with their cool products, and the ideas and comments are my own.}

Wood Icing® Products Pair Perfectly With Chalk Paint®, Artisan Enhancements & Artsy Stencils

We are sharing a post from Debbie Hayes at MyPatchOfBlueSky.com

 

One of my absolute favorite pastimes is to get together with artist friends and shop owners who sell DIY products to play with exciting new paint and products. Lots of laughs, learning and good memories. And maybe a glass of wine…

A couple of months ago, a small, energetic group of friends gathered for a fun day and a half of sharing and hands-on experimentation.


I brought Wood Icing® Textura Paste and Fissure Size, used to crackle the paste, and another artist brought the perfect size small canvases, some Artisan Enhancements foil, Leaf & Foil Size, stencils, and some Chalk Paint®.

With some basic product explanation from us both, we all jumped in and created our own little canvas masterpiece, our own way.

Immediately it was apparent how well everything mixed and matched since it was primarily water-based.

Our artsy retreat reiterated how inventive DIYers can use compatible products to achieve pattern, texture and bling.

Though I now wish I had photographed each piece, I can share mine.

THE RECIPE
• On an artist canvas, roll or brush on Artisan Enhancements Leaf and Foil Size (1 or 2 coats) and let come to tack
• Lay Artisan Enhancements silver foil over the surface and burnish
• Brush on some Florence Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan, leaving open areas. Let dry.
• Place a stencil off-center on the surface. Brush or roll on Wood Icing Fissure Size. Let dry.
• Use Wood Icing Textura Paste with an offset knife and trowel thickly through the same stencil over the Fissure Size. Cracks will result.
• Glaze the entire surface with Wood Icing Mud Pie Furniture Glaze. Wipe with a rag to remove some glaze from the top, pushing glaze into the creases. Let dry.
• Use some SIFF (Southern Institute of Fine Finishing) Empire Gold gilding paste on a finger to lightly accent the stenciled area. Let dry.

Everyone in our group used different Chalk Paint® colors and foils, but we all agreed that we were excited about the possibilities!

 

WHAT IS WOOD ICING TEXTURA PASTE AND WHY IS IT SPECIAL?

Textura Paste is a water-based acrylic product, which has the consistency of peanut butter. Simply spread it with a spatula or trowel. While wet, you can add impressions and designs with any number of objects or tools. Use foam rubber stamps, mesh, lace, and numerous other materials.
You can also apply Textura Paste through a stencil directly onto bare or unfinished wood. Once it has been stained, it’s difficult to tell the difference between real carved wood and a Wood Icing design.

MORE IDEAS FOR USING WOOD ICING + COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS Click on the link to get all of the simple directions


CREATE THIS “ICE PALACE” WALL FINISH

Wood Icing + Modern Masters Metallic Paint + A Royal Design Studio Stencil + Artisan Enhancements Fine Stone

 

CREATE THIS TRIPLE-CANVAS ART

Wood Icing® + Modern Masters Metal Effects + Chalk Paint® + Royal Design Studio Stencil

 

CREATE “INDUSTRIAL LACE” ON CANVAS

Wood Icing + Royal Design Studio Stencil + Silver Leaf
 


EMBELLISH AN OLD DOUGH BOWL

Wood Icing + Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint + Royal Design Studio Stencils



UPCYCLE OLD CABINETS

Wood Icing + Chalk Paint® + Royal Design Studio Stencil



CREATE WOOD “LACE” ON A GLASS TRAY

Wood Icing + Royal Design Studio Stencil

 

Are you ready to try mixing and matching products to get some new, unexpected results?

Great!!

Find your local Wood Icing retailer here. Often you will find that Wood Icing retailers also sell Chalk Paint® and Royal Design Studio stencils. How convenient is that?

{This post is sponsored by my wonderful client, Wood Icing®. They allow me to experiment with their cool products, and the ideas and comments are my own.}

Create This “Ice Palace” Wall Finish Using Wood Icing®!

We are sharing this post by blogger Debbie Dion Hayes of MyPatchOfBlueSky.com

Have you noticed that rustic furniture can mix beautifully with a glamorous wall finish?

Our 1970s ranch home is far from glam, but I have decided that a gorgeous treatment on a focus wall can be a sweet addition.




We have an odd corner in our even odder right-angle hallway that runs the length of our house. I have struggled over the years to add interest and a lovely vignette, but it has to be narrow enough for people, pets and furniture to pass. It’s an unlikely area to be designated one of the prettiest spots in our home, but no one ever accused me of following rules when it comes to decorating, right?

So, after having a blast playing with Wood Icing® Textura Paste, a gorgeous wall stencil and a couple more favorite DIY products, I created this wall treatment called “Ice Palace.” Reflective, soft, with a hint of a dusting of snow, it was just what our dark corner, featuring a skinny, crusty cabinet needed.

Here’s everything you need to know to do it! I encourage you to practice first on a large piece of board, drywall, or plastic before you work on a wall.

(When you apply the finish on a wall you will need to tape off the trim and edges with painters tape and put down a drop cloth. Then find and mark the center of the wall – or the focal point – where you want to begin the pattern. Also find the center of the stencil to match up to the center of the wall. Begin at the top and work side to side and down, matching up the little registration marks.)

SUPPLIES
• WOOD ICING Textura Paste
• ROYAL DESIGN STUDIO Lisboa Tile stencil
• MODERN MASTERS Metallic Paint in Platinum
• ARTISAN ENHANCEMENTS Fine Stone
• water, containers, small flexible trowel, large metal trowel, sample board to practice, stir sticks, towels

MIX TEXTURA PASTE WITH SOME WATER

In a container, mix about 10% water with Textura Paste to soften it up a bit.

USE A SMALL TROWEL TO  PULL THE MIX THROUGH THE STENCIL


Tape the stencil on to the sample board. I am using an old sample so that you can see what I am doing better, and to show you that the wall will need no prep before this step!

Use a stir stick to load the Textura Paste onto your trowel and pull it down vertically.



Remove vertical streaks by going back over them with a light touch using the trowel. Use a wet towel to clean off the trowel as needed.


Remove the stencil and either place it in water, or clean it right away with soap and water. If you need to sand raised areas, do it before the paste is completely dried hard.

BRUSH OR ROLL THE METALLIC PAINT.


Brush or roll on one coat of Platinum paint. Let dry.

TROWEL ON FINE STONE


Use a stir stick to load some Fine Stone onto the large trowel.



Pull the trowel vertically, starting at the top. It will naturally deposit some material at the raised pattern and skip areas, which is the look you are going for. Resist the urge to fill in the area completely so that the platinum will show through and reflect soft light. Let dry.

 Do a lap around the house to gather a few coordinating accessories to add to enhance your new look.



I liked the idea of trying out just a couple of reflective items since the finish is soft, but heavily textured.



I’m really pleased with the effect, and hope you are inspired and ready to try it too. Think how impressed your friends will be!

{This post is sponsored by my wonderful client, Wood Icing®. They allow me to experiment with their cool products, and the ideas and comments are my own.}

Small, Rustic Touches In Our Tiny Powder Room Add Up To Fabulous!

We are sharing this post by blogger Debbie Hayes of MyPatchOfBlueSky.com
 

I’m pretty sure that we have the weirdest, smallest powder room in existence. It is not prominently featured somewhere near the entrance of our home, where guests can discover it. It is hidden at the back door, within the laundry room.

Blah! When we first moved here I’m not sure we knew it existed for a month. Until we had a gaggle of little girls over for a deck party. Then the magic location revealed itself as nothing short of brilliant.




Recently I got in the mood to repaint the ceiling and trim and trowel some pearl-color plaster on the walls that were once layered in painted tissue paper. The room had been a warm brown, with a stenciled copper foil ceiling. It was pretty glam, but in my current mood to lighten up, and of course, change something, it was time for a facelift.

Now, with the grey-white lustrous walls, the room seems so much bigger! The rusty, crusty custom-made mirror and sconces show up beautifully, instead of fading into the background.

I am dying laughing trying to show you how tiny this room is. I had to squat on the john and duck down to get the back wall in this shot. Love how a simple paisley scarf from my collection turned out as art.

 

 

I used one of my fav products, Wood Icing® White Furniture Glaze to whitewash a stick I cut that had fallen in our yard.

This glaze is so nice to use for lots of DIY reasons. It has an acrylic water base that cleans up with soap and water. It is durable for projects like mine, or it can be sealed with Wood Icing’s PolyAcrylic Sealers that come in Dull, Satin and Gloss.

I like how fast it dries and that I can water it down for a wash, like I did on my branch, or apply it full strength. There is also a Clear Glaze you can mix with it if you want to add open time on a large project.

 

A quick jute wrap was all that was needed to hang this very light piece.

 

Two cup hooks and a hammer made quick work of hanging. Knowing me, I will change out what’s hanging on this wall often, based on current treasures found.

 

You can see that I have a thing for “shopping” for tree branches in the yard.



Ages ago, I wound some green raffia around old hardware to make this towel bar.




Handmade rock soap is so pretty, hubby Steve was looking everywhere for the soap bar when I added this cool, jewel-like chunk. It seems men don’t like pretty when it comes to washing up after mowing the lawn.



A short sugar mold is the perfect opportunity to add roses from our tiny garden, or anything we pick up that is intriguing.



Another favorite focal point in this truly tiny bathroom is the cabinet doors, which were a great project that I did for Paint + Pattern.


You don’t have to use much imagination to guess where the best vantage point is, LOL!


Overall, I couldn’t be happier with this little project. The perfect mixture of rust, patina, texture, glam, and um, facilities.



What do you think? Do you have a weird powder room project? Love for you to share it on the Wood Icing Facebook page!


{This post is sponsored by my wonderful client, Wood Icing®. They allow me to experiment with their cool products, and the ideas and comments are my own.}