Raised Plaster Stenciling Creates Ornate Furniture in No Time
- Date: 2007-05-31 - Word Count: 697
Share This!
The newest craze in wall décor is now finding its way in to the handcrafted furniture industry by providing a simple and inexpensive way to create raised designs in styles ranging from simplistic to highly ornate.
How is it being done? With specially designed stencils. Though the process can be done with common craft stencils, they typically do not create a raise high enough to even be noticeable.
"Raised Plaster" stencils are cut of very thick, heavy-duty mylar that in just a few moments and with very little effort, create a raised design on finished or un-finished wood pieces using a variety of mediums.
Mediums found to be very successful in this application range from common Wall Board Joint Compound (also known as "wall mud"), to products that include plaster combined with wood fiber (Brand named "Fix-it-All" or "Quick Fix" depending on the area of the country it is sold in) to any variety of wood putty. All of these products can be found in your local home or hardware stores.
When using pre-mixed joint compound products or dry compound "Fix-it-All" or "Quick Fix", the addition of white or wood glue is beneficial in creating a permanent adhesion of the product to your project piece, making it durable and rock hard.
The recipe is as follows:
2 cups of joint compound combined with ½ cup of wood or white glue.
or
2 cups of Powdered Compound combined with ½ cup of white or wood glue and enough water to create a frosting-like consistency.
The application process is as simple as frosting a cake.
Step 1. Simply tape the stencil to the desired area on your piece.
Step 2. Using a flat edged pallet knife (with about a 2" wide blade) spread the mixture over the top of the stencil openings then scrape smooth to remove any excess.
Step 3. Carefully remove the stencil by un-taping 3 corners, leaving the last corner taped to provide stability, then pulling the stencil gently toward that last piece of tape.
Any smudges can simply be removed with a wet cotton swab.
A rougher texture in the design can be achieved by either not scraping the stencil smooth before removal, or by laying your pallet knife flat against the openings then creating minor "lifts" in the compound that will dry to create "peaks and valleys" in the design.
Colorings can be added to any of the above products with any "pure pigment" medium such as Powdered Fabric Dye, Pure Pigment Paints, Stucco and even concrete colorings. Be aware however, that including liquid colorings may thin your medium. We recommend dry, powdered colorings for best results.
When adding colors, do remember that the color you see in its "wet" form, will dry lighter so adjust colors as necessary. It is advisable to color a small amount of compound and allow it to dry to see the likely finished result.
If you are planning to simply stain and varnish your piece, use wood putty products rather than compounds to create a more natural, wood toned raised design.
Design possibilities are endless with the use of stencils. Many ornate styles are on the market manufactured by companies specializing in stencils. Specialty, extra thick stencils can be found by simply doing a search for "Plaster Stencils" on the Internet.
You will find designs in the form of "friezes" (central designs) that can be used on doors, front facings and fascia boards, molding and border designs to create straight borders or framing designs.
You will also find very small designs for use on smaller, more delicate projects or smaller areas such as tight corners on a table or chair.
If you create your items for sale, you will broaden your market simply by making your product ever more appealing to not only the upscale consumer, but the general market as well.
Not only have you now added more value to your item, but you did it literally for pennies since the compound and stencils are very reasonably priced, creating many, many items from a single purchase. It certainly becomes the most cost effect means of creating ornate designs available today. Not only in time and effort, but also in expense.
How is it being done? With specially designed stencils. Though the process can be done with common craft stencils, they typically do not create a raise high enough to even be noticeable.
"Raised Plaster" stencils are cut of very thick, heavy-duty mylar that in just a few moments and with very little effort, create a raised design on finished or un-finished wood pieces using a variety of mediums.
Mediums found to be very successful in this application range from common Wall Board Joint Compound (also known as "wall mud"), to products that include plaster combined with wood fiber (Brand named "Fix-it-All" or "Quick Fix" depending on the area of the country it is sold in) to any variety of wood putty. All of these products can be found in your local home or hardware stores.
When using pre-mixed joint compound products or dry compound "Fix-it-All" or "Quick Fix", the addition of white or wood glue is beneficial in creating a permanent adhesion of the product to your project piece, making it durable and rock hard.
The recipe is as follows:
2 cups of joint compound combined with ½ cup of wood or white glue.
or
2 cups of Powdered Compound combined with ½ cup of white or wood glue and enough water to create a frosting-like consistency.
The application process is as simple as frosting a cake.
Step 1. Simply tape the stencil to the desired area on your piece.
Step 2. Using a flat edged pallet knife (with about a 2" wide blade) spread the mixture over the top of the stencil openings then scrape smooth to remove any excess.
Step 3. Carefully remove the stencil by un-taping 3 corners, leaving the last corner taped to provide stability, then pulling the stencil gently toward that last piece of tape.
Any smudges can simply be removed with a wet cotton swab.
A rougher texture in the design can be achieved by either not scraping the stencil smooth before removal, or by laying your pallet knife flat against the openings then creating minor "lifts" in the compound that will dry to create "peaks and valleys" in the design.
Colorings can be added to any of the above products with any "pure pigment" medium such as Powdered Fabric Dye, Pure Pigment Paints, Stucco and even concrete colorings. Be aware however, that including liquid colorings may thin your medium. We recommend dry, powdered colorings for best results.
When adding colors, do remember that the color you see in its "wet" form, will dry lighter so adjust colors as necessary. It is advisable to color a small amount of compound and allow it to dry to see the likely finished result.
If you are planning to simply stain and varnish your piece, use wood putty products rather than compounds to create a more natural, wood toned raised design.
Design possibilities are endless with the use of stencils. Many ornate styles are on the market manufactured by companies specializing in stencils. Specialty, extra thick stencils can be found by simply doing a search for "Plaster Stencils" on the Internet.
You will find designs in the form of "friezes" (central designs) that can be used on doors, front facings and fascia boards, molding and border designs to create straight borders or framing designs.
You will also find very small designs for use on smaller, more delicate projects or smaller areas such as tight corners on a table or chair.
If you create your items for sale, you will broaden your market simply by making your product ever more appealing to not only the upscale consumer, but the general market as well.
Not only have you now added more value to your item, but you did it literally for pennies since the compound and stencils are very reasonably priced, creating many, many items from a single purchase. It certainly becomes the most cost effect means of creating ornate designs available today. Not only in time and effort, but also in expense.
Related Tags: home improvement, decorating, home decorating, interior decorating, paint, stencil, wall decorating, plaster, faux finishing
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Important Things to Know About an Assisted Living Residence in Texas
n assisted living residence is a facility designed for senior citizens or persons with disabilities - Understanding How the Probate Process Works
The probate process is required within the U.S. to settle estates of deceased persons. The time requ - Fun Ideas for the Family During the Christmas Holiday
The Yuletide season is one of the most awaited holidays of the year because it is the time for joy a - How To Find The Right Composite Decking Deck Builders
Another rising home improvement project homeowners are starting to do a lot more of is the composite - Every Home Should Have A Radiant Barrier
The most easy and successful home improvement project you can do to your House, would be to install - The Different Types Of Rain Gutters
When purchasing a house or planning to do improvements to a home, there is always one project that s - How To Get The Best Replacement Windows For Your Home
Installing replacement windows can be the single most important home improvement project you can do - Holiday Accommodation Gold Coast: Pointers For Selecting The Best
With a multitude of holiday accommodations in Gold Coast, choosing the one for yourself can be quite - Want Holiday Accommodation In Gold Coast Queensland? Get Online To Find The Best Deal In A Quick, Co
There are several ways to find holiday accommodation in Gold Coast. You may refer to travel guides t - Celebrate The Ten-days Festival Of Navratri.
Dasara known as Dussehra, Navaratri, Vijaya Dashami is a festival of triumph of GOOD over Evil. The
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Adoptees Need Support When Voicing Feelings about Birth Parents
"I feel like a mistake.""I'm not like them.""Where's my family?""Why can't I find a suitable career? - Progressive Cooking: All About 'cuisine'
The French are known for their interest in art and all that is fine. It therefore comes as no surpri - Moroccan Decor - Oh My! Make Your Home Shine With Moroccan Rugs and Tapestries.
It is said in Morocco that he who enters Fez with a rug will leave with a moneybag. This saying o - Online Criminal Background Checks-Importance & Ease
Have you ever thought your new neighbor looks like one of the pictures on the post office bulletin b - Installing A Burglar Alarm
Want to protect your home? Ready to install a burglar alarm? The popularity of the home burglar ala - Lowe's Backyard Playground Sets
Lowe's is an excellent first place to look for anyone who is looking for the best swing sets on the - How Could Short Term Health Insurance Help Me?
Short-term health insurance plans allow people to have health insurance for a limited amount of time - Watch Out For Those Stinky Skunks!
There are various species of skunks found throughout the United States including the striped, spotte - Asthma In Kids: An Increasing Epidemic
Many believe that the majority of asthma cases are confined to adults, but this is definitely an inc - Stairlifts For Riders Of Above Average Weight
A stairlift is an affordable device that is used to give people with limited mobility access to the