Refurbished Foo Dogs
These two foo dogs were originally painted with a dark rust color and had gotten chipped from laying around the garage. After we did some redecorating in one of our rooms, I wanted to give these small statues a second life by giving them a faux rustic stone finish. I began by adding a layer of dark moss green acrylic paint with a soft brush. I let that layer thoroughly dry before adding the next layer. I then used a soft sponge to add a lighter shade of the same moss green over some areas of the statue and making sure to leave some of the dark moss color show through. Once that shade dried, I added a watered down medium shade of the moss green with a soft brush and the colors began to look blended in some areas and gave the finish a mottled look. Once the third layer was completely dry, I applied the fourth and final layer of very light moss green paint sporadically over the statue, which further blended the colors, and gave me the stone-like finish I wanted. I then repeated the same process on the second statue.
I painted the base with a soft brush using a flat black acrylic paint. Once that layer dried, I painted the next layer using the same soft brush, but for contrast, I used a flat navy blue acrylic paint. Once this layer thoroughly dried, I used a soft dry brush to apply a fast light stroke of metallic bronze acrylic paint, leaving very little of the navy blue and black colors showing through. Once the bronze paint dried, I sprayed the entire piece with a coat of clear acrylic gloss.
Rustic Plaster Santa
This whimsical winking Santa Claus came to us as a white-ware piece about 20 years ago. We painted the plaster piece with bright red, black and white acrylic enamels. We then gave it an antique medium wash which we then rubbed of with a soft towel to create the effect seen in the photo. So have fun and keep creating.
From our family to yours Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Diana Romaxx
Paris Theme Paper Plates
This beautiful Paris theme plate started with one of our original graphic designs of the Eiffel Tower surrounded with swirls against a light pink background and framed within a dark pink circular pattern. I had several large pink paper plates that were left over from a party and thought our Eiffel Tower design would look great in the center of one of these large plates. Because it was computer designed, it was easy to re-size the design to fit perfectly in the center of the plate. I then cut out the round design, glued it to the center of the pink paper plate using white craft glue, and let it dry.
Next, I used a small tube of silver fabric paint to trace the round edges of the circular design. I then used the same silver fabric paint to draw a freehand swirl design in the outer areas of the plate. For this part of the project, I only painted the swirls in about one-half of the plate’s outer area because it is difficult to hold the plate while drawing the swirls without smudging the fabric paint. To avoid smudging the fabric paint, I let the fabric paint dry overnight, and then continued painting the other half of the plate the next day. This project turned out so well in pink, I decided to create another one in blue.
The next step is entirely optional, but once the fabric paint on the plate is completely dry, I would suggest you seal the entire plate with a glossy or matte Mod Podge or any similar product. I coated the entire surface of the plate with glossy Mod Podge. As always, just because we created this one in paper, don’t be afraid to create your very own project. You could also use a clear glass plate, plastic plate, styrofoam plate even a round circular piece of wood, so don’t be afraid of the medium and just create your very own project – you will truly enjoy it. Thank you for your visit. Diana Romaxx
Back View Of Paper Plate
Our Two Graphic Designs
Repurposed Book Page Flower Art
I recently posted paper mache plaster dresses and wondered what flowers might look like using the same paper mache plaster technique. I used the same recycled paper to create flower shapes and centered them on a 5″ x 7″ cardboard background, but when I applied the plaster over the paper flower petals, the mixture was too heavy and flattened the flower petals too much. I usually photograph each stage of my projects and when I reviewed the flower photos, I realized how beautiful the plain paper flowers looked before I had applied the plaster mixture over them.
I decided to try again, but this time leave the paper flowers in their natural state and make them a little smaller in size. I shaped the recycled paper into little flowers and found out that the ones closely resembling little roses looked the prettiest. I applied a dab of white craft glue to the back of each of the little rose shaped flowers and adhered them directly onto the cardboard background, creating two rows of flowers.
I made flower stems for only the bottom row of flowers. I rolled strips of the same recycled paper into elongated little tubes and glued them directly onto the cardboard background. I used the same recycled paper to make leaves by folding them to closely resemble large leaf shapes. Again, I used craft glue to adhere the leaf shapes to the cardboard background, to each side of the stems.
I made the flowers in the next little frame in much the same way, but used a paper towel core to make the little three dimensional flower pot. To make the little flower pot, I used scissors to cut across a small section of a paper towel core and then cut that small section into a half rounded shape. I then painted the cut cardboard with gesso. After the gesso dried, I took a small paintbrush to brush a little plaster across the surface to give the little flower pot a heavier looking texture. After the cardboard flower pot piece dried, I used glue on each end to adhere it onto the cardboard background making sure I positioned it to cover the bottom of the stems to make it appear like flowers are growing out of a little flower pot.
Although in this project I chose to leave the recycled paper in its natural state, you can give the flowers a more colorful look by applying a craft paint or a transparent color wash to each of the paper shapes before or after you create your flower shapes. Even though I used flowers as my subject, you can make any paper shapes you desire for your own personal creation.
Plaster Art Dresses
These dresses are all made of reclaimed cardboard, recycled paper, and then covered with wall plaster. I start by picking out a reclaimed cardboard base and cutting it into a square or rectangular shape (approximately 4″ x 5″). I then crumple many pieces of recycled paper into small different sized shapes. Next, the paper shapes need to be glued down onto the cardboard base and it’s at this point that I try forming the dress shape by gluing the pieces onto the cardboard base. The paper shapes should not have too many gaps in between because the wall plaster is what will give the dress texture. Once the glued paper shapes are completely dry, I start spreading a thin coat of wall plaster over all of the glued paper pieces and background. I usually let the plaster coating completely dry overnight. I chose to give these pieces an abstract look (using a small plastic knife to spread the plaster), but it’s at this point that you could add as much or as little detail over the entire piece.
Because many of the steps involved in making these pieces is time consuming, I try to make many pieces at one time. Another fun part of the process that I enjoy is painting the dresses. I try to imagine the colors and details on these dresses and many times the outcome of the dress will change my mind to a different color I didn’t even think of before I started.
Other times, I’ll pick out colors and not know what patterns I’ll end up painting on these dresses. I enjoy the process very much and have a lot of fun. So the sky is the limit as to the themes you can make – be it flowers, animals or dresses. Just have fun creating your own designs and enjoy!
Other Examples Could also be Seen Here