Thyme to show you Crow's Nest Tavern Receipt Box

I have fallen behind in blogging about all the projects that I have been painting!

My desk is now cleared!

Today I want to tell you about a project 

called

Crow's Nest Tavern Receipt Box.

Design by

Cynthia Erekson.

Please join me to see how you can transform an ordinary wood box

 into something very unique using simple woodgraining techniques.

My Palette

DecoArt Americana Acrylics

Camel , Antique Green, Dried Basil Green, Milk Chocolate, Lamp Black, Honey Brown, Dark Chocolate, Soft Black Antique Gold

Let's Paint!

I used a box which measured about 10" x 6" x 4"

You can adjust the pattern to fit any surface!

I began by sealing the box inside and out

 with 

Multi Purpose Sealer

After your sealer has dried sand lightly and wipe off any dust with a paper towel.

I base coated all outer surfaces of the box and lid with Camel.

I loaded the broad flat side of a 2" sponge brush with a good amount of paint.

I began in the center of each section of the box

 and

 repeatedly used a "press" and "lift" motion to create a textured surface. 

I painted the inside of the box and lid with Antique Green.

I taped off the top of the box

 leaving a rectangle area about 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" exposed 

in the center of the cover.

I then mixed a wood graining glaze.

I began by squirting a quarter size puddle

 of 

Milk Chocolate

in the center of my palette.

Around that puddle I carefully squirted

 4 quarter size puddles 

of 

Clear Glaze medium.

The puddles must be the same size as the Milk Chocolate puddle! 

Measure carefully!

I then added 2 quarter size puddles of Easy Float

I mixed this all together with a palette knife.

I loaded the flat side of a sponge brush 

and 

again used a "press" and "lift" motion

 to apply a bubbly coat of glaze to the center of the lid.

I then used a graining tool and pulled it through the glaze mix on the box cover.

I repeated the "graining" on the 2 sides and back of the box. 

The front of the box is where we will paint the design.

You must allow the graining to dry completely!

I then added the borders on the box 

by carefully removing the tape I had applied.

I used a stencil brush 

to pounce on 2 coats of Dark Chocolate 

into the 1" border.

Make sure your brush is DRY 

to avoid seepage of paint

 under your taped edges.

I then removed the 1/4" tape 

and 

used a dry stencil brush loaded 

with 

Antique Green 

to pounce the next border.

I painted the rope with Dark Chocolate. 

I highlighted with Camel 

and 

added the line detail with Lamp Black.

I shaded around all the edges 

of the of each side of the box

  (front, sides, and back) 

using 

Dark Chocolate

on a dry stencil brush.

I repeated using Lamp Black.

I transferred the design to the front of the box adding details as needed.

The details have all been painted.

I love the muted colors of this box.

I applied several coats of 

Dura Clear Soft Touch Varnish

using a sponge.

Let the varnish dry completely between coats!

I have a selection of sponges in the the STUDIO like those shown above.

I use the round flat ones to apply varnish.

The Soft Touch Varnish will give your project a wonderful matte finish with no streaks!

I attached hardware to the cover of my box.

My completed project.

Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt 

provided me with the paints 

and products to complete this project as part of their

Helping Artist

and 

Blogger Outreach Programs

THANK YOU DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint this

Crow's Nest Tavern Receipt Box.

Happy Painting!

Lynn

Thyme to say that Life is Better when your 're Painting

It's no secret

 that 

I LOVE to paint!

I will paint on just about ANY surface.

It's easy to do when there are so many products out there to create with.

Today I wanted to show you an apron that I painted.
Often I just use "portions" of a design to create a whole new project.

I used a design

 by 

Judy Westegaard CDA 

to complete this project

I modified the design to fit my surface .

The design is part of

 Judy's

  Art Studio Fun Collection

from her

Chalk It Up Book

I have painted a few projects from this book.

You can see those projects by clicking on the links below.

Life is Better When Your Painting 

can be found

HERE

Creative Minds Are Seldom Tidy

can be found

HERE

My Palette

DecoArt Traditions Acrylic Paint

Burnt Umber, Carbon Black, Dioxazine Purple,Hansa Yellow, Medium Beige, Medium White, Napthol Red, Perinone Orange, Prussian Blue Hue, Raw Sienna, Sapphire Blue, Teal Green, Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Oxide

I began by first

  washing and drying 

the apron to remove the sizing.

Next I cut a piece of 

waxed freezer coated paper 

a little larger than the area that I was going to paint.

I used a warm iron , no steam 

to adhere the paper

 to the back side of the apron

under the area that I was going to be painting.

I then used white graphite paper to transfer the pattern to my apron.

I use a Sewline Tracer Roller Ball Pen to transfer designs to fabric.

* It won't tear your line drawing or graphite paper.

I used a white chalk pencil 

to darken any lines that needed darkening

 so I could see the design better.

I added a few drops of Fabric Medium to my paints.

When painting on FABRIC you need to be careful of a few things!

Paint bleeding is one of those things!

I like to use Moon Brushes for this reason

I use a very dry brush 

and 

first outline the area to be painted

 with the 

chisel edge of the

Moon Brush

I then use my Ultra Round brushes to fill in the area. 

I am very careful about the amount  of water I use. 

Less is more!

You do not want to saturate your fabric!

I like to build the intensity of color gradually.

I always keep a Tide Pen handy when working on fabric.

They are good to get rid of a tiny smudge that may happen if you catch it immediately.

I painted several of the brush handles first.

I am working on the bristles.

It can be a little more difficult to shade on fabric.
BUT
It can be achieved by dry brushing!
I used either my
Moon Brushes or Stain- It
brushes for the dry brush shading.

The first 3 brushes are complete!

I am working on the remaining brushes.

I have finished painting all the brushes.

I am working on the palette knife.

I am now working on the pencil.

Close up view.

After I had completed my painting I put a 

clean white cloth 

over the design 

and 

ironed it to set the paint.

Does it look like you can grab one of those brushes out of the pocket?

My completed apron.

Close up of design.

Rosemary Reynolds and DecoArt 
provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of their
Helping Artist
 and
DecoArt Blogger Outreach Programs

Thank you DecoArt!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint this project!

Because.......

Life REALLY is better when you are painting!

Happy Painting !

Lynn