Hi
Y’all!! I
was super duper excited when I saw the new Southern Ridge Trading
Company Zen Dragonfly items and couldn’t wait to create with them!!
Of course I had a thousand and one ideas running through my head and
initially planned to paint water lilies for my dragonfly (which I
started but didn’t finish), then I saw this picture that INSPIRED
my dragonfly creation! As I was scrolling through pictures on my
computer, I found this gorgeous Art Deco Compact (pictured below)
that was a silver brushed metal with a gold dragonfly on top, and it
led to this catch-all box that I’m in love with.
The
box is a 5” paper mache box from Hobby Lobby.
To
give it that brushed metal look, it needed to have some texture. I
used one of my all time favorite stencils. This stencil is actually
from the M2 (as in ‘M squared’) line of stencils that Tracy
Moreau and I have created. This particular stencil, M2-3, lends
itself to the “Art Deco” feel. I used a palette knife to apply
the DecoArt Media Black Modeling Paste to box, doing so in stages so
that the sides, etc. had time to dry before moving on to the next
area.
I
didn’t paint the box first, but you certainly could with black
paint. I chose to wait for the modeling paste to dry and then painted
it with a very thin application of Lamp Black. Next, I loaded a
sponge dauber with the black paint, pounced off the excess and
painted the dragonfly.
Once
the box dried, I brushed some of the Extreme Sheen Silver over the
entire box and lid and then wiped back some of the excess paint with
a paper towel. It was super shiny, and I loved the look, so I snapped
a picture so you could see what it looked like. I even brushed on
some Extreme Sheen Aquamarine to see how that would look, which you
can see in the picture. However, I wanted a more subtle look to the
metal shine, so decided to antique it with DecoArt Media Carbon Black
Antiquing Cream. I brushed that all over the box and then wiped back
the excess paint with a paper towel, repeating that step on the lid
as well. While that was drying I painted the dragonfly with the
Extreme Sheen Gold. I found it easier to load a sponge dauber with
the paint and lightly pounce over the dragonfly to keep the intricate
cutouts paint free.
To
finish off the look, I loaded a 1” stencil brush with White Frost
Metallic Lustre, working it into the bristles and then dry brushed
the lustre on the box and the dragonfly. This added that perfect
brushed metal look to the piece. You can buff to the desired shine
with a soft cloth. Finally, I glued the dragonfly to box using E6000
glue.
I
hope this inspires you to create it!! I think it would be cool to
make some 4” coasters to match, using the M2 stencil and paint
(without a raised texture) and then add the dragonfly using the new
Southern Ridge Trading Company Zen Dragonfly Stencil.
Southern Ridge Trading Company Supplies Used:
Other Supplies Used:
Surface:
5” Paper Mache Box (Available from Hobby Lobby)
- M2
Stencil – M2-3 (Available from www.SandyMcTierDesigns.com)
- DecoArt
Americana Acrylics: Lamp Black
- DecoArt
Media Fluid Acrylics: Carbon Black Antiquing Cream
- DecoArt
Media Metallic Lustre: White Frost
- DecoArt
Media Black Modeling Paste
- DecoArt
Extreme Sheen: Silver and Gold (Aquamarine – optional)
- Dynasty
Brushes: 1” Faux Sable and 1” Stencil Brush (Available from
TheBrushGuys.com – use promo code: sandymc for an additional
discount)
- Other
supplies: Palette Knife & E6000
Website:
www.sandymctierdesigns.com
©2018
Zen Dragonfly Box, Sandy McTier Designs ~ all rights reserved
Y’all
have a GREAT day; Happy Creating!! Sandy
