Jennifer

Custom Foiled Epoxy Sink by Donna Miller

April 23, 2020 By Jennifer 2 Comments

This week I am sharing a project by one of my amazing customers, Donna Miller. She “Rhondafied” her sink with some wild leopard spots foil and epoxy 🙂 I think Rhonda from RK3 Designs would be very proud!

Custom Foiled Epoxy Sink by Donna Miller

She took this plain jane black sink and took it to THE NEXT LEVEL… WOW, it turned out stunning!

Let’s get started…

First, she grabbed her ArtsSyVille Embellishments Foil Adhesive. This is the foil adhesive I created to get the best release with my foil line. You only need one coat, which saves you time and money.

So… She applied her one coat using a low-nap roller and allowed it to dry to a firm tack. This will approximately take 1 to 2 hours. The longer the better and it will take longer in high humidity areas.

Now for the fun part… FOILS!

After letting her foil adhesive dry to a firm tack, she was ready for the fun part! She grabbed her Wild Leopard Spots Foil and got to making her sink one-of-a-kind.

Don’t you just love that you can make something your own with such a simple and fun tool??

And viola… She has completed her beautiful leopard sink. Well, at least the foiled part anyways. She still has to seal her foil with some epoxy.

Isn’t this sink stunning?

Donna sure did an amazing job taking this plain sink and making it her own. I absolutely love how the leopard print turned out!

Donna’s next step!

As I mentioned above, Donna isn’t quite done yet. She needs to seal her foils with epoxy. If you want to learn more about how to apply epoxy, check out this project I created not too long ago.

Have you created a fun foiled project?

I would love to see it and share it with all of my customers, clients, and followers! Please share your projects with me over on my Facebook groups: Foil Everything by Artistic Painting Studio and Fauxy Rollers by Artistic Painting Studio. You can also email me your projects at jennifer@artisticpaintingstudio.com.

DIY: Custom Foiled Jean Jacket

April 16, 2020 By Jennifer 1 Comment

Y’all know I LOVE my foils and continue to find different applications and surfaces to foil. I thought a custom foiled jean jacket would be a fabulous idea.

I decided to dress up one of the jean jackets I had in my closest and add a little bling. So I grabbed my favorite stencil and my Deco Foil Fabric Spray Adhesive and the fun began.

DIY: Custom Foiled Jean Jacket

Foiling on fabric is a lot of fun but the application is different than working on a hard surface. First, you need to make sure that you are using a Textile Foil (we specify which of our foils are on our website) and you will need a Textile Foil Adhesive, we have three different ones to work with.

For this custom jean jacket project…

I used the Abigail Foil and the Fabric Spray Adhesive. I positioned my stencil on the back of the jacket and made sure to tape everything off so that the over-spray didn’t get on the jacket. Make sure to shake the can really well (for at least 30 seconds or better) and then spray over the openings of the stencil pattern.

You want to hold the can about 6” to 8” away from the surface and spray an even coat. Make sure that you cover every opening and don’t spray too thick. I advise practicing on some scrap fabric first to get the hang of it.

DIY: Custom Foiled Jean Jacket

Once you spray the stencil, you can remove the stencil and reposition it if necessary. With the Nora Paige stencil I used, I had to do a few repeats to cover the area I wanted to stencil. Then I allowed the Fabric Spray Adhesive to dry for about 10 minutes.

During this 10 minutes, there a couple of things you’ll want to do.

First, make sure to plug in your iron, or you can use a Heat Press if you have one, and turn it on to about medium to medium-high (don’t go too high you can melt the foil). You ask how I know this… Well, I did melt the foil once on a new iron that got really hot! LOL!

Second, I advise cleaning the spray adhesive off of your stencil before it gets stuck on there. The easiest way I have found is Goo be Gone, you can find this on Amazon. (affiliate link below)

Ironing your foil…

You can iron directly over the foil or if you want, you can use a piece of parchment paper over the foil and then iron over that. Iron for about a minute or so, moving the iron around to make sure you have ironed over the complete stencil design. You can check by lightly tugging at the foil to see if it is stuck to the adhesive, but don’t pull it off at this point.

Most foils are a cold release, so allow the foil to completely cool before removing it. Allow the foil to cool down by itself, do not go put in in the fridge or freezer. One of my customers tried this and she didn’t get good results, unfortunately.

DIY: Custom Foiled Jean Jacket

Once the foil has cooled down completely, gently remove the foil and it should be transferred to the surface everywhere there was foil adhesive. If you find that an area didn’t transfer well, cover it back with foil and iron again, make sure you allow to cool down every time you iron.

Once your design has been covered in foil with the heat transferring, there is nothing else you need to do! You can wash your finished product in the washer. Just make sure it’s inside out and cold water on a delicate cycle. Absolutely NO dryer, hang to dry, or Dry Cleaning is also an option.

DIY: Custom Foiled Jeans

Well, that’s about it… Such a super fun and easy way to update my jacket! 🙂

More of a visual learner?? Check out the video below 🙂

Our Foil Line Is Growing

April 10, 2020 By Jennifer 2 Comments

My passion and love for foils started almost 25 years ago. I know what you’re thinking… Yes, they have been around a long time and we keep finding new ways to use them. Our foil line is growing and you don’t want to miss out on these new colors and patterns. They are such a versatile tool to have and you can add some “flair” to almost any project you think of.

I Foiled That: Our Foil Line is Growing

When I first discovered Foils there was only one option for adhesive and it wasn’t the greatest product to work with. You talk about a fantastic workout… OMGosh, that adhesive is how I got such “buff” arms! The finish always turned out gorgeous but I sure did have to work for it.

With this adhesive, we would have to apply a coat of foil adhesive, allow it to dry and then apply another coat of foil adhesive and allow that coat to dry as well. Then we were able to finally transfer the foil. This process was a lot of work. We would scrub and scrub trying to get a decent release. Back then it was both of the products. Not all foils would release easy and the adhesive was sub-par for the application.

What do you do when you have a problem??

You fix it!! Fast forward 5 or 6 years and I finally took the matter into my own hands. I found a manufacturer to develop an adhesive that would release the foils easier. Thus, my super sticky foil adhesive was created.

This adhesive helps all foils release better! The secret to getting the best release… Allow my foil adhesive to dry at least an hour or two, the longer the better.

Along with developing a fabulous foil adhesive, I have also researched and found some of the best “easy release” foils to work with. This has made foiling an easier application which can be applied to many different surfaces.

Our foil line is growing…

We currently have 129 different foil choices consisting of solid colors, patterns, and holographics to choose from! We have also just taken over another line of foils which were known as V-Mask Foils. Longtime friends, Bob and Cindy Andrews have been scaling back and no longer wanted to deal with the undertaking of having a foil line. So… I made them an offer they couldn’t refuse!

Our foil line is growing and the number of foil options is going to increase by at least 30 in the next week or two and most likely will be close to 200 foil choices by the end of 2020!! Many of you have used the V-Mask Foils over the last 20 plus years and we are so excited to have the opportunity to provide you this line of foil patterns. Some of the most popular ones have been Spotted Champagne, Woodhaven Gold, and Weathered Copper!

If you want to get a first hand look at these foils, we’ve just finished putting together V-Mask Sample Packs! These packets include samples of the 20 different foils we are currently carrying in this collection.

But if you think these are fabulous…

Just wait until you see the rest of this collection and the new designs, we will be adding.

We are working very closely with the manufacturer to ensure easy release on all of our foils so that your projects will be fun and fabulous. We take our foils very seriously around here to not only make sure you get great results but also have to most incredible collection to choose from.

Foils can adorn just about any surface and you (my amazing customers) keep finding more and more uses and different applications. I love getting these into the hands of such creative people and seeing what y’all make.

New to foils? Need a refresher?

Here are the basic Foil application instructions.

Apply the ArtsSyVille Embellishments Foil Adhesive to your surface by brush or roller with 100% coverage everywhere you want to transfer the foil. When applying the foil adhesive, make sure to soften out all application marks.

Allow to dry for at least one hour, two or three is better. The foil adhesive dries to a firm super sticky tack and will never dry beyond this tack – it will stay tacky forever. Which means you can apply the foil adhesive today and foil tomorrow, or 6 months from now. But because it is super sticky, just about anything can get stuck to it – make sure to keep it someplace safe until you can apply the foil.

Once your adhesive has dried to a firm tack…

It’s time to get out some fabulous foil and transfer it to your surface. There are several different ways to apply the foil, but always make sure that the colored/pattern side is facing you.

Just lay the foil over the dry/tacked foil adhesive and smooth it out with a soft cloth. Always peak under the foil to see how the release is working and if you have transferred as much as desired (not always do we want full coverage). If rubbing with the soft cloth is not providing enough coverage, grab yourself a scrub brush and scrub back in forth in one direction (vertical or horizontal) to transfer the foil. Make sure to stay in one direction at first until you have good coverage and then if you trying to accomplish almost 100% coverage, you can use a circular motion last (this seems to get the most transfer possible).

Realize that foils will never get you 100% coverage…

But… we aim for the high 90’s. Which is another factor in a great foil application is picking the correct color to go underneath your foil. I always suggest making a sample board first and trying the foils over several different colors to see which one compliments the foil best.

I have found with my many years of experience that a dark color always looks best or if doing a solid color, use a paint color as close to the foil color as possible. But creating a sample will provide you with color options and you can choose which color works best.

Last but not least…

We need to protect these foils when applying to a hard surface – they can scratch easily. So grab your sample you created while picking the best color to go underneath and figure out which topcoat works the best for your project.

All topcoats will slightly alter the foils – if you want them to stay bright and shiny, use a Gloss topcoat anything lower then gloss will bring the foil sheen lower. I have used all topcoats from matte to gloss over the foils – just depends on the project and what I looking for in the final appearance of the piece.

This application is for hard surfaces – if you want to foil fabric we have another complete blog post on the application of foils and fabrics. You can check it out HERE.

Custom Cornhole Boards by Shiela Pennington

April 2, 2020 By Jennifer 2 Comments

This week we have a guest blogger 🙂 One of my amazing customers, Shiela Pennington, created some Custom Cornhole Boards. I wanted her to share the incredible story of what got her started and how her family is using their boards during a time of social distancing.

Custom Cornhole Boards by Shiela Pennington

My dad always taught me if someone else could do it, I could do it too! Jennifer Ferguson, the owner of Artistic Painting Studio, inspired me to create some custom Cornhole boards. I thought they would make great Christmas gifts.

She Saves Lives | He Protects Them Custom Cornhole Boards

There were a lot of steps to creating these boards, but the final step was pouring the epoxy. As many of my friends know, I ended up in urgent care because I was severely allergic to epoxy. I didn’t know at the time.

Instead, I had fun getting to teach my family what Jenn had taught me, so they could all finish their boards. These custom cornhole boards were so much fun to make and I am looking forward to all the families having fun playing with them for years to come.

Custom Cornhole Boards

Five sets of boards right before Christmas was a wee bit ambitious! At one point, Jennifer looked at flying out to help me, but the flight was over $1000. I couldn’t believe she would even think about flying out to help me. But that’s just the type of person she is! If you want to be inspired to be creative with paint, texture medium, foils, epoxy or anything creative, Jennifer is your inspiration!

Nothing like the lake and a little Cornhole

How does God always know what we need?

For over a year now I have been a member of Jenn’s online painting group, Artistic & Creative Inspiration. Excitedly tuning in to see what she was going to teach us every month. Too busy and exhausted to start a project, that was until I saw her create the epoxy corn hole boards!

I knew these would be great Christmas presents. What I didn’t know is that God had used Jenn’s calling to prepare me for such a time as this (COVID-19 Quarantine)! My son, a police officer, and his wife, a nurse, are having so much fun with these boards as they social distance and play corn hole! I want to thank Jenn for following her passion and the calling God has on her life to bring joy to my family during this crisis.

My Current Calling…

I have been home since Friday feeling guilty that I should be doing more. Wanting to help serve meals, but knowing that would put my husband at risk and frankly not feeling well enough since I am only 2 1/2 weeks out from having the flu. Listening to Priscilla Shirer (Going Beyond Ministries) reminded me that my calling, for now, is caring for my husband. I am very thankful for this quality time with the man God gave me to love and raise a family with for the past 39 years.

What is your calling? What has God been training you for?

To all moms and dads, I can’t even begin to know how exhausting homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, and even refereeing can be. However, for now, this is your calling. Draw near to God for your strength. Never has it been easier to hear the word of God spoken. I want to give a big shout out to all of you.

As I sit on my porch listening to the birds sing, seeing the beautiful wisteria blooming, my neighbor’s yard quiet because she is inside teaching her six children. Later this afternoon she will be in the yard playing sports with them. She is doing this by herself as her husband is an officer and has to go to work every day. I know she doesn’t feel like a rock star mom but In my eyes she is. So to each of you moms and dads that are exhausted, rock the calling God has given you for such a time as this.

To all of you moms, dads, nurses, police officers, garbage collectors, mail carriers, small business owners, and so many more…

I am fervently praying for each of you and your families as you have to continue to work. I am praying for your protection, your strength and that you will continue to heed your call and do it with excellence. You were made for this. I pray you don’t live in fear, I pray for God’s protection for you and yours. I pray that God gives you power for your task.

To those of you that are canceling appointments with small business owners…

Consider paying them anyway as a love gift if you are financially able to.

I also want to give a big shout out…

My children that have done porch drop-offs while I had the flu. Now they are doing porch drop-offs with groceries to keep us protected. Your dad and I love you and we are so blessed that God gave you to us.

Most of all, as we go through this crisis, do it to the best of your ability with kindness and love. One day we will have to give account and we want to hear our Father say “Well Done”.

If you have time during your day, I hope you give this a listen. Give Your Gifts to God by Going Beyond Ministries with Priscilla Shirer. You can listen below 🙂

Jenn here…

I hope you were as inspired as I was, reading Shiela’s story. We are all in this together, and it is nice to know that you are impacting someone’s life in such a positive way. Especially during such a dark time in some people’s lives. You never know how you impact someone’s life, so make sure to tell the people that inspire you that they inspire you. It will make their day!

I Fell In Love With Epoxy

March 20, 2020 By Jennifer 3 Comments

I fell in love with Epoxy a little over a year ago. It caught my attention several years back, but it wasn’t until I attended a workshop led by one of my friends, Rhonda Draculous from RK3 Designs, that it became a love affair. Once I saw the application process I was hooked…

For the past 30 plus years, all of my creative decorating applications have required multiple layers. I applied each layer and allowed it to dry, before applying multiple more layers. The process allows the creative soul to build depth and texture on a wall or piece of furniture. The results are beautiful, but it is usually a lengthy process.

My Introduction to Epoxy

When I visited Rhonda at a workshop in Vegas, I discovered that all of the creative applications of epoxy can be done from start to finish in one pass (for the most part)!

The epoxy can be endlessly customized! We let our creativity run wild by using tinted and clear epoxy as well as adding colors with spray paint and mica powders. I love how we could create all the movement and interest of different techniques in just `one pass.

This new process was so fascinating to me. I’ve never been allowed to have so much creativity in one application! I couldn’t stop syaing, “This is sooooooooo cool!” LOL!

The Next Step

Rhonda and I figured out how to hang out a little more during the year… We are combining interests, mixing our creative worlds, and co-teaching a class together! Her extensive epoxy knowledge combined with my 30 years of decorative painting make for the perfect creative workshop.

I have spent the last year or so working with Rhonda to expand my understanding of the many different epoxy techniques. It has been a wonderful learning a new medium AND getting to hangout with one of my favorite people ever! I have loved being her mentor for years, and it’s awesome I now get to learn from her too.

When I began my epoxy journey, I did not know where it would take me. The further I journeyed, the more I fell in love with epoxy and knew I had to incorporate it into my world.

I’m retired from contracting so I knew that I wasn’t interested in doing countertops or large applications, but I wanted to see how I could incorporate the epoxy into my creative work. It really did take me some time to figure out all of its many uses and how to share it with my customers.

The first product that I worked with was only available in large amounts and they didn’t have retailers. I really liked the product but it didn’t quite fit into my world.

Finding the Right Epoxy

A local friend told me about a new product that is manufactured locally and gave me a sample to play with. OMGosh I really didn’t think I would find something I liked better… but I did!!

And it is called, Liquid Glass Epoxy! Not only is this product created in California (I can drive and pick up my orders), it’s packaged in small quantities for the crafter. Currently we are carrying sizes of 8oz, 16oz and 32oz!

These sizes are perfect for the projects my audience & I. While the first epoxy I was introduced to was the right size for countertops, the Liquid Glass Epoxy is great for projects like coasters, trays, cups and maybe even a tabletop. There are truly so many different possibilites, just use your imagination!

Check out how I created these cornhole boards here!

We are proud to be offering this epoxy product to our customers & if you ever have any questions, please reach out!

I will be sharing many different epoxy applications and techniques, and how to incorporate them into your crafts. Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel where we will be posting new videos every week.

The Color of the Year 2020

February 21, 2020 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

The color of the year is…

The color of the year is Classic Blue 🙂 I thought it would be fun to have a little blue inspiration to get you inspired for the year of blues!

I reached out to my fellow DIY Paint Retailers and they did not let me down. They have created the most amazing furniture pieces and I am so excited I get to share them with you.