Jennifer

This is the second in a series on decorative signs. See the first post here: Base Coats.

Another option for adding texture to a project is by using texture medium and stamping rollers. Continuing work on the Decorative Signs that I started in my previous post, I’m going to make two more that have a raised texture background to add interest.

You will need:
ArtsSyVille Texture Medium
Mini Trowel
Stamping Rollers
Board
Chalk Paint
ArtsSyVille Foil Adhesive
Metallic Foils

Apply Texture Medium:
You don’t need to do anything to prep your board, you can put ArtsSyVille Texture Medium right on top of bare wood. It has really good bonding, so you can skip priming. I have two mini trowels I like to use for this, one is 4.5” and the other is 6.75” both are great sizes for small projects like this.

The texture medium is lightweight and creamy. I just use a stirring stick to put some on my project and then use the trowels to smooth it out. Use just just a slight angle when pulling the trowel across and work to minimize lines in the medium. You can also control the pressure of the trowel to get the desired depth of product. It doesn’t need to be thick! One sixteenth to one eighth of an inch is enough for the stamping roller to imprint in it.

Once you have the texture medium covering your board, use your trowel to remove excess product to get it down smooth. Clean up the edges, I just use my finger to do this, and then you’re ready to roll.

Tip: The texture medium could also be put down with a brush, that would create a texture because the brush lines will be visible.

Using the stamping roller to create texture:
I’m using the “Between the Vines” roller on one of my boards. Just roll your chosen stamping roller down the project, slow and steady. If you aren’t happy with the first try, trowel it out and do it again!  I centered three of the vines on the “Between the Vines” stamp across the length of the board and then rolled it again through the width to create a box pattern. I just eyeballed the spacing, but I think it turned out pretty great!

Use your finger to clean up the edges of your project. Once the texture medium dries, you would need to sand down any of these rough edges, so it’s much easier to take care of it while it’s still wet.

You will need to do some sanding on the design once it has dried to clean up any peaks and ridges. A smooth finish is critical when going back over the project with stencils or foils.

On another board I’m going to use one of my favorites, a diamond pattern that creates a linear elongated diamond shape.

The texture medium will take a few hours to dry, then you can sand it to take care of the peaks that are made when rolling the pattern rollers through the texture medium.

Adding design with a stamping roller:
When the texture medium on the board with the diamond shape was dry and sanded down, I painted it, then I added a little more interest with a stamping roller. I used Debi’s DIY Paints in Seaglass with a Chrysanthemum pattern roller.

Decorative Signs Project Series:
1. Base Coats
2. Adding Texture
3. Stenciling Techniques

Creating your own statement signs is a great way to experiment with different texture techniques and try out different roller designs. Inexpensive wood planks are used so the imperfections can be highlighted with paint to create a rustic, distressed feel.

I’ve used a color palette in shades of blue to give just a little bit of depth to the background while allowing the words I’ve stenciled on top to pop. When using chalk paint, allow each layer to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next color, so this project will take a couple hours to complete.

You will need:
Boards, pine is inexpensive and has texture
Chalk Paints, I recommend DIY Paint by Debi’s Design Diary
Art Wash Brushes
Domed Brushes
Spray Bottle of Water
Cheesecloth
Foam plate or palette
Paper Towels
Tray
Glad Press n Seal

Base Coat:
Cover the edges and front of your board in a single color. I like using Art Wash brushes for this because they pull and push the paint easily, allowing the finish to come together smoothly, even over the uneven surface of the wood. Allow this coat of paint to dry. The two base colors I have chosen are Hey Sailor and Mermaid Tail.

Dry Brushing:
This technique pulls out the texture and imperfections of your board and really gives depth to your finished piece. Dry brushing is best done with a domed brush or any stiff bristle brush. These brushes have stiffer bristles in a flat domed shape. They can stand a bit of pressure and won’t lose hair in the process. Brushes that are too soft won’t move the paint around well, you just want it to grab on to bits of the surface.

Start by dipping your brush in the paint and then swirl the paint on to a palette or foam plate. Really work it in. Then rub the brush on a paper towel. You want to make sure it’s dry. Now you can start working the paint over the surface of your piece.  Dry brushing is just meant to “highlight” the surface and create depth/texture.  I’ve used a combination of three colors on top of the background during this dry brushing stage. I chose colors in the blue family, but also a warm red, which when mixed with the background color creates a nice purple tone.

Keep your brush dry. The drier the brush, the more control you will have over the color. As each layer of paint dries, the texture will stand out more and you can decide if you want to keep going.

TIP: Try taking a picture of your work and evaluating the photo. You’ll get a different view that can help you decide to keep working or move on to the next step!

Once you have worked in your mix of colors, wet a piece of cheesecloth with a spray bottle of water and rub it lightly over your piece to blend the colors. Any areas you aren’t happy with can be rubbed out in this same way. Let your dry brushed layer dry.

Adding design with a stamping roller:
Stamping rollers create a continuous design that can really add interest to your project. Our stamping rollers are 7” wide which covers a standard plank of wood with a bit of room to spare, making this a perfect first project to get comfortable with the stamping roller.

I like to cover a cafeteria tray with Press n Seal wrap and use this to load the foam part of the roller. It makes clean up really easy! Pour a bit of paint onto your tray and spread it out with a brush. Before loading the foam part of your roller, give the roller a quick spritz of water from your spray bottle. Not enough to soak it, but this bit of moisture will help the roller pick up the paint.

TIP: If your roller has spots that didn’t get completely loaded, use a brush to go over those areas of the foam

I keep the foam roller in the outermost holes while loading, moving it back when I’m ready to add the pattern roller. When your foam roller is ready to go, move it to the inner set of holes so your pattern stamp can be placed on the outside. Give the pattern roller a few rolls on a clean sheet of paper to transfer the paint to the design. Now you’re ready to carefully roll your design across the plank. I chose colors that create a tone-on-tone feel for the background of my signs. Nothing with too much contrast so it doesn’t take away from the words which I will stencil on later.

Let this layer of paint dry and then it will be ready to stencil!

Decorative Signs Project Series:
1. Base Coats
2. Adding Texture
3. Stenciling Techniques