DIY Network

Wall Technique Simple paint techniques are used to create a border. From "Ready As She Grows" episode DASG-101

(Continued from page 1)

Flower Border

Paint:

Haven SW6437 (Sherwin Williams)
Butter Up SW6681 (Sherwin Williams)
Coming Up Roses SW6585 (Sherwin Williams)
Restful SW6458 (Sherwin Williams)
Sockeye SW6619 (Sherwin Williams)

Materials:

paint roller
brushes
paint tray
drop cloths
pencil
tape measure
level or straight edge
2" wide painters blue tape
heart and star shaped candles or stencils
black paint pen
cardboard

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

1. Create a template. In this project, a wooden checkerboard was used to make the template for the background. You could use a pizza box, picture frame or any other similarly shaped object (figure A). Lay the object down on a piece of cardboard, and then trace. Cut out the cardboard, and then use the square template to trace the shape onto the wall. Space them equally around the room and tilt them to the left or right a bit for more interest. Paint inside the squares alternating with "Haven", "Butter Up", and "Restful" paints (figure B). Let them dry thoroughly.

2. Create a template for the smaller, inside square. A small square plate was used in this project, but again, you can look around your home for similar shaped objects. Trace onto the cardboard, and then cut out the template and trace it onto the dry background squares with a light pencil mark. Trace the items so that they are off center a bit and tilted to the left or right (figure C). Don't make them too "perfect". Paint them with "Haven", "Butter Up", "Restful", and "Sockeye" paints in an alternating pattern.

3. Create a template for flowers and butterflies. For the base of the flower, trace a large wooden or plastic spoon onto cardboard. Lay the spoon down, trace it, and then move it in a circular pattern tracing five petals. Cut out the template, and then trace it onto every other set of squares that you have painted. Paint with "Sockeye" and "Haven" alternately. For the interior of the flower, make a template from another found object. In this case, a star-shaped candle was used. Once the outer portion of the flower has been painted and dried, you can trace in the center section and paint it with "Coming up Roses" and "Butter Up" (figure D).

4. For the butterfly template, use another found object and manipulate it to make a butterfly shape. Cut out the template, and then trace it onto the squares that don't have a flower in them and paint with "Sockeye" and "Haven". For the interior of the butterfly, make a template from another found object such as a candle, cookie cutter or stencil. In this project, we alternated the use of a heart shape and star shape. Once the outer portion of the butterflies have been painted and dried, you can trace in the center section and paint with "Coming Up Roses", "Butter Up", and "Restful".

5. Use a paint pen to freehand complimentary lines around the flowers and butterflies for added interest (figure E).

1 | 2