Technique Tuesday: Halloween Textured Background

WOW...we just had a gully washer! It is hard to believe that about 90 minutes from here is experiencing drought.  Daddy would always joke around with our friend, Trick Ellis, who lived on the other end of the county, that it "rained on the just AND the unjust."  You know, although they joked, it is true.

I can't repeat enough how much I appreciate my blessings.

I got the loveliest note today from a friend who ordered this sign from me.

It is a Terrye French design that was originally painted on bottles, but I was too lazy to go find any, and so I decided to put the design on a piece of wood.  I really wanted to paint the design NOW...you all know how that goes.  You must follow those nudges, or they will be gone...

Maybe that is just me...ROFL

She asked if I would do a tutorial on how I did the background, 

and I am more than happy to show how I did it.

design is copyrighted by Terrye French

After I painted the designs, I decided to dry brush around the elements to allow them to show better.

As Always, I pulled out my favorite DecoArt Americana Acrylics.

You may use whatever color combinations that you wish, but I used Black, Orange and Yellow.

I based the background with Lamp Black.

I think this box of generic "Saran Wrap" might qualify 

to go into the archives!

Tear off a piece of Plastic wrap that is bigger than your surface.  

If you have to use two pieces, that is absolutely OK!

You want the plastic wrap to have wrinkles in it,

 so do NOT waste your time trying to get it to be smooth.

I wet the surface really well with water.  It had enough to run if I picked up the piece.

NOW, if you wish, you may simply thin the paint you are applying to the piece, but I am showing how I did it.

Wet as a mirror...see the camera phone?!  LOL

I dropped a few drops of the two colors I chose~~

Canyon Orange and Sunny Day.

You can see them spreading out in the water.

~~

I very lightly spread the paint across the surface with a brush.

Place the plastic wrap on top of the piece and gently press it down.  You want it to wrinkle, because this gives the marbled effect.

Remove the plastic wrap....

But...I wanted more wrinkles, so I placed the wrap on it again.

I used the same piece of plastic wrap, 

I just turned it over and gently pushed it down with a shop towel

I can tell from looking at this that it will have more lines...

oh, yeah, baby!!

Now, I have got to paint a fall design on this!  Torture...ROFL...NOT

From painting the initial sign, I knew that I wanted a little brighter background, so I chose lighter colors.  I think I had used Burnt Orange and Marigold on the first sign.

Also, if you want to have stronger colors, don't use as much water.  I wanted it to have a glazed look, and that is why I used so much water.  As I stated earlier, you can simply thin down your paints and not put the wash of water on the surface.  That will also give you a stronger color.

I would like to take a moment to insert a COMMERCIAL about

 Shop Towels.

If you don't have them, buy some.

They are in the paint/tool area at Walmart or any big box store.  

They come in a box or in a roll.

They are strong and they are lint free!  They are not expensive and are oh, so very handy!  Once you get used to using them, you will wonder HOW in the world you ever got along without them.  They are good for me, because I am forever losing my towels, and they fall on the floor and get in the dog hair...heavy sigh...(he is so worth it, though!)

Grab your surface, some water, a brush and some paint, and create some fun backgrounds!

If you have any questions or want to know how to do something (that I know how to do...if you want to learn to change the oil in your car, well, I can't help you...oh, wait, yes I can, go to the mechanic!)

I am simply blessed to create~~charlotte♡