The Shape of Things: Venetian Gem Plaster

We hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Welcome back to work! 

With the Holiday Season in full swing it is a busy time to get finishing projects done. It is also the final week of our November Sale on Faux Effects Venetian Gem Plaster. So let's take advantage of Venetian Gem's unique properties and a discount.

Tribeca Bronze Finish with Faux Effects Venetian Gem Plaster

Venetian Gem is an excellent base coat for creating pattern and designs. The thick nature and easy spread ability of the plaster makes it a  great match for shaping with a trowel, sea sponge roller or specialty roller.  The finish above is called Tribeca Bronze and it begins with Tiger's Eye Venetian rolled on with a sea sponge roller. This leaves the plaster with a texture similar to knock-down. In fact, this technique will go over orange peel walls.   The peaks are flattened with an application trowel. Then Palette Deco Bronze is pulled over the top followed by Lusterstone in Charred Olive. The Venetian Gem will polish on the flat areas creating a pleasing sheen.

In the above picture, I'm simply shaping Moonstone Grey Venetian Gem Plaster with a pointed Japan Trowel. The horizontal lines elevate the finish to something more like a wallpaper. Next, I tightly pull Faux Effects' New Stuco Lux Shimmer Tint Base over the Venetian Gem base. When this layer is dry I glaze it with Dark Brown Faux Crème Color and Faux Crème Clear glaze medium. The Stuco Lux has a soft twinkle that really creates a modern finish-love this new product! 

Venetian Gem is the perfect medium to use with specialty rollers.  If you add 1/4 cup (up to half a cup) of Faux Effects' Spatter Add to a gallon of Venetian Gem Plaster then you will have time to trowel the plaster from the top of the wall to the bottom in a width double your roller.  

The Spatter Add will keep the Venetian Plaster thick while slowing down the dry time-giving you time to roll through the base, create your pattern and then trowel/roll in the next section! This helps you go across longer walls or ceilings, keep the pattern shape and clean your roller easier. Bonus points.

The finish above is created with Venetian Gem in Black Oynx, a specialty roller and Old World Finishing Paint troweled on top and sanded back. 

Another plus for Venetian Gem is how well it seals. After shaping the plaster, it is an excellent base for foiled finishes. The nature of the plaster doesn't absorb the foil size and the slightly slick nature of the dried finish gives a nice release to the metallic foil.

The finish below uses the Faux Effects Snakeskin Stencil in Tiger's Eye Venetian Gem, Faux Effects Foil Size and Faux Effects Bronze Foil. 

This leads me to the final way to shape Venetian Gem-over stencil patterns.  I start with a simple troweled flat layer of Venetian Gem in my selected color and I use this same color for my pattern. That was if some product bleeds under my stencil it is no big deal.  

This is Venetian Gem in Ruby over the Faux Effects Alligator Stencil and is a durable classic furniture finish.

Although Venetian Gem has enough build for patterns it also has enough flexibility for canvas work as well. I build all my canvas art with a Venetian Gem base.  From this...

to this..

For canvas work, you may combine all the best features of Venetian Gem:  

• Rolling with a Sea Sponge Roller
• Shaping with a trowel
• Using over a stencil pattern
• A non porous base for foiling

         So many options with Venetian Gem!   If you're feeling inspired why not give this plaster a try.

          

Contact your local Faux Effects Distributor or Faux Effects International at www.fauxstore.com to place your order.

As always, thanks for reading!

Rebecca

Two-Step Tuesday: Pearly Woven Venetian Gem

Did you know that you may achieve a beautiful finish is just a few steps? How about 2 layers?

Let us show you how.

Today's 2-step Finish is presented by Sheri Zeman

Hello Sheri! 

Sheri is the owner of FAUX DESIGN STUDIO located in Chicago.  FAUX DESIGN STUDIO is a Faux Effects Gold Label Training and Retail studio offering a comprehensive schedule of classes, her own line of stencils, specialty tools and both Gold & Silver Label Faux Effects Finishing Products.

And here is her Two-Step Finish: 

What you need:

Venetian Gem Basecoat which is a creamy plaster that may be tinted or left un-tinted. A gallon covers about 200 square feet depending on application thickness. It dries to a matte opaque finish.

Pearl Setcoat.  A gallon covers about 400 square feet. This will dry to a metallic finish. As with most pearls, the material is a little more sheer by nature. 

A Twine Roller.  This is a specialty chamois roller you may purchase from Sheri's studio. Contact information to buy one follows the recipe.

And it comes in a baby version for tight spots! How cute and practical is this? 

Now, the next thing is something I am going to suggest: Spatter Add!

This is an additive product from Faux Effects and one I always use when I need to shape plasters. It will thicken the plaster which makes it easier for the roller to go thru cleanly leaving a more sharp pattern.  Spatter Add also works to slow the plaster's set time.  This gives you more time to trowel your plaster and then roll through with your specialty roller (or a specialty trowel), I find I get about 40 extra minutes! Bonus-your tools should be easier to clean!

Other supplies: Plaster Application Trowel, Japan Blades or Putty Knife, Paint Rollers, Brushes, Paint Pan and Rags.

How you apply it:  You want your base to be clean and sealed with a good quality eggshell paint. When in doubt of the base, use Setcoat to start. That adds a step- hey, it's our music but your dance! Always make a sample using your selected base before attempting a job.

1. Mix 1 gallon of Venetian Gem Basecoat + 1/2 Cup Spatter Add and stir to blend.  Use a smaller blade like a Japan Blade to butter a larger application trowel with the plaster. Trowel a band of plaster from the top to the bottom of your wall for a standard 8 foot wall.  If the wall is taller, you may apply this finish in sections.  Apply a width double the width of the roller.  Gentle trowel lines are fine.

For thickness, You don't want to see the background through the plaster.  If you roll with the Twine roller and the pattern looks "spikey" then the material is too thick. Don't worry. Just go over that area to spread the plaster more-the Spatter Add will give you more time.  Practice on the least noticeable wall to get the feel.

2.  You will use the Twine roller and roll through the wet plaster vertically and then horizontally. Keep a damp cloth to wipe off the roller as you work. The pattern is random so it is easy to stop and start.  Trowel your next area of Venetian Gem Basecoat and repeat the rolling process,

3.  When the Venetian Gem Basecoat is dry, roll a layer of Pearl Setcoat over the top.  I like a thicker nap paint roller for metallic Setcoat to off-load product and minimize smearing.

WOW! Doesn't this look sharp?  What I love about this finish is the easy variations you may try.  Wouldn't this look great exchanging the Pearl Setcoat for Metallic Black Setcoat (or any metallic Metal Glow). Or you could change the specialty roller. Here are a few rollers that Sheri also sells;

Imagine this in Metallic Kroc

or 

A Kross-Hatch

This finish would also be a great base for a pattern. Now you are adding more steps but hey, like I said before-this is your dance! And some of us really like to boogie.


Want to find out more Sheri's studio, classes, stencils and rollers?  Check out her websites:

www.fauxdesignstudio.com  or www.paintanddesignstore.com
Phone:  630-627-1001

And don't forget that November is the perfect month to try Venetian Gem Basecoat or any Venetian Gem product.

This sale is available at your local Faux Effects retail studio or at www.fauxfx.com

Thanks Sheri Zeman for sharing a great recipe!

Have a finish with Venetian Gem (or any other Faux Effects Product) you would like to share? Contact me at: rebecca@fauxfx.com and let's talk.

Now where may I put this finish?.......

Rebecca 

Discover the Treasure that is Venetian Gem Plaster

IT'S THE NOVEMBER PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

VENETIAN GEM PLASTERS!

Have trowel will plaster....

I'm excited to talk today about one of the most versatile finishing products on the market: Venetian Gem Plaster by Faux Effects.

Venetian Gem is an acrylic and marble dust based plaster.  This makes it different than traditional lime based plaster.  With tinted lime based plasters, the color dries much lighter then wet batch.  Getting to very rich or deep color  may be more difficult. Venetian Gem comes pre-tinted in several deep colors and every color dries to match the wet batch.

The product is easy to trowel with the consistency of peanut butter.  I like to butter my application trowel using a smaller trowel...

pop the Venetian Gem Plaster on the surface....

and then hold the trowel at a 45 degree angle to gently blend it.

You want graceful trowel lines....this isn't dry wall mud.  

Because of the product thickness it is a great choice for creating "shaped" base coats with just a trowel.  Right now the horizontal line effect is very on-trend.  Venetian Gem is a perfect choice to achieve this look! 

Moonstone Grey Venetian Gem shaped with a blade

and then skimmed with Galaxy Stone Tint Base. A simple 2-step modern finish!

It is also a favorite product to use with stencils like this Venetian Gem Alligator Finish

for cabinets.  The Alligator Stencil is also from Faux Effects.

And it's a go-to for using specialty rollers.  Sage Venetian Gem Plaster is rolled thru with a Brocade Roller.  Sandstone is tight troweled over the dried Venetian Plaster. You could stop there. Or you may glaze it. Or add another larger pattern as I did in the sample below. 

Venetian Gem is durable, high hide and has great chemical resistance.  I suggest this product specifically for bathroom makeovers.  These bathroom walls were Orange colored orange peel but I was able to shape Black Onyx Venetian Gem over the walls without skimming them! 

Venetian Gem is a product I always use over Faux Effects Setcoat.  In this case, I used Black Setcoat.  If you use a latex paint, you run the risk of the Venetian Gem cracking or not bonding as well. Because the Venetian Gem Plaster seals so well, it is a fantastic base for metallic foiled finishes. For the bathroom above, the shaped Black Onyx is rolled with Foil Size and then covered with bright silver foil.  Next I pulled Queen Anne's Lustersuede on top. Again a nice modern finish!

Don't forget the polish! One of the main reasons to select Venetian Gem Plaster is the ability to control the degree of shine.  With no polish, the product looks matte which is great for leather looks like this cracked Sand Venetian Gem.  The Sand Color is mixed with Faux Effects Cracklemate and troweled over a coat of Aquasize. I glazed it with Stain & Seal. 

Want more shine? Just polish with the edge of a quality steel blade or use a rotary brush in a drill.

I love this look for ceilings like this dining room ceiling  in Venetian Gem Tiger's Eye! 

This is the wall finish...

My Sheraton Silver sample (and dining room wall) uses another product from the Venetian Gem line: Ultra-Polishing Venetian Gem Tinting Base. Wow! That's a mouthful. Let's call it UPVG Tint Base from now on. This is a tint-base for Venetian Gem. The product is translucent in nature and may be tinted with Faux Crème Color and Metal Glow to make your own polish plaster colors.  I also use it as "thinner" for pre-tinted Venetian Gem Colors.  For the sample above I mixed the UPVG Tint Base with Tiger's Eye Venetian Gem to make the color less saturated.  Then I also mixed the UPVG Tint Base with Moonstone Grey Venetian Gem to make it more translucent to pull over the Tiger's Eye. A multi-use product!

But wait! Isn't there a Venetian Basecoat? And how is it different then the UPVG Tint Base? That's a good and frequent question!  Venetian Basecoat is a more opaque tint base-it looks white in the bucket. Because the material dries to a matte finish (verses a polish coat like the UPVG Tint Base) there are more tinting options. I've used Setcoat, Faux Crème Color, Stain & Seal, and even a high quality latex flat paint (but only 20% to tint a gallon). 

When would you choose this product?  1) If you want a matte base under the higher polish Venetian Gem for contrast.  2) You want a matte base you may tint and shape. The consistency is thicker then O'Villa Plaster so I use it for the classic Skin Finishes with cheesecloth or rollers.

The finish above is Venetian Base Coat tinted with Metallic Gunmetal Setcoat and rolled with a Croc Roller.

So what is Venetian Finish Coat?  Venetian Finish Coat is a translucent product that may be used as a sealer over Venetian Gem for a shine without mechanical polish.  It may also be lightly tinted for a sheer color effect over Venetian Gem Plaster.  I like to mix it with metallic Faux Crème Colors or Mica Powders which works well with the shinier nature of the product.  I use this technique over the matte Venetian Basecoat as well to achieve the subtle glow seen in the finish below.

Have some Finish Coat on hand and want to use it as a basecoat? Sure-that works as well. Many people like the consistency of this product for creating effects similar to wallpapers.

And there you have it. You can not accuse Faux Effects of limiting your Venetian Plaster options!

Venetian Gem Plaster may be used outside but please consider the weather and other conditions.  Make sure you prep properly and use Setcoat as a base. Then we recommend top-coating with Aquathane with UV protection. 

Ready to give a Venetian Gem product  a try? Check out the November Sale.

Contact your local Faux Effects Retailer to order.  Venetian Gem Plaster products comes in quarts, gallon and 5 gallon sizes.

And visit the blog on Monday for Venetian Gem recipes including this one from Sheri Zeman, owner of Faux Design Studio, the Gold Label Training & Retail Studio in Chicago!

Don't let anyone dull your shine!

Rebecca

Snakes on the Plains

A phobia of snakes is just one of the three things I share with Indiana Jones. 

The other two being jaunty hats and vintage whips bomber jackets.

 



When my family goes to Chinese restaurants, My Dad likes to read the paper zodiac placemats-the ones with the Chinese New Year Animals and the listed characteristics. He scoffs at each one until he gets to mine: "Snakes don't have arms, so they use their mouths...A LOT."  It never gets old-to him.

Well, in case you didn't know it 2013 is the Year of the Snake.

 

Snakeskin is a classic that can be found on clothing, furniture, and wall coverings. It can also be found in unlikely places:

 

 Sweet Georgia Brown, let's hope you have some time

 for a few DIY Snakeskin projects.

 



 

Snakes on Paper.
My friend Gary Lord first showed me how to faux brown paper using a variety of  wall and cabinet products.  I love using the brown 3m masking paper for several reasons. It comes is varying widths.  It is inexpensive. The crinkling of the paper adds an unusual element to the finish. You can work in your home on a flat surface in front of you and then install in some one's home.  Applying the paper is faster in awkward spaces like ceilings.

 

 

 

 

Cut your paper into various lengths and lay on a flat surface.  Select one-two colors of FE Faux Metal.  This is real metal shaving in an alcohol base.  I selected Copper and Rich Gold.



Use a Japan Blade to smear the Faux Metal on a larger trowel.  With the trowel flat to the paper, blade it on.  The paper will naturally crinkle.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, select 1-3 Lusterstone colors. Any earthy shades will do.  I used some leftover Weathered Bronze and Charred Gold.  The Lusterstone is also randomly popped and bladed over the paper. 

 



 

When the Lusterstone is dry, I use the Snakeskin stencil from FE.  Place the stencil in the middle of your paper strips and pull either Tiger's Eye Venetian Gem, Black Onyx Venetian Gem, Brown Sapphire Venetian Gem, or Moonstone Grey Venetian Gem over the pattern.  Repeat to cover the strip.  I don't worry about exactly matching the pattern although I do keep the heavier middle part of the pattern lined up in the repeat.

 

 

To install the paper I use FE Aquaseal (Clear Setcoat). Roll the surface area first.  Then roll the back of your paper strip.  Place your strip on the wall and use your foam roller to smooth and stick it down.  I also use a plastic tool for smoothing wallpaper to get air bubbles out.  I cut the paper edges with a ruler and exacto-blade.  Then I made sure to line up each paper strip so the stencil pattern flowed from each piece.

 



 

I applied the paper above a fireplace in the lower level of our home. Once it was up I decided to blend it a little more so I troweled some Silver Taupe Lustersuede over the finish.  I used a damp cloth to soften any chatter from scrapping over the pattern.  I like soft blended finishes and this step is optional depending on how strong you want the snake pattern.

 

 

 

When my Lustersuede dried, I glazed over the surface using a mix of 3 parts FX Thinner + 2 parts Van Dyke Stain & Seal + 1 part Rich Brown Stain & Seal. Just brush on and soften with a dry cloth.

Here is the finished wall:

 

 

 

 

In case you are searching for another snake finish, here is another Snakeskin DIY.

 

 

Snakes on Metallics.

 

 

Paint the surface with the new Metallic Toffee Setcoat.  We rolled our sample board using a fluffy fabric Slim Jim roller head.  Metallics have a nap-in this finish it will not show.

 

Next place the FE Snakeskin stencil in the middle of your wall and trowel Lusterstone over the pattern. I used Weathered Bronze.

 

 

 

Don't worry about some bleed through on the pattern.  I also just eyeball the pattern match.

 

 

 

I tinted some Aquawax with Elephant Hide Metal Glow and troweled it over the dried snake pattern.  You could also leave the Aquawax un-tinted to show more of the snake pattern.

 

 

 

While the wax is wet, use our Cheesecloth roller to roll thru the wax. This will create a scales.

 

 

I glazed the dried wax with 3 parts FX Thinner + 2 parts American Walnut Stain & Seal + 2 Parts Ebony Stain & Seal.  I like using FX Thinner and stain over waxed finishes because it "bites" in stronger over the slick surface.  You can see in the picture how it beads on the surface. Just pat with a dry cloth or Neon Leon brush.

 

 

This finish would work well on furniture.

 

Let's ask another expert on snakes what he thinks.  Samuel L. Jackson what do you have to say about our snakeskin faux finishing?

 

It could have been: