GalaxyStone: 2 New Colors and a Few More Tips

What would a galaxy be without the silver of the moon and the stars? Or the golden light of the sun?

Introducing two new colors of  GalaxyStone™ in Silver and Gold. Perfect for 2 of the biggest design trends for 2018: Bold Ceilings and Mixed Metallic Finishes.

I've had a few questions about GalaxyStone since my original post.

"Can GalaxyStone be applied over paint?"

Yes. We always recommend a quality latex paint appropriate to the surface you are working on.  If the surface is cement than use a quality cement primer.  Get a color or have your primer tinted to a color close to the GalaxyStone shade you are using.

"What about rolling GalaxyStone over other Faux Effects Products?"

Of course. One of the selling points for using the Faux Effects® is the versatility of the products for mixing and matching.  Setcoat® and Texture Coat ™ are obvious choices.  But Lustersuede® is also an option given the range of colors and the bit of texture it provides.

"How many coats do you recommend?"

This is a 2 coat application. You may roll both coats. Additional coats may be applied depending on the effect you want or the surface you are covering. Just make sure that each layer dries well before adding another coat.

"Can you trowel GalaxyStone?"

Sure! This is one of my favorite applications.  There is a small glitter that gives GalaxyStone it's twinkle. When you pull the material with the trowel blade you will get delicate lines in the direction of the pull.  You may mitigate this effect by pulling your blade one way and then pulling in the opposite direction.

Ancient Grey Lusterstone and GalaxyStone Tint Base

A trowled-on application works best over a plaster base. For the finish above I used the GalaxyStone Tint Base over Ancient Grey Lusterstone® and for the finish below:

Venetian Gem Black Onyx and GalaxyStone

GalaxyStone in Black and Tint Base is troweled over Black Onyx VenetianGem® Plaster.

The finish above is Black GalaxyStone and GalaxyStone Tint Base troweled over  NüVilla™ plaster in Pewter. The pretty gold is Rich Gold FauxMetal™ but now I would try the new Gold Galaxy Stone!

"Some of the videos of the ceilings are really sparkly! Is something added to the GalaxyStone?"

GalaxyStone has a gentle twinkle but if you want to up the sparkle then you may add Galaxy Glitter.

This is a larger glitter than what is in the GalaxyStone.  It looks like a thinly sliced shard which gives you maximum reflection.  You may add it into the GalaxyStone but if you want it to really shine, try this technique:
1. Roll out a section of GalaxyStone
2. Dip the tips of a Leon Neon Stippler brush in your wet GalaxyStone.
3. Shake the Galaxy Glitter on a plate and pounce the wet stippler into the glitter. The GalaxyStone         will help pick-up the glitter.
4. Then pounce the brush and glitter onto the wet surface.

And that's it! Thanks for your interest in this new product.

And don't forget it's on Sale now through the end of January.

Contact your regional FE distributor or order online from at: www.fauxstore.com

Can't wait to see what you do with GalaxyStone or any other Faux Effects Product. Remember you may send pictures of your projects to me at Rebecca@fauxfx.com. I will follow-up with the necessary photo releases. We want to feature your wonderful work in our magazine, Faux Effects World ®. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook @Faux EffectsInternationalInc and fauxeffectsinternationalinc on Instagram.

Rebecca 

DIY: A Copper Bronze Furniture Finish

There are many things I love about being a decorative artist. Near the top of that list is the thrill of finding diamond in the rough furniture.  I've spent many weekends at flea markets, consignment stores and antique shops on the hunt for unloved but unique pieces. And best of all, since no one knows what to do with them, you can score a real bargain. My whole house is filled with these treasures.

This time the project is for a client.  I've already finished the walls, columns and table for this dining room. Plus I helped select the paint and light fixture.

Faux Effects Quartzstone, Stuco Lustro, Old World Venetian Wax and Mica Powders

Close-up of high polish plaster in Charcoal with Bronze and Copper Mica Powders.

Copper Crystal and Rubbed Bronze light fixture

The dining table in Faux Effects Copper Faux Metal and Custom tinted glazes.

A big trend for 2018 interiors is mixed metals. Obviously our main metal is Copper with a mix of a golden Bronze.  So I was excited to find this sofa table at a Kansas City consignment store. The marble is in perfect shape and the colors are spot on.

But the wood base was drab and dark.  No worries. Time for a Metallic Makeover!

The first step in a furniture makeover is the clean the surface, a light sand, and a final wipe down with denatured alcohol.  My base paint is Faux Effects Designer Metallic in Charred Gold.  I wanted the base to be a warm brown based gold therefore I did not add the silver concentrate that came with the Designer Metallic. The easiest way to apply with out spraying is to brush on the paint and pounce it with a Leon Neon.

Well I've been reversing the first and last name for years! Leon Neon.

I let my base paint dry over night.  The next step is unexpected but I use this mix and technique a lot on furniture, cabinets and front doors.  Mix 1 quart of  Aquawax + 2 Cups of Metal Glow + 1/4 Cup So-Slow Super Extender.  The wet mix will look cloudy-that's the wax. But it will dry to the metallic color.  My mix will fill in flaws, protect the surface and create a strong slick surface for further glazing.

The Metal Glow for this project is Ginger Brown.  There is not much wood on this side table so I cut my recipe in half.

I brush the mix over the surface and pounce with the Leon Neon (see you will use this brush a lot).

Even though there is So-Slow Extender added this layer usually is dry within a few hours. Always check each layer for bonding before proceeding as dry times vary due to climate and thickness of application.  Next I mix a pint of glaze medium: Faux Crème Clear, Aquacreme or FX Thinner (all will work with Metal Glow) + 1/2 Cup Sunburst Metal Glow + 1/4 Cup Antique Mahogany Stain & Seal.

Brush on the mix and pounce with cheesecloth. I wipe back the high areas more with the cheesecloth.

I use a flat small squared brush to tip and shape the architecture of the piece.  Van Dyke Brown Stain & Seal thinned with FX Thinner will work for this step.  The glaze and detail layers should dry overnight.


To seal the piece, I mixed a pint of  un-tinted Aquawax  with 2 TBSP So-Slow Extender. This is thinly brushed over the surface and wiped back with the cheesecloth. Avoid letting it collect in the deeper areas or corners to avoid a frosty look.  I used the Aquawax because I had it in an earlier layer but you can top coat this finish with Varnish Plus or C500 if desired.

Here is a version of the same finish with  Faux Effects Fauxstone Pull-Off added under the base coat.

Don't forget this is the last week for the December Metal Glow Sale if you want to try this finish yourself.

Rebecca 

Let It Glow, Let It Glow, Let It Glow

It's the most wonderfaux time of the year!

Happy December everyone. Hope you are getting your projects wrapped up for the year and filling the calendar for 2018. Since this is the season of sparkly lights, pretty papers, and decorations galore, Faux Effects wanted to join in the festivities this month with our most cheerful product....

Metal Glow

Just look at this color selection!

So what is Metal Glow?  Metal Glow is an iridescent paint. It is more sheer and sparkly than metallic Setcoat. But the consistency is thicker then metallic colorants. Plus it comes in 67 colors giving you the largest range of color options. It comes in quarts that cover approximately 75 square feet.

How may Metal Glow be applied? You may spray it-just thin with some water. I like to keep it the consistency of melted ice cream because getting it too thin may cause the metallic to separate and run on a vertical application. At this consistency and using an HVLP the Metal Glow may appear slightly "hammered" when sprayed. That's OK, It will lay out.

Need to roll it? Use a cloth roller verses a foam one. The foam rollers will slide in the metallic. As you roll the Metal Glow, pounce it with a Neon Leon or Stippler Brush. This will minimize lap lines. You may also apply it by brush.

Where do you use it? Glad you asked. How about almost anywhere! Let me show you a few ideas:

Metal Glow may be used as a base coat for cabinetry, either alone or mixed with Setcoat for custom tinting.  The kitchen above was sprayed with a mix of Faux Effects Designer Metallic and Wheat Metal Glow.  The Antique Apricot Finish below uses Sunburst Gold Metal Glow in the base.

And Urban Fern is made with an equal mix of Setcoat Sage and Sea Spray Metal Glow

Metal Glow gives a soft shimmer to ceiling finishes like this one that starts with Leo Gold Metal Glow:

Because of the sheerness, Metal Glow is a great tint for waxes....

The sample above is a variation on a finish by Prismatic Painting's Gary Lord. Eldorado Gold Metal Glow and Urban Steele are mixed with Faux Effects RS Water Wax. The sample below is Silver Lining Metal Glow and Elephant Hide Metal Glow mixed with Faux Effects Aquawax:

Metal Glow is a favorite for tinting RS Plaster because when you buff the plaster you get a pretty  sparkle like the sample below using Luna White Metal Glow and Rich Silver Metal Glow:

Of course one of the most effective uses for Metal Glow is to mix it with a Faux Effects Glaze Medium.  Our Moon glow Travertino is glazed with Faux Crème Clear mixed with Citrus Gold Metal Glow and Wheat Metal Glow:

A sheer glaze mix of Aquacreme and Toasted Coconut Metal Glow highlight the raised plaster pattern in this Faux Effects RS Sandstone Finish:

Alice Blue Metal Glow + Teal Stain & Seal creates this pretty over-stain for an end table:

I'm going to stop here because we all know that it's better to get your presents spread out over several days (or is that just me?).

Check back this week and next for some step by step DIY projects using Metal Glow including one from The Faux Finish School in Louisville, KY!

Warmest Wishes,
Rebecca