Fabulous Fresco

Using modest materials, you can create a plaster-effect frame with pretty leaf and heart motifs dotted around the edges.

4. Draw 10 leaf shapes and 5 circles on scraps of thick cardboard and cut out. The leaves should be 3 x 2 cm (1 ¼ x ¾ in) and the circles 2.5cm (1 in) across. Apply glue to the back of each shape and stick them on the frame, as shown. Stick down the wooden heart. (Wooden cut-outs such as these are available from craft and hobby shops; if you cannot find them, cut your own from cardboard.) Allow to dry for about 20 minutes.

5. Dilute a small quantity of household glue with an equal quantity of water. Mix well and brush the mixture all over the frame, the string and the added shapes, as shown. Apply torn pieces of tissue paper and push these into the crevices around the shapes, brushing with more glue as you go. Aim to cover the whole frame with two or three layers of tissue, then allow to dry overnight.

6. Mix titanium white with a dab of cadmium yellow paint to make a creamy yellow colour and use this to paint the whole frame. You may need to apply a second coat. Allow to dry before applying additional coats of paint. Meanwhile, divide any leftover creamy yellow between two mixing plates.

7. Add a dab of process cyan to one plate and a dab of process magenta to the other and mix well, adding more titanium white, if necessary, to make a pale green and a peachy pink. Use these colours to paint the stems and leaves green, and the circles and the heart pink. You may need to apply two coats. Allow to dry thoroughly.

8. To achieve a distressed effect, lightly sand the painted surface. Do not rub too hard. When you are satisfied with the result, protect the paint surface with two coats of acrylic matt varnish. Insert the photograph into the frame.

This extract is taken from Frame Your Memories, by Susie Johns, published by New Holland, priced £19.99 at all good book shops. Alternatively, purchase it from Amazon.

Bookmark with:

• Delicious
• Digg
• reddit
• StumbleUpon

Don’t know what this is?

Read the 50connect Guide To Social Bookmarking.