Create your own tile-look foam stamps, and quickly transform the walls above your kitchen counters. The process is easier than stenciling or laying ceramic tile, the look as clean and impressive as the real thing. Materials: latex wall paint in flat finish
paintbrush
Chunky Stamps® or foam sheets to make stamps
small scissors or craft knife
acrylic craft paints
small, inexpensive foam or bristle brush
liner brush
polyurethane sealer
Design Presses, the precut foam patterns used when this segment was filmed, have been discontinued. Make custom designs from foam sheets or use Chunky Stamps foam stamps. - To make your own foam stamps, cut a pattern from foam sheets, available at craft stores. To make small tiles, cut a 1 1/4" square, with a handle for applying and removing the stamp. Carefully trim away a bit of the foam between the stamp and the handle to form a channel (figure A). The channel prevents paint from building up on the handle and being transferred to the surface that is being stamped.
- Before stamping, paint your project surface with flat latex wall paint. Avoid a glossy-finish paint, which will cause the stamps to slide around as you're stamping.
- Use a small brush to apply a minimal amount of paint to the foam stamp (figure B). Unlike sponges, which soak up paint, foam stamps are not absorbent, so very little paint is required to print a crisp design.
- Begin your tiled wall by pressing the square foam stamp to the wall in an even checkerboard pattern, leaving 1/8" between squares to create a "grout line" (figure C). Use each paint-loaded stamp at least four times before reapplying paint. The varying color gradations from tile to tile imitate the look of real tile. If desired, go back over individual squares with other tints to enhance the appearance.
- Cover your project area completely with a tile-stamped pattern, or use premade or custom-made stamps to paint fruit or vegetables in the middle of the backsplash. Wash the foam stamps thoroughly when finished.
- When you're satisfied with the design, dip a liner brush in the flat wall color, and carefully go over the 1/8" spaces left between "tiles" to simulate grout and to make the design appear as though it was made of individual tiles (figure D).
- When the tile-painted surface is complete and dry, protect the entire area with a coat or two of polyurethane sealer.
This technique may also be used on wood, tin, metal, paper and fabric.
RESOURCES :
Chunky Stamps® Foam Stamps and Foam Sheets
Back Street Inc.
Website: www.backstreetcrafts.com
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