You can create this lovely tile art to compliment your Easter holiday décor.
I used a dry-brush painting technique to combine colors and add texture without overpainting, which results in a really neat, natural stone tile look.
Smoothfoam is a great alternative to canvas for painting. You can add texture by creating dents and holes or even carving in addition to add layers of other materials.
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Supplies:
12″ x 12″ Smoothfoam sheet
DecoArt Americana Craft Paint – tan, yellow, pink and purple
DecoArt Glamour Dust Glitter Paint – Ice Crystal
Liquid craft glue
Stiff bristle paint brushes – 1″ and 1/4″
Ballpoint pen
1. Carve an egg shape in the middle of the foam with the tip of a retracted ballpoint pen (don’t leave ink marks on the foam). Pierce holes on the foam’s surface around the egg shape to create a background pattern.
2. Squeeze out lines of glue to create a design on the egg and to create dots throughout the background and allow to dry thoroughly.
3. Paint the foam (over the top of dried glue design) with tan paint, making sure to leave no white foam showing.
4. If the glue design is not distinct enough, apply a second coat of glue on top of the first coat and allow to dry again.
5. Lightly dry-brush (see tips below) a little white paint on top of the dried glue design and on top of the tan background, allowing strokes and texture to show.
6. Fill in the egg design around the glue lines with yellow, purple and/or pink paints, also using a dry-brush technique. Blend each color with some white paint if paler shades are desired.
7. Paint circles of random colors around some of the background dots with a small brush.
8. Accent areas with glitter paint as desired.
9. Cover or brush the entire piece (after completely dry) with a sealer.
10. Attach the tile to a contrasting background to frame for hanging. I used a dark brown placemat for this piece.
Tips for dry brush painting
a. Dry-brush painting really isn’t a “dry brush,” it’s a brush that is not overloaded with paint. Use a very stiff bristle brush to add texture. I usually dip the brush in the paint, then wipe paint off on my palette between uses so there is only a little bit of color on the brush.
b. Use light strokes to layer colors. Play with different paint colors and brushes to see what kind of unique look you can create.
So sweet!
I absolutely love the texture on this!!
This is so sweet!! Your instructions make it look super easy.
Very, very cute. I’ve been a scrapbooker for years, but my creative drive is begging to try other types of crafting media too.
Oh I’ve never used smoothfoam before, looks like fun!
I absolutely love this stuff AND your idea? Where do I get some? I would like some more Easter decor but I like a more primitive look than what I can usually find in the stores.. this is awesome! So seriously? Does Hobby Lobby have it?
Fun! I don’t think she would quite get dry brushing but I think I 5 year old would have a blast carving the egg and design into the foam.