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| by Kurt Cyr with photography by Timothy Dunford | |||||||||
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1. Preparation Press fern
fronds in a flower press or between the pages of a heavy book. Construct
the tray by measuring in 3 1/2” from the ends of the 1” x 12”
x 21” MDF board. Glue the 2” x 2” lengths of MDF to the
bottom to form the feet. Allow the glue to dry. 2. Painting
the Tray Paint the
entire tray with latex primer. Allow to dry. Paint all exposed areas of
the tray except the top with black gloss spray paint. Apply two coats
to cover the surfaces completely. Paint the top of the tray with red-orange
semi-gloss latex paint. Apply two coats to cover the surface completely.
Allow to dry completely. 3. Applying
the Gold Leaf Apply an
even coat of gold size adhesive to the tray top. When the gold size is
slightly tacky, it is ready for leafing. Starting at one corner of the
tray, begin to apply the individual sheets of gold leaf. Lower it carefully
into position. Begin at one edge and ease it into place. If the sheet
tears, match up the edges as closely as possible. With a soft brush, smooth
out the metal leaf by dabbing it. Don’t wipe, as this may tear the
leaf. Continue to cover the entire surface. Overlap the sheets slightly.
Use the soft brush to brush away any excess. Areas of the base color may
be seen. This lends authenticity to the finish. 4. Applying
the Fern Impressions Lightly spray the pressed ferns with spray mount adhesive. Place the ferns in the desired position on the gold-leafed surface and gently pat down. Lightly dust the surface with black spray paint. Gold leaf should be seen through areas of the spray paint. Allow to dry. Spatter the entire surface with black paint thinned with turpentine. When completely dry, remove the fern fronds. 5. Sealing
the Finish Apply three coats of polyurethane sealer. Surface may be waxed and buffed if desired.
Fill the bubble votives with white rice and insert incense sticks or tapered candles. Arrange in an asymmetrically-balanced composition to continue the Asian mood. Excerpted
from the book “Centerpieces Through the Year” |
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