Marty Brooks, craft representative with Michaels Arts and Crafts, shows how to apply copper and rust finishes to papier-mache boxes and wooden surfaces. Materials:
Papier-mache box
Primer
Acrylic paint for base coat
Small bowls
Foam brushes
Artist brush or toothbrush
Patina solution by Modern Options
- Prime the papier-mache box with a primer, and let it dry. If you want to speed the process, use a hair dryer.
- Shake a bottle of copper patina finish well. Pour copper finish into a small glass bowl, and apply it to the papier-mache box with a foam brush (figure A).
- Let the copper-patina finish dry for 3 to 8 minutes, until it's tacky. Pour the copper aging compound into a small glass bowl. Use an artist brush or a toothbrush to spatter the compound over the copper-patina finish. After dipping the brush in the compound, run your finger over the bristles to flick the compound over the surface (figure B).
- Wait about 30 minutes for the compound to oxidize and create a weathered look. If you want add more, wait about an hour (figure C).
- To create a ruste- iron finish, prime a papier-mache box. Shake the black-iron base coat and pour it into a small glass bowl. Apply the base coat to the box with a foam brush. Apply a second coat after 30 minutes. The longer you let the second coat dry, the deeper the rust effect will be. Wait at least an hour; overnight is better (figure D).
- Brush on aging compound with an artist brush. When it's dry, apply a second coat. The metal material in the base coat is the agent that turns to copper or rust when the aging compound is applied (figure E).
- When working with a birdhouse that has ridges in the roof, place the birdhouse horizontally on a work surface to allow the aging compound to puddle in the ridges.
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