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Saturday, November 7, 2009

Frosting the Walls.....

Years ago there was an article in Sunset magazine about the real restoration work being done on plaster work. There was a photo of a man working on it and they said the he was doing it with cake decorating bags and tips! I cut it out and put it away for reference. I still have it somewhere.

I reasoned that, if it could be done on plasterwork in a courthouse somewhere in real life, it could be done in miniature. Today I tested the theory.

I got out an old cake decorating kit that I hadn't used in several years and stuffed it full of DAP patching plaster straight from the tub.....It was too stiff to come out of the point. So much for the bag.

I resorted to the old tried and true method of repair. I grabbed a plastic sandwich bag, stuffed the same patching plaster in it and squeezed it down to one corner. I cut of a tiny point of the corner.

I had used the patching plaster for a base coat of stucco on the walls of the teashop. It was pretty much dry to the touch.

First I tried my handy dandy new tool on a paper plate. I had a distinct handicap. The plaster didn't stick well to the dry paper plate, but it did work.

I jumped right in and did a rough outline with a pencil on one end of the building and started squeezing. Starting from the top and working down, I outlined and filled in the design on the wall.

Here is the first end. I will go back in and fill in some spots and use the pointy tool to clean up the design, but all in all, it turned out pretty good for a first try.

I usually do this kind of thing with Fimo or Sculpey, but I have been wanting to try this method for a while. I think that I like it better. It looks more like part of the plaster.(It is part of the plaster.)


When I finished the first end, I started to turn the shop around to do the other end. As I did, I saw a spot over the door that was just begging to be pargeted. I free handed that one in about five minutes. With poly clay I would have been messing around for an hour sculpting and cooking. This is soooo easy. I should have tried it a long time ago.

Anyway, by the time I got to the other side I was becoming an old hand at it. It's as easy as decorating a cake, if you have ever done that.

As I finished the last end, Tessie showed up. She hung over the end of the roof and said,"Hey! My design looks pretty good!"

Her design? Does she mean the 1/4" long mark that she made on one branch??? I let it go.

I am very pleased that the experiment worked so well. I see a lot more pargeting in my future. And besides I just like the fancy word. Pargeting can be fun!

See you tomorrow.

19 comments:

Tabitha Corsica said...

This looks very cool. I'm trying to think of something I can try it on. Did you use the regular Dap spackle or the Fast'N Final (lightweight)? In your spare time, you can now make fancy decorated cakes.. :-). My mother always used a plastic bag with the corner cut off for plain piping. She liked the idea of tossing after using. I do too...hate clean up.

Tabs

Lize said...

Can Tessie please come and stay with me so she can help me design some things...she is absolutely brilliant..look at the great job she did on your house! All you did Casey, was trace the lines.. piece of cake (no pun intended). So sorry Casey but you have to face it: the real brain behind this was the 6 year old. It was all in that one line!

Michelle said...

It looks just fabulous! I've seen the real thing on houses and your's and Casey's work looks just as real! :o)

Michelle :o)

rosanna said...

FANTASTICO !!!!!! Casey YOU ARE A GENIUS !!!!! I shall never stop yelling it. I'll try to make a better use of all my pipe bags! Hugs Rosanna

Thmini2 said...

That is so cool! I'll have to remember that method. Another reason that I come here. I get entertained and learn something besides. Teresa

Caseymini said...

Tabby, I used DAP patching plaster. That is heavy like spackle, but it is a bit different. I'm not exactly sure how. Definitely not lightweight.

Lize, I am the one with the six year old's mind....Tessie is just evil. She takes credit for everything that she can.LOL

I'm glad that you like the idea. I wish I could take credit. The Sunset Magazine article gets all of the credit. I just stole it....I think I have been around Tessie to much.

Arantxa Fariña said...

It's Wonderfull

Kathi said...

WOW! This looks great! I'm tucking this idea away too! Imagine the possibilities! Casey, you're the bomb! (Do kids still say that?!)

Susan@minicrochetmad said...

One word.....Awesome!! Damn you're good. (that's a few more words)

dalesdreams said...

I'm in awe! :)

It looks truly wonderful!

Jill said...

I think I'm hyperventilating!!! Oh my gosh!!! I looooooove that! It's absolutely brilliant-- so gorgeous.
Hugs,
Jill

SusannaT said...

I've never heard of this technique, but the results are beautiful!

FabShabbyRoses said...

You are SO INCREDIBLY TALENTED! (I was yelling that!)Oh my goodness! I love, love, love it!!!!Now to think of a million other things to use it too! In the front of my mind would be furniture. Think it could be applied to wood there too? I'm thinking, of course, shabby chic. Ohhh this design with a hint of pink.......

Kim said...

I was hoping more was coming- brilliant! I need to think of something to try this on- it turned out wonderful!

Caseymini said...

Thanks for all of the wonderful comments. I somehow lost one though. Daisy wrote one and as I was reading it on the comment page, I must have accidentally pushed the wrong key or something....It didn't publish. I am so sorry Daisy. If you re write it, I will be more careful. Promise.

Lisette said...

Wauw, that is very nice made.

With me is about the same as yours.

Victoria said...

Awesome result! Thank you for the tip - I'd also use Fimo and never thought of using plaster this way. Hmmm, I should try it on something...

Minka said...

You've taught me a new word. I had to go look it up on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pargeting
This is simply wonderful! Thank you for sharing your talent. I love reading your blog.

Kathi said...

I am definitely going to do this somewhere on my project. This morning I have been working on the roof. I may pipe some flowers on the edge? Thanks for sharing this idea! :D

I'm not to that point yet. Still cutting and staining wood. Waiting for paint to dry... glue to dry... making light fixtures... etc. etc. etc...