Fingers Before Forks....And Putty Knives...

This morning I gave the steps a couple of coats of water based acrylic artist's varnish.  Both sides.  That keeps them from curling so much.

I glued them to the steps with white glue.

To keep them down until they dry, I used painter's tape.

 Meanwhile, I put together the log storage unit.  Same method as the rest of the stairs.

I used my best tool to coat the inside with spackling paste.  Fingers work best.  I can get down into the corners and move the stuff around where I want it.  If I used a putty knife or something similar, I would scrape off as much past as I put on.

The brush at the bottom of the photo is what I use to make the lace work in the stucco.  It is from a bag of cheap brushes from Walmart.

Here you can see the result.

I did wipe most of the paste from the corners.  That gives a better, finer lace work.  If you leave it in, you get a lot of big heavy blobs.  And we don't want that.

This is as far as I have worked so far today.  Two steps, the log box and the bottom area.  I should be able to finish it in a couple of hours.  Fingers crossed.

If you are ever doing this, painter's tape is your best friend.

I took a piece and ran it along the edge beneath the step and slashed the opposite edge as I went.  Thus the curve.

When I finished spackling, I just pealed it off.  Nice crisp edge...Please ignore the bit of spackle on the step.  It will wipe right off with a damp cloth.  I didn't notice it until after I took the photo.

After I finish with the paste, I will attach the log box and spackle the front edge of that...That should do it for today. 

By then I will be covered from head to toe in spackle.  I never said I was neat and tidy....Did I?

See you tomorrow.