Faux Tria/Polished Stone Technique

These instructions are courtesy of Laura Smithson-Corl as posted on Gingerwood Bulletin Board and are shown here with Laura's permission - Thank you, Laura!

Use a wood block about 1/2" by 3". Attach a strip of velcro (the loop or rough side)to it. That will hold a matching size strip of craft felt. Spritz the felt with rubbing alcohol till it is wet. Pick 2 or 3 colors of dye ink that you like and drop 3-5 drops of each from the reinker along the wet felt. Dab a Krylon metalic pen (gold copper or silver) several times onto the felt. BTW, you can flip the tip of a Krylon pen from the flat point to a nub point which is easier to dab on the felt.

Spritz your glossy paper with the alcohol (a fine mist all over will do) and then smoosh and turn, or tap all over with the felt block. You need to work quickly, as the alcohol will speed drying. The overall look will be like marble. The metalic will rise a bit and look like veins.

Depending on the brand of dye inks or the type of glossy paper, the finished product may be dull looking. Lightly buff it with a soft cloth to make it shine. Using dye ink doesn't give the same swift gliding feel of alcohol based inks, but there very nice results are possible. I have also used Dr. PH Martin MetalX acrylics and alcohol with good results.

Practice will help you get a good feel for the "wrist action" to make a nice pattern. Don't be too hasty in dismissing less than gorgeous results as loosers...try stamping a wonderful image in permanent black ink over it and see how much better, even wonderful it looks.You can also add a spritz of spray webbing to a mediocre result to achieve yet another winner.
Good luck, and enjoy! Laura

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