Beaded, Painted Christmas Tree
Posted by DecoArt on Nov 10th 2015
This beautiful beaded Christmas tree has a background of fabric, for quick and easy painting.
SUPPLIES
- water container
- paper towels
- tracing paper
- transfer paper
- scissors
- #2 round brush
- chalk pencil
- 3/4" wash brush
- X-Acto® knife
- #4 flat brush
- 1/4" angle brush
- sanding disc
- Sta-Wet Palette
- tack cloth
- #10/0 liner brush
- old credit card
- fabric
- 3/4" angle brush
- papier-mâche Christmas tree
INSTRUCTIONS
- If using a wooden tree, lightly sand both sides of the tree. Wipe clean with a tack cloth.
- Using the 3/4" wash brush, apply a thin, even coat of Americana Matte Decou-Page to the wrong side of the fabric. (Be sure to keep a very small amount of water in the brush to help move the Decou-Page on the fabric.)
- With the same brush, apply a thin, even coat of Decou-Page to the front side of the tree.
- Place the wrong side of the fabric on the front side of the tree.
- Using an old credit card, begin working from the center of the tree outward to smooth out any wrinkles. Press all the edges down with fingers to ensure good adhesion.
- Allow to dry about 30 to 60 minutes. DO NOT force drying time. Wash out the brush with soap and water.
- When the tree is completely dry, trim off any excess fabric with the X-Acto knife. (Be very careful if you are working on a papier-mâché tree.)
- Using the 3/4" wash brush and a side-load of Black Green, float a shadow around all the outside edges of the fabric, as well as the outside edges of the tree surface. (This float not only finishes the edges of the tree, but also takes away some of the flatness of the surface to give it dimension.) Let dry.
- Free-hand or trace the lines for the bead garland. (The dash lines on the pattern are the beaded garland.)
- Paint the bead lines with a thinned, inky consistency of Light Buttermilk using the 10/0 liner brush.
- Switch to the #2 round brush and Light Buttermilk. With slight pressure on the brush, add pearls leaving a small space between each one. (They will need two coats for good coverage.) Let dry. (Note: If you have difficulty keeping the pearls round, paint 2/3rd of four or five beads, then turn the tree and complete the opposite side. This will give them that rounded appearance.)
- Using the 1/4" angle brush and Black Green, float a shadow under the pearls for dimension. (This float will make the pearls pop out on the surface.)
- Using the 1/4" angle brush and Silver Sage Green, float a shadow at the base of each pearl.
- With the handle end of the 10/0 liner brush and Snow White, add a highlight dot to the top of each bead, at about the 2 o'clock position. Let dry.
- Add a dot of Light Buttermilk between each bead. Let dry.
- Free-hand or transfer the pattern lines for the greenery. (The straight lines on the pattern are the greenery.) With thinned Black Green and a 10/0 script liner brush, apply these lines (the center line of the bough).
- Working from top to bottom and using the 10/0 liner brush, begin adding the needles to the garland with Black Green, working each side of the center line.
- Repeat step 17, using Avocado.
- Repeat step 17, using Hauser Medium Green.
- Repeat step 17 using a 2:1 mix of Hauser Green Medium and Snow White for final highlights.
- Randomly add small berries to the garland with a light touch, using the #2 round brush with Silver Sage Green. (Add them alone and in groups of two and three.) Let dry.
- Using the 1/4" angle brush, float a shadow on the base of the berries with a side-load of Blue Mist.
- Add a dot of Light Buttermilk for a highlight to each berry. (Refrain from putting them all in the exact same position. Randomness is more appealing to the eye.) Let dry.
- When the project is completely dry, load the #2 round brush with Crystal Craft Twinkles; cover each pearl with Craft Twinkles. (Omit the dots between the pearls.)
- Bring the brush back to a nice point, load with Craft Twinkles again, and stroke in random needles to the boughs. (Exclude the berries.) Let dry.
- Using the 3/4" angle brush loaded with Black Green, paint the back of tree. Let dry.
- Finish with two coats of DuraClear Matte Varnish; allow to thoroughly dry between coats.
