Creating a Faux Stone Finish for your Walls
Using Old Newspapers
by Pamela Cole Harris
Love the look of stone but you can't even afford the rocks in your head?
(That's a joke, son!) If you have old newspaper lying around, you can have the
look of stone you love - inexpensively! Here's how:
1. Paint the wall with a cote of white latex enamel. It is best
to use low-luster enamel with a sponge brush applicator
(available at most discount stores for around $1). Let the
paint dry to the touch.
2. Choose a flat earth-tone or neutral glaze using a clean
sponge brush. Apply the glaze in random strokes over one-half
the surface.
3. Repeat this step with a darker glaze, but leaving small
random areas unglazed.
4. Next we wash! Apply a white wash in some areas and a
earth-tone wash in others. Again, the more random the better!
5. Fold an old newspaper in half and then in half again. Place
it flat against a small part of the wall and press. Lift and
repeat in another area. Each time you lift, more glaze will
be removed.
6. Turn the paper in different directions to help blend the
colors into random patterns. Fun, huh?
7. If you feel that one area needs more color, spread glaze on
the newspaper and press it flat to the desired area.
8. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the look.
Leave some light and dark spots in the pattern.
9. Let the paint dry. (Don't watch it - it's deadly dull!)
10. Finally apply more white wash to the entire surface. Soften
the colors by dabbing with a clean cotton cloth.
11. Allow the paint to dry once more. (I didn't say this process
would be exciting, did I?)
The look you will achieve with this technique will mimic the depth, color
variations and rough look of more expensive stone tiles. Not bad for a little
paint and some old newspaper, right? Now go out there and dab!
Pamela Cole
Harris has been a writer and designer for 35 years (Yikes, has it been that
long?) Enjoy her tongue-in-cheek approach to inexpensive interior design at:
http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com and
http://www.diy-homedecor.com