Hey everyone! I’m absolutely thrilled to share my latest project with you: the Posh Autumn Book Cover Project! This endeavour was not just about creating something visually appealing, but also about diving deep into the world of craft and enjoying the process. Join me as I take you through each step I took to create this unique seasonal art piece in detail!
Step 1: Crackling Paste & Decoupage
To kick off the project I grabbed my Posh Chalk Crackling Gel. Armed with my Posh Chalk Small Smooth & Blend Brush, I diligently applied a generous coat of the Crackling Gel over the entire surface of the book cover. The application was smooth and even; I took my time to ensure it was well-distributed, as this would set the stage for the rest of my design.
Once the gel was applied, I decided to incorporate the Posh Chalk Crackling Paste. As it would serve as a backdrop for my decoupage, I realised I needed to colour it white first so the colours in my decoupage design would really pop. The paste can be quite stiff right out of the jar, but I simply stirred it until it returned to its loose and creamy consistency. After that, I stirred in some of the Posh Chalk Arctic White Colour Kick to infuse it with a bright, crisp white tone. This would serve as a pristine canvas for my forthcoming design.
Using a Posh Chalk Premium Finishing Trowel, I then applied the Arctic White Crackling Paste mixture to one side of the book cover. To expedite the process and maintain momentum, I turned to my trusty heat gun. Watching the paste dry and form cracks was almost hypnotic as the surface changed before my eyes.
With my Crackling Paste application completed, it was crucial to ensure that the surface was completely flat for the decoupage application. I reached for 240 grit sandpaper and sanded the Crackling Paste surface until it was nice and smooth. This step was vital to eliminating any potential imperfections.
For this project, I had chosen the Posh Chalk Autumn Clearing Decoupage Paper. Perfect for creating a seasonal art piece! To prepare my decoupage paper, I meticulously tore off the unnecessary sections, keeping the part of the design I wanted to highlight. I intentionally didn’t tear it to the exact size of the book cover as I knew that any excess could be sanded off later for a more polished looking finish.
Once satisfied, I applied a coat of Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor with the Small Smooth & Blend Brush on the Crackling Paste surface I had created earlier. Carefully, I positioned the decoupage onto the surface and started to smooth it out gently with a clean, dry Smooth & Blend Brush. I started in the centre of the decoupage paper and worked outwards to ensure that there were no air bubbles or wrinkles.
To finalise the application I applied another coat of Pigment Infusor, again using a Smooth & Blend Brush. I then force dried the surface, eagerly awaiting the results. Once the decoupaged surface was dried, I took the sandpaper once again to carefully remove any excess paper hanging off the edges. This method was particularly convenient, providing a flawless finish and ensuring that no uneven cuts distract from the overall design.
Step 2: Stencilling
Feeling confident in my base, I moved on to the stencilling phase. I had chosen the Posh Chalk Posh Birds & Bendy Branches Stencil for this project as I felt it would complement the autumn theme perfectly. I selected the Posh Chalk Black Carbon and Brown Van Dyke Metallic Pastes for this project. So I decanted a couple scoops of each onto an old WUB board then mixed the two colours together somewhat, creating a dark brown paste that still had streaks of unmixed Black Carbon and Brown Van Dyke.
I positioned the stencil carefully on the decoupaged surface, aligning it with the edge of the book cover. Using my Premium Finishing Trowel, I spread a generous amount of the mixed paste across the stencil, ensuring an even application. Stencilling can be a bit tricky, but the Finishing Trowel makes the process seamless. After peeling the stencil away, I was greeted by a stunning interplay of colours that danced against the backdrop of my decoupage.
To accelerate my workflow, I knew I needed to force dry the stencilling. This presented me with a perfect opportunity to give my project some texture. Because I had used the Posh Chalk Metallic Pastes, I knew that if I force dried the design for long enough it would puff up and create a 3-D bubble-like texture. Once the entire stencil design had been puffed up like this, it allowed me to flatten the paste with a Posh Chalk Premium Finishing Trowel. This created a wonderful and unique textured surface for my stencil design.
Step 3: WoodUbend Trims
Now that one side of my book cover was adorned, it was time to add some charming WoodUbend Trims to accentuate the design further. I started with the trim TR746, first heated it up until it became malleable enough for application.
With the trim warmed, I applied WoodUglue along the spine of the book cover, making sure the glue was spread out over the entire surface area where the trim would lay. Placing the trim onto the wet glue, I pressed it down firmly, ensuring that it adhered well. I then cut along the edge of the book cover, leaving me with a perfectly sized strip of trim affixed to the surface. Just to be sure everything was securely in place, I sanded the edge lightly and pressed the trim down once more.
Next I grabbed the other trim I had chosen, TR753. I applied a strip of WoodUglue wrapping around the spine and began heating the trim until it was pliable. My plan was for this trim to wrap it around one side of the book cover, so I added more WoodUglue on this side and kept heating the trim while pressing it down—just a little extra precaution to avoid any breakage. Once I reached the end of the side, I cut the trim free from the coil and repeated the process at the top of the book cover.
Step 4: More Crackling Paste
Now, it was time to give some attention to the currently undecorated side of the book cover. I wanted to create a visual contrast using different shades of Posh Chalk Crackling Paste. I started by mixing the Posh Chalk Rich Ochre and Mocha Delight Colour Kicks to create a lovely pale yellow mixture. However, I felt it needed a slightly darker shade for contrast. So, I mixed Mocha Delight and Rich Ochre again, but this time favouring the Mocha Delight. After stirring, I decided to enrich the mixture further with a touch of Posh Chalk Royal Indigo, resulting in a darker shade of yellow that I was happy with.
Armed with my two coloured Crackling Paste mixtures, I began stippling the darker yellow mixture onto the side of the book cover until it was mostly covered. Once I was satisfied with this application, I switched to the lighter yellow mixture to fill in any gaps, mindful not to cover the entire area. This method was intentional to simulate the natural aging that occurs over time, adding character to the overall look.
As I force dried this side, I watched in delight as cracks began to form, adding a sense of authenticity and depth. It was an exhilarating moment to see my vision come to life as the colours contrasted beautifully.
Step 5: Painting with Pigments
Next, I turned my attention to painting the trims. I wanted to use Posh Chalk Orange Gold Metallic Pigment for the first set of trims, so I scooped some into a small pot and mixed it with Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor until I had the consistency I desired. I carefully brushed this vibrant gold mixture onto the areas above and below the TR753 strips I had previously attached, as well as the edges and sides of the book cover, and lastly onto the TR746 on the spine.
For the TR753 strips that wrapped around the cover, I decided to go for a contrasting look with Posh Chalk Smoky Charcoal Metallic Pigment. I mixed this pigment in the same way as before, gradually adding Pigment Infusor until I arrived at my desired consistency. As I painted the strips with the Smoky Charcoal pigment, I could already envision how the dark texture would enhance the autumn feel. Once everything was thoroughly covered, I forced dried the pigments with my heat gun, allowing the colours to set beautifully.
Step 6: Shading with Patina
The final step in my creative process was to add shading effects. To unify the project and soften the overall look, I decided to apply Posh Chalk Dark Brown Patina around the edges of the TR753 strips. I was careful to apply it heavily in these areas so that I could then spread it across the book cover using Posh Chalk Patina Extending Wax and a Posh Chalk Wax Extender Brush.
This not only gave me the ability to blend the dark brown shade into the entire cover but also helped in creating a naturally aged and well-loved feel to my project. As I applied the Patina Extending Wax it started to mix with the Patina on the brush, allowing for the dark shade to diffuse across the book cover. This process turned down the intensity of all the colours and contributed beautifully to the aged effect I was aiming for.
Conclusion
And there you have it—a stunning decorative coffee table book that beautifully encapsulates the essence of autumn! Every single layer, from the crackling textures to the rich pigments and trims, tells a story of transformation and creativity. I’m absolutely delighted with how it turned out!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this project in the comments below. Have I inspired you to dive into your own crafting journey? If so, I’d love to see what you create! Thanks so much for joining me, and I look forward to seeing you again in my next crafting adventure!
Products Used:
- Posh Chalk Crackling Gel
- Posh Chalk Crackling Paste
- Posh Chalk Premium Finishing Trowel
- Posh Chalk Autumn Clearing Decoupage
- Posh Chalk Posh Birds & Bendy Branches Stencil
- Posh Chalk Brown Van Dyke Metallic Paste
- Posh Chalk Black Carbon Metallic Paste
- Posh Chalk Arctic White Colour Kick
- Posh Chalk Mocha Delight Colour Kick
- Posh Chalk Royal Indigo Colour Kick
- Posh Chalk Rich Ochre Colour Kick
- Posh Chalk Orange Gold Metallic Pigment
- Posh Chalk Smoky Charcoal Metallic Pigment
- Posh Chalk Patina Extending Wax
- Posh Chalk Dark Brown Patina
- Posh Chalk Wax Extender Brush
- Posh Chalk Small Smooth & Blend Brush
- Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor
- TR753
- TR746
- WoodUglue
If you’d like to see the creative transformation project in video format, it will be live on our YouTube Channel Wednesday 16th of October at 9pm BST.
P.S If my blogs do inspire you, and you get round to trying some of these techniques and products, I would love to see them in the Creations community we have. There are over 25,000 members who post daily. You’ll also find lots of creators in there who have posted some wonderful projects. It’s an inspiring group with lots going on. You can join here, and best of all it’s free!
You can find all these products, except for Magic Paint, on our website https://woodubend.com/shop/
To watch the whole crafting process above, click on the links below:
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