Step stools, both big and little, are frequently used for more than stepping. They often serve as plant stands, book shelves and/or knickknack shelves. Here, I painted and decorated a child's two step step stool as a beach scene complete to sand (textured paint), sea shells, water (paint) and fish (rubber stamped images). It was cute, clever and practical.
Materials:
Walnut Hollow child's step stool - #20003
sand paper
acrylic paint in three shades of blue
Duncan Granite Stone textured paint - sand color
hot glue gun
marine varnish
white glue
fish images (rubber stamps, clip art or gift wrap paper):
- 9508G - Fishy Cube
- 9702H - Fishy Face Cube
rubberized stair tread strips - optional
Steps:
- Sand steps until smooth, then paint a medium shade of blue (figure A). Allow paint to dry. To add "waves" to the steps, drag a brush in a wavy pattern across the base coated steps using different shades of blue and a touch of white paint (figure B). Allow paint to dry.
- Paint sides of stairs with granite paint in sand color (figure C) . Once dry, hot glue a variety of sea shells to the sides (figure D). Place the shells at random around the sides or cover them completely. Small stones or pebbles can be used instead of shells.
- Stamp a number of fish images on adhesive backed paper. Emboss and color in bright colors with stamping pens. Cut out (figure E). Or copy the clip art fish, color and cut out. Or cut out fish from gift-wrapping or wallpaper.
- Glue the fish randomly onto the two steps. Once glue is completely dry, coat the steps with marine varnish.
- If desired cut several lengths of rubber tread stripping to resemble underwater weeds and place strategically on the steps.
Resources Classic Clip Art
by Glorya Hale (ISBN: 0517148838)
This title is out of print. Consult local libraries, used book stores or click
here for Amazon.com's book search.
3M Safety-Walk Home and Recreation Strips & Tread
Anti-slip; prevents falls in heavy traffic work areas, ramps, walkways, loading docks, machinery, vehicles and aircraft.
3M Product Information Center
Website:
www.3m.com
Duncan Granite Stone Paint
Check Duncan's ceramic line Web site for a local ceramic retailer: www.duncanceramics.com
Duncan Enterprises
Website:
www.duncancrafts.com
Kids Collection wood step stool - Walnut Hollow (Model #: 20003)
Walnut Hollow
Website:
www.walnuthollow.com
The Paula Best Design Line fish cube rubber stamps
JudiKins
Website:
www.judikins.com
Treasury of Animal Illustrations: From Eighteenth-Century Sources
by Carol Belanger Grafton (ISBN: 048625805X)
Click
here to order this title.
Dover Publications Inc.
31 East 2nd St.
Mineola, NY 11501-3852
US
Website:
store.doverpublications.com
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