GETTIN’ GRITTY WIT IT

Do you know that a “pain in the a$$” is actually a real thing?  If you’ve ever experienced sciatica, then you most certainly know it to be true.  But, sciatica doesn’t just park itself at one of your “cheeks”.  No, it also takes a little joy ride down your leg and tortures you to no end.  It debilitates you.  It robs you of all energy.  It makes you miserable.  It is also your body’s way of telling you that your sensitive nerves may be getting pinched by your misaligned and compacted spine……. well, at least in my case. That’s what years of landscape gardening can do to the body.

My spine is responding well to the chiropractic adjustments I’ve been receiving, but I’ve had to limit the amount of time I spend sitting down; hence, I haven’t been at my computer much lately.  Yesterday’s spark of spinal relief prompted me to, of course, get creative.
So, here’s a gritty little faux cement tutorial just for you!
  • white gesso
  • white pre-mixed sanded grout
  • black acrylic paint
  • brown acrylic paint
  • soilless potting mix or peat moss
  • green Spanish moss
  • glue
  • paintbrush
  • objects d’transformation (I chose a classic ball ornament, tiny clay pots and pine cones)
Mix two parts gesso to one part grout together in a small bowl.  Add a tiny drop or two each of black and brown paint to obtain a cement-like base color.  Paint the concoction onto your object, then let it dry.  Next, brush on (in a patchy-like fashion)some gesso tinted just slightly lighter than your base color, and let it dry.  Do not use any grout with this layer.  Then, using only the white gesso, dab some areas with your fingertip and smudge/blur it in to create the look of limescale residue.  Now, put a few pinches of Spanish moss and peat moss together into a coffee grinder and grind them up to create a coarse powder.  Brush some glue onto your object and sprinkle the powder onto those areas. When dry, buff the residual particles off with your hands.
linda nelson at the createaerie
©Linda Nelson 2016
linda nelson at the createaerie
©Linda Nelson 2016
linda nelson at the createaerie
©Linda Nelson 2016

That’s all there is to it.

Now, go grab something, make it gritty and get creative.

And, most importantly, take good care of your back.

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