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Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. If you re looking for ways to personalize your space and you re ready to go a step further than a simple coat of paint, try faux finishing. Faux, French for false, finishing techniques were developed centuries ago to evoke the feeling of expensive, elegant finishes without the extravagant expense. With just paint, glaze and a few simple tools, you can create the look of marble, leather, malachite, parchment, silk, even gold leaf on walls or furniture. You could even wood-grain a plain white door to look like mahogany. The possibilities are endless, but you ll want to develop your technique on practice boards first. Also, it helps to have a sample or a close-up photograph of the actual material you re imitating to use as a guide. The best tools are the simplest. Start with everyday paint supplies. You ll need an angled 2 nylon brush for cutting in, cotton rags, painter s tape and a good multi-purpose ladder. The tools for faux finishing are often things you already have at home such as a natural sea sponge, cheesecloth, combs, rags and feathers. Your biggest investment will probably be a variety of artist s brushes for veining, stippling, color washing and a badger brush for softening. Most techniques are variations on the same process. First, carefully clean, prep and prime your surface. Then, apply the base color using good-quality latex paint and let it dry completely. Apply a coat of untinted, faux technique glaze mixed with water and latex paint in the color you want. Then, tool it, sponge it, rag it, drag it or blend several colors according to the technique you re going for. Blend with a badger brush to soften any hard lines. Add veins, details or stippling last, and seal with a coat of polyurethane to protect your hard work. There are lots of great faux finishing books and web sites where you can find instructions for painting just about any finish you can think of. Or, try making one up yourself! Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

…even pattern over the newly painted glaze. Step 7: Use a cheesecloth to soften the pattern. You can soften the pattern using a wad of cheesecloth. Wad up the cheesecloth as you did with the cotton rag and lightly pat the surface. You…

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…and more water retentive, too. Compost can also be brewed into a compost tea (liquid fertilizer) by simply filling a cheesecloth with compost and soaking it in a pail of water for an hour or two. Home composting is an easy and rewarding way to make…

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