Spring Blooms

The splendor of spring is celebrated in this contemporary botanical inspiration.

Materials

• 1⁄4" good one side plywood

cut 24" wide x 411⁄2" long

• 12' of 21⁄2"casement

• 12' of 1" x 2" clear pine

• 2" finishing nails 2134-835

• 3⁄4" finishing nails 2134-407

• wood glue 2020-850

• drywall compound 1625-860

• putty knife 1630-266

• 2" foam brush 1613-731

• painters tape 1670-739

• spray adhesive 2010-567

Beauti-Tone exterior flat latex paint:

• frame: White 1835-394

• background: Black Tie

• tulip: (yellow) Best Dressed,

(orange) Citrus Sun

• stem: Viburnum

• Exterior urethane (satin finish) 1890-261

• transparency

• utility knife 1033-376

• black marker 5740-540

• hanger kit 2352-750

• mitre box with saw 1038-273

Here's How

The Background

1. Cut plywood to size. Mix a small amount of latex paint, tinted with Black Tie, into approximately two cups of drywall compound. Using a putty knife, apply a light coat over the entire surface. Once covered, drag a clean putty knife over the surface to minimize ridges, leaving a textured surface. Let dry.

2. Paint the entire surface with Black Tie and then rub the surface with a clean cloth. Let dry. Repeat if the coat is not even.

The Frame

1. Cut the casement to fit flush with the edges of the plywood. (Prepaint the casement so only touch up is required.) Glue and nail in place on the plywood.

2. Cut 1" x 2" pine with mitred corners to stand on edge and fit around the outside of the board. Glue and nail through the sides into the plywood. Attach hanger eyes and wire.

3. Paint flat white. Let dry.

The Petals

1. Cut the tulip petal pattern from the transparency using the utility knife. Tulip stencil pattern is available on our website.

2. Mark the position for the bottom of the middle tulip by measuring 14" down from the top, in the centre of the width.

3. Mix a small amount of yellow paint into 3⁄4 cup of drywall compound. Spray back of tulip stencil with spray adhesive and position in place. Apply drywall compound over stencil with a foam brush.

4. Clean stencil and repeat for outside tulips. Let dry.

5. Place clean stencil over tulip. Brush yellow paint with streaks of orange, wiping lightly with a cloth to soften and blend colours.

The Stems

1. Find centre of each tulip. Measure and tape a 3⁄4" wide by 20" long stem with painters tape.

2. Mix a small amount of green paint into

1⁄2 cup of drywall compound. Apply

to stems with foam brush. Remove tape.

Let dry.

3. Place tape on outside of stem and brush on green colour. Rub with a cloth to soften. Let dry.

Finishing

Spray picture with three to four coats of exterior urethane. Let dry between coats. Attach framing wire on back to hang.