Master the Faux Embossed Tin Look with Air-Dry Clay and Molds

Ever wondered how to turn simple wooden plaques into stunning faux embossed tin art?

In today’s tutorial, our craft expert Donna from Mason Creations etc. shares a brilliant technique that transforms plain wooden surfaces into sophisticated faux embossed tin plaques. Whether you're new to decoupage or a seasoned crafter, this project is a delightful mix of texture and color. Watch the video below to follow along!

Step 1: Prepare Your Plaques

Donna starts by lightly sanding the edges of four wooden plaques to smooth any rough spots. She then uses a favorite stencil with a tiny, intricate pattern, applying texture paste across the surface with a palette knife. The raised design adds an exciting layer of texture to the plaques, giving them a unique touch.

Step 2: Apply a Base Coat

Once the texture paste is dry, it's time to paint! Donna reaches for Dixie Belle chalk paint in the color "Cotton" to give the plaques a smooth, bright white base coat. The chalk paint provides a flawless canvas for the next steps. Remember, if you’re using chalk paint, make sure it’s one that applies creamy and smooth for the best coverage.

Step 3: Adding Dimensional Details with Zuri Molds

Here’s where the magic begins! Donna uses Zuri silicone molds—specifically the "Flower Blossoms Set #2"—to create beautiful clay flowers. She fills the molds with Das air-dry clay, dusting them lightly with cornstarch to ensure easy release. By gluing the clay pieces onto the plaques while they’re still wet, you can prevent most of the shrinking that naturally occurs with air-dry clay.

Step 4: Painting the Flowers

Once the clay flowers are dry, it's time to bring them to life with paint. Donna uses Pentart acrylic paints to base coat the flowers in colors like eggplant, vintage pink, and mallow. For the leaves, she selects Pentart country green, applying layers of darker and lighter tones to add depth to each flower.

Step 5: Antiquing for a Faux Tin Look

Now for the fun part—creating that vintage, embossed tin look! After applying a protective coat of Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish, Donna mixes her own antiquing medium using Pentart white gold and a drop of dark gray paint. She brushes this mixture over the plaques and gently wipes away the excess, allowing the wash to settle into the crevices. This technique gives the plaques an aged, metallic look reminiscent of antique tins.

Step 6: Adding Final Highlights and Wax Rubs

To emphasize the raised details, Donna uses metallic wax rubs in old silver and white pearl on the flowers and leaves. The shimmer these waxes provide adds a beautiful finishing touch, enhancing the overall tin-like appearance. To further enhance the vintage look, Donna applies a soot-colored wax rub around the edges and between the flowers for a weathered, antique finish.

Step 7: Finishing Touches

For the final touch, Donna adds an elegant cream-colored organza ribbon around the sides of the plaques and finishes it with a bow using her handy mini Bowdabra tool. This delicate ribbon softens the rustic appearance of the plaques, giving them a polished and refined finish.

These steps are sure to inspire your next project, offering a creative way to turn basic materials into a vintage masterpiece. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more crafting inspiration and to receive 10% off your next order!

A special thanks to Donna at Mason Creations etc. for sharing her expertise! Don’t forget to check out the video tutorial below to see each step in action. Happy crafting!