Nutty Over You

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2017

My dad loves nuts! It doesn’t matter what kind, shape or flavor. He will sit in the evening watching an old western movie cracking nuts and eating them. The last few years my mom has decided that she too likes nuts. It is delightful to watch him crack them and every other one is for mom. Guess that’s true love…..smile. With Father’s Day just around the corner I thought this small box full of nuts and new “tools” would be the perfect gift to remind him he is the best Dad in the world!

The Squirrel by U-Paint® Metal Crafts that I painted makes the box of nuts even better!

Materials:

·      Squirrel by U-Paint® Metal Crafts

·      Americana® Acrylic Paint by DecoArt®:

    (DA259) Cocoa
    (DA08) Ocher
    (DA271) Espresso
    (DA067) Lamp Black
    (DA239) Warm White
    (DS17-3) Multi-Purpose Sealer™

• ½ “ flat synthetic paint brush, small round detail brush
• Make up sponge, sandpaper
• Container for water, soft towel/cloth.
• Beacon® Adhesive: QuickGrip™, or Power-Tac™, or 527™
• Hinged natural wood box: 7 ½ wide x 4 ¼ deep x 4 ¼” tall

Instructions: 

1. Lightly sand the box if needed.

2. Remove the sanding dust with the soft towel.

3. Apply a light coat of DecoArt® Multi-Purpose Sealer™ to the box. Allow to dry.

4. Use the sponge and Americana® Espresso Acrylic Paint to apply light shading on the box edges.

5. Wash the Squirrel with hot soapy water.

6. Dry thoroughly with a soft towel.

7. Seal the front and back of the Squirrel with the DecoArt® Multi-Purpose Sealer™. Allow to dry.

8.  Create a lighter shade of brown by mixing Americana® Cocoa Acrylic Paint with Americana® Ocher Acrylic. (it does not have to be a solid color)

9. Base coat the Squirrel front and back. Allow to dry.

   10. Refer to close up photo for placement. Load the corner of your flat brush with Americana® Espresso Acrylic Paint and apply shading where indicated. (Remember shading goes behind or underneath.) Allow to dry.

    11. Wash brush.

    12. Add highlights with Americana® Warm  White  Acrylic Paint where indicated in the close up photo.

    13. Paint the eye with Americana® Lamp Black Acrylic Paint using the small round brush. Allow to dry.

    14. Wash the brush.

     15. Using Americana® Warm White  Acrylic Paint and the small round brush add a tiny dot highlight to the Squirrel’s eye.  

     16. Attach the painted Squirrel to the top of the box with Beacon® Adhesive.