Clay Medallion Wall Art

By: Diane Flowers for STYROFOAM Brand Foam

Here's a fun way to add a bit of "history" to your home - transform blocks of STYROFOAM into "stone" tiles, then embellish with stamped and painted images.

Materials:

STYROFOAM Brand Foam:
- Blocks, one each: 15" x 12" x 1-1/4"; 18" x 12" x 2"
Acrylic paints: black; metallics: pearl-finish green, bronze, and copper
Brown antiquing gel
Metallic gold rub-on finish
Air-dry modeling compound, one package
Rubber stamps: "Circle with Face"; Square with Printed Words
Fern-print tissue paper, two sheets
Light green reindeer moss, one bag
Floral wire
Serrated knife
Candle stub or paraffin
Pencil
Ruler
Small bowl and spoon
Rolling pin or clay roller
Plastic wrap
Medium flat paintbrush
Disposable palette
Water basin
Paper towels
Scissors
Wire cutters
Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
Thick, white craft glue
Optional: Disposable gloves
Optional: Hair dryer

Instructions:

Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin. Measure and mark two 7" squares on 1-1/4"-thick foam block and one 7" square on 2"-thick foam block. Cut out squares.
Tear several medium-sized pieces from tissue. Mix one part white glue to two parts water in small bowl; stir. Put on gloves, if desired.
Carefully dip one piece of tissue into glue/water mixture then press to one foam square. Continue until entire foam surface is covered with tissue. Overlap tissue pieces and allow wrinkling for added character. Repeat for each foam square.
Place squares over rims of jars or drinking glasses to dry overnight, turning once, or speed drying with hair dryer.
Apply small amount antiquing gel to paper towel and rub over tissue-covered 1-1/4"-thick foam squares only; let dry. Glue one antiqued square to top of second antiqued square on angle; let dry.
Apply small amount antiquing gel to paper towel and rub over tissue-covered 1-1/4"-thick foam squares only; let dry. Glue one antiqued square to top of second antiqued square on angle; let dry.
Roll small amount of air-dry modeling compound to 1/4" thickness on plastic wrap, to area slightly larger than face image; stamp face. Carefully remove medallion from plastic wrap. Repeat to create second medallion, using word stamp. Let dry, following manufacturer's instructions.
Paint medallions black; let dry. Following manufacturer's instructions, use fingers to gently apply gold rub-on finish over paint.
Gently shake metallic paints and open. Lightly touch fingertip to paint in green lid; remove excess on paper towel. Use fingers to rub paint over medallions in random fashion. Repeat for each metallic color. If too much metallic paint is applied, repaint area with black, and then reapply metallics as needed. Let dry completely.
Glue medallions to fronts of one 1-1/4"-thick square and 2"-thick square. Glue moss around medallions. Glue moss to seam between 1-1/4"-thick squares. Let dry.