Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1929-05-24
DECORATIVE USES FOR PRINTS
Marie Hulser

A colorful print, a can of paint and
a little shellac turn a nondescript
little box into a decorative asset
And bright little objects of decora-
ton turn a sombre room into one of
colorful charm. It's little things
like these that make a world of diff
ference in your home.
The box your tea comes in, the
can your pepper comes in, all such
things are prospects. They mig 1T
more profitably end their days ca :
rying cigarettes, holding matches.
And why not? Perhaps they don't
suggest their possibilities in their
present state, but remove the label,
and you will see. A coat of bright
lacquer then. Next n attractive
little print clipped from I magazine
or bought from an art store pasted
on, either to envelop or merely to
cover a portion of the object-and
its transformation begins.
Shellac fulf1lls the really impor-
tant duty as finishing and protect
ing coat. 1t holds the print in place,
preserves its colors and keeps it
from peeling off and showing wear
that constant handling would other
wise cause.
The whole process of decorating
will take less than an hour, for the
lacquer will dry in about thirty min
utes and the FASTING and shellack-
ing can be done in a few moments.
This decorative treatment is not lin
tied to boxes or small objects of the
sort. Wastepaper baskets, screens
and even furniture can be made far
more attractive by the addition of a
colorful print. 1t is important,
however, in all cases to paint the
background color that is both har-
with the room and in keep
ing with the colors of the print. The
least dominating color in the pic
ture, if appropriate to the rooms |
will probably set off |
he print to its best advantage.
Securing the right shade of lac
Iuer for the background should not
De difficult, as all the. desired colors
ire now manufactured. For small.
objects, however, bright colors are
preferred, and red is the
most popular of all. There is some
hing very intriguing about little
ed box, no matter what its use.
In placing the print on the box,
vastepaper basket or screen take
are that it is even and well bal
need. A rubber cement paste is bet
er for the purpose of pasting than
ny other, since it will not dampen
# stretch the print in any way.
otherwise, the back of the print
hould be given a coat of shellac-
nd not until it is dry can the print
e pasted on.
The choice of the print itself
hould be regulated by the nature of
ne room where it is to be used.
or a mans den, sporting scenes or
designs are the best
hoice. Delicately tinted landscapes
re particularly appropriate for a
ainty bedroom, and copies of fam
us paintings-which are often re-
in magazines-are suitable
n the more formal rooms.
1t will give a better finish to a
Icture that has been clipped from
magazine to place narrow border
black tape (passe partout) around
le edges-or it would do just as
ell to paint on a narrow black bor-
II.
Two coats of shellac should be
ven over the entire objects. The
Iellac should be brushed on quick
and in one direction. A few
rokes of the brush will be suff-
emit to cover the surface, as the
ellac dries rapidly and cannot be
retched out like paint and varnish.
If an antique appearance is de-
red, after the first coat of shellac
little burnt umber paint chat has :
en- mixed with a glazing liquid) is :
ushed over the surface. Then, with
clean piece of cheesecloth it is
ped off, leaving some in and near
e corners. When this antique
at is thoroughly dry, to insure an
ceptionally attractive job, an
her coat of shellac should be Civ
It will be beneficial to re-shel-
G the print from time to time. An
ject that is frequently handled
II need a new coat more often