Holiday Yule Log
(Version en Español sigue)
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| Add some pine needles or Ivy to complete the Holiday look with a bit of green! |
Before you begin, decide if you want to paint the log with aerosol spray paint or with traditional brush-on paint - then do all steps with the same type of paint for all steps.
Please Note: If choosing Aerosol spray
paint…do this project in a well ventilated area and be sure to use a
respiratory mask.
Materials:
Tape: 1.5" Scotch Blue Painter's Tape - Delicate Surfaces
Primer: White Aerosol Primer OR White (water-based) Brush/roll on Primer
Basecoat: White Aerosol Spay paint - Satin Finish OR White
(water-based) Paint - Satin Finish
Stripes: Red Aerosol Spray Paint - Satin Finish OR Red
(Water-based) Paint - Satin Finish
**Note: Using a paint & primer in 1 for the red will save time & number of paint layers.
Tools:
Pencil
Ruler, Measuring Tape, or Small "T" Square
1” & 2” angled paint brush, 2” square brush (small artists brushes optional)
Paint Tarp & Paint Rags
1 ¼” or 1 ½” Paddle/Spade or Forstner bit
Electric or battery operated Drill
220 Grit Sandpaper (medium coarse grit)
Instructions:
1. Decide if you want to keep the bark as part of the effect or if you want to remove the bark. Remove any small branches, dirt or debris.
2.
Determine how many candles you
desire, and the distance for placement of each candle. Mark a center point for each candle
1. Decide if you want to keep the bark as part of the effect or if you want to remove the bark. Remove any small branches, dirt or debris.
3. Using the drill and Paddle/Spade
or Forstner bit - drill holes - using center mark as the guide for each candle.
Drill approximaltely ½” – ¾” depth for each candle – drilling the same depth for each hole. Insure there is no loose dust on the
pieces before painting.
TIP: Use a piece of Scotchblue tape on the drill to mark the desired depth of your holes and use as a visual depth gage when drilling.
4. Working over your paint tarp, prime the logs all the way around. Allow paint to dry well before going on to applying the base coat.
TIP: To avoid paint drips - building up multiple light coats of paint is always better than applying one thick layer – as the paint will have a tendency to sag.
Remember: If choosing Aerosol spray paint…paint your project in a well ventilated area, be sure to use a respiratory mask, and be aware of what may be damaged with spray off – those small particles of paint that stay in the air and drift off leaving a light dusting of paint.
5. After the primer has dried completely, apply the White base coat, painting the log all way around – covering all of the primer. Allow paint to dry and rotate the log as you go…the same thing goes – less is more…let the paint to build up and don’t force heavy coats of paint for a nice even finish – this goes for aerosol and regular paint.
TIP: Visually - the most important part is the stripes must square up with each other for the log to appear level when placed. If stripes are angled up or down from each other it will visually be very noticeable. Using the speed square or tee square will help you achieve nice even and “level” lines. Take into account the natural slant of the log and compensate your lines so they appear level when you place the log on a table or on top of your mantle.
6. Lay out your stripes using a pencil to mark and define lines for stripes. You may choose to measure the layout to insure you have even spacing for the stripes. However, if you really look at a candy cane – they are rarely very even in the spacing and size of the stripes. I didn’t measure distance or take an actual measurement for spacing. I simply went by “eye” - adding thinner and thicker stripes as I went – insuring two stripes in a row weren’t the same thickness.
7. Once lines for your stripes have been laid out, use Scotchblue Delicate surfaces tape to tape off or mask the stripes you want to paint Red. I found dedicating the 1” and 1 ½” tape to the size of the stripe makes the whole process much easier. If using Aerosol paint: be sure to mask off all the areas you wish to remain white in order to avoid “spray off” from ruining your crisp white line.
8. Paint stripes with your choice of red paint. Don’t be surprised if you have to do a bunch of layers - to avoid this and save time use Paint & Primer in 1.
9. Once paint has fully dried, gently pull tape back by angling the edge back at 45 degrees to reveal crisp lines.
TIP: To help move along time, I often use a hair dryer to coax the paint along with it’s drying time. Be careful not to use high heat and not to close to the paint.
TIP: Use a piece of Scotchblue tape on the drill to mark the desired depth of your holes and use as a visual depth gage when drilling.
4. Working over your paint tarp, prime the logs all the way around. Allow paint to dry well before going on to applying the base coat.
TIP: To avoid paint drips - building up multiple light coats of paint is always better than applying one thick layer – as the paint will have a tendency to sag.
Remember: If choosing Aerosol spray paint…paint your project in a well ventilated area, be sure to use a respiratory mask, and be aware of what may be damaged with spray off – those small particles of paint that stay in the air and drift off leaving a light dusting of paint.
5. After the primer has dried completely, apply the White base coat, painting the log all way around – covering all of the primer. Allow paint to dry and rotate the log as you go…the same thing goes – less is more…let the paint to build up and don’t force heavy coats of paint for a nice even finish – this goes for aerosol and regular paint.
TIP: Visually - the most important part is the stripes must square up with each other for the log to appear level when placed. If stripes are angled up or down from each other it will visually be very noticeable. Using the speed square or tee square will help you achieve nice even and “level” lines. Take into account the natural slant of the log and compensate your lines so they appear level when you place the log on a table or on top of your mantle.
6. Lay out your stripes using a pencil to mark and define lines for stripes. You may choose to measure the layout to insure you have even spacing for the stripes. However, if you really look at a candy cane – they are rarely very even in the spacing and size of the stripes. I didn’t measure distance or take an actual measurement for spacing. I simply went by “eye” - adding thinner and thicker stripes as I went – insuring two stripes in a row weren’t the same thickness.
7. Once lines for your stripes have been laid out, use Scotchblue Delicate surfaces tape to tape off or mask the stripes you want to paint Red. I found dedicating the 1” and 1 ½” tape to the size of the stripe makes the whole process much easier. If using Aerosol paint: be sure to mask off all the areas you wish to remain white in order to avoid “spray off” from ruining your crisp white line.
8. Paint stripes with your choice of red paint. Don’t be surprised if you have to do a bunch of layers - to avoid this and save time use Paint & Primer in 1.
9. Once paint has fully dried, gently pull tape back by angling the edge back at 45 degrees to reveal crisp lines.
TIP: To help move along time, I often use a hair dryer to coax the paint along with it’s drying time. Be careful not to use high heat and not to close to the paint.
Wishing you a Happy & Creative Holiday Season!!
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