Basically what we are doing is sticking random pieces of masking tape onto a surface and then applying shoe polish, brown and blue shown here. The effect varies with the colour used, the surface being covered, the way the tape is applied. It can look like leather or marble or foliage or old cement or……
To make a gift container from an empty toilet tissue roll I wrapped the masking tape around it a few times to give it more solidity and then covered it with bits and pieces of tape, scrunching it here and there to give more texture.
Here it is getting a coat of shoe polish.
Once the tube was dry a scarf got wrapped in the brown paper and put inside with some Greek braided twine to be used as tying cord. I am not really pleased with the brown paper and am thinking a dark brown tissue paper would be nicer and give more a Christmas cracker look. I do like the 3-d texture and hue of the tube.
The other container is coated with blue shoe polish over a simple covering of masking tape with no attempt to make it less than flat.
Those are crocheted baskets on each end and inside the tube will go small goodies to put into the baskets, perhaps tiny cookies or 'nuts and bolts' (cheerios and shreddies and pretzels and peanuts in a savoury coating) or personalized cloth napkins and the baskets can be used as napkin holders.
Other ideas for such surface treatment : book covers; cookie tins; strips of leather for bracelets or anklets; storage/gift boxes; table tops (with glass or plastic on top); table legs; bookshelves; baseboards; window blinds; floor cloths; recycling tin cans/milk cartons/cereal boxes/etc.; wearable art; lamp shades; ceilings……..
What comes to your mind? Have you already used this technique…..???