One of the easiest ways to add interest to my Amazing Alterables™ constructions is to add texture. I love adding textures and scratches and antiquing and gilding to get an old appearance. In particular, it's quite easy to get an interesting rusted texture effect and my current go-to texture treatment starts with Rusty Paper by Viva Decor. Great stuff.

I have been in love with Modern Masters rusting kits for several years but that method of achieving a rusted effect (which is amazing when it goes right) is not always a slam dunk for me. It takes a lot of twiddling around and reapplying of iron paint and rusting solution and often times, of late, I found myself augmenting the rusted effect with Inka Gold Orange and PanPastel Orange.

But then I discovered Rusty Paper. If I was going to augment to achieve the "Perfect Rust Effect" why not try taking full control and create my own  faux rust effect?

So, my utterly "Perfect Rust Effect" (PRE) achieved with Modern Masters is to the left. Wow! This is what I would love to get every time. To the right is an alterable, step one, base painted with the Rusty Paper. 

 

 

When applying the Rusty Paper base coat I use a dabbing motion with a small brush to accentuate the texture. 

 

 

 

Let's see how close I can get to the Modern Masters "Perfect Rust Effect" (PRE) by using a bit of cheap orange paint dabbed on top of the Rusty Paper. (The reason I start with and love Rusty Paper is because it is a thick textured paint in a deep rust color.)

 

 

Not too shabby, actually. For this faux rust I used an inexpensive paint I found at Hobby Lobby - 11164 Ripe Apricot - dabbed onto the base-painted Amazing Alterable™ using my finger. I like using my fingers to achieve a graduated color effect because it gives me more control over how the color is going on.

I do still love that PRE that can be achieved with the Modern Masters paint and activator if all the stars are aligned for me, but I find myself leaning more towards my faux effect because it's easy peasy, fast, and can be tweaked.

As an alternative to a rust effect, I also like to base paint my alterables with the Rusty Paper using the dabbing motion and then accentuate the dried texture paint by using Inka Gold in one of many assorted colors (also by Viva Decor) brushing it on with my finger.

 

 

What I love about these Viva Decor products is that they are non toxic and water based so it's easy clean up and I'm not going to have an asthma attack using them.

For those of you who would dearly love to try out the Modern Masters rusting effect, I purchase my Modern Masters iron rust paint and rust activator on Amazon.

 

TTFN!