Creating Textured Patterns in Drywall Mud

Visit the VictoriaLarsen.com website for exciting new stencil designs for plaster, concrete and paint.

As you all know, I help to moderate the TalkFaux.com website.
While there this morning, I became fascinated with Wayne from Tajmawall.com
I looked him up on YouTube.com and simply searched Tajmawall for his videos.
What a kick in the pants! You have to watch what he does to create a planter out of an old ice chest using concrete! Very cool.


Ah, but I'm not done! His videos lead me to videos on plaster and I came across "Look,Read,Learn" videos. In this video, you are shown how to "comb" designs in to wet joint compound (plaster) on a ceiling.


I've had a blast doing this same sort of treatment on the bathroom wall in my home in Seattle. I thinned joint compound down with water to create a slightly thicker than pancake batter formula, rolled it on to the wall with a paint roller and then used a wallpaper brush to create a fun "feather" type pattern on the walls.


You could create really cool patterned scrapers by simply cutting a unique edge on to a heavy piece of plastic (such as a coffee can lid or even heavy duty mylar), then using that tool to create some of the interesting patterns this fellow is doing on the ceiling.


I'd truly love to tackle and entire ceiling with this idea. Imagine how it would look with raised plaster stenciling done along the border edge! Wow!

New On-line Magazine for the Decorative Finishes Industry

After loosing favorite decorative finishes magazines to the poor economy this past year, I'm happy to announce the launch of a new one! Pittura Platform is a new free on-line (but also available in print version) magazine for the faux finish industry that offers articles and information by some of the leading names in the faux finish industry; Regina Garay, Kathy Carroll, Leslie Vigini and more.

Pittura launches in March and I can't wait to see what treasures it holds for those of us in the industry and those of us simply wanting to learn!

Check it out and sign up early!

Visit the VictoriaLarsen.com Website for fabulous stencils, ornamental plaster molds and more inspiration than you thought possible by our very talented customers!

The Chaos of Moving Results in A Creative Surge!

I've had the weirdest experience lately. Here I am, sorting through my entire business; all the stored paint and art supplies, all the files, all the myriad of boxes loaded with past projects that weren't quite finished or the box of "to do someday" ideas that got set aside.


All in an effort to downsize so that I don't have to move as many items this spring over to my new home in Idaho, I've suddenly become overwhelmed with creative ideas!


Seeing all of that, remembering what was in my head when I started those projects has sparked the desire to sit down and finish them, to create new designs and to imagine some of these treatments in my new home.


As a result, all this month you will see new designs up on the website. OK, I just couldn't help myself!


And with each one, I imagine the place it will go in my new home. Before, I always dreaded the thought of a move (especially one as big as this one) but this is FUN!

My new Raised Plaster Moroccan Medallion. It really needs to go above my stove in the kitchen!

Experiments with Faux Finishes

Visit the VictoriaLarsen.com website for exciting stencil designs, ornamental plaster molds and a gallery chocked full of incredible ideas to make your home a truly beautiful place to live, all while staying within your decorating budget.




I'm a busy designer. So busy and involved in the day to day operation of my business that I just don't have time to take the  classes on the newest faux finishes involving plasters and concrete that artists in my industry take. 


A couple of weeks ago, I started playing with colored plasters and my trowel and wow! Some of the finishes I was able to come up with were just incredible!


Stroking on random layers of various colored plasters then sanding back once they were dry gave me some really cool effects. Some looked like real granite, others like authentic marble. Now I have visions of walls in my Idaho home being done with these treatments. Maybe doing them over the top of my raised plaster stencil designs.

In this sample, I troweled gray, green, rust and beige over the top of white. With each stroke of my sander, different shapes began to appear. And I became excited!

This sample was done by troweling black, deep gray, white and pale brown over the top of a taupe background which resulted in a granite look. My mind started thinking "counter tops" and my excitement grew.


My point? Sometimes it just takes "playing" to create something totally fabulous! Playing sparks new ideas, new techniques, new inspiration to creating new and dramatic finishes.

New Raised Plaster Tree Stencil Design

Visit the VictoriaLarsen.com website for unique stencil designs, ornamental plaster molds and fabulous ideas that YOU can do to create the home of your dreams.


I've been working on it for weeks now and it's finally finished. My new Life-sized Raised Plaster Sapling Tree Stencil Set!

Like the Raised Plaster Aspen Tree Stencil, this design is created to give you the opportunity to create trees as tall as you wish. You have total control! With thin trunks and branches, these trees are much more delicate. The trees in the photo are between 5' and 6' tall but my plan is to make them around 7-8 feet tall on my master bedroom walls.

My master bedroom in Idaho is just screaming for this design. With long walls and tall, 10 foot high ceilings, I could do groupings of these delicate trees in the corners then light them up from the floor with some of the many floor canister lights I own. Wouldn't that be spectacular? I just can't wait to move so I can do it~


Right now, the room is pretty plain simply because I had it on the market to sell. But now that I will be moving there, I can go hog wild!


You can't imagine how I can't wait to see the carpeting changed from it's current royal blue color to a soft beige. The entire room will take on a whole new look once that happens.
I love decorating! Seeing the visions in my head then watching them become a reality.
Stay tuned as these projects all come together over the next months.


Do you have any big decorating projects planned?

New Stencil Designs

Visit the VictoriaLarsen.Com Website for new stencil designs, new ideas and inspiration!


I've been dreaming about it for awhile. A new raised plaster tree stencil that features delicate, thin little saplings instead of heavy trunks and branches as with our Raised Plaster Aspen Tree Stencil.
I did the final test cut last night and started creating trees with my bucket of joint compound. I love it! It will be available soon.


And wait until February 15th! TONS of new raised plaster stencil designs being released on the website. Crocodile skin, Alligator skin, more palm leaves and others you are going to envision ideas for. Stay tuned!