Faux Verde Marble Finish with Metallic Plaster

Use a Modello® custom stencil to easily create the look of an inlaid marble pattern, or Pietre Dure. Thin layers and multiple colors of metallic plaster are troweled through the pattern with a special technique that is both easy and visually effective!

Contact Modello® Stencils customer service to order this design.

Faux Effects International® Products: Order via our Affiliate Link Here

• Lusterstone for Background: Brown Suede, Tequila Sunrise
• Lusterstone for Marble: Ebony Frost, Royal Jade, Green Mist, Queen Anne’s Lace

Tools:  Order via Royal Design Studio Here

• Liberon Wax: Neutral
• Venetian Trowel
• Japan Scrapers
• Cheesecloth
• Sea Sponge
• 600-grit wet/dry sandpaper, Blue Painter’s Tape
  

Basecoat: Camel

Step 1: Mix equal parts Brown Suede and Tequila Sunrise Lusterstone. Use a Venetian Trowel to apply a thin skim/skip coat over the Camel base coat. Change the direction of your hand and pressure often as you trowel to get a nice, organic finish. Let dry.

Step 2: Apply the Modello® patterns in a formal “grid” or looser random pattern. For a random pattern, try to maintain balance while offsetting the motifs so that they to not line up with each other either vertically or horizontally. Add additional blue tape around the edges to protect the background finish.

Step 3: Use a Japan Scraper to “blade on” Ebony Frost Lusterstone just flush with the Modello pattern. Hold the blade at a very low angle, almost parallel with the surface and use short, staccato strokes. Change the direction of your hand often, so that you create some slight texture and “edges” in the material. Let dry.

Step 4: Use a damp sea sponge to lightly sponge on additional Ebony Frost Lusterstone in diagonal “drifts” running through the design. The sponged texture should cover at least 60% of the design area.

Step 5: Use a clean Japan Scraper to very lightly knock down and slightly flatten the sponged texture. Again, hold the blade at a very low angle, parallel to the surface. Allow to dry completely.

Step 6-7: Apply a very tight coat of Royal Jade to the entire design area, pushing it into the recessed areas with the blade held flat and then immediately removing the excess by holding the Japan blade at a perpendicular angle to the surface and using a VERY hard pressure. This will allow all of the underlying texture to come through. Let dry.

Step 8: Use the Japan blade to apply diagonal “drifts” of Green Onyx over about 50% of the design area. Us the same parallel/perpendicular motion with the blade. Let dry.

Step 9: Finally, apply Queen Anne’s Lace in the same manner as aboveover about 20% to 30% of the open area. to create subtle “veins” here and there hold the blade very flat and lightly drag just the edge across the surface.  Let dry.

Step 10: Remove the Modello® pattern to reveal a very realistic faux Verde Marble finish.

Step 11: To further smooth, polish and enhance the visual texture of the marble finish, use 600-grit and some water to wet-sand the marbled design and background surface. Wipe the sanded area immediately with a clean rag as you go. If desired, this step can be done also prior to removing the Modello® stencil.

Drying Tip: If you are pressed for time, you can force dry the layers of Lusterstone with a hair dryer.

Design Variation: This technique is ideal for creating faux marble panels and insets with designs from our Wall Panel Stencils Collection.