Cookie Cutters (Deep ones work best, like
the metal ones shown)
Ceramic tile(s) to work on
Future acrylic floor finish (optional)
Soft Brush (optional)
Styrofoam block, just enough to rest the cover
on
Click on thumbnails to see
larger images
Step One
Spread the TLS with a popsicle stick all
over the light switch cover. Mine's thick enough that it spreads
like cake icing.
Step Two
Carefully press some cookie cutter shapes
onto the “iced” light switch cover.
Step Three
Add a little bit more TLS if you need,
to aide in the mixing.
Then add a bit of Pearl Ex to the inside.
Step Four
Press down firmly to hold one cookie cutter
still. Use a toothpick or another tool to gently mix the Pearl Ex
with the TLS inside the cutter. Don’t worry if a tiny bit seeps out.
Spread it smooth and repeat with other cutters remaining
Step Five
Choose another shade of Pearl Ex for the
background. (The area outside of the cutters.) Sprinkle the Pearl
Ex around and mix gently. Press the cutters firmly to mix around
them, pushing the color up to the outside edge of switch cover and against
the cutter sides.
Step Six
Clean those screw holes! Break a cotton
swab in half. Press carefully and spin the tip and pull straight
up. Set aside and repeat on all the holes until they’re cleaned enough
for the screws later on.
Step Seven
Time to carefully remove the cutters.
One at a time, slowly and gently pull the cutters up and away from the
switch cover. Don’t worry if the colors get a bit sloppy, we’ll fix
it in the next few steps!
Step Eight
Here’s how it looks after the cutters
are removed. The edges of the designs are a bit messy. Use a clean toothpick
and gently trace along the edge of the colors to smooth them out.
Pull the colorized areas where you need them to make the images look crisp.
Step Nine
This is the last chance to check that
the holes are cleaned, the colors are where you want them and that the
TLS actually covers the entire light switch cover edge to edge. Once you
bake it, it’s set. Cleaning the holes out after a baking isn’t fun.
Step Ten
Now you have a choice. Stop here
and leave it not shined. Hang it up in place of a plain switch cover
in your home. Or.. proceed to Step Eleven!
Step Eleven
Time to shine it up!
Set the baked (and cooled) cover on the
styrofoam. Be sure it’s steady since you’ll be painting on it and
will need to leave it sitting to dry afterwards.
Put a tiny bit of Pearl Ex in one of the
lids and add a little bit of Future Floor Wax. Stir that really well
with a toothpick. It won’t take much of either the wax or Pearl
Ex. Paint the Future/PearlEx color mixture onto the matching color on the
cover. Mix the remaining colors and continue until each area is painted
and the entire thing is covered. Let that dry and repeat once more.