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Tortoise Faux Finish
Add a faux tortoise shell finish to a picture frame.

Faux Tortoise Shell Finish

Skill Level: Intermediate
 
 
A faux tortoise shell finish can be applied to furniture, picture frames or nearly any other surface. It is mostly seen on furniture and smaller objects. Naturally occurring tortoise shell exists in a variety of colors and designs, but most color combinations are in the red, black and burnt orange color families. Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.
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Tools & Materials
Steps to finish Tortoise Faux shell
Tools & Materials

Tools

Note: Brush sizes used will depend upon the size of the object you are finishing. Adjust as necessary.

Materials

  • Primer (specific to the object being faux finished)
  • Latex paint colors (the following are suggestions) :
    • Yellow (base coat)
    • Red
    • Burnt orange
    • Dark brown
    • Black
  • Gloss varnish
  • Clear glaze
  • Clean rag
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Steps to finish Tortoise Faux shell

You should experiment with your color combinations before applying the finish on the intended object. Use a piece of cardboard. The item you are finishing needs to have the smoothest surface possible.

  1. Paint surface with a base coat.
    Apply a clear glaze on top of the dried base coat.
     
    Stripes of color.
    Paint diagonal stripes of red, orange and brown.
     
    Finished product.
    Blend the colors and dab with a clean rag to soften the effect.
    Prime the surface of the piece. Allow the primer to dry completely.

  2. Apply a coat of yellow paint (ex. La Fonda Spice 91-6B). Allow this coat to dry completely.

  3. Apply a coat of clear glaze. Allow it to dry completely.

  4. Use a 1" brush and paint diagonal brush strokes using a red paint (ex. La Fonda Antique Red 91-14A).

  5. Use the same 1" brush and repeat the above step using burnt orange (ex. Firebrush 95-4C). Cover more of the base coat.

  6. Use a dark brown color and fill even more of the blank areas (ex. Lyndhurst Mahogany 93-7A).

  7. Use a wide, soft bristled brush to soften the colors and to blend them together.

  8. Dab the surface with a clean, crumpled rag to further soften the finish.

  9. Go back over the surface with the wide brush.

  10. Place small amounts of black paint on a small brush. Splatter drops of paint on the surface.

  11. Gently dab the surface again to further soften and blend the black. Allow to dry completely.

  12. Apply a coat of gloss varnish.
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