Beautifying your home can come with more elbow grease than is warranted. It would be all the more expensive if you want personalized and customized trappings. You may see those fancy items and accessories in those decors and antiques shop and think thats all it would take to spruce up your drab surroundings. However, they can be extravagantly costly, more so than they look. What you havent taken to consideration thus far is that you can always DIY. Budget is not the only moot point here. You may be assured more soulful satisfaction if you unleash your innate artistic prowess. Just start small with tole painting patterns.

There are a lot of things in the household that can do with a little tweaking and makeover. A decorative method geared for this is tole art. It originated in Europe, specifically in Scandinavia, though it also has variations in Britain, Germany, and Russia. Its modern development is based in America, however, with the creation of the Society of Decorative Painters.

The pattern, which comes in packets, is an instructional material that proffers step by step instructions and patterns in the form of line drawings. There is also an accompanying photo of the finished look of the particular painting project. It comes in various gradations, from beginner to advanced to expert, so you wont have to worry about being too little or too much.

You can apply tole art on various commonplace household items like furniture, from tables, chairs, cabinets, and boxes. You may do it on kitchenware like utensils, coffee pots, teapots, mugs, cups, and canisters. Toleware also includes thingamajigs like hope chests, candleholders, document boxes, tissue boxes, and wastebaskets.

The best thing about tole is that it can be done freehand, and let your hand move with your unfettered imagination. If you want it orthodox by all means, you may go by the usual patterns. These include Christmas themes like snowmen and Santa, flowers, birds, butterflies, bunnies, bears, swans, mallards, literally anything you can think of. The common denominator is that they are usually whimsical and nostalgic, but then again, it doenst really have to be so.

The media used are typically acrylic, which is both inexpensive and long lasting, and oil. Before the paint is applied, the wooden canvas is usually primed, sealed, and sanded. Usually, the art is done on three dimensional objects, like those enumerated above. Staples are wood and tin, but plastic, papier mache, and terra cotta materials are also popular.

Skills and techniques useful in this craft are wide and sundry. Theres sanding, sealing, priming, varnishing, and base coating. Methods can range from gold leafing, country, stenciling, graining, bronzing, and theorem painting.

Because it is systematic and standardized, this form of decorative painting is easily teachable and learnable. Even without an inherent artistic talent, this is achievable by your average layman. That is, as long as he is willing and disciplined enough to practice.

With the designers that offer painting patterns and books, the grind is made easy for you. With only a little effort and practice, you get to embellish what used to be austere everyday objects and watch it come to life with your own artistic prowess. Just by playing and goofing around with colors, you are offered a leeway for creative self expression and satisfaction.