Faux Finishing Techniques: Frottage

by Pat & Jackie Baxter

1. Apply desired base coat over properly prepared walls.
   
   
2. Apply glaze with a 3/8" roller, doing an area a few inches wider than your paper.
   
   
3. Crumple your blank newsprint or thin white kraft paper and uncrumple it, taking care not to tear it. Larger sheets of paper work best because you have fewer seams. Paper on a roll can be cut the entire height of the wall
   
   
4. Lay your paper on the wall. Rub the paper all over with your hands until it is laying flat on your wall.
   
   
5. Carefully peel the paper back and pull it off the wall.
   
   
6. Repeat on the next section of wall with new paper. There will be a different appearance with each sheet of paper. You will not have lap marks because the glaze is not drying, but there will be the appearance of seams because each sheet of paper is different.
   
   TIP: Keep color contrast between base coat and glaze low.
   
   * This technique can also be used with thin plastic drop cloths (AKA smooshing). The difference is that plastic leaves a more defined pattern. It doesn't appear as soft because it does not absorb the glaze.
   
   Note: Metallics and White are not recommended for this technique because they dry too quickly.