what’s in the box?

CREATE A PLAID EFFECT ON ANY SURFACE USING LAYERS OF PAINT AND MASKING TAPE.

MATERIALS storage box of your choice (we used a 25cm x 35cm x 20cm white cardboard box) 6mm MT washi tape or artist masking tape, at least 30m acrylic orange, paints purple in and different white) colours (we used blue, peach, sand, 2B pencil ruler paintbrush pen craft knife HOW TO Throughout this DIY, you’ll create various grid patterns with tape. Once removed, the tape will reveal different layers of paint. Before you start, determine how porous your box is. If in doubt, a layer or two of white paint is a good safety blanket to start with. ................... Paint the first layer of colour. We used purple as the base. If it looks patchy, give it a second coat once dry to the touch; otherwise leave to cure for at least an hour before painting again. Once your base coat has dried, start marking guides for the tape. Using a pencil, dot the centre of each horizontal edge, making sure to place the marks in a hidden spot – e.g. under the box and inside the top lip. Write a ‘C’ near your mark to remind you of this centre point. Using the centre point as your anchor, measure and dot the rest of your guides every 1cm from the anchor (both left and right) to the end of the edge. Repeat for the rest of the sides. Now you’re ready to start placing the first layer of masking tape on. Find your centre point along a horizontal edge. Using the top and bottom guides, place the masking tape on the box vertically. Press the tape down firmly to minimise paint bleeding through later. Leave a few centimetres of tape overhanging on one end, and fold back onto itself to create a pull tab. Repeat the process 10cm to the right of the centre point and another 10cm to the left of the centre point. Mark the tabs with the number ‘1’. You will need this later when peeling the tape off. Repeat these steps for the rest of the box’s horizontal edges. Now for the vertical edges. Measure and mark the centre of each vertical edge with a pencil. Using the centre as your anchor point, make the following markings: 4cm above centre point, 6cm below centre point. Repeat these marks on the rest of the vertical edges. Lay down your horizontal tape lines using these lines. You should end up with a grid. Paint Once the the paint box with is dry, your lay second your tape colour. down We in used the following sand. intervals to create create another a pull tab: grid. Leave a few centimetres of tape overhanging to Horizontal (measure distance edge (left from of centre each previous point): 1cm, marking) 4cm, 2cm, 4cm, 4cm Horizontal Vertical edge edge (below (right centre of centre point): point): 3cm, 3cm, 2cm, 2cm, 4cm 4cm, 4cm, 2cm Vertical Mark the edge tabs (above with the centre number point): ‘2’. 1cm, 4cm, 2cm ................... Paint with your third colour. We used peach. Once the paint is dry, repeat the taping process using these guides: Horizontal edge (left of centre point): 3cm, 6cm, 4cm Horizontal edge (right of centre point): 1cm, 6cm, 4cm Vertical edge (below centre point): 1cm, 6cm Vertical edge (above centre point): 3cm, 6cm Mark the tabs with the number ‘3’. .................. . Paint with your fourth colour. We used orange. Once the paint is dry, repeat the taping process using these guides: Horizontal edge (left of centre point): 4cm, 10cm Horizontal edge (right of centre point): 6cm, 10cm Vertical edge: centre point Mark the tabs with the number ‘4’. .................. . Paint with your fifth colour. We used light blue. Let dry for at least an hour. .................. . Now for the fun part! Slowly peel off the tape starting at ‘4’ and work your way down to ‘1’. The horizontal tape isn’t marked, but you should be able to see which one to peel off. Use a craft knife on the edge to help peel the corner. Once you’ve peeled off all the tape, touch up any marks or patches with paint. You can also apply a matte varnish for extra protection. Your art is finished – enjoy your plaid masterpiece!

Note: This technique can be simplified with fewer layers, which will also take less time. You can use a variety of tape widths and make up your own tape guides. Don’t stop at painting boxes, either. Canvases, planters or any nonporous objects will work.