Hi there! Welcome to this exciting DIY tutorial on how to make HOT GLUE Tree WALL ART. In this video, presented by Rokolee DIY, you will learn how to create a captivating metallic ‘brass’ effect on a canvas using hot glue and black and gold paints. This project is perfect for anyone, even if you don’t consider yourself artistic. You’ll also discover how to add some shiny golden leaves to enhance the overall look. So grab your hot glue gun, some paint, and let’s get started on this simple and fun craft project!
Materials Needed
To create the hot glue tree wall art with a metallic effect, you will need the following materials:
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
A hot glue gun is essential for this project as it will be used to create the tree shape and leaves. Make sure to have enough glue sticks for your desired design.
Canvas
Choose a canvas of any size that you prefer. A 30 by 30 centimeter gesso primed stretched canvas was used in the tutorial, but you can use any size you like. Just avoid a canvas that is too narrow for the tree design.
Large paintbrush
You will need a large paintbrush to apply gesso and paint to the canvas. A stenciling brush is recommended to push the bristles into the gaps in the hot glue, but any large paintbrush will do.
Gold and black acrylic paint
Gold and black acrylic paint will be used to create the metallic effect on the hot glue tree. Make sure to have enough paint to cover the entire canvas and the hot glue.
Paper towel or kitchen roll
Keep some paper towel or kitchen roll handy for rubbing off excess paint during the process.
Gesso
Gesso is a primer that helps the paint stick to the hot glue without sliding off. Apply gesso all over the canvas, including the hot glue areas, to prepare it for painting.
Scissors
Have a pair of scissors on hand to remove any unwanted hot glue strands and to tidy up the edges of the tree shape.
All-purpose glue
You will need all-purpose glue, such as UHU all-purpose glue, to attach the golden leaves to the canvas.
Non-stick mat or parchment paper
Use a non-stick mat or parchment paper to protect your work surface from the hot glue and paint. This will prevent any damage or sticking.
Imitation gold leaf sheet
To add an extra shiny element to your artwork, you can cover hot glue leaves with imitation gold leaf sheets. These sheets will give the leaves a beautiful gold finish.
Tweezers
Tweezers will come in handy for picking up small pieces of gold leaf and moving them around to achieve the desired placement on the leaves.
Foil glue
To apply the gold leaf sheets onto the hot glue leaves, you will need foil glue. Zig memory system two-way glue is recommended, but any foil glue will work.
Creating the Hot Glue Tree
Before starting the project, protect your work surface with a non-stick craft sheet or parchment paper to avoid any damage from the hot glue and paint.
Once your hot glue gun is heated up, you can start creating the tree shape. Feel free to customize the design according to your preference. Begin at the roots and work your way up through the tree trunk, then outwards to form the branches. Take the glue lines right off the end of the canvas, and don’t worry about going onto the sides.
To maintain the natural flow of the tree, make sure to go from the ends of the roots to the tips of branches. Avoid creating horizontal lines in the tree trunk.
Once you have finished creating the tree shape with hot glue, allow the glue to harden. Afterward, carefully remove any messy thin strands that you don’t want, and tidy up the edges of the tree shape using scissors.
Adding Black Paint and Creating the Metallic Effect
Now it’s time to add some color and create the metallic effect on your hot glue tree. Start by applying gesso all over the canvas, including the hot glue areas. Gesso will allow the paint to stick to the glue rather than sliding off.
Once the gesso has dried, apply gold acrylic paint all over the canvas, including the edges. Make sure to get the paint into all the little gaps in the hot glue.
After the gold paint has dried, apply black acrylic paint over the top. To avoid the black paint drying too much before rubbing off the paint from the glue strands, it is recommended to do this step in two halves.
Paint one half of the canvas with black paint and use paper towel to rub off as much paint as possible from the raised hot glue. This will reveal the gold paint underneath and create a brass-like look.
Repeat the same process for the other half of the canvas. This will ensure that the black paint doesn’t dry too much before you can rub it off.
Creating Golden Leaves
To add an extra shiny element to your artwork, you can create golden leaves out of hot glue. Make sure to do this on a non-stick mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Using your hot glue gun, create lots of little leaf shapes with the hot glue. The number of leaves you make is up to you. In the tutorial, 19 leaf shapes were made.
Once the leaves have cooled down and hardened, apply foil glue all over the top of each leaf. The glue may appear bluish when wet, but it will dry clear. The clear, tacky glue will allow the gold leaf to adhere to the leaves.
Tear off small pieces of the gold leaf and press them onto the leaves. Use your fingers or tweezers to push the gold leaf down and cover the leaves completely. Rub the edges of the leaves to remove any excess gold leaf, but be gentle to avoid removing the gold itself.
Conclusion
With the completion of the textured wall art project, you now have a stunning hot glue tree with a metallic ‘brass’ effect. The combination of hot glue, paints, and gold foil creates an interesting piece of art that is simple to make, even for those who aren’t very artistic.
I hope you enjoyed this DIY project and that it inspires you to give it a try. Remember to have all the necessary materials, including a hot glue gun, canvas, paintbrushes, acrylic paint, paper towel, gesso, scissors, all-purpose glue, non-stick mat, imitation gold leaf sheet, tweezers, and foil glue.
By following the step-by-step instructions, you can create your own hot glue tree wall art with a metallic effect. Let your creativity shine and embrace the beauty of this unique craft project. Happy crafting!