AboutCyndie Stefanik Expertise Co-Developer/author of the patent pending "Color with No Regrets" Selection System. Just recently her Color Program was featured in Faux Effects World Magazine and a separate featured article for her virtual consultations in House Trends Magazine. Her Color with No Regrets online video Color Class is the first to earn IACET Certification with the Society of Decorating Professionals. Her specialty is the $199 whole house virtual consultation which is especially popular for new construction and remodeling projects all over the country. As a retired award winning decorative artist, she now donates her services on a regular basis to the Make a Wish Foundation.
Experience I began as a decorative painter/artist 15 years ago. My work has appeared in magazines from award winning designer show houses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Architectural Digest. Most recently I have spent the last 3 years creating, developing and patenting a numerical color selection system that takes the subjective nature out of color. Since it is numerically based, color can be chosen quickly and accurately. For the past year, I have conducted training seminars for the "Color with No Regrets" System to decorating professionals around the United States. My background in decorative painting/art, has given me real life experience of how color works but more importantly why it works based on sound color principles. I am also an authorized Aqua Finishing Solutions Distributor and a certified training instructor for the Society of Decorating Professionals.
Organizations The Society of Decorating Professionals
Publications Recent articles and showcase projects appear in Faux Effects World Magazine, House Trends Magazine, WJET-TV for decorative painting set design, as well as local publications in Western Pennsylvania such as Today's Home. I am a regular guest on Good Morning Erie, WJET-TV, an ABC affliate as the Princess of Paint, where I provide decorating, painting techniques and problem solving for viewers.
Question Hello
Some time ago I purchased some planting urns. These planters are made out of plastic (probably through injection molding) and have a smooth surface. My husband sprayed painted them a terra cotta finish using Rust Oleum American Accents. Although the can did not specify plastic, it didn't seem to react negatively when applied. The planters were kept outside and within a few weeks the paint started peeling off and has been since. I'm wondering if we should have sanded the surface to make it more porous before spraying? Also wondering if I used the wrong product to begin with and is there something else more applicable out there?
Thanks!
Monica
Answer Hi Monica,
Unfortunately it's probably the wrong type of paint more than the fact that you didn't sand. It's best to stick with products that are made for specific purposes such as plastic for this very reason. To solve your problem, I would sand lightly to remove the loose pieces and spray it using paint designed to cover plastic. If your planter now has an uneven surface since some of it has peeled, then you might want to try a faux finish on top of that to give it some broken color to camouflage the surface imperfections.
Krylon makes spray paint designed for plastic and you should be able to find it at your local hardware or paint store. It comes in a variety of colors. I have even used 2 different colors such as tan and ivory. Spray in very light circular strokes in one color and then soft circular strokes in the other giving it kind of a mottled cloudy effect. If you were looking for a terra cotta look, you could still do the same technique using a terra cotta and very soft brown.
I hope this helps you. Let me know if you need any further assistance.
Cyndie Stefanik
Co-Founder/Author of Color with No Regrets Patented Selection System
colorwithnoregrets@yahoo.com
