Do-it-yourself art on the walls, and just in the nick of time

I would never be one of those pushy people who stress workers out by demanding a project be completed by Christmas. It's so unbecoming.

So when I started faux-finishing my dining room before the holidays, I assured Jade Wieland, owner of the Faux & Stencil Shoppe in Denver, who was directing the project and teaching me to do it, that I did not need the job done by Christmas.

"We can take our time, enjoy the season," I say. "As long as we have it done by New Year's Eve."

See, I'm having this party.

Wieland's perfect eyebrows shot up. I watched her do some mental rearranging, as if moving furniture -- push this client here, add less sleep here, call in some favors from suppliers there. "Maybe," she said, which was all I needed.

Within six hours, Wieland had turned my house into an art studio, a frenetic assembly of paint, ladders, tarps and us -- two maniacal women on a mission. Over the next several days, we create a wall décor plan, paint and faux stencil borders, accent walls and the ceiling. Now we're adding Venetian plaster accents.

After six 10-hour days together, Wieland is probably wishing she weren't stuck with me. We have shared every grab-and-go meal, played ceiling Twister - one person paints, the other holds the stencil -- atop a 10-foot ladder and have become so familiar that we've stopped apologizing for letting a bad word slip when a stencil doesn't behave.

The party is just two days away, and we still need metallic glaze over every surface. Though I've been holding back, I finally blurt: "Will we finish in time for my New Year's Eve party?"

She looks at the plaster-covered trowel in her hand, which she surely wants to spread over my mouth. She smiles and nods.

After Wieland finishes coaching me through faux stenciling, we move to the art of faux plastering. Here's what I learn:

• Why pick plaster? Adding decorative plaster to ceilings and walls is an ancient art, though people don't often think of it as an option. Custom plaster accents can give rooms character and texture, Wieland says.
• Know your stuff. True Venetian plaster is made of marble flour, which is ground marble. It also contains slaked lime. Avoid synthetic plasters. Buy from a faux studio, where experts can offer application tips.
• Equip yourself. Typical plaster trowels are too bulky for fine plaster jobs. Wieland uses Japan scrapers, small spatulalike tools that give you control.
• Follow these steps:

Stick. Spray adhesive on the stencil's backside. Affix it to the wall. Secure sides with painter's tape. You must have a tight seal between wall and stencil.

Scoop. Using the edge of your scraper, scoop up a small amount of plaster from a tray. Put just a stripe of plaster on the scraper edge, like a line of toothpaste.

Spread. Smear plaster over the stencil using light pressure, like frosting a cake. Too much pressure will force plaster under the stencil. Apply plaster in the direction of the design. Work quickly, and apply a thin layer.

Time. After several minutes, the plaster will form a skin. The surface will shift from shiny to dull. Timing will vary depending on temperature and humidity. If the material gets too dry, the design will crack when you remove the stencil.

Lift. Working toward the center, peel the stencil off the wall. As you approach the center, lift the stencil quickly, all at once.

Clean. Promptly clean tools and your stencil in a water pan. Don't let the plaster dry on the tools; they will be ruined. Wash the stencil using a scraper. You'll need a clean stencil to paint with. Do not rinse plaster down the drain. Pour the water onto outdoor plants. They like lime.

Paint. Let plaster dry completely, or overnight, before painting. Tape the clean stencil over the dry pattern and paint.

Admire. Stand back and appreciate the work of a master.