DIY Projects & Crafts Faux-Brick Painting Create a convincing "brick" patio with nothing more than paint and a homemade stamp. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 20, 2018 What You'll Need Materials Paint roller Neutral background paint (we used Potter's Wheel (MS152), homedepot.com) Natural sea sponge Acrylic paint in raw umber 19-by-10-inch piece of plywood Kitchen sponges that are at least 7 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches (one sponge should make two "bricks") Craft glue Chalk-line tool Brick-colored paint [we used Brick Hearth (MS053)] Martha Stewart Signature Color glazing medium Instructions Using a roller, paint your desired surface a neutral color to create the background. Mix a few drops of raw umber liquid acrylic paint into the base background paint to create a slightly darker color. Lightly sponge this color across the surface with a sea sponge to create texture. Allow to dry for at least one hour. Make the brick stamp: Using a serrated kitchen knife, cut synthetic sponges to brick size, 7 1/2 by 2 1/4 inches. Arrange sponge "bricks" in desired brick pattern with 3/8-inch spaces between them. Glue sponges to plywood using craft glue. Using a roller, paint the sponge stamp thoroughly with a brick-colored paint. Place brick stamp on surface and press firmly. Repeat, lining up the pattern to the bricks you previously stamped. For best results, use a chalk-line tool to snap a level reference line before you begin. Use a half "brick" sponge to fill in pattern at edges of surface. Mix a few drops of raw umber liquid acrylic paint into the brick paint to create a slightly darker color. Mix this paint with glazing medium at a ratio of 1 to 1. Apply this mixture with a single "brick" sponge over bricks to create texture. Originally appeared: THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW, OCTOBER 2008