Marquetry Made Simple

This beautiful trunk features a crosshatch background design, simply drawn on and embellished with a detailed floral motif. Two shades of gel stain and a third shade, applied with a stain pen, create the simple but effective design on this trunk. The body of the trunk is stained chestnut, a beautiful complement to the red crosshatch pattern.

Spain centered the circle on the front of the medallion trunk, lightly outlined it with a pencil, and transferred the floral motif to the center. Next, the diamond-grid pattern was measured and marked, avoiding the center circle. The color was filled in using a stain pen.

Finally, the floral motif was colored using an artist's brush and two shades of stain, blending the colors with a stain pen. The routed edge of the center panel is stained red.

• Polyurethane
• Brushes: 2-inch angled trim, two 2-inch chip, #4 round artist's
• Fine-grit sandpaper, tack cloth
• Minwax gel stains: Golden Oak (GO), Honey Maple (HM), Sedona Red (SR)
• Ruler, compass, pencil
• Transfer paper
• Minwax Wood Finish stain markers: Dark Walnut and Early American
• Minwax Wood Finish stain marker: Early American
• Straightedge (optional)

1. Start with an unfinished wood piece.
2. Remove hardware and store it in a safe place.
3. Work on a drop cloth or plastic to protect your floor and catch dust and drips.
4. Sand and wipe with a tack cloth.
5. Apply polyurethane to the entire trunk using the angled brush; let dry. Sand lightly; wipe off excess dust with a tack cloth.
6. Stain entire trunk with HM using a chip brush; let dry.
7. Measure to find the center of the front panel, and use a compass and pencil to lightly draw a circle that reaches the panel's top and bottom edges. Using transfer paper and the pattern from the pattern packet, trace the design in the center of the circle.
8. Measure 3-3/8-inch sections around the edge of the panel and lightly draw diagonal lines with a pencil, avoiding the center circle. Using the Early American stain marker and a ruler or straightedge, trace the lines and outer edge of the panel and circles. Add small tick marks in the corners of the diamonds where the lines cross. Trace over the pattern lines and color in the background of the design with the Dark Walnut stain marker. Apply two or three coats to make it solid.
9. With an artist's brush and GO, fill in the flower petals. Add shadowed edges to the stems and leaves with the Early American stain marker; let dry. Stain the lower edges of the petals with SR to accent the flowers. Also apply SR to the outer edge of the panel and around the center circle. Use a cotton rag to move and blend the color.
10. Sand lightly and wipe with a tack cloth.
11. Apply several coats of varnish or polyurethane to protect the finish. Allow to dry and then sand lightly between coats.

Designer and painter: Molly Spain