Things You'll Need
Can of spray foam insulation
Tall kitchen garbage bag
Newspaper
Paring knife
Spoon
Brown spray paint
Black acrylic paint
Metallic red and orange acrylic paints
Paper plate
1/4-inch flat artist brush
1 1/2-inch wide artist fan brush
Fake fire logs provide the look of a burned or burning log within an electric fireplace or an electric fire pit. The coloring on the fake fire logs is enhanced by the rotation or flickering of red, blue and yellow lights when the electric fireplace or fire pit is turned on. Sculpted spray foam insulation creates a lightweight artificial fire log. The process requires minimal artistic ability, and you can create three to five fake fire logs in an hour.
Step 1
Lay the tall kitchen trash bag on a flat surface.
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Step 2
Shake the can of spray foam insulation for one minute. Insert the applicator in the end of the nozzle.
Step 3
Spray a 12-inch long line of spray foam insulation on the trash bag. Spray a second line parallel to the first. Add one to two lines of foam on top of the initial lines. Allow the spray foam insulation to expand and dry. This is the base for the fake fire log. Repeat the process for your desired number of fake fire logs.
Step 4
Spread newspaper on the work area, such as the surface of a table. Remove the foam from the tall kitchen trash bag and place it on the newspaper.
Step 5
Carve lines and grooves into the surface of the spray foam log so the outside of it resembles the bark of a tree. Repeat the process with all logs. Discard the scrap insulation pieces.
Step 6
Take the carved logs outside and place them on the ground. Cover any areas you want protected from overspray from the paint can. Shake the can of brown spray paint. Spray a solid coat of brown paint on each log. Let dry.
Step 7
Place the fake fire logs back on the newspaper covering your indoor work surface.
Step 8
Squeeze a drop of black acrylic paint, the size of a half dollar, on a paper plate. Dab the edges of the fan brush in the paint. Pounce the end of the fan brush up and down on the paper plate to remove excess paint droplets. Gently touch the ends of the fan brush to the surface of the fake log and pull quickly down the length. Small, broken lines will result. This technique, called dry brushing, will create the look of bark on the fake log. Repeat the process until the desired number of bark lines are achieved.
Step 9
Squeeze drops of red and orange metallic acrylic paint, the size of half dollars, on a paper plate. Paint the areas in the center and on the end of the fake fire logs to resemble burning areas, using the 1/4-inch flat artist brush.
Step 10
Allow the paint to dry. Place the fake logs in your electric fireplace or the fire pit.
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