Make for $2.00 and sell for $50.00 (Biz Idea)

How would you like to create a reasonable imitation of an oil painting in just 15 minutes, for less than $2.00 and then sell it for $50.00 or more? Obviously, we're not talking here about real oil paintings. However, the reproduction will be close enough. Here's how to do it.

Get some past issues of magazines containing full page size, colored pictures. Carefully cut out the picture and paste it onto some stiff cardboard. Get some ordinary cheesecloth and spread it out flat on a table. Place the picture face down on the cheesecloth. Place something heavy (maybe a book) on top of the back of the picture. Carefully gather the cheesecloth behind the picture and tie it in "ponytail fashion" using a rubber band. At this point, the cheesecloth should be pulled tightly across the front of your picture and tied at the back. Now get a spray can of shellac from your local hardware store. In a well ventilated room, LIGHTLY spray the cheesecloth which is covering the front of the picture. Spray from the center out to all four edges. And then spray from all four edges into the center of the picture. Let dry for approximately 30 minutes until the shellac starts to get tacky. Then carefully untie the ponytail at the back and gently peel the cheesecloth from the front of the picture. Put to the side to completely dry for approximately two days. And if you've done this properly - and it will require some initial practice - you should now have an imitation oil painting.

The special effect is produced by the threads of the cheesecloth and the shellac which dries to look like brush strokes. Make up 10 to 12 "oil paintings" and head out to your local flea market, or instead, maybe have older students sell them for you door-to-door.