Abstract: A decorating paint applying device and method is disclosed, which is helpful for painting floral and leafy vegetation or special effects having a 3-dimensional effect. The device is composed of a one piece, unitary, paint retaining, compressible, resiliently self-restoring soft body having two designing surfaces with a compressed middle portion. The top surface is defined by a number of upstanding projections being independently compressible, and a flat undersurface. The body has outside edges defined by a number of protrusions. Manual handling of the device in applying paint to the body, thereafter correctly positioning and compressing to apply, produces alternating painted and unpainted areas depicting clusters of spaced apart leaves and floral petals or special effects. The method consists of applying threads of varying colors of paint onto the device which has been wet with a base color. Next, folding and compressing to mingle colors and applying by compressing onto a receptive surface.