::Desk Double Dip, a Paint Review, Tips, and a Tutorial::

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

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Here's a review of Shabby Paints and VAX.

I also talk about glazing.  And stenciling.

And I threw in a tutorial on getting a distressed finish with three colors.

It will be very pic heavy because Miss Cherie got double dipped.

1st incarnation

Actually it's the second incarnation because first I did her in a grey-green with a white top that just wasn't workin' for me....hence, no pics.

That's when I decided Cherie would be perfect for trying the Shabby Paint products.

I received the following from the gals at Shabby Paints to try out.  Yay!

The color is called 'Dynasty Blue', and the VAX is clear.

Their products are non-toxic with no VOCs.  

A quart of their paint is $29, but I love that they carry 4oz, 8oz, and 16 oz sizes too!

The VAX sells for $26 for 12oz, and also comes in a 4oz size. 

Before I get too much further, let's look at how Cherie was dressed when I heard her in the corner of a yard sale rambling in french about how black ages her.

Pretty rough, with at least 2 coats of glossy paint, chipping off everywhere.

I broke out my mouse sander for this baby.

This is after two coats of the Dynasty Blue.

Coverage was excellent. Paint is very similar to ASCP and van Gogh.  

I watered down the second coat a bit (which I always do with chalk paint), so I barely used any of the paint.

It was a bit bright for my taste, so I decided to use some glaze tinted with craft paint.

(1 TBLS paint to 4 TBLS glaze, brush on, wipe off with dry lint-free rag)

:

 It caught nicely in all the nooks and crannies left from my sanding.

It also toned down the blue just enough.

And because I cannot stop myself, I also added a clock face stencil.

I used the yellow Frog Tape to hold it in place, and applied the paint (American Paint Co's Home Plate) with a pouncer stencil brush.  Lightly distressed it.

 I used the VAX to seal the finish.  Just squirted some on a paperplate, swiped a clean lint-free rag thru it and wiped it on in a circular pattern, then quickly back and forth.  Did two coats on top. LOVE this stuff.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.  It dries FAST (even in stupid humidity), and though you don't need to buff, I burnished it quickly with a paper lunch sack to a soft, smooth sheen.

It's like a non-toxic wipe-on poly.

LOVE.  Did I mention I love this stuff?

For furniture tops that will take a beating (like desks or tables), VAX is my finish of choice now.

But the story doesn't end there.

Cherie was a beauty, and I hauled her one of my markets where she caught a customer's eye.

But the distressed green finish on my friend Sara's wee primitive table 'Martha', who was sitting right next to Cherie, also caught her eye....

You guessed it,

Cherie got double dipped.

Yes, it was hard to redo that lovely blue....but when a customer hands you cash, you obey :)

Although it's not my particular style, I enjoyed doing this finish.

Another 'out of the box' technique I'll keep in my painting toolbox.

I used DIY chalk paint.
1. painted on a sloppy coat of white.
2. took a candlestick and rubbed it on all the edges and in random places over the surface of the piece
3. painted a darker green (sloppily) over that, then used 220 grit to sand off where the wax was to reveal the white.
4. went back over the edges with the candlestick as well as some new places over the green, so some places white would show, other places just the darker green would show
5. painted second brighter green coat, sanded again to remove where the wax resist was.
6. sealed with VAX, burnished with a lunch sack.

The customer loved her, and I'm happy.

 Side-by-side comparison!  

No matter which you prefer, doesn't paint's power to change a piece amaze you?

Thanks to Shabby Paints for sending me your products to review!

Both incarnations will appear at the usual linkies which go live when Cherie arrives.

DIY Show Off, Mod Vintage Life, Knick of Time, The Farmhouse Porch, Cozy Little House, Coastal Charm, A Stroll Thru Life, City Farmhouse, Elizabeth & Co., Green Willow Pond, Domestically Speaking, No Minimalist Here, Stone Gable, Redoux Interiors, Start at Home, Rooted in Thyme, Charm of Home, DIY Show Off, French Country Cottage, Common Ground, Jennifer Rizzo, My Repurposed Life, Craftberry Bush, Shabby Art Boutique, Mustard Seed Interiors, The Cottage Market