Gesso and Paint Finish

I just had to try using gesso and paint

I follow Rosemary's blog Villabarnes and she has perfected the art of old world finishes using gesso

I painted this previously gold frame with slate blue by rust-oleum, followed by a good thick coat of gesso

Then used a rag to wipe some of the gesso back off.  Gesso is found in the art department of any craft store

I love that it is perfectly imperfect!

These two wall sconces were next

Until the two became one......I dropped the other one on the garage floor and it broke...poop!

Rosemary has tons of variations on her blog using different colored paints and gesso

I definitely will use this method again!

These will be going to the "Fancy Flea" in April

How'd I do Rosemary???

Only 5 days until the dress form ball!!!

Happy Creating!
Carol

How To Dry Brush Paint

I think of it as the lazy girls painting method, it's quick and easy 

You can whip out a stool like this in about 10 minutes and...

...Anything dry brushed sells great in my booth, it is a 
perfectly imperfect shabby finish that people love

I started with a very average stool.  Instead of sanding, I wipe it with a product called deglosser available in any paint department, it removes the shine and allows the paint to adhere

lightly dip the very tip of the paint bristles in paint then tap on a paper towel

Start by lightly brushing the furniture.... 

Then with more pressure, keep brushing until the brush is completely out of paint and repeat.  I dipped the brush 3 times to complete this piece of wood

I added a waterslide decal with a graphic from Graphics Fairy

Here is the dry brush method on a plate stand.....

...Dry brushed using white paint

This is a no fail paint method, when you are painting, you will think oh my gosh this is so ugly, but when you stand back, you'll get the whole picture!

And if you still don't like it, nothing lost, just paint like you usually do and consider the dry brushing a coat of primer

Happy Creating!

Carol

Electric Spray Painter For Casual Or Big Time Do It Yourselfers

I'm sooooo excited!  I found a paint sprayer that is inexpensive and easy to use...This is NOT a sponsored post! 

 This paint sprayer is going to save me tons of time and money!

I tried an electric paint sprayer a few years ago and it was a disaster, I had paint everywhere, and cleaning it was a nightmare!

I refinish tons of furniture for my antiques booth and now I'm doing a lot for the "Fancy Flea", a show I'm doing in April

I started Googling around and found Command Max

Here is some of what I had to paint last weekend

  

In 2 hours including drying time for primer and 2 coats of paint

I was done....Are you kidding me!!

Lets get to the good part...Command Max's website has this paint sprayer priced at $89.99 and with shipping it comes to $102.00...But Wait......I called the company and asked if there was any retail stores that stocked it, they said Ace Hardware, I called Ace and they ordered one in for $69.99!!!  Now, lets do the math, how many cans of spray paint is that at $5-$6 a can???

Clean up is a snap, you fill the canister with warm soapy water and spray it through.  Then wash these 3 pieces...DONE!

The instructions tell you to thin the paint.  To test if it is thin enough you run it through their viscosity gauge and time how long it takes

Don't panic, I did it one time and then I was able to gauge how thin the paint should be.  I added a few tablespoons of water to the paint and it worked just fine.  Us Diy folks hate to mess around with this stuff.

Here's a few details

There is minimal overspray, if you watch the video on their website, they show it being used on inside walls (I'm not so sure I would try that) 

This is great for custom mixing your own paint colors.  I have never tried chalk paint, but I am sure it would work fine

I wouldn't use this if I had something small like a picture frame to paint, but if I had anything bigger, like a small table, it is sooo worth it!

The first time you use it, it will seem too powerful, but by the second time you use it, you will feel like you have just defeated the canned spray paint gods!

My coffee table went from this

To this in minutes 

With a little distressing, a homemade plaster applique, and brown glaze

I wish this had been available years ago 

 It's perfect for the casual or big time furniture refinisher!

This company has no idea I exist, I'm just so excited I wanted to share it with you

Happy Creating!


Carol


Joining Ivy and Elephants

Painting Tips

I know what your thinking ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Painting Tips, but hang with me.  I have just 3 tips that may save you time and money!

 Besides my online store I have an antiques booth at 

Orange Tree Antiques in Orlando, Florida.  I have had the booth for 7 years and have done tons of painting in that time as most everything gets a coat of white.

I hate sanding so this is my alternative.   I use Gloss-Off  by Krud Kutter.  I found it at Sherwin Williams and the best part is it smells like soap.  No strong odor, the store said they use it in schools because it has no odor and is so safe.  Not having to sand is especially wonderful when you're painting something with curvy legs or embellishments.

I love the finish and ease of spray paint but, if you're doing multiple projects or one big project it can get costly. This Rust-Oleum Heirloom white is my new love!  I took the cap of the spray paint to the paint counter and had them mix a gallon of paint to match the cap.  Now I base coat with a brush and give it a top coat of spray.  This is also great when you have projects that have curvy legs or a wicker top, you don't have to spray the whole item.  A brush coat of paint gives a good base.

Here is my last little tip.  I never wash a paint brush! I seal them in a Ziplock bag and put it in the crisper drawer of my refrigerator.  I have had brushes last a year.  They stay soft and moist (Sounds like a cooking blog).

So, there ya have it!  I will be on vacation for  10 days, nothing exotic.  I am going home to Minnesota (I hear the snow is finally gone) to visit friends and family. 

Happy Painting!

Carol