Hi everyone! Come join me and see how i achieved this look on this piece of furniture with Annie Sloans Chalk paint and wax. This project also included Paris grey, Greek Blue, Old white and white wax.
I sometimes start a project with no idea where it is going!
ohhh is that not fun though….
Well yes and no!!!
Sometimes it takes a little longer as i take my time and have to have a little think along the way!
Step 1 – Cleaning
I start by cleaning the cuboard with a special furniture cleaner i buy at my local hardware store.
This is an important stage that removes dirt and grime, that builds up over the years.
By doing this you are making sure the paint will stick to the surface.
Before
Step 2 – Sanding
I sanded the whole piece lightly with a 220 grit sand paper. This is also an important stage.
It takes very little time and makes a massive difference.
I have made this mistake too many times and have learnt my lesson.
What can happen is that when you begin painting, the paint might stick to some places but will slide around and not stick to others.
Usually if the surface is shiny it needs to be sanded. This will create a surface that is properly prepped for paint.
Step 3 – Tape
At the beginning of my journey i did not always put tape onto the areas i did not want paint on and it went ok.
But when you do, it is a game changer. It takes a little time but it is sooo WORTH it!
- You know there will be no mistakes that need to be corrected
- You do not need to be so precise with painting neat lines
- Looks more professional
- Putting on the tape only becomes easier and quicker after everytime you do it
Step 4 – Priming
Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry and that is why i use primer alot of the time.
- Gives you a smooth and even surface to start the project
- Ideal surface for paint to stick to
- Paint can peel easily without primer
- Blocks oders
I did not sand after the primer had dried as i will be building up the texture with paint.
Step 5 – 1st coat of chalk paint
I painted the base coat with Annie Sloans Greek Blue, which is a beauiful color.
Step 5 – Dabbing technique (1st layer)
Here i began adding Paris Grey. I began by choosing a cheap chip brush as this process ruins the brushes so do not use anything expensive.
I pour the paint out into a plastic plate that i reuse, a little at a time.
This is so the paint does not dry out. I hate waste! Its a bit of a pain actually as i keep all sorts of containers with a little paint here and a little paint there.
But waste not, want not….Mwahaahaa….
I always have my mist bottle handy so i can spray my brush, surface or paint if needed.
I then started dabbing my brush up and down on the surface, this is what it looked like.
It very quickly creates a lovely effect. I was aiming for a stone effect.
This part is really just playing around and seeing what you like. You can maybe see i have sections that the paintbrush had more paint on it and then other sections where there is barely any paint on the brush left. This is were the contrast and dimension comes in.
Step 6 – Dabbing technique (2nd layer)
I then did the same technique again with French Linen but with less paint and i did it sparingly all over. Though i slowly built it up so i would not cover the layers underneath.
This stage should be done a carefully.
The point with this layer is to add contrast and dimension, BUT not cover any of the beautiful colors up.
The picture below shows how this looked.
Step 7 – Dabbing technique (3rd layer)
This last layer was with Old White.
Here i used very little this was just to add a little more contrast and dimension again! Haha
I must have not taken one of this stage… hmmm so here is a picture of the end result.
I hope you are able to see where i have added the white.
Step 8 – Waxing
After the paint was completely dry i began waxing.
I am terrible bad at cleaning my lovely Annie Sloan wax brush so sometimes i end up using a cheap chip brush to do this.
I brush the white wax into the surface backwards and forewards until i feel it is completely covered and then i wipe away any excess with a lint free cloth.
The cloths i use are from my local supermarket and they are very cheap and i use one per project.
The wax gives the surface a beautiful matt finish. The white wax also adds color to the surface. It fills in any grooves (indents) with the white which adds even more contrast to the finished apperance.
Step 9 – Gilding
The very last step is so fun! I love gilding wax but i am not an extravagant person and for some reason gold feels too much. But it just adds something special.
Before i added the gilding wax the piece was missing something. It looked plain, like it needed something added. Thats were the gilding wax comes in.
I have learnt that when adding gilding wax, less is more. It is best to add a little at a time.
I usually just squeeze a little out onto a paper plate and use my fingers. I add a little to any raised surfaces.
I added it to the handles and the carvings.
Hope you liked hearing about the process of this project. Let me know what you think?
Have a great day!
Anna x
