Thursday, June 28, 2012

Chalk Paint - Is It a Piece of Cake?

Well, in this instance, maybe it was a bit more like bubble gum.
But, honestly, it's not Annie's fault. Let me explain...

This table is one of the few pieces in my home
that I bought already "done." 


It had been painted black and distressed. 
I loved the size of it, and the finish.



I bought it several years ago, and
have debated whether or not
I REALLY wanted to paint it white, even
in my quest for a light, neutral environment.

But it fit the space much better than a
larger table did, so I decided to paint it.

And just at the perfect time, my aunt
June asked me to send her info
about "that paint I had been telling her about."


LO AND BEHOLD! (Imagine a choir of angels singing here.) 
I went to the Annie Sloan web site
and looked at the list of stockists. Was I EVER
surprised to find a new stockist just a half-hour away!!!

So June and I went to get some yesterday after work.

I had planned to visit a friend in the hospital last night, 
so I didn't begin painting immediately. 
But today after work, I popped open the 
can of Annie Sloan Old White and began painting 
my cute little black table! I just KNEW I'd be distressing
before the evening was over!

Well, I was distressing before long all right!
Because instead of the piece of cake I was expecting,
I was treated to a load of bubble gum.


Apparently my precious little table had one
time been painted in oil, and then in latex.

So when I put a coat of chalk paint on it,
it loosened up. I tried to smooth out a spot, and
the paint came off. Yuck. Have you ever encountered
a situation like this? I have. NOT fun. So, I peeled
the top layer of paint off the table top.


The legs were not doing the same thing...
so I thought maybe someone had just
painted the top in oil. It peeled off in  a straight 
line at the  table edge. 


This is why I never buy manicures. I use my fingernails
as tools. Come on - 'fess up. Do you?


Normally, I'd enjoy peeling something 
like this - don't ask me why.

But TODAY, I wanted to witness a miracle!
I wanted a lovely slice of creamy vanilla cake that 
did everything but paint the table FOR me! 
All blogdom has been singing the praises of this paint!
I had coveted it for months. 

And here I sat peeling about a buck's worth of it off
my cute, formerly black table.

Had I not read that this paint stuck to EVERYTHING?
Or that you didn't need to sand or prime EVER?
Was I just imagining this? Did I dream it?

Apparently, no one had encountered a table that
had been painted in latex over oil. Drats.

OK, I reasoned. If it sticks to OIL, we're still in business!

So on went the second first coat on the tabletop.


And it's drying as we speak. (We ARE speaking, sort of, aren't we?)

And I must say, this paint covered really well.
Well, technically, it has one coat and a partial touch-up coat on it.


And it looks charming in Old White. Even before distressing.

I'll say one thing too - THIS PAINT DRIES REALLY FAST.
I admit, it's been 106 degrees here the past two days,
and it's maybe 103 right now. And my AC is broken...
but still, this chalk paint dries amazingly fast.

So fast, in fact, that it was ready to distress! So I did.


And it was EASY. I did in 10 minutes what it would have
taken an hour and more muscle to do with flat white latex.


And I love my little black table in Old White!


So much that I'm considering doing the sofa...


 and anything else that gets in my path!

OK Annie, you redeemed yourself.

My faith is restored. You ARE all that!

After all...50 zillion bloggers
can't be wrong, can they?

Word for the Day:

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 
the conviction of things not seen.

Linking With

Thursday

Under $100 Link Party
Suzy's House Party
Transformation Thursday
Share Awesomeness Thursday
Rustic Restorations Weekend
Friday

Feathered Nest Friday
Furniture Feature Friday
Fridays on Remodelaholic
Friday Redoux Link Party
Frugal Friday
Frugalicious Friday
Flaunt it Friday
Saturday

Saturday Nite Special
Show and Tell Saturday
Sunday
Sunday’s Best
Creative Bloggers Party Hop
Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Restyled Sundays
Sister Sunday
Just something I whipped up
Creative Me Link Up
Monday

Metamorphosis Monday
Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Revival Monday
Just a party with my peeps!
Tuesday

Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cowgirl Up!
Be Inspired
Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday

White Wednesday
Primp Your Stuff Wed
Piece of Work Wednesday
Restored it Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
What’s it Wednesday
Show Me What Ya Got



Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Friday's Goodwill Haul...


A little white mini vase I thought was vintage
turned out to be a Restoration Hardware vase - $2.
We don't have a RH here...


A heavy resin plaque from Hobby Lobby 
with a sticker still attached...$2

The corners are chipped, which won't 
matter at all when I paint it and use it in a 
gallery wall in the dining room.


This little original painting - framed and matted - a buck.


Of course, the frame will be painted, the mat will be
wrapped in old book pages or something, and
the art will pop! I can't wait for a day to do this kind of project.


Another interesting mirror for a gallery wall - octagonal.
It's wood and nice, but I may tone down the gold just a tad...
For 2 bucks, it went into the basket. And then I saw this:


I just never cease to be amazed at the variety
of items that end up at a thrift store.


A gilded octagonal mirror fron Brooklyn, NY
ends up in my house in Amarillo, Texas
via Goodwill. If mirrors could talk! 

And industrial wine racks. What would they say?


"Hi. I'm new around here. Read any good books lately?"
It may be a wine rack, or it could be a towel rack or
something else. Let me know what you think!

I spotted this like-new paisley floor pillow for Hannah!
It was a bit of a splurge at 4 bucks. 
Since she used floor pillows more than we imagined
last year, I decided to spring for it.


She's keeping the BOHO vibe going...


So it will work somewhere.

I also got her this plastic French mirror:


It's pretty large, and will look cute
painted a color for her BOHO apartment.

I wonder if the French are insulted when
their designs are reproduced in plastic?
Hmmm. Only 3 bucks, though. I'll take it.


And of course a bird in a cage. You've seen it.
And you've seen this hunk of fabby rust, too:


While there, I also scored some amazing tops - 
stylish and just what I'd been shopping for in 
"stores" where I'd have paid 10 times what I got them for.

5 tops at 3 bucks each. One for every work day! 
How cool is that? I wore one to church 
and got tons of compliments. I told some people about
my thrifty score, and to the others I just said, 
"Thanks!" and smiled sweetly.

They wouldn't get it. So you and I go shopping
and WE get it. And we take it home with us. 
And we look like a million bucks for $3.

So, I'm a happy camper. And the bills are paid.
And there's no credit card debt. 
And I "saved" hundreds of dollars
by spending about 50 dollars.

What an amazing gift!
 I am truly thankful.

Word for the Day:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 
coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is 
no variation or shadow due to change.


Linking With

Tuesday

Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cowgirl Up!
Cowgirl Up!
Cowgirl Up!
Tuesday’s Treasures
Be Inspired
Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday

Share the Love Wednesday
Penny Pinching Party
What’s it Wednesday
Would You Buy It Wednesday
Show Me What Ya Got
Thursday

Thrifty Thursday
Thursday Favorite Things
Time Travel Thursday
Treasure Hunt Thursday
thrift’n on a thursday
Home and Garden Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Live Laugh Linky
Friday

Feathered Nest Friday
Potpourri Party
Inspiration Friday
Free For All Friday
Spread the Love
Saturday

Saturday Nite Special
Get Schooled Saturday