Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Are you done with Summer!?

I'm done with summer...I mean D. O. N. E., done!  We have had a ridiculously hot summer and it's not even August yet.  Ugh.  I'm ready for Fall.  I love Fall...jeans and sweatshirts and my friends.  I love pumpkins, colored leafs and crisp nights.  I'm dreaming of hay rides and apple cider.

By the way, do you call if Fall or Autumn?  I think the word Autumn is so pretty but I always end up saying Fall.

I've started {slowly} getting my Fall line together.

Here is one of my new items {set of natural pumpkin table numbers for weddings}:






I'm going to be making some sets of 3 with wording on them for home decor as well.  I just love them.

Try to stay cool and enjoy the rest of your week!

~Aaron {the girl with the boy's name}
Mudpies & Marigolds

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Playing with Paint: a tutorial for time-worn style

My daughter spend this past weekend with my parents which meant I had a little time to play around with my new Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

My first project was this easy sign redo.


This time I used it on a piece of furniture.  My dad gave me an old piano bench he had gotten at an auction several years ago.  I didn't take a before picture because I was just so sure that there was one of it already on the computer...well, there wasn't.  But it was your basic dark stained oak piano bench.


I broke out my Old White and Louis Blue Chalk Paint and decided to just play.  No rules, just experiments.  I'm now in love with this bench!  I had originally thought I was making it over to put in my new Antique Store Booth but now I'm too in love to part with it.

Look at her in all her time-worn style glory.




Here is how I got the look.  I'm sure it's not the "right" way but it's what I did.  It was easy and fun.

1.)  First I painted the whole thing in a sloppy coat of Old White and let dry.

2.)  Then I painted the whole thing in a sloppy coat of Louis Blue and let  dry.

3.)  Next I LIGHTLY sanded down the bench in spots so the Old White showed through in spots.

4.)  I don't yet have the Annie Sloan Wax so I used the Dark Brown Briwax I had on hand.  I brushed on a very thin coat {trying to paint in long smooth strokes} all over.  I did not wipe off the excess.

Instead I let the bench set outside and bake in the sun for about 4 hours.

5.)  Then I wiped off what little I could and just about had a panic attack thinking that I ruined the whole bench.  I just needed patience.  I sanded down the whole bench LIGHTLY with a medium grit sanding block...sanding more in some spots and less in others.

That's it.  Painting really doesn't take long because this paint goes on so smooth and covers so well.

before:  source


After

Again, If your thinking of trying out Annie Sloan Chalk Paint you need to head over to Di Lucca Designs.  Michelle is so sweet and will answer any questions you have.

Have a wonderful weekend and go play with some paint!

~Aaron {the girl with the boy's name}
Mudpies & Marigolds

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

I can't deny it, I'm in LOVE with someone new....a tutorial.

Okay, I'm sorry. I know that was a cheeky title but it's true I am in love with another. I still love my hubby but another has entered my life that from this point on I can never due without.



Yep, this is who {or should I say what} has stolen my heart.


Seriously, why did I not buy this stuff earlier. Oh, yeah...the price tag. But I can honestly say that it was worth every. single. penny. It goes on like nothing I can explain. If you love distressed, shabby chic, time-worn and French style then this stuff is for you. It will make your heart sing...seriously. Chorus of Angels stuff over here.

I have already but together a little sign project / tutorial to share.

Do you have a Hobby Lobby near you? I love Hobby Lobby...especially when they have their 90% off clearance sale. That is where I scored two of these:


front




back

I knew I could transform these signs into something a little more Mudpies and Marigolds style. And with the help of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint I did just that. I made one to keep and one to sell.  I think you could easily do this with cut down paint sticks from the hardware store as well!

These signs had a 90s ish farmhouse image glued to the front. I ripped up any loose pieces of the image and then got to work. I shook the paints really well. I worked with 2 paint colors: Old White and Louis Blue. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

I tried 2 different paint techniques so I could see how they look. On the first sign I put both white and blue paint on at the same time {using more of the Louis Blue} and just barely blended them in. This paint applies like butter. It's so smooth and I think I've never painted something with so much ease and so quickly. And it used hardly any of the paint up!



I let it dry completely then used a medium grit sanding block to distress. This stuff distresses so easily and beautifully! Really...no elbow grease required.

After that I used my CitraSolv technique to apply the Nest image. Just make sure to apply the CitraSolv lightly so it doesn't bleed.





That's it. Doesn't it look like it's been hanging around is some French farmhouse for years. I adore time worn style and baby, this stuff delivers just that!



On the second one I applied a layer of Old white and let it dry, then applies a layer of Louis Blue and let it dry and then another super light and sloppy layer of Old White. I didn't distress it at all. I just left it with it's gorgeous layer look.




You can be sure that I will have many more Chalk Paint projects coming up!

If you live in the Midwest and want to give chalk paint a try {trust me you do!} then I highly recommend ordering from Michelle at Di Lucca Designs.  She is a Annie Sloan Paint Chalk Stockist located in Bensenville, IL.  She is super sweet and will take good care of you.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

A new table and projects in the works

I'm so excited that I finally got a Farmhouse table.  I have wanted a farmhouse style dinning room table for a very long time and finally got one Saturday.  I wish I could tell you that I rehabed a dingy but very cool vintage piece, but no.  I found one that I loved at a local furniture store and the price was right.

I actually really loved our old table but it just didn't work well in the space.  But....I finally got my hands on some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and plan on using my old table as a trial piece.  Actually, I have several chalk paint projects lined up so I will be sharing them very soon!



   I had a customer request a custom 3-piece set of wedding cake banners and just had to set up a mini photo shoot when I was done because it was such a cute idea!  I love it so much that I've added it to my Etsy shop.



So after I was done I took some photos of my table {although the lighting was horrible} using the cake from the banners as a prop.





Well, my almost 3 year old saw this piece of cake just sitting there on the table.  Apparently it was too much to resist.








Ahh, chocolate cake.  The breakfast of champions!?

I hope to be back soon with some chalk paint transformations!  Have a great week.