Reimagined Monday: It's A Sign of True Love!

(ON TUESDAY!)

Yesterday was such a busy day that we didn't get a chance to publish our Reimagined Monday post --  BUT this one is so darned fabulous that we just can't wait another week to share it!

Wedding season is always so much fun for us in our events division, but it can be hectic as well with not a lot of time to take pictures. That's why our lovely customer Melanie gets a big high five for managing to squeeze a few in as she worked through her wedding decor project.

After seeing a similar sign on Pinterest, Melanie designed her own take on it for her daughter's wedding last weekend.  Our bet is that everyone was wowed by it!

Melanie wrote, "I used the milk paint in typewriter on the plywood then mixed a wash with the milk paint and the chalk paint in old white to get the grey effect. Letters done in old white chalk paint and finished off with clear wax."

Here's the photo play-by-play!

Melanie used her Cricut to cut each letter out of card stock.

Melanie said her daughter loved it.  So do we!  

Thank you for sharing this with us, Melanie -- and CONGRATULATIONS to the happy couple!

Don't forget to enter our monthly contest for your chance to win!

Here's the info:

Reimagined Monday Draw

We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw.

Send your name, pictures and story to:

info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique

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We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

Reimagined Monday: Three Times The Charm

We've said it before, and it never changes... one of the best things about spending time in the boutique is meeting all the fabulous folks who visit and shop with us. Folks like the trio of vivacious, fun ladies who recently stopped in to browse and ended up with (among other things) a selection of Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan.

One of those ladies is Shelley Oosterhoff Holzman, who after leaving the boutique proceeded with the other lovely ladies directly to the nearest garage sale, then returned for more Chalk Paint™!

It didn't take long for Shelley to whip out the brush, and finish these fantastic projects.  Without further ado... here are Shelley's reimagined pieces:

We love every one of them!

Thanks for sharing your projects, Shelley... you've been entered not once, not twice, but three times in this month's Reimagined Monday draw!

Don't forget to enter our monthly contest for your chance to win!  
Here's the info:

Reimagined Monday Draw

We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to:

info@appleboxboutique.com and win!

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique

_______________________________________

We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

Colour of the Month: French Linen Chalk Paint™

Our Colour of the Month for June is French Linen! It is described as "a cool neutral khaki-grey inspired by the bleached deep neutral of old pieces of French and Italian furniture".

We simply call it yummy!

The hutch pictured above was reimagined by My Sweet Savannah in French Linen and Old White Chalk Paint™ .

Here are a few more pics that we love featuring Chalk Paint™ decorative paints by Annie Sloan in this gorgeous colour:

Romancing the Home

Apple Box Boutique Inc.

Methany Weir

Check out Pinterest for more ideas and inspiration, then stop by the boutique or order online to get started on your own scrumptious projects.

In need of something extraordinary to paint?

Visit our Facebook album: For Sale, Unpainted Pieces for items just waiting to be reimagined!  Like this:

 

WHAT'S NEW

The full line-up of Chalk Paint™ colours is now available in sample sizes through "The Apple Cart", our online shop!

We've had them in the boutique since they were introduced by Annie Sloan, and are happy to now offer them to our online customers as well.

Happy Painting!

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique

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We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

This Chalk Paint™ Makeover Shifts into High Gear

We hope all of our Canadian friends enjoyed Thanksgiving weekend!   

Apple Box Boutique had yesterday off to give thanks, which meant there wasn't a blog post and so no "Reimagined Monday" feature -- but since this is a favourite article for staff and followers alike, we have decided to roar into Tuesday with a reimagination that has to be seen to be believed. 

 Buckle up, everyone! This Chalk Paint™ makeover shifts into high gear! 

THIS:

... is a truck clearly made mostly of testosterone.

A scary camo-engulfed monstrosity owned by Jennifer of Metamorphose Upholstery and Furniture.  Even the bumper cover had abandoned the poor thing.

Not too many girls would venture out in such a beast.  In fact, that is exactly what Jennifer had named it.  But she is a brave gal, and a few days ago with the help of Rose of The Shabby Chicas, a wild and wonderful reimagination took place.

First, a little background -- Jennifer along with Melanie of The Hoity Toity Peacock came up with a scheme to make over "The Beast" with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan.

I'm always talking about how it sticks to virtually everything, no prep required -- and I have bottles and plastics and metals and outdoor signs to show folks it's true!  But I have to say ... even the examples are bigger in Texas!  

It was decided the transformation would take place during The Original Round Top Antiques Fair last weekend.   What a great way to showcase Chalk Paint™!

For colour, Jennifer decided on 1 part Florence to 4 parts Old White.
 

On Saturday, without any real pomp or ceremony, she mixed two cans of Old White + half can of Florence with 1 can of water -- then, with the spirit of fun and determination driving them forward, Jennifer painted one side while Rose painted the other.

One and a half hours later and two coats painted completely with brushes (and a quart of paint to spare), the difference is stunning.

"The Beast"...

became "The Beauty"...

She needs a sturdy clear-coat and Jennifer's sister Michelle is going to bling up the bumper (I believe it was referred to as "Bedazzling"), but WOW... talk about Metamorphose!  It's no wonder that's the name of Jennifer's Houston shop.

For more on this fabulous makeover and to enter the contest to rename the new and improved 'beast', visit Metamorphose on Facebook.

Yes ma'am... that is definitely a Chalk Paint™ makeover that shifted into high gear!

♥,  
Apple Box Boutique

 
Here is how to share your reimagined paint project at On the Apple Box:

Send us a description of how you used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ to get from your vision to the reimagined piece, before and after pictures, pictures of your project in progress or a couple of it in its finished state, and you may be highlighted on our blog!

_______________________________________

We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

Reimagined Monday: Giving Adoption Hope to Sad & Lonely Kitsch

Happy Reimagined Monday, everyone!

It's Leanne here, and I am very happy to be hosting Reimagined Monday today.

Why?  Because anyone who has talked to me about Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan knows that I am super-enthusiastic about it.  I have been since the day I first tried it, long before it landed in our little Boutique.  I love it for SO many reasons... its stress-freeness (hmmm... new entry in the lea-speak dictionary), its prep-free attributes, its look, its ability to stick to -- well, pretty much everything --

In fact, I haven't found anything yet that it doesn't adhere to and improve.  Which is one of my favourite things about Chalk Paint™ and the topic of today's blog entry... Giving adoption hope to those super-shiny, startlingly unappealing and outdated ornaments that are left sad and lonely on dollar store and thrift shop shelves across the nation.

Case in point... the great bunny makeover.  The lovely and always upbeat Janet of The Empty Nest has taken a pair of rather frightening, kitschy, over-lacquered rabbit types and transformed them into stunning little antiqued cottontails that anyone would be proud to display in a coveted spot on their mantlepiece.

Without further ado... Here are excerpts from Janet's blog post about her reimagined bunnies!

"Hello my friends!

Today I want to share a little painting project I worked on over the weekend.

Last week I bought two full size porcelain rabbits at a local thrift shop." 

"I mean really...look at this little guy.....way too shiny and a little scary looking.

Who's idea was it to dress this guy up with a funky blue ribbon???"

"He is just screaming out for some magical Chalk Paint™ decorative paint from Annie Sloan."

"Did you know Chalk Paint™ would adhere to glassy porcelain?

It absolutely does!"

"Here are my bunnies..yup, there were two ugly black mottled bunnies, after two coats of Old White."

"Ok...now I have found that the secret to painting on super slick surfaces like glassy porcelain is to not try too hard.

By that I mean don't try to get full coverage all in one coat. I painted one coat of Old White, not worrying about complete coverage. Don't overwork your brushstrokes. You need to apply a light coat quickly and leave it alone!!! Like overnight leave it alone."

"THEN apply a second coat and the same technique applies.

Lay on the second coat and leave it alone to dry..don't mess with it!

The above rabbits have two full coats of Old White, over the span of two days.

DON'T RUSH THE PROCESS!!!!"

"Here are two lovely rabbits  with two coats of Old White and a coat of Step 1 of

 Annie Sloan's wonderful 

Craqueleur  Varnish Crackle.

Have I told you how much I LOVE this product??

Yeah..I pretty much LOVE IT!!!"

"Step two is now applied and depending how thickly I apply it, will determine how bigs the cracks are.

Liberally apply dark wax all over the piece and rub it into the cracks.

Voila!"

"Pick up some clear wax and wipe all over your piece 

to clean off all the residue dark wax on your piece"

This is what the final effect will be.

Beautiful crackly, crazed and antiqued gorgeousness.

Can you say 

YUM!!

"The lovely thing about Annie's crackle medium is that it doen't touch the paint, but crackles the varnish."

"So cool!

You are able to achieve an antiqued old world varnish crackle."

"Hands down my favorite product!

You can get lovely looks with this product and try to attend a local workshop for some real fun."

"Until next time....be kind and stay creative."

                                                               

Thanks Janet!

I can say that I have successfully painted fabric, plastic, metal, enamel, laminate, and more... even those weird and unknown finishes that are slicker than a greased weasel!

But for many people it has to be seen to be believed, and Janet's bunny project is a wonderful example of how loveliness can be found in all things.  Sometimes it just takes a little reimagination!

♥,  
Leanne & Apple Box Boutique
 

Here is how to share your reimagined paint project at On the Apple Box:

Send us a description of how you used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ to get from your vision to the reimagined piece, before and after pictures, pictures of your project in progress or a couple of it in its finished state, and you may be highlighted on our blog!

_______________________________________

We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog: