The Painted Floorcloth Craze

One of the many great things about being involved with the fantastic group of people using Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan is that it is like living in the world of Pinterest. So many of you have created beautiful reimagined pieces and new decor that we are inspired every day.

Painted floorcloth by Lisa Curry Mair

Painted floorcloth by Lisa Curry Mair

One of our favourite things is the new painted floorcloth craze that is happening in North America.  Artist Lisa Curry Mair is considered by many to be at the top of the list for expertise, including Janet Metzger of The Empty Nest.  But we have to say that we love Janet's beautiful work as well and wanted to share her tutorial for this Indian Floral beauty:

To see how it was created using:

visit The Empty Nest, and we're sure you'll be as inspired by Janet's project as we are.

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique

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Reimagined Monday: The Real Deal -- Milk Paint!

Welcome to Reimagined Monday!

Fabulous Janet of The Empty Nest decided to go all in with the colour Tricycle from Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint line.  Here are the results in an excerpt from her enthusiastic article about her experience using Milk Paint for the first time:

I decided that if The Empty Nest was going to carry

Miss Mustard Seed's

new line of Milk Paint colors, then I should become the best spokesperson possible.

Here is the dresser I chose.

Very well made and with beautiful lines.

However the orangey wood has to go.

Not being a shrinking violet, I chose

Tricycle

a spunky cool red.

Well what do you know....

Marian was right, it does just flake off in spots.

I did not use the bonding agent.

Yeah, I live life on the edge!

After two coats of Milk Paint

some sanding with a sanding sponge

a coat of Miss Mustard Seed's wax

She has a whole new sassy attitude.

So what do you think?

I am really pleased with the results..

  I know you are dying to hear my take on Milk Paint.

Amuse me folks..

"Yes Janet...we are dying to hear you opinion!"

Ok...here you go...

1. I will admit the mixing part will take a little bit of getting used to, but it was not rocket science and only took a few minutes.

2. For those wondering how it differs from my beloved Chalk Paint™ decorative paints.

The minute I applied the first brush stroke, I new this was a whole different ballgame.

3. Milk Paint smells different..feels different..reacts to surfaces differently, distresses different....it is simply

DIFFERENT

I in no way mean that in a negative manner...it's just apples & oranges

4. Two coats covered nicely and I used very little powder. You will get multiple projects per back..easily.

5. I mixed the Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint powder with warm water to make a smoother paint.

6. It dried pretty quickly.

7. I was able to get a super smooth feel after sanding..nice.

8. Love how the paint will literally flake off in spots..instant age.

9. Miss Mustard Seed's wax was super easy to apply with a soft cloth and has a nice sheen

 (Mr. Secret Agent is beginning to wonder where all his t-shirts are)

10. I buffed 30 minutes later

11. I'm happy

Marian's colors are beautiful and I found the paint easy to work with.

Almost forgot to add...

no prepping was done to my dresser other than a good cleaning.

 So there you have it...

Milk Paint by Miss Mustard Seed (Marian Parsons) is so popular it is hard to keep it on the shelves so with Christmas coming, and knowing how great a gift this is, we are 'stocking' up!

AND one of our Colours of the Month is Boxwood Milk Paint by Miss Mustard Seed, regularly $24 it is on sale for $20.

PLUS don't forget -- for every purchase of $50 or more we are donating a Christmas meal!  Give a gift that keeps on giving!

Visit Apple Box Boutique for fantastic ideas from stocking stuffers to perfect gifts for under the tree!

For every $50 purchase, Apple Box Boutique will donate a warm, nutritious meal for someone in need this Christmas.

Your purchase = dining with dignity...   It's that easy to give hope in Edmonton!

♥,
Apple Box Boutique

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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!

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