Get Creating with Annie Sloan Paint Books and Classes

At the boutique we do our best to share what we know about painting with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, but it is also really helpful to have step-by-step instructions and detailed pictures... which is why we keep Annie Sloan books on hand.

Quick and Easy Paint Transformations: 50 Step-by-step Ways to Makeover Your Home for Next to Nothing

Author: Annie Sloan

With this book in one hand and a brush in the other, you can learn how to create different finishes and effects with paint to change everyday rooms and furnishings into something special, all for the price of a pot of paint. The first section of the book tells you everything you need to know before you start - how to prepare surfaces properly, choose the right paint for the right place, use the best tools and select a colour scheme that will work with the room in question. Then, the 50 different techniques are divided into nine sections: colour washing; distressing and aging; fabric effects; wood effects; stone effects; metallic effects; stencilling and printing; stripes, checks, and spots; and, varnishing and glazing. 

There are step-by-step photos showing how to achieve the finished look, backed up by inspirational photos showing the effect used on walls and doors, furniture and floors. Learn how to bring old second-hand furniture bang up to date, or how to give modern pieces a softly aged appearance, as well as ways to treat and transform floorboards, doors and plastered walls, all with the aid of a pot of paint and a brush. Whatever the style of your interiors, "Quick and Easy Paint Transformations" will show you the best way to makeover your home.

Creating the French Look

Author: Annie Sloan

The French interior evokes a way of life to aspire to, with its good food, unhurried pace and, above all, its past for which many people feel nostalgia. Developed over hundreds of years, the French look reflects all tastes, from the cultivated grandeur of the chateau to the simplicity of rural living, and can be adapted to every home, including the Mediterranean style villa and elegant town house. In this book, the look is divided into 'Chateau', 'Country', 'Provencial' and 'Parisian style', and applied to living room, kitchen and dining room, bedroom and bathroom, and to living space in the garden.

As well as describing each overall look, focusing on colours and fabrics, Annie Sloan emphasizes the details and accents required by each one, and, aided by 25 clearly explained step-by-step projects, shows how to achieve it. Among other things, she explains how to paint and distress furniture, and describes how to cover an armoire door with embroidered voile. Whatever interior you desire, this book will guide your choices from the grand statement of the painted armoire to the finishing touch of a little posy of lavender.

Annie Sloan Paint Classes

We will also be offering Annie Sloan paint classes if hands-on learning is more your style.  And when you register, you can save money by using our coupon code: APPLE.  Watch On The Apple Box  for news on upcoming class dates, or visit the ASCP Classes page on our website to request email notifications.

Whether you feel you need a little how-to info or a lot of applied assistance, we want to help you feel comfortable and prepared to take on your summer DIY painting projects and more!

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

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Reimagined Monday: Distressing... But In A Good Way!

Anyone who knows the folks at Apple Box Boutique also knows we LUV us a good laugh... even a cheap, slapstick, falling down on the job chortle will suffice but rest assured, laughing is a priority.  If you feel that way too, then you will love reading Dream Home DIY, a blog written by Michelle about her and her husband Justin's home reno trials and tribulations.

They are wacky and fun, and manage to make do-overs feel okay as they DIY their way to their vision for their newish abode.  Following is Michelle's first attempt at painting with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and Justin's reaction to said project.  Enjoy!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Transformations

"Annie Sloan chalk paint is literally EVERYWHERE right now;

So naturally Ive been dying to try my hand at it.

No priming, no prep sanding, limitless color mixing options, amazing distressing ability, low VOCs, easy cleanup...

And it can be used on furniture, floors, cabinets, walls...
Applied both indoors and outdoors...
On metal, wood, brick, concrete...

Are you serious?  Where have you been all my life?? 

Just stop for a second and imagine the possibilities.

Well, a few weeks ago we spoke with Miss Patty Seaman from Classic Wall Finishes to get a bit more info on the product and after chatting with her, we knew it was a perfect fit for our home.
She is a HUGE wealth of knowledge and was oh so excited to talk about the paint.  I really loved that.  Not to mention she used to live in Virgina, so of course I immediately felt a bond with her.
Paris Gray, Louis Blue and Old White seemed like wonderful colors for us to start with so that's what we got.


Now Ive had an idea for a display piece on our new stenciled walls swirling around in my head for a bit.
Enter our $6.75 Goodwill find
(and some rough cut lumber.  But more on that later)

Because the look we were striving for was a layered, weathered over time vibe
I painted a first coat of Paris Gray right over the dark stained mirror.

Next, a coat of Old White was applied directly on top.
I was able to do this within 20 minutes as the first coat had already dried.
Uh.Mazing.

A thin application of the Annie Sloan wax (allow to completely dry) and a bit of distressing with fine grit sandpaper...
We're in love.
In fact, Justin walked through the door and Mr. I Never Get Excited stated:
"Holy beep.  That paint is the beep"
Yeah.  It's that good

When distressing traditional latex paints, they tend to roll off.
Chalk paint wears off.
And that makes a huge difference.

Now to flank either side of the mirror, we wanted a distressed piece of white washed old lumber and I thought this would be the perfect time to try out another technique.
White washing

Note- This was "new" rough cut lumber when we received it. 
We set them out in the driveway for about 3-4 months.
Mother Nature did the rest.

Dilute a bit of paint with a small amount of water and lightly drag your brush along the grain of your lumber.

Next, with a bit of patience, we hung everything in place on our pretty stenciled wall...

Voila!"

Update - The fork and spoon were purchased from Pier 1

We think it turned out (as Michelle puts it) Uh.Mazing.  Thanks for sharing your ASCP projects, Michelle!

♥,

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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We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

Reimagined Monday: Antibes Green is hot, hot, HOT

Good morning and welcome to Reimagined Monday!

DIY takes a certain patience, a good amount of energy and can quickly become costly if one doesn't stay focused on creating for less.  Mary of At Home on the Bay and her husband live in Maine and do their best to DIY on a budget.  Updating their retirement home on Blue Hill Bay has become a highlight of Mary's blog, in which she also shares her tips and upcycle projects.

Since Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ in Antibes Green is hot, hot, HOT these days, we wanted to feature Mary's lovely reimagined cupboard... a great DIY project and a perfect example of what all the Antibes Green excitement is about!

ASCP Antibes Green Cupboard

 "I made some progress on the dining room this week.  One of the projects I worked on was painting this built in cupboard.  

I'm loving all of the green painted furniture pieces in magazines and on Pinterest that I've been seeing lately, so I thought I'd try it on this piece.  I made color swatches on a piece of leftover plywood (from the chalkboard project).

From top to bottom:

A. Antibes Green followed with a Aubusson Blue wash and clear and dark wax

B. Antibes Green with clear and dark wax

C. Antibes Green with a French Linen undercoat followed by sanding, clear and dark wax

D. Antibes Green with an Arles undercoat followed by sanding, clear and dark wax

E. Antibes Green followed by a Aubusson Blue wash and clear wax

I went with the top color swatch, but added some sanding.

Here are the detail steps:

1. Two coats of Antibes Green (allowing drying time in between).  I painted the inside with one coat of Old White.

2.  I lightly waxed the cupboard with clear wax and followed with some sanding to distress it in some areas.

3. I then mixed Aubusson Blue with water and brushed streaks of the blue and then wiped them off with a rag.

4. Followed by another coat of clear wax

5. Followed by a coat of dark wax

 I lightly brushed the wax on using a different brush for each wax and wiping any extra off with a cloth allowing it to dry between coats.  The wax adds a nice sheen.

I added a toile print fabric to the back of the shelves.

I added some dishes that I inherited from my Mother-in Law.  

I placed a few ironstone pitchers on top...

and called it a day.  Well, it actually took two days.

What do you think?"

Well, we think it is stunning!  Antibes Green has quickly become one of our favourites and mixed with Aubusson Blue it makes a gorgeous teal that we always look forward to working with at the Apple Box Boutique studio.

Thanks, Mary, for your inspiration!

♥,

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: Painted Out`s Sweet Little Vanity

Welcome to Reimagined Monday!  A day dedicated to Annie Sloan chalk paint projects meant to inspire.

If you are a thrifter, a junquer or just love antique furniture you have probably seen a waterfall vanity along your path.  They vary a little in design but generally look like this --  though often the mirror is missing:

It is one of those pieces that people love to look at but many just don`t know quite what to do with.  In today`s world, we have so much selection that our homes are often popuated with all of the latest designs and it is hard to imagine how to fit in some of those great old standards.

Grace at Painted Out has solved the dilemma with her creativity and artful hand.

Here is Grace`s oh-so-lovely take on a fantastic 40`s find:

Stenciled Waterfall Vanity

This poor little vanity needed alot of TLC which I didn't realize until it came home. Some vaneer was peeling off on the bottom, and the drawers were falling apart. I scraped away the cracking vaneer and refilled it and then glued the drawers back together. 

The drawers had the original brass hardware which were big and cluncky. I wanted to use pretty knobs so I filled in the original draw holes and drilled new holes for the knobs. Drawer fronts were sanded along with where the vaneer had to be fixed.  Once that was done It was ready to paint! 

I originally painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in colour Pure White. It sat finished for a few days but didn't seem complete.... it just looked kinda boring.

 

I then decided to paint it into a blue colour but I didn't feel that that I had the correct shade, so I mixed it. Mixed Annie Sloan Louis Blue (half), Pure White (half) and touch of Duck Egg Blue.

Took two coats and then I distressed it, the Pure White now shows through. The drawers have a simple stencil that I had at home from Michaels and added the knobs. Everything was finished off with a clear wax.

 It's now ready for some little girls room!  

I love how Grace tied in the little bench seat and the sweet glass knobs are the perfect finishing touch!

A very big thank you to Grace for sharing this pretty little vanity.  To see more of her finished pieces visit the Painted Out Facebook Page.

For purchases: Painted Out is located in St. George, Ontario... a quaint little village where the surrounding rolling hills and boutiques filled with antiques and handmade crafts is well worth a visit.  Contact Painted Out via FB for more information!

♥,

Apple Box Boutique   

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Reimagined Monday: Bee Print Side Table

Hello and welcome to Reimagined Monday, a day that we love to share Annie Sloan Chalk Paint projects that inspire us.  We also feel it is important that not all of those projects be fantastical creations or reimaginings of antiques so rare they seem otherworldly.

While those are always breath-taking, so can bee the quiet little project... something that starts out looking quite common but bee-comes a bee-eautiful little statement about the simple things in life bee-ing a happy surpriszzzzze. (Sorry, just couldn't help it!) 

With a little something special from The Graphics Fairy, Gina of The Shabby Creek Cottage put together this lovely Bee Print Side Table -- proof positive that a $5 thrift store purchase can bee-come extraordinary. (Last cheesy bee reference for today... promise *lol).

Here is Gina's Annie Sloan paint project... so cute! 

Annie Sloan Project: Bee Print Side Table

 
"Graphics on furniture always have a way of taking a pretty piece to the next level. I love adding them to painted pieces to show a little more flair and my Nashville area customers seem to love them! Want to see how I did this one?

 
I started with a simple thrift store find, a side table. Only $5 at a local shop, it was in good shape and had nice lines, so it was an easy buy.

 
First I painted it all over with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Provence. I loveeee this aquaish, blueish, greenish color – it’s my favorite color, hands down! No sanding, no priming, Annie Sloan paint is pretty amazing stuff. I just wiped it down and gave everything 3 coats. You typically only need 2 coats, but I had a few spots peeking through, so I added one more just to be safe.

 
When the paint was dry, I took this bee graphic and printed it on my computer, layered it on top of carbon paper and taped it to hold it down. If you’ve used ASCP before, you know that it has to be waxed – I did this step BEFORE waxing.

 
I traced out the graphic with a fine tip pen, so that the outline would transfer to the table top.

 
There we go! I wanted the wings to have detail and the body to be in silhouette, so I didn’t put the body details on, but you can if you want more detail.

 
Then I took burnt umber acrylic paint and painted right on the lines of the wing with a fine tip brush, and filled in the body.

 
I watered down the paint just a touch so it would flow easier. Acrylic paint is generally pretty thick, so just a dab will do.

 
When the graphic was dry, I sanded it all over to distress it a bit. Now is when the magic happens!

 
First I did a coat of clear wax, buffed it out, then sparingly added dark wax to the areas that needed it.

 
And that was it! It took a little while longer for this project than most ASCP projects, simply because the legs are somewhat tedious to paint. I do love the results, though – and hopefully my customers will love it at my upcoming sale!"

To see more of Gina's work or to purchase the super-cute items from her online shop, visit The Shabby Creek Cottage.

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

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