Annie Sloan Paint Class: How Do You Like Them Apples?

Apples are good for you.

They are a healthy, happy, feel good food that crunch when you bite them and have all sorts of health benefits.

They also get you a discount

Sign up for the May or June Annie Sloan Paint Class and at check-out use the coupon code "APPLE".  You'll save the GST on the class and get a credit* for 10% off all the accessories you need to get started on your project.

How does it work?

       1)   Your class discount will be applied automatically at the time of check-out.  

       2)   Visit this blog post to tell us which class you used the coupon code to
              register for and a 10% in-store credit will be waiting at the boutique for
              you after your class**.

What's in the Apple Box?
 

 We carry Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Clear and Dark Wax, Lacquer plus all the extras... books, chalk paint brushes, wax brushes, hardware, cheesecloth, paint pour lids and more at Apple Box Boutique.

Sign up today... and don't forget to use the coupon code!

APPLE

Click here to get started!

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

The Fine Print 
* In-store credit is valid for 10 days following the class

** Be sure to let us know your name on the blog or via email so we can confirm your attendance and hold your credit for you: info@appleboxboutique.com.  Credit is valid for purchase of paint accessories and has no cash value.

Annie Sloan Paint Class Discount Code!

Yesterday we blogged about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint being featured by Tara Jamieson at the Edmonton Home and Garden Show, and today we have a fantastic offer for anyone wanting to learn from Tara personally!

Use the special code when registering for Annie Sloan Beginner's Classes and you will receive 15% off... but only if registered by March 18th (and only as long as there are seats available).

The Details

Register for any upcoming Annie Sloan Beginner's Class, enter the discount code HGBONUS and you will receive 15% off the cost of the class.

Offer available until end of day, March 18, 2012. 

The Edmonton classes run from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and lunch + all materials are included.

Here is the class description:

You’ve probably seen distressed furniture pieces with a hand-rubbed lustre and velvety matte finish and thought, “I could do that!”. Well, now is your chance to put that thought into action! This class teaches everything you need to know to create the look at a fraction of the cost. Students will learn the basics of applying one or two colours of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, different distressing techniques, and the proper application of Annie Sloan Soft Wax. Each student will leave with six different, beautiful samples and the expertise to finish a piece of furniture at home.

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Then, when you have all those mad skills under your brush, stop in at Apple Box Boutique for Annie Sloan chalk paint, wax, brushes, polishing cloths and all the accessories you need to get started on your spring project!

and don't forget the code!  HGBONUS

Happy Painting!

Ten Projects...One Can of Chalk Paint

As I wandered about the internet visiting some favourite blogs and websites, I stopped in at Girl in Pink, a great site about decorating, crafting and generally making the world a prettier place.

Blog owner, Amanda had heard that one can of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint would cover 'a slew of things' and decided to put it to the test.  The paint comes in single quarts and I get asked the question "How far does it go?" fairly often so wanted to share her findings... following are the results of Amanda's experiment:

Ten Projects...One Can of Chalk Paint!

Just over a month ago I purchased my first quart of Annie Sloan Chalk paint.  As much as I wanted to jump in with both feet and order a quart of each of the colors I had been admiring, I just didn't have the funds in my paint budget to allow it!  After a whole lot of perusing ASCP related blog posts and scouring photos on Pinterest, I decided to start with a quart of Old White, 2 sample pots, one of Duck Egg Blue and one of Paris Grey and a can of both the clear and dark waxes.

Every Annie Sloan Chalk Paint "review" I had read stated that this one quart of paint would cover a whole slew of projects, but exactly how many projects constitutes a whole slew?  That's what I wanted to know!  Now, having scraped the bottom of my quart of Old White, each of the sample pots and the clear wax, I am prepared to show you just how many projects my first can of chalk paint made over!



This lovely frame received 2 coats of a mixture of Duck Egg and Old White followed by clear and dark waxes.



A 24" x 36" antique mirror was made over with two coats of Old White and waxed with both clear and dark waxes.



The dark red bottom half of this vintage style milking stool was completely covered with just two coats of Duck Egg Blue.  I honestly think that it would have taken 4 coats of latex paint to do away with that red.  I painted the seat with Old White, distressed it and waxed the whole piece with clear wax only.



My antique vanity/cabinet was first painted with one coat of Old White, followed by a Duck Egg Blue/Old White mixture and sealed with both clear and dark waxes.



Prior to purchasing my chalk paint, I had applied a coat of creamy white latex paint to this end table.  Just one coat of my Old White/Paris Grey mix completed the job.  I then applied both clear and dark waxes.



My over sized oak dresser (now mantle!) mirror was complete after 2 coats of Paris Grey, followed by clear and dark waxes.



Both chair and table shown here were previously painted white and therefore only needed the one coat of Paris Grey mixed with a bit of Old White and followed with clear and dark wax.



This is another little piece that was given a coat of creamy white latex paint before it's makeover in Duck Egg Blue with clear and dark wax.

And this is where I started scraping the bottom of those cans!  The desk portion was completed.  It had received two coats of Old White, clear and dark wax all over and multiple coats of clear wax on the desk top.  I had just about finished the first coat of paint on the hutch top when the well ran dry!  I have a whole lot of the dark wax left, even though I've used it on almost all of these projects, plus several more!

I have written this post for myself just as much as I've written it for you.  I really wanted a visual of how far my initial Chalk Paint investment had taken me.  Honestly, I feel it was well worth the money.  If you've used Annie Sloan's products, you know how wonderful they are to work with, regardless of how far the paint goes.  I am happy with the number of projects I completed with my first can of paint, but I am thrilled with the quality of finishes I was able to achieve.  If you've been on the fence about whether or not to try Annie Sloan's products, I hope I've encouraged you to go for it!

Many thanks to Amanda for generously allowing us to re-post this great informational (not to mention, creative) article on our blog.  Be sure to stop by her site for fabulous ideas + projects + recipes and to follow the adventures of the Girl In Pink.

Our Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Display

Yesterday was like Christmas all over again with the heaps of goodies that arrived. Which means today is the day our inventory of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is going up on the shelves... and I am still staring down the cabinet I've selected to display it in.

I hadn't really thought about what it would be like to have 28 equally gorgeous paint colours to choose from.  It seemed like a no-brainer at first... the paint labels are white with blue lettering, so it appeared obvious to paint the cabinet in coordinating colours.  Then a feeling overcame me that it might be too matchy-matchy, and I swung the other way... offset the cans by respecting the colour wheel and go red.  But every time I look over at the towers of paint cans, well the deciding starts all over again.

So, I thought maybe some suggestions would be in order, and I'd love to hear yours!

This is the cabinet (apologies for the not-so-lovely picture provided by the perfectly-lovely previous owner):

 And these are the paint cans (yippeee!):

Photo courtesy of Trouvé Antiques

And... here are the options:

I have not included the 55+ colours you can make by mixing these (AS Chalk paint contains very little black pigment, at least all but Graphite, which means pure colour mixes... nothing to muddy them up).  That would just wreak further havoc on the current state of my aesthetic sensibilities (how's that for a mouthful), but we will look at the how-tos etc. on this blog in the future because it's just too much fun not to.

In the meantime, consider this my call for help.  I'm looking forward to your ideas of fabulousness!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint & Apple Box Boutique Inc.

Today is cause for celebration at Apple Box Boutique for several reasons, but I will try to limit my enthusiasm (okay, lets just call it what it really is... ECSTATICISM) in this post to two rather happy events.

We are officially bloggers! Our goal is to share new trends, vintage finds, and local events from fashion to flower shows. Followers will also be the first to know what is new in-store and more. We are looking forward to lots of blog parties and feedback from our new blog friends.

Effective today we are the only retailer north of Lethbridge approved to carry Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!

As a fan of AS paint and a 'reimaginer' who uses it in my own studio (you may have seen it on some favourite pieces in the boutique) I am fully aware of the concerns when paint is shipped... the cost, the cold, the parking and waiting in line to pick it up. In a word, it is 'unnerving' for someone like me who l-o-v-e-s paint and wants to get started on a project before even taking my coat off.

Thankfully, Tara of Lauren Lane Decor in Calgary became a stockist so everything is checked for quality before it gets to Apple Box Boutique all warm and toasty... or at least room temperature.

With 28 colours of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, waxes with distinct characteristics and other fun products to round out the line, we can't wait to share everything from painting projects to custom colour recipes in future blog posts. In the meantime, we invite you to stop in for a visit at our little boutique at 6507 - 112 Avenue just off of Ada Boulevard in the quaint community of Highlands.

We're looking forward to meeting you!

Boutique Hours & Map