Chalk Paint™ Makes Our Ears Ring

It's true!  Chalk Paint™ really does make our ears ring, because customers have been calling all week to ask if our latest order has turned up.

It looked a bit like Mother Hubbard's cupboards here and we've all been waiting with fingers crossed, hoping our shipping service would arrive bearing our favourite little brown boxes before the long weekend.

Well it did!  And the shippers must have known how important an occasion it would be for us, because the delivery arrived wearing a party hat.

For Chalk Paint™ fans like us it is absolutely something to celebrate!

Let the creativity commence!

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique

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What's On at Apple Box Boutique? Here's the Latest!

People are Chalking Chalk Paint® Workshop
Well, that was fast!  Our 'People are Chalking' morning workshop has sold out and the evening session has just one seat left.  We are SO excited to be holding Chalk Paint® classes and looking forward to getting creative with everyone attending.

Visit our website Workshops page or click below to learn more about this workshop or to register:

Want to hear about upcoming workshops?
Visit our Workshop Notifications page to sign up and hear about upcoming workshops!  Your interest and feedback helps us determine which sessions to run next!

Colours of the Month
Who would have guessed that our January "New Year's" colours of the month would sell out so quickly!  But we are fully restocked and with everyone starting back into projects put on hold over the holidays, it's a great way to save money.

Christmas in January Sale
There's just one week left to make a clean getaway with fantastic sale prices on bath products, decor and ornaments! Save up to 50% until January 31st.

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 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, phone number, pictures and story to: info@appleboxboutique.com and win!

♥,
Apple Box Boutique

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Chalk Paint™ Your Leather? You Betcha!

Welcome to Reimagined Monday!

We've talked about using Chalk Paint™ on fabric in the past, and today we are featuring a twist on that idea.  Not only can you paint furniture, walls, floors, fabric, concrete, plastic, metal, glass... the list goes on, but you can also paint vinyl and leather!

Amber and Brad of the blog Shades of Amber posted this fantastic example and we wanted to share it with you...

ASCP Leather Sofa

Yes, you read the title correctly! We have a customer, Denise, that used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on her leather couch and chair! We couldn't believe it either, so we had to take pictures and share.

Purchasing new furniture was not in the budget, and slipcovering it was too feminine for the room. So, why not Chalk Paint it? She was so excited to get started, she almost forgot the before photo. This is "during," but it gives you a good idea of what it looked like before.

And the same section after Chalk Paint and sealed with Clear Wax.

Here is the whole couch right after painting and waxing.

And the chair and ottoman.

And here it is about one month later.

It is very soft to the touch and very natural looking.

Now, it definitely will become more worn with time and use (especially since she has two big dogs that sit on it), but what a great way to update and extend the life of a piece of furniture.

Here again, is one month later, you can see the rugged aged look developing on the seat cushions where the dogs climb up and sit.

It is perfect for her husband's "man cave" and reminds me of a distressed, aged leather sofa you would find in a old English library in a country estate. 

all project photos and material are copyrighted by Shades of Amber, Inc. 

If you're like us, you are now scanning your home for all those leather pieces that don't quite fit with your latest decor.  Let the reimaginings begin!

♥,  
Apple Box Boutique

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Reimagined Monday: Knot Too Shabby with Milk Paint

Welcome!

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint is selling out all over North America, including at Apple Box Boutique!  So far our most popular colours include Tricycle, Lucketts Green, French Enamel and Kitchen Scale while neutrals like Shutter Grey, Ironstone, Linen and Grain Sack fly off the shelves regularly.

Following are reimaginations from Knot Too Shabby Furnishings using two of those colours.  They are also great examples of 'the power of hemp oil' and what to do with a lovely piece when it isn't  quite intact!

Happy reading!

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

A few weeks ago, I ordered my sample kit so that I could start playing with the colors and finishes. I saved this particular piece especially for milk paint. 

Of my three sample colors, I opted to paint this one shutter Gray and Ironstone. 

The original mirror was missing so I used the frame to make a chalkboard instead. Perfect as a dining room buffet! 

Ironstone is painted in the details.

I was hoping for a chippy look throughout, but it really only chipped on the legs and the white decorative piece on the front. 

I left the top in its original stain, but used the Hemp Oil to refresh the look and polish out some of the wear and scratching. 

It worked like a charm. Completely refreshed the top into the rich golden wood tones. 

The entire outside was given a protective finish with the beeswax which I loved. The beeswax was like tapioca pudding! Soft, textured and went on like a dream.

More Milk Paint Please!

The last of my Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint samples are dwindling and I'm anxiously awaiting my first shipment which should arrive any day now! 

I scraped together the last bit of Ironstone White to paint this fabulous executive desk. 

All original hardware intact and a beautifully finished wood top that needed nothing more than a bit of cleaning and some hemp oil to revitalize the finish. 
 

White is not one of my "go to" colors for projects. With several years of painting and selling under my belt, it is one of the least sell-able colors on furniture, though I sell more cans of white paint than any other color. So, go figure!

I opted for white on this desk because I thought it would be a bright and sharp contrast from the rich wood.

I was really banking on a nice chipped look and thought for sure I would get lots of chipping because of the glossy varnish, but it just didn't "chip" like I was hoping.

It kind-of peeled away in places.

The distressing on the sides really makes the wood detailing and framing pop.

And, for visual interest, I added the numbers in Pure White on the top of the desk. 

Excerpts from Michele's blog: Knot Too Shabby furnishings

♥,  
Apple Box Boutique

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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!

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We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

Reimagined Monday: Hartwood Roses' From China Cabinet to TV Cabinet

Sometimes a reimagining is just plain genius.  I loved this one so much I could hardly wait to share it!

Connie is a Master Gardener; a certified Rosarian who specializes in antique Roses. Her business, Hartwood Roses is what she refers to as a "small nursery"... they carry 800 varieties!  If I make another trip to Virginia, I am absolutely going to Hartwood Roses.

She is also a very handy gal, indeed who falls into an array of categories:  Carpenter, Remodeler, Dreamer and her blog is continuously inspiring.  This offering is one of my favorites because it updates an old 70's cabinet for new yet practical use in today's world and even more so for its creative and beautiful colour combination.

Describing the process in her own words, here is Connie's China Cabinet makeover:

I knew from the moment I saw this hutch sitting on the sidewalk at Goodwill that it would be perfect for a TV cabinet ... but it's classic, 1970s style wasn't part of the picture.

The doors were the first thing to go.  I installed trim to cover where the hinges had been.  New wood panels fill the sides where glass was originally.

With these modifications made, now what color should it be?  I knew that I wanted to use two colors of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, so I stared at my handy color chart for inspiration.  (seen in THIS post)  Initially, I was drawn to Chateau Grey and Duck Egg ... but my new can of Olive was the winner.  I am continually amazed at how much I love the way ASCP colors combine with each other.  (I don't think I've found a bad combination yet.)

The original door pulls look like door knockers from a medieval castle ... they're gone now, too.  In their place, I found knobs at Hobby Lobby that are perfect!  Look how well they coordinate with the Duck Egg.

Inside those doors are two drawers and LOTS of storage space.  Everything in this hutch shows quality materials and construction ... dovetailed drawers!

At the shop, The Husband and I rearranged a few things to make this baby fit.  As tall as it is (7 feet!) the footprint is surprisingly small ... four feet wide.  That's a lot of function in a relatively small space.  The TV space is wide enough to easily fit a 42" television.

Why settle for ordinary television furniture?

I am so excited about the look of these two colours together that I have already started digging through my studio for just the right piece to use it on!  

Don't you love it?

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!